We chose to spend 10 days in British Columbia as our first trip to kick start our travel journey in over a year! This was our first time hopping on a plane, since the pandemic started! We literally haven’t seen the inside of an airplane ever since our last trip to the Maldives! With cases stabilizing since the start of the vaccination roll-out in our country, we felt optimistic and safe to travel again. With only one week of summer vacation, we had planned to visit the 3 most popular cities that tourists often flock to. We started with the capital city of BC in Victoria to Whistler and finally Vancouver.
Here are the highlights of our 10 days in British Columbia:
Day 1. Ferry Boat ride to Vancouver Island
The ferry ride from Greater Vancouver (Tswwassen) to Swartz Bay (Vancouver Island) is the most common ferry route people take to visit Victoria on Vancouver Island. Advanced reservation is highly recommended especially during peak seasons. Here is the website to visit https://www.bcferries.com/routes-fares/schedules. Please note to plan and arrive at check in for the ferry at least 30 to 60 minutes prior to boarding. The duration of the ferry ride is approximately 1h 35 minutes. Food and refreshments are available to purchase on board the ferry ride. Also, pack a jacket as the deckside of the boat ride can be quite windy at times, and a must experience to soak in the refreshing coastal scenery.
Day 2. Parliament + Fisherman’s Wharf
The Parliament building of British Columbia is also known as the Lesgislative assembly of British Columbia overlooks the beautiful inner Harbour of downtown Victoria and a architectural beauty to see in person. It is approximately a 30 minute ride from Swartz Bay. In the evening and night hours, the buildings are brightly lit up and also just as remarkable to visit. There is also a fountain in the centre of the building and adds a touch of elegance to the surrounding vicinity. During our visit, the front steps of the entrance were lined up with a commerative items as a memorial to the unmarked graves of the 215 indigenous school children forced into residential schools. It was such a somber moment in Canada’s history and we paused to remember that regardless of your race or background, we are reminded that “all children matter.” September 30 is marked as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
Carriage Ride Fisherman’s Wharf – Victoria, BC
A hidden gem located just a few blocks from downtown, Victoria’s inner harbour. If you love seafod, make sure to to drop by the Fisherman’s Wharf and enjoy a nice fresh seafood meal from the many food vendors. I especially enjoyed the lively colorful environment of the wharf. About 33 floating residential homes call this place home, along with abundance of sea creatures. We came across many sea life like, crabs, fishes, sea otter, and a jellyfish! There are also plenty of recreational activties available for you to sign up here like boat tours, whale whatching, and kayaking in the area. Designated park spots are limited in the area as well as public washroom facilities. This was our most unforgetable meal and the wharf caters to a variety of food options from – fresh oysters, salads, meats, kids meals, a variety of fish options and more! Here are the directions to the Fishermans Wharf: https://gvha.ca/marinas-facilities/fishermans-wharf/.
Day 3. Hatley Castle + Butchart Gardens
The Hatley Castle is a historic landmark of Victoria, BC built in 1908 and has been featured in movies/tv-shows like X-Men, Smallville, and more! Tours are generally available for the public inside the castle, however due to the pandemic, only the gardens, trails, and grounds can be visited and are complimentary for families to take some nice photo ops. Parking is available at $1/hr. We also came across some unexpected friendly visitor while exploring the grounds. Two beautiful Indian peafowl (aka peakcock), strutting around with their royal blue feathers came by to say hello.
The Butchart Gardens is located in Brentwood Bay on Vancouver Island and is open daily from 9am to 4pm. The beautiful floral display can especially be enjoyed in the spring time when flowers are at full bloom but is open all year round as Vancouver Island’s climate is generally mild in the winter months. Tickets can be purchased here or at the front gates upon entry and cafes are available to purchase meals and refreshments as you can enjoy a leisurely peaceful pace through the 55 acres of serene atmosphere through the 5 gardens: Sunken, Rose, Japanese, Italian and Mediterranean Gardens. We spent half the day at the Butchart Gardens.
Day 4. Downtown Victoria
When staying in downtown Victoria, I highly recommend staying at the Mariott Delta Hotel in Victoria. The hotel may be on the more expensive price range but location, service and facilities (swimming pool) are top notch and perfect for a short getaway to enjoy Victoria. When booking for reservation, request for the best view of the harbour, if available. Their in-house restaurant LURE, also offers delicious food options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and is popular with tourists and locals, which can be busy during peak time. The location is also a perfect walking distance across the pedestrian friendly, Johnson Street Bridge, to Chinatown (about 8 minutes) and make sure to visit the most narrowest street in Canada – Fan Tan Alley, located in Chinatown. Enjoy a full day of the many boutiques and restaurants that downtown Victoria has to offer! Travel tip – make restaurant reservations in advance as restaurants tend to be quite busy, especially in the summer months.
Day 5. Whistler Village
Whistler is often a popular international destination for winter skiing, however also offers many wonderful programs during the summer months. We took the ferry ride from Nanaimo (Departure Bay) as it would be a closer drive to Whistler and most efficient to bypass the busy Vancouver traffic. The scenic sea to sky highway is awe inspiring on its own and the drive is approximately 1.5 hrs from Victoria and 1h 40 mins ferry ride. The arrival point is in north Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) and would be about another 2 hrs drive to Whistler depending on traffic. Enjoy a full day of exploring Whistler Village and the many shops, activities and restaurants it has to offer! There is also a play area in the Olympic Village for the children to enjoy. Don’t forget to make reservations for restaurants ahead of time as they tend to be busy in the peak season.
Day 6. Peak to Peak Gondola + Hiking
Peak to peak gondola ride is a must do experience if this is your first time in Whistler. Reserve your gondola tickets in advance here. You will enjoy a stunning 360 view of the mountain ranges: Blackcomb and Whistler, the glaciers, lakes and dense forests. These pictures do not do justice, and truly a must see in person! If you love the outdoors, you can also enjoy the many hiking trails available depending on your ability and season you visit. You can pack your lunch to save money or purchase food at the cafe on top of the mountain top and savour the epic views. Don’t miss a photo shoot with the Inukshuk (stone structure), located outside the Roundhouse Lodge.
Day 7. Squamish & Kitsilano
As we headed out of Whistler Village towards downtown Vancouver, we stopped over the quaint little town of Squamish. With just a population of over 10,000, we noticed how developed the area, as big box retailers like Canadian Tire and Walmart are available for all your shopping needs. Squamish is considered to be one of the fastest growing cities in Canada. We first stopped in downtown Squamish, to visit this beautiful wall mural created by a local artist. We then stopped in the beach area , to capture some landscape shots of mountain peaks of the Stawamus Chief. Our last stop, we stopped for a quick healthy snack at Alice + Brohm Co. We loved every bite of their ice cream and popsicles, made with locally sourced fresh fruit ingredients.
Kitsalano Beach – Vancouver, BC
We ventured off to a hidden spot in Downtown Vancouver to capture this unobstructed views of the skyline of North Vancouver. You may want to bring some water shoes if you want to spend some time here and have a picnic. There were many oysters and mussels washed up along the shore and a fun place to skip some rocks with the kids.
Day 8. Granville Island
You can easily spend a whole day at Granville Island. Granville Island is located across False Creek from downtown Vancouver under the south end of the Granville street bridge and can be reached by car, bus, walking, or even by water bus. Parking is usually very limited, so I would recommend going as early as possible. The public market is open daily from 9am to 6pm. We started our day with the popular donut shop at Lee’s donuts inside the public market. Shoppers often line up eagerly to pick up these fresh handmade donuts to go! There are many other food options available inside the public market, so take your time to stroll around and pick up some fresh fruits with your meal. Spend your day strolling through the many artistic, cultural boutique shops and art galleries. You can even rent a boat to enjoy the waterfront views of the city! Don’t forgot to stop by the kids market and keep your children occupied for a few hours, as they enjoy the arcades, games and playground.
Day 9. Downtown Vancouver
The best way to see the city is by foot so bring your most comfortable walking shoes as you spend the whole day strolling around downtown Vancouver. Grab your GPS on your phone and mark these 3 locations to visit. You will feel fully immersed in the city’s livelihood as you stroll through the streets of downtown Vancouver.
Robson Street
Robson street is best known for its shopping district and restaurants. For all those foodies, stop by for a delicious Japadog (a fusion of Western hot dog with Japanese ingredients and toppings), at one of their many locations.
Canada Place
Canada Place is a national landmark, located right on Vancouver’s waterfront. Large events, concerts and exhibits often take place here and at night the white sails are beautifully lit up at night time. We especially enjoyed watching all the seaplanes arriving and taking off with the best views of north Vancouver. The waterfront area was just as bustling and lively as he downtown core as many live performers and buskers entertain crowds of people in the streets.
Gastown
Gastown is another popular tourist destination, as it had originally been the settlement for early explorers. The buildings have maintained its original architectural charm, and is now home to many restaurants and shops . Gastown is Vancouver’s historic site and is known for the popular Gastown steam clock. The steam clock was built in 1977 and is powered only by steams and whistles. Every quarter hour, the clock whistles and shoots off some steam.
Day 10. Stanley Park (totem poles + prospect point)
Stanley Park is considered to one of the largest urban park in North American, totalling 405 hectares of green oasis, surrounded by the Burrard Inlet and English Bay. You can easily spend a whole day exploring the many beaches, hiking trails, 10 km seawall, and the many activities it has to offer. You can choose to rent a bike, book a guided tour or explore on your own. We chose to spend our time at the iconic nine Totem Poles at Brockton point beautifully carved by the First Nations people which commemorate the rich history, special events, and ancestry of the Indigenous people.
Prospect point, is the popular look-out point located in the northern tip of Stanley Park and is one of the best views in the city of the Lions gate bridge. If you are patient, you can often catch large ships, sail by under the bridge. There is a restaurant and ice cream shop, should you wish to stop and take a break here. Parking is available, but also very limited.
Click here to see the other fun activities that Stanley Park has to offer.
Final thoughts…
This last year has certainly changed and challenged many peoples lives, as we still grapple through waves of this pandemic. We were grateful this past year for being able to stay at home and being safe with family, but we were elated to be able to travel safely again. New situations are still continually evolving and covid restrictions are very much still with us, and so we need to be reminded that we need to be able to adapt with those changing protocols. For when you are ready to hop on that plane and travel again, just remember to stop and enjoy the little moments of your time. This trip was the mental and emotional lift that we needed to look forward to a more positive new beginning. We had an amazing time visiting British Columbia and more importantly making new memories together.