Spring in BC is marked by flower festivals, gorgeous gardens and community events that celebrate the prettiest part of the season:

• Held each spring, the Chilliwack Tulip Festival is the largest tulip festival in Western Canada, with over six million bulbs blooming each year. Visitors can wander a dreamy landscape worthy of Rembrandt, where more than eight hectares (20 acres) of fields are populated by dozens of varieties of tulips, double daffodils and hyacinths. The festival typically kicks off in mid-April, and takes place at a working farm on Yale Road.
• The Cherry Blossom Festival (April 1-23), Vancouver’s signature springtime event, is a celebration of cherry blossoms inspired by the age-old Japanese tradition of hanami (flower viewing). Each year, locals and visitors congregate under the blushing blooms for a bouquet of festivities, including Steps for Sakura (April 1), a popup event that encourages people to connect with nature and explore local neighbourhoods; the Big Picnic (April 2), hosted amid 100 Akebono cherry trees in David Lam Park (this year’s picnic fixing is a Blossom Bento made by private sushi chefs); and Sakura Days Japan Fair (April 9-10), a gathering at Van Dusen Botanical Garden that pays homage to Japanese food, arts and culture.
• Spring in Victoria (“the City of Gardens”) is marked by millions of flowers that transform the town into a riot of colour. At Butchart Gardens, guests can watch the greenery awaken across 22 hectares (55 acres), including the Sunken Garden, where 65,000 bulbs were planted specially for spring; and the Japanese Garden, where a grand Torii gate ushers guests into a springtime tableau marked by Himalayan blue poppies. Abkhazi Garden is distinguished by glaciated rocky slopes, native Garry oaks and gorgeous vistas. Over the years, Japanese maples and rhododendrons have grown to impressive maturity, while heather, irises and daylilies unfurl in a vibrant carpet. Onsite is an elegant teahouse where visitors can enjoy leisurely reflection amid the blooms. And in nearby Milner Gardens, situated seaside in Qualicum Beach, 28 hectares (69 acres) of unspoiled natural beauty decorate an oceanside bluff overlooking the Strait of Georgia. In spring, the garden comes alive with many-hued flowers, including camellias, magnolias, rhododendrons and more.

Spring is the season when nature awakens. Participate in an Indigenous cultural experience and gain a fresh perspective of the land:

• In June 2021, Talaysay Tours debuted a new Talking Trees tour at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler. Guided by Lil’wat Elder and Plant Specialist Lucille Joseph, guests wander the nearby plant trail, learning about the medicine and culinary uses of local trees and plants. The tour is focused on Indigenous wellness practices that have been used for thousands of years.
• In Campbell River, Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours has launched the Whales, Wildlife and Culture Tour, which combines wildlife sightseeing – including humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, sea lions and bald eagles – with Indigenous storytelling and exploration of culturally significant sites. Campbell River and the Discovery home to a rich Indigenous heritage with millennia of occupation by the people of the Homalco, Klahoose, Tla’amin, Wei Wai Kum and other First Nations. Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours also opened a new Homalco Adventure Centre in Campbell River and two new state-of-the-art tour vessels.
• Opening in May 2022 for its first full season, Klahoose Wilderness Resort is an all-inclusive, Indigenous-owned luxury eco-resort nestled in the coastal wilderness of Desolation Sound. In spring, the off-grid resort offers eco-adventure boat tours to remote, thundering waterfalls, along with Indigenous storytelling, cedar weaving, sea kayaking and rainforest nature walks.

Warmer weather and longer nights make spring the perfect season to book an outdoor getaway:

• Chute Lake Lodge, perched in the mountains above the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan Valley, invites travellers to escape the everyday with a series of rustic cabins, yurts and glamping tents dotted among the forest. Here, the wind sings guests to sleep, while brilliant sunrises set the tone for an inspiring day. In spring, travellers can hike, fish, kayak, view wildlife and soak in the onsite sauna, among other amusements.
• Ever heard of orchard glamping? At Merridale Cidery on Vancouver Island, visitors can stay in a plush yurt whose skylight is ideal for nighttime stargazing. The circular, wooden-framed tents marry the best of camping and comfort, sleeping two adults and offering full bathrooms, hardwood floors, and direct access to the heritage orchard. During your visit, take the 25-minute drive to the newly opened Malahat Skywalk, where a 600-metre (1,986-foot) stroll through arbutus forest leads to a sightseeing lookout boasting spectacular views of Finlayson Arm, Saanich Peninsula, Mount Baker and the Coast Mountains.
• Near Kootenay National Park in the Canadian Rockies, Nipika Mountain Resort is an off-grid oasis that sources its power from the elements. Here, guests can spend the day luxuriating in spring sunshine with plenty of options to mountain bike, trail run, hike, and canoe along the Kootenay River. In the evenings, retreat to your cozy log cabin and lounge on the porch as you stargaze and listen to the sounds of the surrounding forest.