British Columbia Top Things To Do
In Vancouver, stroll through Stanley Park. Long-distance hiking trails include the beautiful West Coast Trail in Pacific Rim National Park and the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, both on Vancouver Island. You can see giant trees in the old coastal rainforests on the island's Pacific coast.
Skiing
The Rocky and Coast Mountains offer superb skiing. One of Canada's best-known ski resorts is Whistler, which will co-host the 2010 Winter Olympics. Other well-known centres include Fernie, Red Mountain (home to several of Canada's Olympic ski medallists), Kimberley, Sun Peaks, Kicking Horse and Big White.
Other winter sports
If you tire of straightforward skiing, there's also snowboarding, glacier skiing (in summer), heli-skiing or cat skiing. Cross-country skiing is widely practised, and ski touring through backcountry forests is popular.
Watersports
Excellent sailing, canoeing and white-water rafting are all available in British Columbia, with its ample lakes and rivers, and long Pacific coast. The sheltered Inside Passage from Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert is particularly popular. Expect beautiful views of the fjord-indented coastline and snow-capped Coast Mountains.
Fishing
Salmon is especially plentiful around Vancouver Island, and the Kootenay Rockies offer the best bass fishing in the province. Other fish include halibut, cod, trout, whitefish and turbot. There are more than 200 lakes within an hour of Kamloops. Licences are required.
Whale watching
You might spot orca (killer), humpback, grey or minke whales on whale-watching cruises. In March, the Pacific Rim Whale Festival celebrates the yearly migration of Pacific grey whales. Watch for whales in remote towns Tofino and Ucluelet, near Pacific Rim National Park, which is full of sandy beaches and wilderness.
Winery tours
The Okanagan Wine Route winds through the vineyards of the Thompson Okanagan Valley, the oldest wine-producing region in British Columbia. There are more than 100 wineries in the region, and the valley holds four wine festivals each year.
Scenic drive
The Silvery Slocan Circle Driving Tour meanders past numerous historic landmarks, such as the historic logging town of Kaslo, which populates the hills and shoreline of Kootenay Lake, and the town of Nelson, home to hundreds of heritage buildings.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
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