From western Canada's waterfront cities to the Coast Mountains' glacier-draped heights, this tour has a bit of everything—first-rate museums, strait crossings, and spectacular scenery mixed with history and the currents of strong and distinct cultures of the Northwest Coast tribes, the Far East, all parts of North America, and, of course, Britain.
Overview
This five- to seven-day tour commences in Vancouver, hops a ferry to Victoria, skips along the coast of Vancouver Island and returns to the mainland for a sojourn among the glaciers at Whistler. It then scrambles through rough country inland along a gold rush trail to Kamloops, in the heart of cattle country. The route detours to the mighty Fraser River canyon before finally drifting back downriver to Vancouver.
Start in Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal city blessed by dramatic geography. Ocean water washes its shores, while close inland, mountains rise to snowcapped heights. Top city sights include the flower gardens of Queen Elizabeth Park, the VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak St.; +1 604 878 9274; fee), the Vancouver Maritime Museum (1905 Ogden Ave.; +1 604 257 8300; fee), and the Museum of Anthropology (6393 N.W. Marine Dr.; +1 604 822 5087; fee) with its collection of art by Northwest Coast First Nations peoples. The city’s crowning urban glory might well be the green peninsula of Stanley Park with its winding drives, towering cedars, and footpaths. Allow several hours for the park and Vancouver Aquarium (845 Avison Way; +1 604 659 3474; fee).
Capilano Canyon
Take Highway 99 across the Lions Gate Bridge to North Vancouver and Capilano Canyon, where the Grouse Mountain Skyride (+1 604 980 9311; fee) climbs almost 3,000 vertical feet to a view of city and inlet. To stay closer to sea level, follow Marine Drive west to Lighthouse Park. Established in 1881 as a lighthouse reserve, it contains a remnant stand of old-growth Douglas-fir. Trails lead through the cathedral-like shadows of the ancient cedar and fir trees to the lighthouse on a rocky shoreline.
Ferry to Victoria
Drive south on Highway 99 to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal (+1 604 943 9331) and take passage to Victoria. Crossing the Strait of Georgia, you realize that for all its water, Vancouver is not an oceanfront city. It stands protected by numerous small islands and one very large one: Vancouver Island itself. An hour into the passage, a long chain of snowcapped peaks comes into view: the Olympic Mountains in Washington State. The white dome to the east is Mount Baker, also in Washington. The ferry docks at Swartz Bay, and you make your entry to Victoria by driving south on Highway 17 to the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island.
Victoria
The heart of the city is its inner harbor, a delightful place to spend an afternoon among seagulls, artists, and musicians. Take tea at the grand Empress Hotel (+1 250 384 8111), explore the Royal British Columbia Museum (675 Belleville St.; +1 250 356 7226; fee) and the Maritime Museum of British Columbia (28 Bastion Square; +1 250 385 4222; fee). Make time for an excursion outside the city: See the lavish floral displays of Butchart Gardens (800 Benvenuto Ave., off Hwy. 17; +1 250 652 4422; fee).
