by John Lee
Vancouver is the perfect jumping-off point for day trips to the rest of British Columbia. Here's our top 10.
Hop on the 12-minute SeaBus transit ferry from Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay and you’ll step off on in North Van, home to Lonsdale Quay Public Market, boardwalks, restaurants and boutiques.
Harbour Cruises’ one-hour tour meanders languidly alongside the city’s waterfront. But its half-day Indian Arm option is a much deeper excursion.
Look out for the community of Deep Cove on your cruise and consider returning to kayak or SUP there.
Catch the 20-minute ferry from West Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island to explore wooden boardwalks, bright-painted storefronts and forest-lined trails.
The dramatic cliffside road to Squamish is one of BC’s most spectacular driving routes, but it’s also home to several great attractions.
Enjoy the Sea to Sky Gondola, the family friendly Britannia Mine Museum and the West Coast Railway Heritage Park. Also save time for Shannon Falls, one of BC’s highest waterfalls.
A winter playground loved by local and visiting ski and snowboard fans, the icicle-draped alpine village is beautiful year round.
There are hikes and bike routes for all abilities and activities from ziplining to river rafting.
Don’t miss a ride on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola and then inch across the lofty Cloudraker Skybridge.
The heart of historic Port Moody is home to several intriguing breweries, each with their own inviting tasting rooms and friendly bars. 45 minutes on the SkyTrain
An hour by transit from Vancouver, this charming fishing village fringes the giant Fraser River.
Shipbuilding and fish processing made this a busy community in the 1800s, and two historic sites evoke the story perfectly; the Gulf of Georgia Cannery and the Britannia Heritage Shipyard.
Home to North America’s most authentic Asian dining scene, start with lunch at the food court at Parker Place, then explore nearby Aberdeen Centre.
Richmond Night Market is lined with more than 100 food stands; get ready for stinky tofu, dragon’s beard candy, nori-topped Japanese fries and much more.
It’s a 25-minute SkyTrain ride to the “Royal City”, full of cultural venues, museums and galleries. Westminster Pier Park has great shoreline views and public art.
Iona Beach Regional Park stretches along the Fraser River shoreline and is home home to a huge diversity of local and visiting birds.
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