British Columbia Travel Guide

Vancouver

Nicknamed Hollywood North for the ever-present film crews, Canada's west coast gem of Vancouver is young, thriving and diverse, with the perfect combination of wild natural beauty and the modern conveniences of a city. Named after Royal Navy sea captain George Vancouver, who sailed into the Burrard Inlet on the British Columbian coast in 1792, Vancouver was barely even a town 100 years ago. Today more than two million people call it home, and the shiny futuristic towers of Yaletown and the downtown core contrast dramatically with the snow-capped mountain backdrop, creating a laid back atmosphere amongst the bustle of Canada's third biggest city.

Approximately the same size as the downtown area, the city's green heart is Canada's largest city park, Stanley Park, covering hundreds of acres filled with lush forest and crystal clear lakes. Visitors can wander the sea wall along the exterior of the park, catch a free trolley bus tour, a horse-drawn carriage ride or visit the Vancouver Aquarium housed within the park. The city's past is preserved in historic Gastown with its cobblestone streets, steam powered clock and quaint feel, though this is combined with expensive souvenir shops and galleries aimed at tourists. Neighboring Chinatown, with its weekly market, Dr Sun Yat-Sen classical Chinese gardens and restaurants adds an exotic flair. For some retail therapy or celebrity spotting, there is always the trendy Robson Street.

During the winter months snow sports are the order of the day on nearby Grouse Mountain, perfect for skiing and snowboarding, although the city itself gets more rain than snow. Vancouver's incredible ethnic diversity and combination of mountains, sea and city, offers visitors an endless supply of things to see and do, no matter the budget.

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Vancouver Island

Dubbed Canada's 'Paradise on the Pacific', Vancouver Island is an exquisite combination of dense rainforest, pristine coastline, rugged mountains, glittering glaciers and crystalline lakes and rivers, all within an easy distance from the Mainland of British Columbia.

The Island is 285 miles (460km) long and 50 miles (80km) wide, and the Vancouver Island Ranges, running down most of the island's length, divide it into a drier, undulant east coast and a wetter, rockier west coast. The rugged west coast (known as the Pacific Rim) is littered with bays, inlets and fjords and boasts beautiful landscapes and a diversity of wildlife, making it a popular spot for tourists, who come to indulge in hiking, fishing, kayaking with Orcas, whale watching and more. This area does, however, receive some of the heaviest precipitation in the world and visitors should plan activities around the possibility of heavy storms in winter and plenty of rain.

Inland, one finds dozens of lakes (the largest of which is Kennedy Lake), and dominating the central part of the Island is the popular Strathcona Provincial Park, home to the Island's glaciers, including the largest, the Comox Glacier, as well an abundance of birds and wildlife that includes Roosevelt Elk, bears, cougars and wolves.

There are two ski resorts on Vancouver Island: Mount Washington in the central part of the island, and the smaller Mount Cain to the north. Mount Washington offers a range of downhill, cross-country, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and winter camping opportunities, while Mount Cain community-owned and offers a less commercial experience away from the crowds.

Victoria, on the southern tip of the Island, is the capital of British Columbia, and home to just less than 50 percent of the island's population. The city is a major tourist destination and visitors flock to enjoy its many sights and sounds, including the Legislative Buildings, The Empress Hotel, Craigdarroch Castle, and the famous Butchart Gardens. Vancouver Island is well worth a visit and with so much to see and do, one could never claim to be bored.

Ski Resorts

The skiing in British Columbia is world renowned, largely due to the popularity of Whistler Blackcomb, which is regularly voted the World's Best Ski Resort.Locals of British Columbia, however, know that there are many other lesser-known resorts, which also offer exceptional skiing.

Vancouver's North Shore is where most locals learn to ski. The resorts at Grouse Mountain, Mount Seymour and Cypress Bowl may not have the most challenging runs, but they command a loyal following being less than an hour's drive from central Vancouver and easily accessible by public transport. Vancouver Island also has its own ski resort, Mount Washington. After Whistler, it is British Columbia's most popular ski resort with the most reliable snow conditions in the province.

Whistler is an extensive ski area sixty miles (100km) north of Vancouver. Together with Vancouver, Whistler hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, providing the downhill skiing facilities. It is most popular for downhill skiing but offers a full array of winter activities including snowboarding, heli-skiing and dog sledding. Whistler is within the Garibaldi Provincial Park, a popular area for cross-country skiing. North of Whistler, the Pemberton Icefield is a popular heli-skiing destination.

There are many lesser-known ski resorts in the interior of British Columbia, including Apex Mountain, Big White, Sun Peaks and Silver Star, which also offer world-class skiing in the Thompson Okanagan region. Big White has a growing reputation, and due to the dry air of the interior it offers some of the best powder skiing in the world. The Kootenay Rockies have several resorts, including Fairmont Hot Springs and Revelstoke Mountain, and in Northern British Columbia the heavy amount of snowfall allows for great skiing in many areas.