Places to Visit in British Columbia

British Columbia is Canada's westernmost province, with more than 5.5 million residents and about 944,700 square kilometres of territory, most of it mountainous. Victoria, on Vancouver Island, is the provincial capital, while Vancouver, on the mainland, is the largest city and the main international gateway through Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The Coast Mountains rise directly behind Vancouver and the North Shore, the Sea-to-Sky Highway climbs to Whistler, and BC Ferries links the mainland to Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The Okanagan Valley in the interior is fruit and wine country, and the Rocky Mountains form the eastern border with Alberta.

The coast has a mild, wet climate, with most rain between October and March and dry, mild summers from June to September, while the interior has hotter summers and colder, snowier winters. Coastal Vancouver rarely sees lasting snow, but the nearby mountains ski from about late November to April. Wildfire smoke can affect air quality and visibility across the province in July, August and early September, so check conditions before booking mountain trips. British Columbia uses Pacific Time (UTC-8, or UTC-7 in daylight saving), adds 5 percent GST and 7 percent PST to most purchases, and sets the legal drinking age at 19. May to September is the most reliable window for sightseeing, with June to August the busiest.