Page 59 - Travel Guide to Canada 2019

BC
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vineyards, mountain parks and the surfi ng
mecca of Tofi no. Between Vancouver Island
and the mainland are the Gulf Islands,
populated by a quirky mix of artisans and
fi sherfolk. Further north is Haida Gwaii, a
remote archipelago of unspoiled natural
beauty and traditional Indigenous culture.

PEAKS OF PERFECTION

Think of B.C. as wave upon wave of
towering mountain ranges: the Coastal
Mountains, Cascades, Selkirks, Kootenays
and Rockies, just to name a few. Those
mountains are not only scenic, they are
also popular destinations for outdoor
enthusiasts of all sorts. Many are located in
the province’s more than 1,000 parks and
protected areas. Others, like Whistler
Blackcomb, Sun Peaks and Big White, are
world-class ski resorts with full-service
villages and year-round activities,
including dozens of top-notch golf courses.

COWBOYS AND
CHARDONNAY
The sunny Thompson and Okanagan
valleys stretch through the middle of the
province. To the west is the cowboy
country of the Thompson region, with its
dude ranches and vast grasslands. To the
east, the Okanagan is B.C.’s wine country,

with its vineyards, orchards and sophisti-
cated culinary culture. Both off er plenty for
outdoor enthusiasts to do, whether it’s
houseboating on Shuswap Lake, scaling the
Skaha Bluff s or cycling along the trestles of
the abandoned railway line that hurtles
across Myra Canyon.

TATSHENSHINI-ALSEK PROVINCIAL PARK • DESTINATION CANADA/NOEL HENDRICKSON

Canada’s largest and busiest port, as
well as thriving fi lm, tech, tourism and
green businesses. It is also a centre for
culinary excellence, celebrated for its
obsession with fresh, seasonal
farm-to-table ingredients. From
Vancouver, it is just a short drive to the
farming communities of Fraser Valley,

the exceptional Asian cuisine of
Richmond and the seaside communi-
ties of the Sunshine Coast.

ISLAND HOPPING

Escape to the idyllic isles along the
Pacifi c coast. The largest is Vancouver
Island, a ninety-minute ferry ride from
the mainland; it is home to B.C.’s
historic capital city, Victoria, as well as