Vancouver/Whistler/Victoria, Canada

Nearby areas in Vancouver/Whistler/Victoria, Canada

Vancouver Island

Just a short and strikingly scenic ferry ride west of Downtown Vancouver, this island is rated by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine as one of the top non-tropical destinations in the world. Victoria, the elegant capital of British Columbia, occupies a peninsular tip on the southern district. Miles of sandy beaches, rocky shores, rural villages, sophisticated cities, virgin emerald forests, seaside golf, mountains, caves, fossil quarries, and heaps more await discovery. And you can settle in as you please, in a world-class resort, a wilderness campground, a romantic cabin on a wind-swept cove, or anything in between.

Whistler

A central village street serves as the focal point for all activities, so pedestrians rule the land. Adding to its rural, old-world appeal is the fact that this quaint alpine town is utterly free of ambiance-marring traps such as strip malls and cheap motels. Mountain Sports and Living, Ski and Snow Country magazines rated it the premier ski resort in North America, with more verticals, lifts, and varied terrain than any other. Across the seasons you can ski, snowboard, snowmobile, sleigh-ride, raft, hike, mountain bike, kayak, golf, and horseback ride. For a bird's eye view, gondolas take you high above the glorious alpine meadows.

Bowen Island

Early in the 20th century, the Lady Alexandra ferry whisked couples away to this Howe Sound island for a romantic retreat. Popular big-band orchestras frequented "The Happy Isle," which over the decades has become a permanent home to at least a thousand artists and writers. This pretty island is still a popular escape where you can take historic walks, tour a brewery, hike serene trails, and soak in the sun on quiet beaches.

Squamish

Once a down-trodden mill town, Squamish has become an eco-tourism sensation, in large part thanks to the annual bald eagle migration. The bird of prey's population thrives in Canada, and you can hike or raft down the Squamish and Elaho Rivers to view them. The entire area is phenomenal, making even the trip to get there an event. The drive along the stunning Sea-to-Sky Highway from downtown Vancouver takes about an hour, winding along the craggy tree-lined coast of Howe Sound, past Shannon Falls and Stawamus Chief, the continent's tallest monolithic rock face.

For more information about Vancouver/Whistler/Victoria, Canada

Tourism Vancouver

The Greater Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau, 200 Burrard Street, Suite 210, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3L6, phone 604-682-2222, fax 604-682-1717.

Vancouver Coast and Mountains Tourism Region

204-1755 West Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia V6J 4S5, Canada, phone 604-739-9011.

Tourism Association of Vancouver Island

302-45 Bastion Square, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1J1, Canada, phone 250-382-3551.