1. Okanagan Valley is recognized for its excellent wine and exceptional scenery. Surrounded by mountains, the area is home to one of the most popular ski resorts in all of Canada.
2. Victoria is a diverse, vibrant urban centre a bit south along the Fraser River from Vancouver and is home to the Seaport Market, The Empress Hotel, and the Victorian Rose Garden.
3. Vancouver. Urban playground in the heart of nature. Whether you’re strolling along the seawall, shopping on Robson Street, or exploring historic Gastown, you can catch a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean or the rainforest-covered Coast Mountains from almost anywhere in the city.
4. Great Bear Rainforest. The planet’s largest intact coastal temperate rainforest, the Great Bear is a revered and protected wilderness area. It is also home to an abundance of marine life, from whales to dolphins to sea otters. Add the fact that it is the only place in the world to see the rare white Kermode (Spirit) bear, and a trip to the Great Bear Rainforest is an experience unlike any other.
5. Whistler. North America’s #1 resort, the pedestrian village is alive with hikers, mountain bikers, golfers, and people watchers.
6. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve consists of three sections: Long Beach, home to flawless beaches and a thriving surf culture; the West Coast Trail, an epic, multi-day hike along what was once a rescue trail for shipwrecked sailors; and the Broken Group Islands, a kayaker’s paradise made up of more than 100 islands and islets.
7. Haida Gwaii. This remote and rugged archipelago is steeped in the ancient culture of the Haida First Nation. Here old-growth rainforest is surrounded by a rich marine environment, both home to unique subspecies found only on these magical islands.
8. Alaska Highway. Yes, enjoy herds of massive bison roaming alongside the road, bighorn sheep sampling the highway’s mineral licks, and possibly mountain goats, moose, and bears. Add to this the unique history of the road’s construction, and adventurous travellers can’t resist the call of the wild.
9. Fraser Canyon is actually a series of canyons, many of which have different names. At Boston Bar, you can take an air tram down to the river at Hell’s Gate with its fish ladders. As you drive the highway, you’ll pass through seven tunnels, one of which is one of the longest in North America. Take time to explore Hope, where the original Rambo movie, First Blood, was filmed.
10. Nelson is a pretty city in southeastern British Columbia. It is sometimes called the “Queen City” because of the restored number of historic homes dating back to the days of the silver rush.