10 Reasons to Visit British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
About British Columbia, Canada
I will start this post by saying that my opinion could come off as biased given that I was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada. Now keep in mind that I have traveled all over the world, which to some people is like, “good for you bro!” and I too would agree with that sentiment, but what I’m truly getting at is that my opinion matters dammit and I believe BC is one of the most beautiful spots the world has to offer. It is an incredible province and has a lot of attractions for visitors who are lucky enough to come to this great land. With vast tracts of untouched wilderness and a low population, it’s easy to find your own slice of paradise in BC and have it all to yourself for the day.
Here are our 20 Reasons to Visit British Columbia, Canada
Map of British Columbia
The Mountains of British Columbia
Monashee Mountains, British Columbia, Canada
The mountains in BC are some of the biggest in the world and you can freely explore any of these massive wilderness areas by taking one of the many hikes available for your pleasure. There is the legendary mountain range called the Canadian Rockies, which encompasses 194,000 km2 (75,000 sq mi) of pristine wilderness and then there is the even more impressive Coast Mountains, which is around 336,962 km2 (130,102 sq mi) and stretches along the coast of British Columbia. BC has some of the world’s most remote backcountry with a fair amount of that being accessible by rugged dirt roads created by the logging industry.
Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Canada
The Beaches of British Columbia
British Columbia, Canada
The beaches in British Columbia are pretty awesome and with so much damn h2o in this lush province, I can guarantee on your visit you will find yourself staring out over a picturesque body of water at some point. From the gorgeous never-ending coastal beaches of Vancouver Island to the numerous sandy beaches of the sunny Okanagan Valley, there is definitely no shortage of beach space, even for hippy nudists. Surfers love the temperate climate of Tofino, which can be surfed year-round, and even in the December storms surfing is at its best.
Okanagan Lake, British Columbia, Canada
The Lakes of British Columbia
British Columbia, Canada
The Lakes in British Columbia are some of the most pristine in the world and there are over 20,000 of them in the province alone. If you were to visit 1 lake per day it would take you approximately 54.76 years to accomplish. BC has world-renowned lakes like the amazing glacier-fed Joffre Lakes or the warm water paradise of Kalamalka Lake in the Okanagan Valley or how about the gigantic Shuswap Lake, which has what I think are some of the best white sand beaches in BC. So if crystal clear water, beaches, amazing fishing, kayaking, swimming, boating, and a sick tan aren’t your thing, then don’t come to BC.
Kalamalka Lake, British Columbia, Canada
The Weather in British Columbia
Palm Trees, British Columbia, Canada
“The weather”, yes the weather! I know you are probably saying “isn’t Canada like cold and stuff”, well you would be right for the most part, but in BC there are many different climate zones. On Vancouver Island, you will find a mild year-round oceanic climate bordering on the Mediterranean and in many places, the locals are able to grow exotic tropical plants including some hardier species of palm trees as well as banana plants. In the Okanagan Valley, the semi-arid desert-like conditions allow for orchards and wineries to prosper in a big way. The abundant Okanagan sun and the hot conditions allow for the cultivation of many different types of fruits that cannot be grown in other regions of Canada. Different types of well sought after alcohols are also a big part of the economy in the valley, with some of the best wines in the world coming from the Okanagan.
Wine, British Columbia, Canada
There is also the chance that you are from some balmy ass tropical paradise where it’s nothing but warm breezes and frickin Pina Coladas and your reading this thinking that the whole point of visiting BC was for the cool temperatures. Well, we have that too as long as you plan accordingly and show up in the cooler months or hike up to some alpine areas. Winter ski villages like Sun Peaks turn into wonderful places to cool off in the summer as they can be much cooler than the valleys below and you can witness the incredible wildflower season.
Grapes, British Columbia, Canada
Wild fruits are also abundant in the forests of BC and they are free for the picking if you know what you're looking for. Saskatoon berries, raspberries, strawberries, salmonberries, thimbleberries, and blackberries are just a few types of wild fruits in the province.
Saskatoon berries, British Columbia, Canada
The Ocean in British Columbia
British Columbia, Canada
The coastlines of British Columbia are some of the most spectacular in the country and are teeming with wildlife and breathtaking scenery. With a total length of 25,725 kilometers (15,985 mi) the BC coast has many fjords, inlets, islands, and waterways offering up endless exploration opportunities.
British Columbia, Canada
There are many First Nations settlements along the coast of BC, some of which have existed for many thousands of years and survived on fishing as well as hunting in these remote lands. Haida Gwaii for instance is a large island occupied by the Haida people, who have a culture that goes back at least 13,700 years ago. These theories are being confirmed by underwater archaeologists, as many ancient Haida villages are now deep underwater due to flooding caused by the end of the ice age.
The Sunshine Coast is another incredible and somewhat remote area that is only accessible by ferry or plane. People who make the region their home tend to enjoy a much quieter, peaceful way of life, as well as the mild winters and the sunny dry summer temperatures.
The Culture of British Columbia
Totem Pole, British Columbia, Canada
The culture of BC is a mixed one and I mean that literally, most of us are a bunch of mutts. Don’t go and get offended about the “mutts” thing, I know how it goes these days and I’m actually calling myself a “mutt” too, so settle down over there. What I mean by “mutt” is that many of us in BC, as well as throughout Canada are of mixed races and have a few or many different genetic heritages, get it now, “mutt”! So you see the culture of BC is a rather complex one and for many of us British Columbians our culture is not so much of traditions handed down generation to generation, but more of a vibe, or a way of life you could say.
Canadian Flag, British Columbia, Canada
I myself grew up in a fairly rural town of roughly 1,500 honest, God-fearing folks whose weekends involved going out for a rip with your buds to the bush and crushing a flat of wobbly pops(Canadian word for beer). The best representation of this lifestyle that I could find is probably the hilarious video by a couple of BC boys B and Steve, in their comical and slightly exaggerated “Out For a Rip”, which I will link below. On the opposite end of the BC culture spectrum, you will find the British Columbians who grew up in the bustling metropolis of Vancouver and experienced a totally different upbringing than the one I experienced. Both are interesting and exciting in their own right. Vancouver has a hip laid back quality to it and is one of the world’s most diverse cities. A city where one can experience many different cultures all rolled into one big fat legal multicultural doobie(doobies are popular in Vancouver). There is also a rich First Nations history that I described before and it is probably the base of true BC culture. All the cultures that came after First Nations have built upon that and become the society we now see today in British Columbia.
British Columbia is well known for its more mellow way of life and liberal views in comparison to the rest of Canada, but this is coming from somebody on the inside looking out, so my perspective could be slightly skewed. Haters from other provinces will say “ya, BC is a bunch of liberal hippies”, and I’d say, hippies? Yes! Liberals? Maybe! BC after all has been well respected for its BC bud for many years and it is actually now legal throughout this great country. If you do visit British Columbia, leave your anti-cannabis views at the airport because you may come to understand that weed has been a huge part of British Columbia’s culture for a long time. Nowadays marijuana stores are almost as numerous as liquor stores, so if you don’t want to come for the wine, then you may want to come for the weed.
Cannabis, British Columbia, Canada
The City of Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
I’m sure a lot of you reading this have possibly been to Vancouver, or maybe at least heard of it. Well, I’m not a big city guy, but Vancouver is truly amazing as far as cities go and have a lot of fun activities. Yes, Vancouver does have its traffic issues and many residents chose to use the different forms of public transportation to get around. Traffic aside, Vancouver offers a dramatic mountainous backdrop with plenty of fun-filled excursions into the heart of mother nature. The city sits in a deep valley, on the ocean, and is mostly surrounded by wilderness and the sea, except on the border with Washington State to the south.
There is plenty of places within the city to escape the daily hustle, like beautiful Stanley Park or the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in China Town. Chinatown or “Hongcouver”, as local Canadians like to call it features a section of the city where Chinese immigrants particularly from Hong Kong, bring their age-old traditions from the homeland to Canada. Many Chinese people living in Chinatown have family lineage tracing all the way back to the 1800s when thousands of Chinese men came to the area seeking work during the infamous Gold Rush.
I highly suggest checking out Chinatown, it is definitely a bit of a bizarre experience, but also a cool one. Having only been to maybe one or two Chinatowns in my life means I’m not the most experienced in this field, but to me, it felt like somebody took a section of China and transplanted it directly into Vancouver. I know it’s called Chinatown for a reason, so what the hell did I expect? Well, I thought maybe it would be a few Chinese restaurants and a small grocery store, but Vancouver’s Chinatown is the real deal. Vendors and storefronts line the streets displaying different types of foods of foreign foods. Oh, and have you ever heard of “Real Chinese Food” and don’t say “ya, I had a Chinese buffet last week!” Get out of my face with that BS! I mean don’t get me wrong I love me some California Rolls! Queue the sensitive people. It’s a joke, obviously, I know the difference between Chinese and Vietnamese. Another joke people! I hope by now you noticing a theme of offensive humor mixed with super useful information that can only be found at exploratoryglory.com. Now back to my original point, which is that there is a big difference between American Chinese Food and Traditional Chinese Food and if you find yourself in a restaurant in Chinatown be prepared to explore outside of your little western box and at least eat a fisheye or two.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Certain areas of the city have interesting historical value and offer up different nostalgic vibes, like Gastown for instance. Being the oldest neighborhood in Vancouver means having some pretty cool architecture, as well as street performers, shops with local souvenirs, and the popular steam vent clock, which is one of only seven in the world. Built to cover an actual steam vent on the sidewalk, the clock was designed to use the steam as power and with a little electrical assistance, it gives off some wondrous toots to signify the time of the day. Wandering around Gastown can be quite a great experience, but once in a while, you’ll hear the occasional person scream bloody murder followed by wild obscenities that would make most mothers cover their children’s ears. You wonder to yourself “what is happening here? Is it the zombie apocalypse and I’m stuck here shopping in Gastown?“ No, it is not the apocalypse, it’s just the fact that wonderful Gastown is just a couple blocks from East Hastings, one of the worst ghettos in North America. But, if you happen to enjoy seeing people laying on the streets all smacked out, mazes of shopping carts, and the occasional guy standing there with his pants down with more bewilderment in his eyes then there is confusion on your face as you look back at him, well then East Hastings might just be the place for you.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Wildlife of British Columbia
Bear, British Columbia, Canada
As you can imagine British Columbia is teeming with wildlife and many different species of animals make this region their home, including 137 species of mammals. Some of the animals like the otter for instance are super cute and adorable and others like the stealthy cougar(mountain lion) can be dangerous and deadly. With so many different animals, your chances of spotting them while your visiting BC are pretty good. On our journey’s in the last few years we have seen tons of wildlife including a grizzly bear, black bears, wolves, foxes, turkeys, moose, deer, otters, eagles, owls, raccoons, rabbits, and bighorn sheep, not to mention all kinds of smaller critters. The farther north you go within the province the more remote it becomes and your chances of encountering wildlife greatly increase.
Seals, British Columbia, Canada
The Cuisine of British Columbia
Butter chicken, British Columbia, Canada
“Poutine”, is the first thing you’ll hear when discussing Canadian cuisine or maybe “maple syrup”. I don’t know about you, but being recognized for adding cheese and gravy to french fries is slightly embarrassing and France gets most of the credit anyway. I must say that I do love some poutine once in a while, but it’s definitely not conducive to a healthy lifestyle, nor is it the kind of substance you want to shove in your face-hole on a daily basis. The fact is that in BC you can find many different cuisines from all over the globe, especially in cities like Vancouver, where you can find pretty much any cuisine known to man. There are of course several traditional First Nations dishes, but they are few and far between in terms of being able to find them and in reality, most indigenous people relied on natural ingredients straight from the earth, prior to the arrival of Europeans.
Fish, British Columbia, Canada
Hiking in British Columbia
Camel’s Hump, British Columbia, Canada
Hiking is a favorite pastime in BC and it seems as though every city, town, village, and neighborhood has accommodated hikers by adding in trails. British Columbia’s tourism is centered around the outdoors and one of the best ways to explore it is to take up hiking. Hiking is completely free aside from gas and maybe some snacks. It is the best way to get up close and personal with nature. Hiking takes you to places that can only be explored on foot. Places with awe-inspiring views, like from mountaintops that seem to go on forever. Places with not a single sign of human habitation in sight. Places with lakes containing the bluest water your eyes have ever seen. Some of our best pictures and greatest memories have happened while hiking in British Columbia.
Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Canada
Conclusion
British Columbia is a must-visit place for any traveler or a tourist looking for awesome experiences and lasting memories. I recommend visiting from June-October depending on what temperature your after and there are even lots to do in the colder months if you're into winter sports. Fall in BC is gorgeous and perfect for getting those colorful fall photographs.
More British Columbia Attractions
