Beautiful British Columbia Travel Guide (by Locals) – Sand In My Suitcase (2024)

Are you planning a trip to British Columbia, Canada?

You’ve come to the right site! This is our home – when not accidentally getting sand in our suitcases on trips. (Oh, bad joke!)

But seriously, having lived in BC for years (first Vancouver, now Victoria), we know the province really well.

And we can tell you that BC – hailed for its natural beauty – really is one of the loveliest spots in the world! Many of the top places to visit in Canada are right here in our home province.

So in our British Columbia travel guide, we’re jazzed to share with you what we consider the best places to visit in British Columbia (BC for short) – including popular tourist attractions and lesser-known gems.

Quick look: Victoria and Vancouver

Beautiful British Columbia travel guide

Below, you can find more in-depth travel information on British Columbia – specific BC travel tips and information on where to go, what to do in British Columbia, where to stay, restaurants and getting around BC.

Where is British Columbia?

Canada’s westernmost province, British Columbia sits smack-dab against the Pacific Ocean to the east.

The Alaskan Panhandle and Yukon and the Northwest Territories lie to the north. Alberta is to the west.

Across the southern border is the United States (Washington, Idaho and Montana).

When is the best time to visit British Columbia?

Prime time

The best time to go to British Columbia is from May to September.

The summer months of July and August are the peak months, with warm sunshine and bluebird skies (but also more visitors and higher hotel costs).

Summer is the hottest in the interior of BC, e.g., the Okanagan Valley (covered below). Temps often hit the 85 F (30 C) to 95 F (35 C) range, sometimes even higher.

All the better for swimming in the lakes there!

Victoria and Vancouver, which are on the Pacific Coast, have a much more moderate climate.

Average daytime temps in summer range roughly from 68 to 85 F (roughly 20 to 28 C).

Early September is an ideal time to visit.

The weather is usually sunny, warm and dry (perhaps with some crisp mornings later in September). And the peak tourist season has subsided.

Winter in BC

You don’t really want to visit between November and February. Of course, there are always exceptions.

You could visit the wild west coast of Vancouver Island in February for winter storm watching in Tofino– and be unexpectedly blessed with sunshine and 60 F (16 C) temps. (This happened to us once.)

And if you like the white stuff, Whistler is famous for skiing and snowboarding in the winter months.

Spring in BC

March and April? That’s when spring blossoms are out in full bloom in Vancouver and Victoria.

But you’ll need a rain coat – and you should expect some showers.

Other British Columbia travel tips

Local currency

As part of Canada, the official currency in British Columbia is the Canadian dollar. But U.S. dollars are also generally accepted.

Having said that, it’s better to use Canadian dollars if you can, as you won’t have to figure out the conversion – and you’ll generally get a better deal.

Credit cards are widely accepted; Visa and Mastercard are the most common. But you’ll still want some cash when traveling in British Columbia for tips and such.

Can you visit BC without a car?

The best way to get around BC is by car. Rental cars are available at the Vancouver, Kelowna and Victoria airports.

If you plan a British Columbia road trip, you’ll obviously need a car.

For example, you might want to do a road trip up Vancouver Island from Victoria (at the bottom of the island) to Telegraph Cove and Port Hardy (at the top of the island).

We’ve done this trip – it’s the perfect BC itinerary for a combination of city sightseeing and outdoor adventure (kayaking, hiking, whale watching and grizzly bear viewing).

Rural areas are hard to get around without a car.

So if you’d like to travel in British Columbia without a car, you’re best advised to stick to the most popular tourist destinations – Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler.

Taking the ferry in BC

BC Ferries has a network of car ferries connecting the BC mainland with Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and other islands off the BC coast.

For getting to Victoria, see our complete guide on theferry from Vancouver to Victoria. Find out all you need to know – from the most convenient Vancouver terminal to bus-and-ferry options.

Taking the train in BC

You can also take the Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver to Banff and Lake Louise (both in Banff National Park) or Jasper.

The scenery as you journey through the Canadian Rocky Mountains is nothing short of spectacular.

Unmissable British Columbia destinations

British Columbia is a big province.

At almost 365,000 square miles (944,735 sq. km) in size, it’s larger than Washington, Oregon and California combined.

We have magnificent mountain ranges (meet the Canadian Rockies!), epic national parks, sandy beaches, thousands of lakes and ancient temperate rainforest hugging much of the rugged coastline.

So it’s a hard job coming up with a list of the most special and best places in British Columbia to visit!

That said, however, Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler – particularly popular destinations – are on most people’s British Columbia bucket list (for good reason).

Vancouver

Most visitors who travel to British Columbia begin in the city of Vancouver.

There are direct flights from many places around the world to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

One of the world’s most beautiful cities, Vancouver is famous for its ocean-fringed vistas, mountain backdrop, fresh local salmon, delightful neighborhoods and healthy outdoor vibe.

(And just to confuse you, it’s not on Vancouver Island, but on the mainland.)

What to do in Vancouver?

Hang out in Stanley Park

For the mother of all urban parks, don’t miss Stanley Park!

The best way to explore it? Rent a bicycle and gobiking around Stanley Parkon its impossibly scenic Seawall.

Tour the Vancouver Art Gallery

Right in downtown Vancouver, the Vancouver Art Gallery is the largest art museum in Western Canada, with over 12,000 works of art by Canadian and international artists.

In future, the gallery is expected to move to a new purpose-built facility that’s twice as large – where even the building is a work of art. We can’t wait!

Visit the Museum of Anthropology

For an understanding of the First Nations peoples of British Columbia, tour the acclaimed Museum of Anthropology at the University of BC.

See carved totem poles, cedar sculptures, contemporary native art, indigenous masks, bentwood boxes and other fascinating exhibits.

Don’t miss Granville Island

For Vancouverites,Granville Islandis to weekends what ham is to eggs.

Actually a mini-peninsula, the corrugated-metal sheds of this former industrial site have been recycled into a thriving public market surrounded by artists’ studios, shops, theaters and coffee bars.

At Granville Island, you can pick up everything from hand-carved stone sculptures from Zimbabwe and 24-karat gold, diamond-studded toe rings to local Salt Spring Island brie for snacking in your hotel room.

Cruise from Vancouver

Vancouver is a major gateway for cruises to Alaska. It’s lovely to sail away from the Vancouver cruise port!

Other top things to do in Vancouver

Wander around the cobbled streets of Gastown, possibly Vancouver’s trendiest district.

Maybe catch a musical or play at one of the Arts Club theaters?

And for an easy hike through towering Douglas Fir trees (and for gob-smacking ocean views) head to Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver.

Victoria

If it’s a hot summer’s day, you might want to cool off at one of the many lakes and beaches in Victoria.

And don’t forget to explore the Gorge waterway on a fun pickleboat ride with Victoria Harbour Ferry.

Really, there are so many greatthings to do in Victoria!

Where to eat in Victoria

Victoria has a foodie-worthy dining scene, with a focus on farm-to-table cuisine.

Whistler

One of North America’s largest ski resorts, Whistler is a resort town about a 90-minute drive north from Vancouver up the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

Whistler in winter

The resort is home to two majestic mountains.

How to choose?Whistler or Blackcomb: Which has better skiing?

One difference: Whistler has more green runs so it’s more beginner friendly. But you can’t beat Blackcomb’s groomed slopes on Seventh Heaven on a sunny bluebird day!

Whistler in summer

There’s no question the skiing in Whistler is epic.

But Whistler is also one of the best places to visit in BC for a summer getaway.

Summer is also perfect for canoeing and kayaking in Whistler. You’ll love paddling Whistler’s River of Golden Dreams!

And if you want to see Whistler’s famous black bears in the wild, bear viewing tours are offered from April/May to September/October.

British Columbia gems

Close by is Galiano Island. It’s also the perfect place for an idyllic island escape, where outdoor adventures include kayaking, hiking and beachcombing.

Okanagan Valley

Haida Gwaii

Also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, Haida Gwaii is a remote wildlife-rich archipelago off BC’s northwest coast.

The lower third is protected by the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve.

Overflowing with hauntingly beautiful scenery, these misty islands are a place of moss-covered rainforest and ancient indigenous sites with centuries-old totem poles – where orcas frolic and the world’s largest subspecies of black bears roam wild.

They’re a must-see in British Columbia if you seek unique experiences.

Parksville and Qualicum Beach

Hey, you can see goats on the roof on a store in Coombs, splash about in warm shallow waters and explore Horne Lake Caves.

There are more crazy fun things to do in Parksville and Qualicum Beach too.

Telegraph Cove itself is unique – it’s one of the last boardwalk communities in North America.

BC’s gorgeous gardens

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