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Want to make the most of your next trip to Vancouver? Fill up the tank and get ready to hit the road—these day trips are worth adding to. Fort Langley National Historic Site. 10 day trips from Vancouver to take right now · 1. Food, art and beer in North Vancouver · 2. Sail into Vancouver Harbour · 3. Explore Bowen Island · 4. Go from sea.
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In this post, we want to get outside the city and share our favourite day trips from Vancouver. It should be noted that you can easily convert some of these day trips into an overnight trip or weekend getaway. Read this post for the best road trip from Vancouver for first time visitors. Located km north of Vancouver about 1. Whistler gained world fame in when it co-hosted the Winter Olympics with the city of Vancouver. Whistler consistently ranks as the top ski resort in North America.
In , it introduced the world record-breaking Peak 2 Peak Gondola, completing the longest continuous lift system in the world.
Over the past decade, Whistler has evolved to become a top summer destination in Canada. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest. Victoria is approximately kilometres from both Vancouver and Seattle, making it the perfect day trip or weekend getaway for tourists and mainland residents.
We try to visit Victoria at least once every year. Most people will catch the ferry that departs from Tsawwassen BC Ferries Terminal , but you can take a bus from downtown Vancouver that will drop you off in downtown Victoria ticket includes the ferry crossing. You can also take a float plane from downtown Vancouver, which is a lot of fun. The ferry option will take you at least 4 hours in each direction. They are centrally located and family friendly.
Search for more Victoria hotels here. The island is only 6 km wide and 12 km long, so you can easily explore the island in one day. Popular activities are kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and boating.
The Snug Cove ferry terminal has a marina with small shops and restaurants. An easy scenic hike is the Killarney Lake trail. A more challenging hike is the summit of Mount Gardner. Or you can take a 45 minute water taxi from Granville Island. Check with BC Ferries for sailing times. Part of the fun is the actual journey to the Sunshine Coast. Most visitors will access the Sunshine Coast by ferry from Horseshoe Bay, but you can also catch a float plane, depending on the time of year.
The ferry ride and marinas are quintessentially West Coast. If you are traveling in a group, consider booking this guided tour to explore a few of the hidden gems on the Sunshine Coast. Howe Sound is network of fjords situated between West Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast, about 30 minutes northwest of Vancouver.
This is one of the most beautiful areas in the Lower Mainland. One of the things we like to do in Vancouver during the summer is to visit the lazy seals that hang out on Pam Rocks, a cluster of tiny islands located in the center of Howe Sound. The only way to see these rock islands is by boat. The boat can take between 4 to 6 people. Horseshoe Bay is also the location of the third busiest BC Ferries terminal. There are a few restaurants in the village, including the legendary Trolls Restaurant get the Oyster Burger or Clam Chowder , and it has a rocky beach with a playground that faces the marina.
After you visit Horseshoe Bay, check out nearby Whytecliff Park , one of the first Marine Protected Areas in Canada and a popular cold water scuba diving spot. If you have time on your drive back to Vancouver, visit nearby Lighthouse Park , located in a residential area in West Vancouver. It is a popular attraction and a National Historic Site of Canada. Located about halfway between Vancouver and Whistler, the town of Squamish is one of the best day trips from Vancouver.
It continues to build its brand as an outdoor adventure destination. We could dedicate an entire blog post about things to do in Squamish. You can make several day trips from Vancouver to Squamish and still only scratch the surface. For the thrill-seeker, rock climbing at the Stawamus Chief is world class and the Via Ferrata from the Summit Lodge is fun change of pace. If you prefer to get in the water, the Squamish Spit hosts some of the best windsurfing and kite surfing in the Pacific Northwest.
There area also dozens of hiking trails and parks, including the family-friendly Four Lakes Trail and the full day Elfin Lakes hike. There are plenty of things to do once you reach the summit. The Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge is a big hit and will surely give you butterflies in your stomach as it sways from side to side.
There are multiple viewing platforms and several hiking trails for all skill levels. The Museum site itself is an exhibit — from historical machinery to heritage buildings and the massive yellow dump truck that lives within the facility. The 45 minute guided tour gives you an understanding of what life was like as a miner back in the early s. You only need about 2 hours to explore the museum and take the mine train tour, so this is a good activity to bundle with a visit to the Sea to Sky Gondola or Porteau Cove Provincial Park.
Book your admission tickets easily here. Porteau Cove is a small provincial park in British Columbia about 50 hectares in size , situated on the most southerly fjord in North America. The park stretches between the shoreline of Howe Sound and the Sea to Sky Highway , about 20 minutes south of Squamish. Garibaldi Provincial Park is a massive wilderness park located between Squamish and Whistler, about a 1. This beautiful park is best visited during the summer months, when you can hike the popular Garibaldi Lake trail.
There are five entrance points located along the Sea to Sky Highway. There are also several camp sites that are first come, first served. The Southern Gulf Islands , an archipelago of small islands located between Vancouver Island the Lower Mainland, is one of the best places to witness orca whales in their natural habitat.
This is one of the best day trips from Vancouver for first time visitors, in our opinion. The best time to go whale watching is during the salmon migration in the summer months between May to October.
Whales, sea birds and other marine animals are attracted to the area to feed, resulting in very strong success rate on many whale watching tours. There are plenty of whale watching operators based out of Vancouver that offer a variety of options, from 2 hour tours to full day excursions.
Over the years, the park has added several features to compliment its famous bouncing suspension bridge, including the recently added Cliffwalk experience. The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is a great family friendly attraction for both tourists and locals. Aside from the bridge and cliffwalk, the park also offers the Treetops adventure, a series of seven suspension bridges attached to eight 30 ton, year old Douglas-firs, and several boardwalks with viewpoints that overlook the canyon.
Skip the lines and book your tickets easily here. If you have time, try to squeeze in a visit to nearby Cleveland Dam. No trip to Vancouver is complete without a visit to the North Shore Mountains. All three mountains have ski operations in the winter, extensive hiking trails in the summer and facilities with restaurants. Grouse Mountain , the self-described Peak of Vancouver, is the most popular mountain for tourists. To reach the peak, guests take the Skyride tram to the top of the mountain.
This is always fun for first timers, regardless of the season. Novice hikers should plan for roughly two hours to ascend the trail. The record is 25 minutes.
Cypress Mountain is located in the southern section of Cypress Provincial Park. With over hectares of skiable terrain and 53 runs, Cypress Mountain has the largest ski area out of the three mountains. An easy day trips from Vancouver is a visit to Deep Cove. You can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and surfskis from Deep Cove Kayak.
This shop gets busy in the summer months, especially on the weekends. Quarry Rock is an easy hike that takes about 1. The views from the top of Quarry Rock are fantastic. It sits at the mouth of the Fraser River and was once the largest fishing port and cannery centre on the West Coast. Steveson is also the departure point for many whale watching tours that explore the nearby Gulf Islands and the San Juan islands in Washington State. On a sunny afternoon we like to visit the village and indulge in fish and chips and cold beer.
Then we like to walk along the pier to burn off lunch. Steveston is still an active fishing harbour, so you can walk along the docks and purchase fresh seafood directly from the fishing boats.
The River Rock has a large theater that hosts a variety of entertainment acts throughout the year. The Night Market features live performances, carnival games and over retail stalls with over food choices from around the world.
Did you know the Lower Mainland is home to several award winning wineries? Chaberton Estate Winery is the oldest and largest winery in the Fraser Valley and the 5th largest in British Columbia. Langley is about a 45 minute drive from Vancouver, depending on traffic afternoon rush hour can add hours. Located two hours east of Vancouver, just south of Chilliwack, sits Cultus Lake Provincial Park and its many family friendly attractions. The lake, beaches and surrounding forests are fantastic, but what lures families to this area is the Cultus Lake Waterpark and Cultus Lake Adventure Park.
Cultus Lake Waterpark has all kinds of water slides, wading pools and themed attractions. You could spend the entire day at this park alone.
Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park is located km east of Vancouver and 64 km southeast of Chilliwack 40km in from the Vedder Crossing. There are several hiking trails, beaches, boat launches, parks and recreational facilities. This is a great spot to go boating, kayaking and canoeing. Follow this road for 40 km to the lake and campground — visit BC Parks website for more info.