British Columbia Travelers Recommend

If you’re travelling to Whistler in the winter, you probably plan on skiing or snowboarding. The resort at Whistler-Blackcomb is open for skiing and riding even into July, and it opens during the falls first cold snap. Expect world-class runs and multi-class skiers and boarders – it helps to have some experience on a slope, but participants of all skill levels can find a run that’s right for them. In terms of a three-day winter itinerary, plan on hitting the slopes for two days and spend the third doing something different such as snowmobiling. Snowmobiling is an increasingly popular pastime here. If you’ve never laid your hands on a snowmobile, there’s an introductory, two-hour tour in which a guide will lead you over some scenic trails. You’ll get a feel for the vehicle and its fun for all ages. On the other hand, if you are more experienced or daring, there is a more challenging, backcountry snowmobile tour.

Elegant Victoria is the stately capital of British Columbia. This is a lovely city to stroll, especially beside the harbour and through the lush parks and gardens. Get to know the layout and character on a sightseeing tour passing through Chinatown, Antique Row, the residential districts Uplands and Oak Bay and the very English Rockland area. Make sure you put aside plenty of time for the world-famous Butchart Gardens, over 50 acres of floral plantings first laid out by Jennie Butchart in 1904. Put the icing on the cake by having traditional Afternoon Tea in the Butchart Home or Italian Garden. If you’re totally caught up in the whole royal fantasy by now, take a tour of the town in a horse drawn carriage or head out to Craigoarroch Castle, a Scottish baronial fantasy sitting at the highest point of the city. Despite its elegance and refinement, Victoria has another side. This is a coastal city, with spectacular seascapes and wildlife.