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Memorable Places in British Columbia to Visit 😲

16 items

Hui Sim

Here is a shortlist of scenic spots in BC to consider for your next getaway to Canada’s westernmost province. These places are located outside Metro Vancouver (and yes, I have explored all these places – and some, more than once).

Note: This list may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission (at no charge to you) if you make a purchase using these links.

Sections

Coastal

Fraser Canyon/Valley

Islands

Mountains

Similkameen Valley

Coastal

Life lived on the Pacific Northwest coast delivers some of the most amazing views and a generally mild (if sometimes moist) climate throughout the year.

The filming location of The Beachcombers (I met some of the cast members when I visited the CBC TV headquarters as a child!) This coastal town is a beautiful place to walk, golf, or boat in the summer. Unfortunately, I didn't visit when a rare Xantus...

Gibsons (Sunshine Coast)

Fraser Canyon/Valley

You can't go wrong with panoramic landscapes, scenic glimpses of the Fraser River, and the stunning backdrop of majestic mountains.

Such a romantic name for this place, with plenty of waterfall action (but best to go before you go)! 😉

Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park (Rosedale)

Want a moderate-to-difficult challenge on land or water? You've come to the right place! From notables like the whimsical Teapot Hill to the alliterative Seven Sisters trail and Maple Bay Interpretive trail, Cultus Lake (not to be confused with the O...

Cultus Lake Provincial Park

Ah, the sweet smell of sulfur! This spot used to be our favorite summer getaway for swimming and family picnics. It is a favorite tourist spot with many visitors (including ourselves).

Harrison Hot Springs Resort (Harrison Lake)

Take the eponymous airtram down to a village created to look one out of the Gold Rush days (and get an education about this historical passage—great for budding geologists and historians), have a meal, and walk on bridges extending over the raging wh...

Hell’s Gate (Boston Bar)

Good fishing and boating is to be had at Kawkawa Lake! If you're lucky, that is (we caught squat!) It was wonderful to check out the quaint and friendly shops nearby, too – all with the mountains majestic looming in the background!

Kawkawa Lake (Hope)

You're in farm (and horse) country with plenty of mountains looming behind for a stunning backdrop! The easy, flat terrain and great views of the Fraser River mean an easy and scenic walk. Definitely worth cycling along, too!

Matsqui Trail (Abbotsford)

This 25-acre park is a paradise to amble through, even during the winter. It is where I and many of my fellow birders were privileged to see the Cape May Warbler at the beginning of the year, several years ago, feeding on the mahonia (Oregon grape), ...

Mill Lake Park (Abbotsford)

It's not every day that I can mention in casual conversation that I've walked through mountains. These tunnels exist because the most expedient way to transport cargo by railroad in the early 1900s was by blowing holes through those mountains. These ...

Othello Tunnels (Fraser Valley)

Islands

BC is home to many beautiful islands – each one with its unique flavor and personality!

Vancouver Island's answer to VanDusen Gardens (albeit on a smaller scale)! Be sure to pose beside the Butchart Boar sculpture … curiously, the memory that sticks singularly in my mind after all of these years!

Butchart Gardens (Brentwood Bay, Vancouver Island)

Don't visit the picturesque harbor just for sightseeing or dining purposes – if you bird or hike, do try some of the 22 wonderful trails on this stunning Gulf Island.

Gabriola Island

A short ferry ride from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal will bring you to this beautiful and hospitable Gulf Island, with plenty of walking and biking-friendly trails. This is a great place to go off the grid! We saw orcas at Porlier Pass and from the ...

Galiano Island

Mountains

You can't visit Blackcomb without going to Whistler, and we did both one summer, many years ago. This is a hikers' paradise, with varying degrees of difficulty – it's not for the faint of heart!

Blackcomb Glacier Provincial Park (Whistler)

Although we did not attempt any of the hiking trails in this historic historic site (we went one summer in the late 1980s while en route to Calgary), we did stop to take in the breathtakingly beautiful scenery of the mountains and sky, even if only f...

Roger's Pass Summit (Glacier National Park)

This is more than one of Canada's premier destinations for skiing and/or snowboarding – in the summer, it's a hub for plenty of fun activities, too (like ATVing, which I’ve also done here, too — all the way to Crystal Lodge at the top, and ziplining ...

Whistler Mountain

Similkameen Valley

A big gathering place in the summer time for birders and other fairweather festivities! The Lightning Lake Loop is a gorgeous and relaxing trail with emerald-green waters. Expect to see plenty of ducks, hummingbirds (Calliope and Rufous), the pretty ...

E.C. Manning Provincial Park (Princeton)