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Vancouver Captivates
 If you’re thinking about traveling north this summer to escape the heat, consider heading to the city named after the English explorer Captain George Vancouver. Consistently ranked one of the three most livable cities in the world, Vancouver, Canada sits in the westernmost Canadian province of British Columbia, where the North Shore mountains create a dramatic backdrop to gleaming downtown skyscrapers.
The best time to visit British Columbia, is from early June to early October. During this time, there is less rain, daylight hours are long, and temperatures are warm. Many travelers plan trips from May to September to take advantage of prime whale-watching opportunities.
Vancouver is rich in culture and diversity. More than half of the city’s residents have a first language other than English. The city is rich in music, theater, opera, ballet, and festivals. The culinary scene is equally vibrant, embracing everything from Pacific northwest cooking, to outstanding Chinese, Thai, and Japanese cuisine.
Vancouver is an outdoors city, offering sports from paragliding to fly-fishing, snowshoeing to sea kayaking, mountain biking to river rafting. It is also a wonderful place to stroll.
If you make the trip to Vancouver, don’t miss visiting Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city. Victoria is also a maritime city, occupying the southern tip of Vancouver Island. To get to Victoria, you’ll need to take a ferry, but once there, plenty of public transportation is available to get you around the capital city.
“Victoria is a festival city,” writes homeowner, Steve Young. “The annual July Symphony Splash is one event visitors should try to attend. The orchestra plays from a barge, floating in the harbor, to an audience of thousands of on-lookers gathered around the harbor. The evening is capped with a spectacular fireworks show; it’s a fitting end to a memorable event.”
If you have time, don’t miss Pacific Rim National Park, a four and a half hour drive from Victoria on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The park, a temperate rain forest, buttresses a wild and breathtaking coastline.
For more insiders’ suggestions, see our Vancouver tips from local HomeAway homeowners.
Live the Destination
HomeAway Homeowners Share Local Vancouver Tips
Submitted by Stacey Nixon, property 142441
There are many beautiful parks in Vancouver. I have included one special spot for me - Choklit park. I got married here, and walked one minute to our home for the reception.
Submitted by Andree Stewart, property 154619
West Vancouver is a bedroom community just across the bridge from Vancouver, home to many fine restaurants.
Submitted by Property 156706
Downtown Nanaimo is a 20-minute floatplane ride from downtown Vancouver. Our home in Nanaimo is steps from the inner harbor. Only a short distance from our home is this fabulous restaurant.
Submitted by Steve Young, property 131703
No visit to Vancouver, BC is complete until you have taken the 90-minute ride on a B.C. Ferry to British Columbia’s capital city, Victoria. The ferry ride across the Strait of Georgia and through the scenic Gulf Islands is worthwhile all by itself, but a visit to Victoria is something no visitor should miss.
“The City of Gardens”, as Victoria is affectionately called, is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the largest island off the west coast of North America. It has the most moderate climate, in all of Canada and is filled with history and romance.
 Victoria is the home to the world-famous Butchart Gardens, visited by millions of people each year. Created from the remnants of a limestone quarry, the gardens are a sight to behold, filled with thousands of trees, shrubs and flowers.
Victoria is filled with historic buildings including the Provincial Legislative Buildings, Craigdarroch Castle, Market Square, the oldest China Town in North America outside of San Francisco, and numerous historic churches and museums.
The Inner Harbor is a gathering place for tourists who come from all around the world to visit this quaint and unique city. In the summer months it is filled with artisans, street musicians, jugglers and vendors of all kinds, all of whom contribute to a “world market” atmosphere filled with fun and interest.
A walk by the ocean, along the Dallas Road waterfront overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca is a feast for the eyes, and for the soul. On a clear day the view across the Strait to the snow-capped Olympic Mountains and to Mount Baker in Washington State will take your breath away.
 On a sunny day the waterfront is filled with walkers, joggers, cyclists and folks just sitting on benches in the sunshine lazing away the hours, enjoying the ocean breezes and the sounds of the waves lapping on the shore.
Victoria has the largest, per capita number of restaurants of any city in North America, so there’s never any shortage of places to eat. Waterfront dining is always enjoyable and seafood restaurants are plentiful and easy to find. A number of 4 and 5 star restaurants cater to those with gourmet palates, and there are many good, wholesome places to eat that never make the “official list” of dining establishments.
So, don’t visit Vancouver without planning to spend a few days visiting B.C.’s historic capital city, Victoria. Transportation via. B.C. Ferries is easy by car, bus, or as a foot passenger.
Submitted by property 149179
The “Morning Mist,” a large luxury yacht home based in Victoria, will take you to Butchart Gardens. See one of the most beautiful gardens of the world, and enjoy some of the great entertainment including fabulous fireworks set to music each Saturday evening during the summer. |
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 Submitted by David Burkmar, property 102368
The Cowichan Valley has much to offer visitors, with many incredible activities ranging from wilderness hiking and fishing to excellent local wineries and restaurants.
Cowichan Valley ("the Warm Land") is full of scenic shoreline drives where wild life abounds. It is also home to over 200 regional, provincial and national parks and reserves.
One Vancouver jewel, located in the heart of the city and surrounded by the ocean on three sides is Stanley Park.
 Be sure to check out Vancouver’s outstanding Museum of Anthropology.
Granville Island Public Market, is a vibrant Vancouver Public Market centrally located with incomparable harbor and mountain views
Check here for frequent car/passenger ferries to Vancouver Island.
Submitted by Jeff Jamieson, property 148780
When travelers have had enough of the busy city scene in Vancouver, a trip by ferry to Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island offers a chance to slow down and smell the roses.
 The two hour ferry ride leaves from Horseshoe Bay and arrives in Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island, leaving a pleasant twenty-minute coastline drive to Qualicum Beach on the scenic old Ocean Road.
Golf can be played year round on many of the ocean side courses there, and depending on the season, a traveler will find skiing, jazz festivals, live theatre and arts, rafts and fresh local farmers produce at the Saturday morning open air market.
Our home in Qualicum offers great views of the ocean, old forests, and a short walk to the seawall pathway and beach. We slow our life down there and relish the owner operated restaurants, bakery, and shops that make the village a friendly and relaxed joy to visit.
 Submitted by Shani Cranston, property 121626
Cowichan Lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes on Vancouver Island. The south arm of the lake boasts the highest average summer maximum temperatures in Canada - over 24 degrees Celsius!
The Town of Lake Cowichan is the gateway to some of the most spectacular camping, hiking, and fishing available on Vancouver Island.
Just down the road from Nitinat and Bamfield, you will find the trail heads for the West Coast Trail unit of the Pacific rim National Park Reserve and the old growth forests of Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park. The central location makes day trips to Victoria, Nanaimo and the Gulf Islands easy!
 Stroll along the Cowichan River Footpath; a sensational 20 km hiking trail following the river to Skutz Falls.
Visit Gordan Bay Provincial Park - the rewards for being here in April and May in advance of the summer crowds include having your choice of campsites and witnessing the spectacular display of wildflowers that begin blooming in April.
The area is covered with small organic purveyors of cheese, vegetables, wine and other delicious culinary arts.
We offer organic catering services with our rental property.
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