Stay : Road trip in British Columbia
Between Whistler, a world-renowned ski resort, and the wonderful Vancouver Island, the Vancouver region is a vast playground that will appeal to both nature and sports enthusiasts. Take the time to discover the charming city of Vancouver before going to the surrounding areas.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
15 days
€€ - Charm and comfort
Detail of the stay : Road trip in British Columbia - 15 days
Day 1: Discovering downtown Vancouver
Steps: Vancouver
Head to Waterfront Station, the Skytrain (metro) lines' terminal in the city centre. From there, you can reach the nerve centre of tourism in Vancouver with the Canada Place Convention Centre, the departure of the city tours on a bus, the walk along the marina and the historic neighbourhood of Gastown. Those who do not have time to visit Stanley Park on foot can follow the bicycle path of Seawall along the waterfront by bicycle or on roller skates. You can picnic in the park at the foot of the aboriginal totems before heading to Vancouver Lookout, a panoramic tower with a stunning view of the buildings of the city centre, the surrounding mountains and the Pacific Ocean. In case of a rainy day, take a shelter at the Art Gallery or the Bill Reid Gallery, two art museums that highlight Amerindian culture and crafts. A dinner in a pub or a restaurant in the trendy Yaletown district will beautifully end your day! For an unusual evening and unexpected encounters, take a look at the Cambie Bar.
STANLEY PARK / VANCOUVER LOOKOUT - HARBOUR CENTRE / VANCOUVER ART GALLERY / BILL REID GALLERY / CANADA PLACE
Day 2: Beaches of Vancouver
Steps: Mayne Island, Vancouver
Walk on the beaches and in the most beautiful parks of the city. You can leave the Burrard Bridge and walk to the Museum of Vancouver in the Vanier Park. Wonderful view of the city centre and the mountains in the background. On foot or by bike, the Seaside bike path leads to the popular Kitsilano beach and its seawater swimming pool. It may be interesting to take the 99 bus on Broadway to the campus of the University of British Columbia and its famous Museum of Anthropology, a must for aboriginal art lovers. Do not miss the sunset from the beach of Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY (MOA) / MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER (MOV) / PACIFIC SPIRIT REGIONAL PARK / KITSILANO BEACH PARK / VANIER PARK / BURRARD BRIDGE
Day 3: North Vancouver
Steps: North Vancouver, Deep Cove, Grouse Mountain
After Skytrain, bus and bike, do not miss a trip aboard Seabus, a shuttle that transports passengers from the downtown area (Waterfront) to the North Vancouver landing, beyond Burrard Inlet. Once on land, you can take public transportation to go to the Grouse Mountain resort and attend a lumberjack show, at the Capilano Suspension Bridge that allows you to walk to the summit of the canopy or Lynn Canyon Park for a walk along a river with emerald-colour waters. Those who want to try a sea kayak tour can take the car to Deep Cove, the favourite place of the Vancouver's residents for water activities.
Day 4: Trip to Vancouver Island
If you take the ferry early in the morning from the Tsawwassen terminal (35 minutes from downtown) to Vancouver Island, then you will have the rest of the day to leisurely go to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia and take the pulse of this vibrant city with Victorian architecture. You will not miss the Royal BC Museum or the free visit of the Parliament.
Day 5: In the streets of Victoria
Steps: Victoria, Sooke, Port Renfrew, Brentwood Bay
This day will be dedicated to the visit Victoria's surrounding areas. First, in the morning, head to the sea for a few hours of whale watching, which is one of the great attractions from the city. When you are back, and after taking your lunch near the harbour, take your car and exit the city to head north to the Saanich Peninsula. This suburb of Victoria north of which you can find the ferry terminal contains treasures like the Butchart Garden, a garden with a thousand and one floral wonders. For those who want to go hiking, the East Sooke Regional Park, about thirty kilometres south of Victoria this time, is a very pleasant destination with beautiful coastal trails. Several lookouts offer splendid panoramas on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Go back to take your dinner and sleep in Victoria.
Day 6: Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island
Steps: Nanaimo, Macmillan Provincial Park, Port Alberni, Vancouver
After enjoying a fish & chips while watching the seaplanes taking off from the harbour or savouring a scone in the sumptuous tearoom of the Empress Hotel, head for the east of Vancouver Island to explore its Pacific coast. The easiest way to get there is to take Highway 1 and then 4 and then pass through Nanaimo, Port Alberni as well as MacMillan Provincial Park for a stop in the heart of its centuries-old forest of pines and giant red cedars. You can cut the long road (about 5 hours) in two days and sleep in a beautiful wooded campsite on the way.
Day 7: Relaxation on the Pacific Coast
After crossing the island the day before, take advantage of this day to take the pulse of the island. Here, nature is queen. Breathe. Recharge your batteries.
Day 8: Pacific Rim Park
Steps: Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Mayne Island
Shaped by the ocean spray of the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Rim Provincial Park is a natural paradise for hiking or simple stroll along its wild beaches. Get ready for a picnic so you can spend a whole day exploring the park on foot.
Day 9: Beaches of Tofino
Steps: Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Tofino, Campbell River, Mayne Island
In the heart of the Pacific Rim Park, the beaches of Tofino display their long sand tongues. The more adventurous can learn surfing on the famous waves of Tofino beaches. Fans of salmon fishing will not be left out if they want to launch their line in the beautiful Campbell River.
Day 10: On the "Sea to Sky" highway
Steps: Nanaimo, Horseshoe Bay, Squamish, Whistler
In order to take the ferry back to the mainland, take Highway 4 to Nanaimo. The ferry will take you to Horseshoe Bay from which you can reach the Sea to Sky Highway (highway 99). Via Squamish, climbing enthusiasts can stop in front of the walls of The Chief, an impressive rocky mountain which can also be climbed via a hiking trail. There's no need to stop longer, except for fans of strong beers who can go drinking at The Howe Sound microbrewery, a sign well known among local residents. Towards Whistler, unmissable photo stops in front of the various lakes that follow one another along the motorway.
Day 11: Welcome to Whistler
Steps: Whistler
Whistler is a pleasant ski resort that was equipped with modern sports facilities during the 2010 Olympic Games. In winter, it is the kingdom of skiers and snowboarders, while in summer, they are replaced by mountain bikers and hikers. Most of the major sports brands are located in the tourist paths of the village.
Day 12: Lillooet, a human-sized resort
Steps: Lillooet
In order to leave the crowd, you will continue on the Sea to Sky Highway towards Lillooet and the rugged terrain of the British Columbian Rocky Mountains. On the way, stop at the Joffre Lakes Provincial Park for those who dream of alpine landscapes and lakes of incredible purity.
Day 13: Rafting experience in Lytton
Steps: Lytton
From summits snow-capped all year long, you now switch to the heart of a canyon at the confluence of the Fraser and Thompson rivers. On the road, the most active will take the time to stop in Lytton, the Canadian capital of rafting or the Hell's Gate Airtram for a flight over deep gorges dug in the mountain. You can spend the night in a campsite near Harrison Lake.
Day 14: Within Fraser Valley
Steps: Vancouver, Chilliwack
On this last day of travel, continue your journey through the sun-drenched valleys in the southern part of the province. Famous for being the vegetable garden in British Columbia, the valley of the Fraser River offers as many beautiful historic and gourmet stops (u-pick fruit in the orchards for example) as sports ones (hiking, cycling, water sports). The return journey to Vancouver will take you through beautiful agricultural landscapes before you see the buildings in the city centre from a distance. . If you have time on the way, take a detour through Cultus Lake, near Chilliwack, a last step to bathe in a beautiful lake on a hot summer day.
CULTUS LAKE
Day 15: Last souvenirs of Vancouver
Steps: Vancouver
Enjoy your last day in Vancouver to visit the sites you missed or stroll through a few souvenir shops. Ideas of gifts to bring home: an Amerindian wooden statuette, a cap bearing the image of the hockey team of Vancouver's Canucks, or smoked salmon with the Pacific's good taste.
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