Weekend & Day Trips from Vancouver, British Columbia

1. Bowen Island

Sitting in the middle of the beautiful Howe Sound, Bowen Island is a tranquil retreat from Vancouver's busy streets. The island is an outdoor paradise, and some of the most popular activities here include sea kayaking, strolling along the forested walking paths, and hiking up Mount Gardner to admire the spectacular view. However, it offers a surprising number of other attractions as well, including a handful of local art galleries and studios, a working pottery studio, a small local museum, and a golf club. There's also an excellent selection of restaurants and cafes serving up tempting treats and delicious meals.

2. Harrison Hot Springs

Set at the southern end of Harrison Lake, Harrison Hot Springs is a fantastic place to go for a day of relaxation and outdoor fun. This beautiful little resort village first became famous thanks to its natural geothermal hot springs, and while the springs are still one of the area's biggest attractions, there are now plenty of other things to do here as well. Many of the best activities are centered around the lake; the sandy beach is perfect for swimming, scenic boat cruises leave from the dock in town, and a floating obstacle course is set up on the water in the summer.

3. Squamish

Widely regarded as one of the top outdoor destinations in the entire province, Squamish is a small town surrounded by imposing mountains and incredible views of the nearby Howe Sound. You won't have a hard time finding something to do; visit the beautiful Britannia Beach to take photos and visit the mining museum, stop by the stunning Shannon Falls, or hike up the Stawamus Chief for some of the best views in the area. If you want the views without having to do a big hike, take the Sea To Sky Gondola, which brings riders to 2900 feet above sea level.

4. Abbotsford

Located right outside Greater Vancouver, Abbotsford is a vibrant agricultural city that seamlessly blends into the countryside. It's a great place to go if you're interested in learning about Canadian farm culture, and there are several working farms open to visitors, including a honey farm, a goat farm, and dairy farm with more than 50 ice cream flavors on offer. If you'd rather stay in the city, you can admire the artwork at the Reach Gallery Museum or take a tour of one of the city's wineries.

5. Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park

Only an hour and a half outside of downtown Vancouver, Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park is a beautiful 32-acre park that was established to protect the spectacular 200-foot Bridal Falls. A short hiking trail leads from the parking lot to a viewing platform at the base of the falls, and there is also a day-use area with picnic tables for visitors to have their lunch. The entire waterfall sometimes freezes in the winter, and when this happens, visitors are advised to stay away from the base of the falls in order to avoid falling ice.

Rosedale, BC V0X 1X0, Canada, Phone: 604-986-9371

6. Capilano Suspension Bridge and Cliffwalk

If you want to experience nature in a truly breathtaking way, you need to visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Cliffwalk. The original suspension bridge was built here in 1889, and it stretches for 450 feet over the Capilano River, allowing visitors to admire the natural beauty of the water and the surrounding old growth forest from a height of 230 feet. The Cliffwalk is a much newer attraction, but it's no less thrilling; it consists of a series of suspended walkways that jut out from the canyon wall. The park is also filled with beautiful walking trails, and short informative tours are sometimes offered.

7. Cascade Falls

Cascade Falls isn't as well-known as some of the other attractions in the area, but it's a spectacular spot that's well worth the drive. The beautiful waterfall tumbles down a 100-foot cliff into a picturesque green pool, and it can be reached by a short trail that starts in the parking lot. The best place to view the falls is from the suspension bridge that stretches across the river, but there are several other viewpoints as well, including a viewing platform at the end of the main trail. Several longer hiking trails continue into the park from the base of the falls.

8. Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park

Nestled in the Chilliwack River Valley, Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park boasts a beautiful lake and rugged mountain slopes covered with old growth forests. Approximately 25 miles of trails meander through the park, providing plenty of opportunities for hiking and wildlife watching, but cyclists and horseback riders are asked to stay on the roadways. The park's namesake lake is its biggest attraction, and it offers a day-use area with a sandy beach and a boat launch. The water is typically too cold to swim, but it's perfectly suited to boating, windsurfing, and canoeing, although the park recommends that only experienced paddlers go out on the lake.

9. Christina Lake

Tucked in between the Kootenay Mountains and the Okanagan, Christina Lake is a wonderful spot for outdoor recreation, particularly in the summer. The lake is known for being one of the warmest in the province, which makes it a popular spot with swimmers and divers, but it's also an excellent place to fish, boat, and stand up paddleboard. If you'd rather stay on dry land, you can explore the forested area around the lake on foot, by mountain bike, or on horseback. During the winter, the trails are open to cross-country skiers, snow shoers, and snowmobilers.

10. Fort Langley National Historic Site

As the birthplace of British Columbia, the Fort Langley National Historic Site is the perfect place to visit if you want to step back in time to the 1800s. Originally established as a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post, it consists of both restored and reconstructed historic buildings, including a blacksmith shop with a working forge, a storehouse built in the 1840s, and a majestic Big House. Self-guided tours of the site are available in a number of different languages, and visitors will often have the opportunity to watch live demonstrations of activities like barrel-making and gold panning.

23433 Mavis Ave, Langley City, BC V1M 2R5, Canada, Phone: 604-513-4777