The Best Places to Visit in British Columbia

Spirit Bear Kermode - Wicked Wine Tours

Check out Wicked Tours’ list of the best places to visit in British Columbia. Rather than listing 100 things, we’ve chosen our 5 top spots.

Courtesy of Destination BC/Kari Medig - Lake of the Hanging Glacier, Invermere

No “best places to visit in BC” blog post could ever do justice to British Columbia. Let’s say that straight out of the gate. Anyone who says they’ve found the objective list of the best things to do in BC is probably a little disingenuous… Any list or travel guide will be inherently biased, and that’s okay if the writer recognizes this. As you might expect, Wicked Tours’ list leans towards BC’s incredible Okanagan Valley. British Columbia is a fantastic place to visit; we hope we can do it justice with this guide.

About British Columbia

British Columbia is one of Canada’s most popular domestic and international travel provinces. This vast province spans Canada’s Pacific coastline and contains the world-famous Canadian Rockies mountain range. Approximately two-thirds of BC’s surface is forest, and the lush green landscapes come to mind for anyone who has visited the province. 

Now for some of the top BC spots.

People walking on a a busy downtown street in Kelowna, BC.

Kelowna

It is popular to discuss the entire Okanagan Valley, praising its lush greenery and distinct Canadian wine culture — but we’ve done that recently with our 5 Reasons to Visit Canada’s Okanagan Valley. So, we’d like to focus on Kelowna, the central city within the Okanagan Valley. Resting on the banks of the beautiful Okanagan Lake, Kelowna offers incredible views in every direction. The wider Kelowna area balances green countryside (wine country!), stunning lakeside views, and charming BC architecture. This part of British Columbia gets more popular yearly, and Wicked Tours is lucky to be here! Check out our diverse range of Kelowna Wine Tastings if you plan to visit.

Wintery streets in downtown Whistler Village in British Columbia, Canada.

Whistler

Whistler is arguably the epicentre of the world of winter sports, competing for the top spot with Europe’s best winter resorts. While Whistler was a local favourite several decades ago, its stunning vistas and perfect slopes could not be kept secret for long. Budding winter sports enthusiasts worldwide started making the yearly pilgrimage to Whistler long before the 2010 Whistler Olympic Games cemented the area and Blackcomb Mountain as one of the best places in the world for winter sports! Type “Whistler” into a Google image search for more visiting reasons.

A inlet at sunrise in Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, Canada.

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is the largest island on the western coast of North America, packed with beautiful parks, forests, beaches and campsites. While many people like to tell you Vancouver Island is larger than the UK, it is considerably smaller. The island is a very similar size to Belgium! For many, the highlight of Vancouver Island is the vast and luscious Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and the temperate weather enjoyed all year round. If all of the lush green nature gets too much for you, the city of Victoria has a lot of history and culture to offer.

Coal Harbour in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Vancouver

We would be doing you a disservice if we didn’t mention Vancouver — BC’s densely populated, diverse metropolitan city. Vancouver has more art galleries, museums, historic sites, and nightlife than any visitor can see in a short visit, so you will want to dedicate at least four or five days to sample the city properly. Vancouver’s foodie scene is incredible, and its vast Chinatown and Chinese population make it ideal for anyone who loves authentic Chinese cuisine. Vancouver’s skyline will take your breath away. While you can see the ocean and nearby forests around the city, you may be more impressed by Vancouver’s architecture and overall aesthetic than by anything Mother Nature can throw at you.

A Kermode - Spirit - bear in the Great Rainforest on Vancouver Island, Canada.

Great Bear Rainforest

Unless you travel to the desolate wilderness of Northern Canada, you won’t find a more remote or tranquil place than the Great Bear Rainforest. There aren’t many roads within the rainforest, making it perfect for nature lovers who want to escape from the noise of modern living. The most significant selling point of the Great Bear Rainforest is that it is the largest coastal temperate rainforest in the world, which means that there is a considerable range of incredible marine life to look out for, including charming sea otters and awe-inspiring whales. If you’re fortunate, you may even see the scarce white Kermode bear (the “spirit bear”).

That’s all we have time for with this blog. We could write a book about all the places worth seeing in British Columbia, but we’re a wine tour company and busy showing off the beautiful Okanagan Valley! If anything in this guide has inspired you to visit BC and you want to add one of our Okanagan wine tours to your trip, please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

Mission Hill Wine
Duration
6 hours
Group Size
2 to 6

Kelowna Wineries Tour

Immerse Yourself in the Beauty of Kelowna Wineries without the Stress of Planning, Even if You're New to Wine

Curious about the stories behind the finest West Kelowna wineries? Only those on our Okanagan wine tours get VIP access!

Embark on a luxurious Kelowna winery tour across the lake to scenic West Kelowna. Step into a winter wonderland on our seasonal wine tour to the finest Kelowna vineyards, including Mission Hill Winery and Quails Gate Winery. Personalize your wine tour with wine tasting upgrades and choice of lunch at Quails Gate restaurant or Modest Butcher at Mt. Boucherie. Experience ten years of award-winning Kelowna winery expertise with your personal guide, El Presidenté.

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Grinch Santa Wicked Tours
Duration
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Gift Certificates

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Picture your loved ones strolling through picturesque vineyards, sampling exquisite local wines, and sharing laughter amid the beauty of Kelowna's wine country. They'll be treated to an experience that transcends the ordinary, creating lasting memories of togetherness and delight. This isn't just a tour; it's a celebration of a special bond, and the giver becomes the architect of these extraordinary memories.

So, why wait? Purchase a Wicked Wine Tours gift card and gift the joy of discovery, laughter, and appreciation of life's finer things.