7 daytrips from Vancouver
While Vancouver has a wide array of activities and options, there are even more travel temptations to be found beyond the city’s borders. Here are seven ideas to consider:
# 1 SQUAMISH
Known as The Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada, here you can watch climbers tackle the Stawamus Chief, check out the historic rolling stock at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park and, in winter, see one of the world’s largest gatherings of bald eagles at Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park. En route from Vancouver, you can explore the historic mine at Brittania Beach (once the biggest copper mine in the British Empire), visit the BC Museum of Mining, and stop to admire Shannon Falls (Canada’s third highest, it’s six times higher than Niagara). Just outside Squamish, don’t miss the Sea to Sky Gondola, a fully-enclosed gondola that whisks visitors from the base of the highway to a soaring 850 metres (2,788 feet) above Howe Sound, where a mountaintop day lodge, complete with restaurant and cultural exhibits, and access to suspension bridges, viewing platforms and backcountry hiking and biking routes await.
# 2 WHISTLER
The pedestrian-friendly, alpine-inspired, ski-in/ski-out village is rich with boutiques, hotels, nightclubs, condos, restaurants, day spas, pubs, cafes, art galleries and shops. Whistler is very much a four-season resort and the town bustles with local and visitors alike 12 months of the year. In summer, mountain bikers and hikers take advantage of the plethora of trails, while winter brings avid skiers and boarders in search of fresh powder to the hills. Beyond Whistler, Highway 99 is a little travelled, but highly scenic, shortcut through the Pemberton Valley to the Gold Rush town of Lillooet.
# 3 VICTORIA
Accessed from Vancouver by ferry or floatplane, Victoria is perfect for so many reasons: the mildest year-round climate in Canada, a tantalizing fresh and local food scene, dazzling gardens, invigorating outdoor activities, intriguing history, exciting family attractions, world-class hospitality and the breathtaking natural beauty of the Pacific Coast. Victoria’s city centre, with its stately Edwardian architecture, surrounds the Inner Harbour, home to visiting yachts, ferries and floatplanes. Street entertainers play along the causeway in the summer and flower baskets hang from the lampposts. The mountains of Washington State, across the Juan de Fuca Strait, form a backdrop and, come evening, the Parliament Buildings are lit with 3,560 tiny lights.
# 4 SUNSHINE COAST
It’s a quick ferry jaunt from Horseshoe Bay, north of Vancouver, to the Sunshine Coast. Although it’s part of the mainland, this bucolic region, accessible only by sea or air, has the quiet pace of an island. Boating among the coastal fjords, touring the area’s many studios and galleries (a tour map from any Sunshine Coast Visitor InfoCentre will lead the way), beachcombing, golfing, hiking the Sunshine Coast Trail, kayaking and fishing are the draws here.
# 5 FRASER VALLEY
Should you prefer an edible tour, make your way to the Fraser Valley, a fertile agriculture region outside Vancouver. Home to several historic sites, including Fort Langley National Historic Park, the site of one of BC’s earliest European settlements, it’s a pleasant area to explore before heading back to your starting point in Vancouver. A favoured spot for foodies, enthusiasts can visit the area’s offering of wineries, farms and producers, sampling goodies, like hazelnuts, cheese and fresh produce, along the way.
# 6 RICHMOND
Richmond is the fourth largest city in BC, just 25 minutes south of downtown Vancouver. Known for the Gulf of Georgia Cannery and Britannia Shipyards National Historic Sites, the charming seaside village of Steveston, world-famous Asian summer night markets, Richmond gives visitors a unique “Far East meets West Coast” experience of authentic Asian culture. For food lovers, Richmond is a daily dining adventure, promising fresh seafood from its resident fishing fleet (the largest in Canada), the best Chinese restaurants outside of China and unparalleled authentic cuisine from across Asia - especially among the 200+ restaurants along the three short blocks of Alexandra Road (Food Street) in The Golden Village.
# 7 THE NORTH SHORE
Comprised of the municipalities of West Vancouver and North Vancouver, the North Shore is home to Vancouver`s mountains, and visitors will find three ski operations to choose from: Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour. The area is also home to other popular attractions such as Capilano Suspension Bridge and Lonsdale Quay Market. Visitors will also appreciate the many parks and trails that offer easy access to the wilderness so close to Vancouver; favourite locations include Lighthouse Park, Lynn Canyon Park and the Baden Powell Trail.