Page 41 - 2024-25 Travel Guide to Canada

and the mainland are the Gulf Islands,
populated by a quirky mix of artisans and
fisherfolk. Further north is Haida Gwaii, a
remote archipelago of unspoiled natural
beauty and traditional Indigenous culture.
PEAKS OF PERFECTION
Think of B.C. as wave upon wave of towering
mountain ranges: the Coastal Mountains,
Cascades, Selkirks, Kootenays and Rockies,
just to name a few. Those mountains are not
only scenic, they are also popular destina-
tions for outdoor enthusiasts of all sorts.
Many are located in the province’s more
than 1,000 parks and protected areas.
Others, like Whistler Blackcomb, Sun Peaks
and Big White, are world-class ski resorts
with full-service villages and year-round
activities, including dozens of top-notch
golf courses and mountain bike trails too.
COWBOYS AND CHARDONNAY
The sunny Thompson and Okanagan
valleys stretch through the middle of the
province. To the west is the cowboy country
of the Thompson region, with its dude
ranches and vast grasslands. To the east, the
Okanagan is B.C.’s wine country, with its
vineyards, orchards and sophisticated
culinary culture. Both offer plenty for
outdoor enthusiasts to do, whether it’s
houseboating on Shuswap Lake, scaling the
Skaha Bluffs or cycling along the trestles of
the abandoned Kettle Valley Railway line
that hurtles across Myra Canyon.
INTO THE WILDERNESS
Back in the 1860s, gold was discovered up in
the Cariboo region, and the Rush was on.
Today, people are more likely to visit the
wide open spaces of B.C.’s interior for
unparalleled wilderness experiences. That
could mean bear watching, fly fishing in a
rushing river, paddling through the still
waters of the Bowron Lakes, camping out
under the northern lights or panning for
gold in Barkerville Historic Town and Park.
WHAT’S NEW?
Vancouver, for the first time, has Michelin-
starred restaurants with nine restaurants
making the cut. In the contemporary
category, AnnaLena, Barbara, Burdock & Co
and Published on Main were included. Kissa
Tanto, Okeya Kyujiro and Masayoshi all serve
Japanese cuisine while iDen & Quanjude
Beijing Duck House are known for Chinese
dishes. St. Lawrence, a marriage of classic
French cuisine and the gastronomic culture
of Les Québécois, completes the list.
The new Malahat SkyWalk is located about
half an hour north of Victoria and features a
spiral tower 250 metres above sea level with
a sweeping panorama of Mt. Baker,
Finlayson Arm and the Saanich Peninsula.
Choose your descent with a return walk
down the ramp or take the fast route on the
Spiral Slide (www.malahatskywalk.com).
The Chinese Canadian Museum in
Vancouver has moved to its permanent
home in the Wing Sang Building. It features
a national exhibition called The Paper Trail to
the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act, marking the
centennial of the start of the Chinese
Immigration Act of 1923.
In Whistler, the Fitzsimmons Express
chairlift is now upgraded from a 4-person
high speed chair to an 8-person high speed
chair.
On famous Powder Highway, Panorama
Mountain Resort has added more attrac-
tions: a new mountain coaster and aerial
adventure park (panoramaresort.com).
CITY LIGHTS
Beauty and personality—Vancouver has it
all. Think craft beer and food truck festivals,
yoga on the beach and glitzy shopping
destinations such as North America’s
only McArthurGlen Designer Outlet
(www.mcarthurglen.com). Embraced by
the ocean and mountains, the city features a
livable mix of high-rises and heritage homes,
graceful gardens and funky neighbourhoods.
At its heart is the lushly forested 400-ha
(1,000-acre) Stanley Park, one of the world’s
BC
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SUN PEAKS RESORT • DESTINATION BC/CRISTINA GAREAU