Province guides
Canada
Attractions
British Columbia's tourist attractions are a hard-hitting combination of stunning natural assets and cosmopolitan cultural experiences. The province stretches between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, encompassing some magnificent landscapes and protected areas of great beauty.
Parks worth exploring include Glacier National Park, Yoho National Park, Kootenay National Park, Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, and Mt Revelstoke National Park, to name just a few. Lakes, mountains, glaciers, epic walking trails, ski slopes, and hot springs await adventurous visitors.
The city of Vancouver attracts many travellers with its wealth of cultural attractions, fun nightlife, and spectacular setting. The historic hub of Gastown displays a Victorian character in this otherwise modern city. The capital of British Columbia, Victoria, draws visitors to Vancouver Island, which also boasts a number of quaint towns and the ubiquitous British Columbian natural beauty.
Ski resorts, like the famous Whistler Blackcomb, draw winter sports enthusiasts from all over the world, and there are also many friendly resorts with slopes for beginners, where the locals flock to learn.
Stanley Park
The pride of Vancouver, Stanley Park covers 1,000 acres (405 hectares) and is one of the largest parks in any urban centre in North America. It's situated in the heart of Vancouver
Stanley Park
The pride of Vancouver, Stanley Park covers 1,000 acres (405 hectares) and is one of the largest parks in any urban centre in North America. It's situated in the heart of Vancouver's densely populated West End and stretches out on a peninsula.
Stanley Park is at once a refuge for visitors seeking a brief escape from the urban jungle, a showcase for the natural beauty that surrounds the city and an entertainment centre. The park is criss-crossed through its dense rainforest interior by miles of wide gravel paths surrounding Beaver Lake and Lost Lagoon.
It is home to hundreds of migratory birds such as Canada geese, swans and ducks, and large populations of racoons, squirrels, skunks and coyotes. The park has a miniature railroad, putt-putt course and an aquarium, as well as routes around the long sea wall perfect for a walk, jog, cycle or rollerblade.
Address Georgia Street, Vancouver
Website www.vancouver.ca/parks/parks/stanley/
Transport
Translink bus #19
Opens Open daily
Gastown
Alongside Chinatown, the fascinating historic enclave of Gastown transports visitors back in time to envision the city as it existed in the days of old. Set in the central core of …
Gastown
Alongside Chinatown, the fascinating historic enclave of Gastown transports visitors back in time to envision the city as it existed in the days of old. Set in the central core of Vancouver, it has cobbled streets, antique gaslights, Victorian architecture, narrow alleys, courtyards, and hidden boutiques and restaurants. Jack 'Gassy' Deighton, Vancouver's first settler after whom the town was named, has been immortalised with a statue in Maple Tree Square in Gastown.
Another point of interest is the Lamplighter Pub in the Dominion Hotel, which was the first Vancouver inn to serve alcohol to women, while the Europe Hotel was the first fireproof building in western Canada, having been built just after the major fire of 1892. Gastown keeps time with the world's first steam clock, which plays the Westminster chimes every 15 minutes on five brass steam-whistles inside its cast bronze case.
Website www.gastown.org
Transport
Gastown is easily accessible by Vancouver’s Rapid Transit System, SkyTrain, and city buses
Tofino
Tofino is swiftly becoming a popular holiday destination with international travellers. The resort enjoys natural beauty, a mild climate and plenty of outdoor activities, including…
Tofino
Tofino is swiftly becoming a popular holiday destination with international travellers. The resort enjoys natural beauty, a mild climate and plenty of outdoor activities, including kayaking, whale watching and fishing. In addition to hot springs and gorgeous beaches, it also serves as Canada's premier surfing spot.
Tucked away at the entrance of the Clayoquot Sound, Tofino is home to the Pacific Rim National Park and islands with ancient primeval forests. Home to only about 2,000 locals, it serves as an ideal spot to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Hot Springs Cove, accessible only by air and sea, is open year round and visitors can soak in naturally hot rock pools.
Other popular sights include the Eik Cedar, an 800-year-old tree that was rescued by residents after it was condemned to be felled; the Tofino Botanical Gardens with acres of forest, shoreline and gardens; and the Whale Centre Maritime Museum housing fascinating artefacts. The Wickaninnish Interpretive Centre, containing interesting information about the region and the area's first inhabitants, the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations, is also well worth a visit.
Website tourismtofino.com