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British Columbia

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  • Code:BC
  • Type:province

Introduction

British Columbia is Canada's Pacific province — a place where snow-capped mountains drop straight to the ocean, temperate rainforest meets surf beaches, and a relaxed, outdoorsy culture runs from the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver to the wild northern coast. For travellers it offers an unusual combination: a world-class city and ski resort within two hours of each other, an island of gardens, surf and rainforest just across the strait, and a sunny interior of vineyards and lakes — all bound together by some of the most dramatic coast and mountain scenery in North America.

Discover British Columbia

Vancouver is the rare big city wrapped in wilderness. The downtown peninsula is ringed by the Seawall, the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront path, much of it through Stanley Park — a thousand acres of temperate rainforest, totem poles, beaches and seawall views of the harbour and the North Shore mountains. Granville Island's public market, the historic brick streets of Gastown with its steam clock, and the lantern-lit Chinatown anchor the city's character, while Kitsilano and English Bay supply the beaches. The mountains are part of daily life: Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Suspension Bridge are a short trip across the harbour, and the ski runs of three local mountains light up the skyline in winter. Vancouver's food scene — especially its Asian cooking, reflecting deep Pacific Rim ties — is among the best in Canada.

Ways to Experience This Destination

City & Sea

Vancouver's seawall, Stanley Park and beaches, with the North Shore mountains rising behind the skyline.

Skiing & Mountains

Whistler Blackcomb's world-class slopes and bike park, and the Sea-to-Sky corridor's fjords and granite.

Island & Rainforest

Victoria and the Butchart Gardens, Tofino's surf and the old-growth rainforest of Vancouver Island's west coast.

Wine & Lakes

The Okanagan Valley's vineyards, orchards and warm summer beach lakes around Kelowna.

Wildlife & Wild Coast

Whale-watching, the Great Bear Rainforest's spirit bears and the Haida culture of remote Haida Gwaii.

Frequently asked questions

Yes — that south-west corner is the classic first-time BC itinerary. Whistler is a two-hour drive from Vancouver up the Sea-to-Sky Highway, and Vancouver Island (Victoria or Nanaimo) is a 90-minute ferry or a short floatplane hop. A week comfortably covers the city, a couple of nights in Whistler and two or three on the island; add the Okanagan only if you have more time, as it's a longer drive east.

Cities in British Columbia

Vancouver

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