British Columbia

Don’t challenge British Columbia to a nature contest. The westernmost province has an unfair advantage: this is where the Pacific Ocean is met by bustling city and towering forest; where soaring snow-capped mountains give way to picturesque valleys, and where lively urban life blends in beautifully with the nature that surrounds it. 

If you’re in search of authentic experiences on your trip to the West Coast, you’ll find a plethora of ways to be immersed in the cultures of those who have been there since time immemorial. British Columbia is home to the most diversity of Indigenous cultures — with over 200 First Nations and 30 languages spoken. 

Whether you decide to be inspired at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, or sip wine in the breathtaking Okanagan at Nk'Mip Cellars, the first Indigenous-owned and operated winery in North America — you’re sure to leave feeling rejuvenated. Prefer to go somewhere more off the grid? At Spirit Bear Lodge, nestled in the world’s largest temperate rainforest, the Kitasoo and Xai’xais Peoples offer wildlife tours to see one of the world’s most elusive animals, the white-coated Spirit Bear.