Multi-Day Getaways That Begin in Vancouver

Suggested trip duration: 7-10 days

Arguably the most iconic road trip in BC is the drive from Vancouver to the Rocky Mountains. The trip features continually shifting landscapes and some of the province’s most beautiful scenery. And if you’re lucky, you may spot bears, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and more.

Drive through the Fraser Valley to the town of Hope, where you can enjoy a meal and stretch your legs along a riverside trail before continuing up the scenic Fraser Canyon. Watch the mighty Fraser River rush by at the bottom of steep canyon walls, and consider a whitewater rafting trip with REO Resort or Kumsheen Rafting Resort. 

As you approach the city of Kamloops, the landscape shifts to sagebrush and expansive grasslands. Kamloops is known for its hiking and mountain biking, and there are more than 100 nearby lakes for fishing and paddling adventures. Continue east past the Shuswap, with its lakeside recreation and outstanding houseboating, and then into the Monashee Mountains to Revelstoke, a quintessential mountain town tucked between the Monashees and the Selkirks. “Revy” is home to Revelstoke Mountain Resort, an epic ski resort that offers hiking and mountain biking in summer, as well as a ropes course and a mountain coaster. Hike to colourful alpine meadows in Mount Revelstoke National Park, and paddle on local lakes and rivers. 

Drive past more than 90 glaciers in Glacier National Park on your way to Golden, another impressive mountain town that offers hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort with its via ferrata and grizzly bear refuge. Cross the Golden Skybridge suspension bridge before heading to Yoho National Park and the Canadian Rockies.

Suggested trip duration: 3-5 Days

Eclectic, artsy oceanside towns dot the Sunshine Coast, a 180-km stretch along the Pacific Ocean that runs from Howe Sound—a UNESCO Biosphere Region just north of Vancouver—to Desolation Sound, a remote marine park popular with boaters, kayakers, and scuba divers. Connected to Vancouver via a short ferry ride, the coast has a laid-back vibe and a population that includes a disproportionate number of artists and artisans. As you travel, watch for the purple banners that mark artist studios and galleries open to visitors. 

Your journey starts in Gibsons, where you can stroll along the pier and buy seafood fresh off the boat. Follow the Sunshine Coast Highway as it winds past dozens of roadside beaches and charming communities. Stop in Sechelt, bookended by the Salish Sea to the west and Sechelt Inlet to the east, to rent a kayak or SUP, then relax on an outdoor patio overlooking the ocean. There’s plenty of land-based adventure here, too, including extensive mountain bike trail networks and a must-do hike to see the impressive rapids that form during tidal changes at Skookumchuck Narrows.

Board a second ferry to the typically quieter communities along the northern Sunshine Coast, where you’ll find Canada’s longest hut-to-hut hike. Visit the Powell River Historic Townsite en route to Mile 0 of the Sunshine Coast Highway in Lund, gateway to the spectacular Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park.

Suggested trip duration: 3-5 Days

The biggest city in the Okanagan Valley, Kelowna is known for its creative and hyperlocal culinary scene. This includes nearby farms, orchards, and artisan food producers, as well as wineries, distilleries, and craft breweries and cideries. The vibrant lakeside community also boasts easy access to swimming and paddling from city beaches, and hiking and biking trails in the surrounding mountains. Don’t miss walking or pedalling through Myra Canyon with its tunnels and wooden trestle bridges.

Follow Highway 97 south from Kelowna as it runs along the shoreline of Okanagan Lake, passing small communities and scenic vineyards. Stop in Summerland to ride the Kettle Valley Steam Railway on your way to Penticton, nestled between Okanagan and Skaha lakes. Relax on local beaches, and work up an appetite at Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park with its hiking and mountain biking opportunities, as well as more than 1,000 rock climbing routes.

Take a leisurely detour to the Naramata Bench for some of the valley’s loveliest wineries, then continue on Highway 97 past Oliver, known as Canada’s Wine Capital. Finish your Okanagan Valley adventure in Osoyoos, located in Canada’ only desert. Learn about this unique ecosystem and the living culture of the Osoyoos Indian Band at the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre.

Suggested trip duration: 1-3 Days

Travelling east from Vancouver along the Trans Canada Highway, you’ll notice a dramatic transition from urban architecture to fertile farmland backed by distant mountain peaks. The Fraser Valley is the breadbasket of southern BC, where dairies, produce farms, breweries, wineries, and more are spread across some of the province’s most productive agricultural land. 

Engage all your senses as you taste your way along a Circle Farm Tour and gather ingredients for the perfect outdoor picnic. And a don’t-miss summer highlight is picking fresh local berries. Visit Fort Langley National Historic Site, a former Hudson’s Bay Company trading post, for hands-on learning about First Nations and settler history in the area.

Outdoor activities in the valley range from scenic summit hikes to fragrant lavender farms; from alpaca meet and greets to rumoured sightings of Sasq’ets (commonly known as Sasquatch). Lakes and waterways help nourish the soil, and also lend themselves to activities like fishing and paddling. Visit Harrison Hot Springs to experience the healing properties of the springs, and to access scenic Harrison Lake.