(YVR, SEA) British Columbia, Canada

Although the city has a particular allure, sometimes nature can provide a necessary break from the hustle of daily life. If you’re looking for a beautiful place for nature immersion, British Columbia travel is for you! If you want to explore the city, Victoria and Vancouver are options! Sometimes it is nice to have a bit of both. Like my usual itinerary posts, this is a launching place for ideas.

Having not been to British Columbia, these options would interest me if I had some free time and there happened to be open seats to Canada or Seattle. I put these itineraries together in the event of a change of plans. It is tough to plan both a date and a location. I typically choose dates and go where there is good availability. Putting itineraries together helps me plan great trips quickly, and I hope they will assist you in your travels!

Upon Arrival in Canada, as a US Citizen You Must Have:

Passport with a blank page for stamping

Other Information For British Columbia Travel

• 911 is the emergency number
• The best times to visit are March to May and September to November
• Spring has fewer tourists, budding flowers, but lingering cold
• Summer has great weather, but crowded
• Fall is cheaper, but getting cold
• Winter means snow sports, but cold

Transportation 

Rent a Car or RV

• Offers the flexibility to stop and enjoy the view
• Renting an RV means you can save on hotels!
• *Option: take the ferry across the Strait of Georgia

     About 2.5 hours from Vancouver to Vancouver Island – including ferry time

Clipper Ferry from SEA to Victoria, Rent Car on Island

• Just under 3 hours on the ferry, passenger only
• $115-160 pp (But keep in mind you are avoiding international taxes)

Driving from Seattle

-3.5 hour drive from Seattle to Garibaldi Provincial Park

Don’t Rent a Car if Planning on Staying in Vancouver Exclusively 

• The city is small and very walkable
• Take the Skytrain from the airport to the city
• Use public transit
• I would recommend a car to see some of the natural sights outside the city!

Transportation: Things to Know for British Columbia Travel

• You might see marine life on the ferries, but it may not be worth prioritizing Vancouver Island as it adds a lot of travel time, depending on your interests
• Km per hour
• US license valid in Canada 
• Traffic during rush hour
• Can’t park in residential zones in Victoria

British Columbia Travel Activities

• Grouse Mountain, tram to hiking and grizzly bears $80 per adult, 20 minutes from Vancouver
  •    Getting to Grouse Mountain 
• Sea to Sky Gondola $65-$73 per adult
  •  Getting to Sea to Sky Gondola
• Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge
• Wine Touring $144pp Okanagan Valley
• Whale Watching $180pp
• Butchart Gardens $23+, on Vancouver Island
• Cloudbreaker Suspension Bridge
• Hiking
• Ziplining $127 in Whistler
• Wild Pacific Trail
• Vancouver Food Tour $98 pp
• Granite Falls $105 pp
• Joffre Lakes
• Skiing
• Drive Rogers Pass
• Whistler Villiage
• Drive Sea to Sky Highway
• Drive around Vancouver Island
• Mount Robson
• Wells Grey Provincial Park
• Emerald Lake and Yoho National Park
• Kootenay National Park
• Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park
• Garibaldi Lake
• Cheakamus Lake
• Panorama Ridge
• Stawamus Chief
• Banff

Eats

• Dungeness crab
• Pacific Salmon
• Doukhobor Borscht
• Nanaimo Bars
• Spot Prawns
• Butter Chicken Pizza

Google Map

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cax9RSfJS2TkG5Mj6

Sources

“11 Ways to Get Closer to Nature in British Columbia.” National Geographic, National Geographic, 19 Nov. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/destination-canada/11-ways-get-closer-nature-british-columbia#:~:text=Located%20just%20under%20an%20hour,minutes%20aboard%20this%20popular%20Gondola. 

“33 Best Things to Do in BC, Canada (2024 Bucket List!).” Destinationless Travel, Destinationless Travel, 6 Jan. 2024, destinationlesstravel.com/things-to-do-in-british-columbia/. 

“Canada International Travel Information.” Travel.State.Gov, 10 Aug. 2023, travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Canada.html. 

Chris, et al. “Over 60 Vancouver Travel Tips That 80% of Visitors Don’t Know About.” The Unconventional Route, THE UNCONVENTIONAL ROUTE, 5 Sept. 2023, www.theunconventionalroute.com/vancouver-travel-tips/. 

Eat This Town Food Nerd. Pizza junkie. Burger ambassador. Bean paste enthusiast. Beer drinker. Urban wanderer. Friendly local. “Canadian Food: Top 10 Iconic Foods of British Columbia.” Eat This Town, 10 Aug. 2020, www.eatthistown.ca/iconic-foods-of-canada-british-columbia/. 

“How to Get to Vancouver, BC: Helpful Tips and Tricks.” Vancouver, The Metro Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2024, www.destinationvancouver.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here/. 

Neal, Ron. “Driving in Victoria & Public Transit: Victoria Commuting Tips.” Victoria BC Real Estate – RonNeal.Com, Real Estate Webmasters, 15 Feb. 2023, www.ronneal.com/blog/driving-victoria.html. 

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