British Columbia Tourism - What to See and Do

What do you need to know about British Columbia tourism? British Columbia is known for its spectacular natural setting, large expanses of untouched wilderness, and safe, vibrant cities.

Canada's westernmost province is bordered by Alberta to the east, the states of Washington, Idaho and Montana to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Alaska Panhandle and the Canadian territories of Yukon and The Northwest Territories form the northern border.

The views in British Columbia are breathtaking due to the fact that 75% of the province is mountainous. Nature abounds as B.C. has more than 3,500 km (2,174 miles) of hiking trails.

For water lovers, British Columbia has more than 2,200 lakes, 27,000 km (16,780 miles) of coastline, and 18,000 square km (6,949 square miles) of inland waters welcome boaters, fishers, river rafters, beachcombers, and scuba divers.

For sport enthusiasts, BC has almost 200 golf courses and is a PGA golf tour destination. In you also try bungy jumping, caving, gold panning, hang gliding, hot air ballooning, mountaineering, river rafting, rock climbing, surfing, whale watching, and windsurfing.

Talking about British Columbia tourism would not be complete without mentioning ski resorts. There are more than 30 full-service downhill ski resorts including Canada's ultimate ski destination, Whistler. Whistler Resort offers not only some of the best skiing on the continent but also an international village to satisfy every desire. With two of the best ski mountains in the country and plenty of outdoor activities year-round, Whistler has something for everyone, skier or not.

The largest city in British Columbia is Vancouver. With its world class attractions, sophisticated shopping and gourmet dining, there is no mistaking that Vancouver is one of the worlds top cities. Victoria, on Vancouver Island, is the port city, university town and capital of British Columbia.

It has the mildest climate in Canada and easy access to Vancouver on the mainland and Seattle in the United States. The unparalleled beauty of the gardens, the coastline and historical city centre make the trip here a must for any visitor.

Venture a little further through some of the most spectacular scenery and you’ll reach other picturesque cities of Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Prince George and Prince Rupert.

Related Articles and Resources for British Columbia Tourism

British Columbia Tourism Site
Plan your vacation to British Columbia. Find all there is to see and do here in BC. On this site you will find plenty of information and planning tools.

Tourism Whistler Site
The official Tourism Whistler website with everything you need to plan and book your vacation. TourismWhistler.com provides a one-stop resource.

Tourism Vancouver Site
Tourism Vancouver, the web site for Vancouver tourism, hotels, travel and meeting planning information. Book hotels in Vancouver online.

Pan For Gold In Barkerville BC
Barkerville is a former ghost town transformed into a popular tourist destination. A popular attraction at Barkerville is a gold panning and souvenir shop where visitors can buy a pan full of dirt, rocks and at least a fleck or two of genuine gold.