2 Weeks in Beautiful British Columbia

Fly into Kelowna, British Columbia and explore B.C.'s Okanagan Valley. The Okanagan Valley is one of the warmest and dryest regions in British Columbia, Canada and is a popular vacation destination known for watersports in the summer and skiing in the winter. It is home to many vineyards and golf courses located among the beautiful backdrop of Okanagan Lake. 

Kelowna is the largest city in the Okanagan and is a 1-hour flight or 4-hour drive from Vancouver. 

Sparkling Hill and Predator Ridge

For those looking for a relaxing getaway, Sparkling Hill Resort & Spa is a secluded, adults-only resort located 30 minutes away from Kelowna in Vernon. The luxury resort has an outdoor infinity pool overlooking the Okanagan Valley and offers a wide variety of spa treatments to help you unwind. The resort is also next to Predator Ridge, a stunning golf course and resort community that features two 18-hole championship courses.  

Wine Tasting

The Okanagan Valley has 200+ vineyards, many of which are on spectacular estates. A wine tasting tour is a must do for anyone visiting! Tastings can be booked individually through each winery however, I recommended booking a full or half-day tour through a tour company (Sparkling Hill offers this). The tour company will drive you to each winery on the tour and book lunch for you. This option makes visiting the wineries stress-free, as it lets you drink as much as you want without having to worry about transportation. Tip - If there is a specific winery you want to visit that is not on the tour, most tour companies can work with you to create a private tour.  Related: Kelowna Wine Tour

Okanagan Lake

The Okanagan gets very hot in the summer, making Okanagan Lake the perfect place to cool off! There are countless water activities available at the lake, including boating, waterskiing and wakeboarding, kayaking, paddle boarding and jet skiing. Make sure to reserve whichever activity you would like to do in advance as they fill up very quickly in the summer. 

Related: 5 Favorite Destinations for Cheese and Wine Tasting

Head over to Vancouver, British Columbia and explore the largest city on Canada's west coast. Vancouver is known for its historic neighborhoods, stunning views and foodie scene. 

Stanley Park Seawall

Rent a bike and bike the Stanley Park Seawall, a 10 km loop that goes through Vancouver's famous Stanley Park. This relaxing bike ride will pass through the park as well as several beaches and viewpoints along the way. The Vancouver Aquarium is also located in Stanley Park if you want to check out the marine life. 

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Drive up to Vancouver's North Shore and visit Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The park is famous for its 450 foot suspension bridge, treetop adventures, lush rainforest and cliff walk. 

Grouse Mountain

Located just up the road from the Capilano Suspension Bridge is Grouse Mountain, one of Vancouver's most popular attractions. Hike up the Grouse Grind or take the gondola up to the peak for a spectacular view of the city. At the top you can visit grizzly bears, watch a lumberjack show, zipline through the trees and make your way through an aerial rope course. Note that if you choose to hike the Grouse Grind, it is a very difficult hike! Make sure to wear proper walking shoes and bring lots of water. 

Granville Island and Gastown

Spend a day in the city exploring Vancouver's vibrant neighborhoods. Granville Island is a peninsula south of downtown that host to a large public market and many unique shops and galleries. In particular, Granville Island is known for having great food and is the perfect spot to stop for lunch. 

Gastown is Vancouver's oldest neighborhood featuring  historic buildings, vintage lamplights, a steam clock and lots of trendy shops, restaurants and bars.  

Check Out Vancouver's Food Scene

Vancouver has a vibrant foodie scene, from fresh, local seafood to high-quality international cuisine. In particular, Vancouver has some of the best sushi I have ever had. Restaurants to check out include Miku (Japanese), Ask for Luigi (Italian), Boulevard (Seafood), DD Mau (Vietnamese), Virtuous Pie (Vegan Pizza), Cactus Club (American), Cafe Medina (Brunch), Hokkaido Santouka Ramen (Ramen) and Kirin (Dim Sum). 

Drive up to Whistler, British Columbia's famous ski resort located 2 hours north of  Vancouver. Whistler is the place to visit for those who like the outdoors and adventure. Whistler has numerous activities for the whole family including, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting, mountain biking, ziplining and bungee jumping just to name a few! 

If you're looking for a relaxing getaway, there are also plenty of luxury hotels and spas to unwind at as well as several fine dining restaurants to enjoy. 

Whistler Gondola and High Note Trail

Take the Whistler Gondola up Whistler Mountain and hike the High Note Trail. The High Note Trail is a 4-5 hour intermediate hike that takes you around the peak of Whistler Mountain, offering stunning views of  Cheakamus Lake below. If you don't feel like hiking, you can take the Peak Chair up to the Clouraker Skybridge, a suspension bridge with incredible 360-degree views. You can also ride the world record-breaking Peak to Peak Gondola to Blackcomb Mountain. 

Try an Extreme Sport

If you're looking for an adrenaline rush, there are several tour companies in Whistler offering ATVing, mountain biking, white water rafting, and ziplining tours. There's also bungee jumping for those who are feeling particularly daring! I booked my tours through Canadian Wilderness Adventure, The Adventure Group and Whistler Bungee. 

Relax at the Scandinave Spa

The Scandinave Spa is a beautiful, top-rated spa that offers Scandinavian-style hydrotherapy as well as massage.  

Related: Ultimate Guide to Banff, Canada

Tofino is a small surf village on Vancouver Island that is an extremely popular tourist destination. It is famous for its long stretch of beaches, lush rainforests, surfing and storm watching (winter only). End your trip relaxing on one of Tofino's many beautiful beaches and enjoy the laid back island life!

Vancouver to Tofino

The journey to Tofino from Vancouver is long but worth it. To get to Tofino you will need to take a ferry from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. From Nanaimo, you will then drive 3 hours from Nanaimo to Tofino, passing through Parksville, Port Alberni and Ucluelet on the way. Past Parksville, there will not be many places to stop for coffee or lunch along the way so I recommend stopping at the Old County Market in Parksville. The market has a charming array of restaurants and gift shops, including a market with live goats on the roof. 

Beaches and Surfing

Tofino has several spectacular beaches for surfing and relaxing. Chesterman Beach and Cox Bay are two of the most popular for surfing. For those looking for a quieter scene, Mackenzie Beach offers a less crowded, calmer alternative. There are also several surf schools around the island if you are looking to take a lesson. 

Tonquin Trail

Explore the lush rainforest by hiking Tonquin Trail, an easy-moderate trail with several viewpoints along the way, including Tonquin Beach. 

Ucluelet

On your way home, stop in Ucluelet to have lunch at Black Rock Resort, a  luxury resort with a stunning oceanfront view. Walk Lighthouse Loop, a portion of the beautiful Wild Pacific trail with lots of viewpoints, including an active lighthouse. 

 Tip - It may make more sense to spend your last night in Nanaimo so you do not have to rush on the way back to catch the ferry.