Bowen Island is one of my favourite getaways from Vancouver. It’s a small, forested island with a rugged coastline and a close-knit community of about 4,200 people. There are so many things to do on Bowen Island: It has a thriving arts community and lots of opportunities to connect with nature. I like going to …
Vancouver Area
There’s something special about escaping to a cabin in the woods… or by the ocean…or by the lake… or… you get the picture! Renting a cabin is my preferred way to spend a weekend chilling out in nature. Thankfully there are tons of amazing cabins near Vancouver. I’ve lived in the Vancouver area my whole …
With incredible panoramic views of the waters of Howe Sound dotted with small islands, the St. Mark’s Summit trail is one of Vancouver’s best hikes. I also love the gorgeous forest on the way to the peak. I’ve hiked this trail countless times and the view at the end always amazes me. While the first …
After a long winter, I’m usually in a rush for summer to start so I can go backpacking. But it can be frustrating since most trails are snow-covered well into June and July. However, if you know where to look, there are lots of places to go on spring backpacking trips in British Columbia. While …
Update March 2025: With changes to the Instagram algorithm and the rise of Tiktok, the metrics I used to create this list in the past are no longer relevant so I won’t be updating this list going forward. This list of the most Instagrammed hikes in Vancouver was first published in February 2017. I update …
Indigenous people have lived in what is now Canada since time immemorial, so no trip to Canada is complete without experiencing Indigenous culture. I asked fellow travel writers to recommend their favourite places to experience Indigenous tourism in Canada. In this post, you’ll find personal recommendations for 10 Indigenous tourism activities from tours to museums …
The view from Tunnel Bluffs in Lions Bay is spectacular. The hike takes you to an open bluff with an incredible view of Howe Sound. As a Squamish local, I’ve hiked all over the Sea to Sky area, and I think the Tunnel Bluffs hike has one of the best views around. I’ve hiked this …
I grew up in Vancouver and went on my first camping trip at age five. Since then, I’ve been camping more times than I can remember. In this guide, I’ve got everything you need to know to find the best camping near Vancouver, BC. Sometimes you want to go on a big road trip/camping vacation. …
British Columbia’s wilderness is spectacular, so it’s no surprise that backpacking and backcountry camping are popular. I’ve been backpacking in BC for decades (and I even wrote a book about it), so I’ve put together a complete guide on how to make backcountry camping reservations in BC. While there are literally hundreds of places to …
British Columbia’s backcountry is gorgeous, making day hikers wish they didn’t have to leave. The next logical step is a backpacking trip, but it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why I put together this list of easy backpacking trips in BC. I’ve been backpacking in BC for 20 years (and I …