by
Jonni-Colleen Sissons
My family and I love to spend our summers relaxing in beautiful British Columbia. Covering the southwest corner of Canada, British Columbia enjoys the temperate weather of the Pacific Northwest and is home to some of North America’s most breathtaking flora. While my family spends most of our time on the Sunshine Coast, a short drive from the metropolitan hub of Vancouver, there are countless adventures to be had in this province. Here are a few of the must-see attractions.
Stanley Park: Spanning more than 1,000 acres in downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park has been one of the province’s main draws for more than a century. The park, which is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, contains numerous bodies of water and is home to a vast old-growth forest. One of the highlights of the park is the five-and-a-half-mile seawall path that encircles it.
Museum of Anthropology: Home to one of the world’s most extensive art collections in the Pacific Northwest, the Museum of Anthropology at The University of British Columbia boasts pieces and artifacts from numerous Native American tribes and other coastal inhabitants. The building itself is a work of art; Designed by Arthur Erickson in 1976, it utilizes a post-and-beam style reminiscent of early architecture in the area.

Sunshine Coast: Taking Highway 101 north from Vancouver for a couple hours, visitors will arrive at the famed Sunshine Coast. An oasis of untainted nature, the Coast is an ideal destination for outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. With its abundance of waterways, the region is also rife with opportunities for scuba diving, kayaking, fishing, and leisurely ferry rides.
Butchart Gardens: Located in the capital city of Victoria, the renowned Butchart Gardens offers an idyllic setting any time of the year. Robert and Jennie Butchart opened the Gardens to the public more than 100 years ago. Since then, the attraction has added Japanese, Italian, and Rose Gardens to the initial Sunken Garden. Today, Butchart Gardens has more than one million plants and is still owned by the Butchart family.