The Best of British Columbia
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Two weeks in British Columbia allows the opportunity to travel throughout the province, including to the northern region. Of course, you could also pad your itinerary with more time in Vancouver and Victoria—and that’s what many travelers do—but I encourage you to get adventurous and travel farther afield.
The following itinerary assumes you have your own vehicle or will be renting one.
Day 1
Arrive in Vancouver for a two-night stay. Spend the rest of your first day exploring Gastown and the waterfront area. Rent a bike for an evening ride through Stanley Park.
Day 2
Spend the day in Whistler, returning to Vancouver in time for dinner atop Grouse Mountain.
Day 3
Catch a ferry to Victoria and visit capital sights such as the Royal BC Museum and Butchart Gardens.
Day 4
Make Tofino your final destination on Day 4. Even with a visit to He-tin-kis Park and a short walk along the driftwood-strewn beaches of Pacific Rim National Park, you will have time to enjoy a relaxing evening in Tofino.
Day 5
Make your way north up the island to Telegraph Cove to go whale-watching. Continue north to Port Hardy.
Day 6
The ferry from Port Hardy gets into Prince Rupert in the late afternoon, linking up with the ferry to the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Day 7
Even after 24 hours and two ferry trips, you’ll be invigorated by the uniqueness of the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Day 8
You have all day to visit Naikoon Provincial Park and cross to Sandspit. Ferries depart the Queen Charlotte Islands for the mainland in the evening (book a cabin to get a good night’s rest on board).
Day 9
Arriving in Prince Rupert at dawn, take breakfast in Cow Bay while waiting for the Museum of Northern British Columbia to open. Head west, stopping at ‘Ksan Historical Village. Aim for an overnight stay in Prince George, but don’t push it (the more driving you get done today, the quicker you will reach the mountains the following day).
Day 10
After the long haul across northern British Columbia, the first views of the Canadian Rockies are a relief. As Mount Robson comes into view, you will be wowed.
Day 11
Drag yourself away from Mount Robson and head south to Kamloops, then east along the TransCanada Highway to Revelstoke. Even if you’re not a railway buff, Craigellachie (site of the last spike on the transcontinental railway) is a pleasant stop.
Day 12
Drive the Meadows in the Sky Parkway and continue east to Yoho National Park. This may be the night for a splurge at the Emerald Lake Lodge.
Day 13
Head south through the Columbia Valley. Stop at the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area before continuing to Nelson.
Day 14
It’s a seven-hour drive to Vancouver from Nelson. En route, the wineries, golf courses, and abundance of water sports in the Okanagan Valley will tempt you to linger a day or two longer.
© Andrew Hempstead, from Moon Western Canada, 3rd Edition
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