Take Another Look at Metro Vancouver and Victoria This Summer

Get Back to Nature—or Culture—in the Heart of the City

BC’s big cities are well known for their restaurants, shopping, and urban sights and attractions. But explore a little more and you’ll discover opportunities for forest bathing, whale watching, kayaking, bicycling, and birding that will take you just outside the downtown core to replenish and reconnect in nature.

We’re all ready to reap the therapeutic and psychological benefits of being outside—namely, nature’s magical ability to decrease stress and increase happiness—after staying close to home for months on end during the pandemic. Summer ushers in a new season with ample reasons to get out and try something new; it’s a time to recharge and renew relationships, and that’s easy to do in BC’s vibrant, outdoorsy cityscapes.

And once you venture back downtown for a patio meal, hotel stay, or museum visit, rest assured that local businesses have implemented safety measures designed to keep you well. With that in mind, here are some ideas to help you see Victoria, Vancouver, and Richmond through a new lens.

Some of Victoria’s oldest neighbourhoods also have open spaces to explore. James Bay, bordering Beacon Hill Park and Fisherman’s Wharf Park, is home to the Dallas Waterfront Trail, a 7-km pathway with ocean views and access to rugged Fonyo Beach, the best place to search for sea glass amid the driftwood. Oak Bay, just 10 minutes from downtown, is its own seaside destination with local’s favourite Willows Beach. While in the neighbourhood, consider stopping at Faro at The Oak Bay Beach Hotel for handcrafted pizza on the patio or opt for locally inspired sharing plates and signature cocktails at Vis-à-Vis.

To fuel up further, head up the Saanich Peninsula on a self-guided tour of the Greater Victoria Flavour Trails, a swath of fertile farmland where you’ll find U-pick farms, vineyards, apple orchards, honey apiaries, and a variety of other makers and growers. Stop in at Victoria Distillers to sample the blue-hued 1908 gin, or arrange a tasting at Sea Cider Farm + Ciderhouse (be sure and try the Rumrunner, a revelatory cider aged in rum-soaked bourbon barrels). Back in town, order “Tea-to-Go” from the Fairmont Empress and take away iced tea with a box of sweet and savoury goodies to enjoy in a park or by the sea.

Base yourself within walking distance of the Inner Harbour, downtown restaurants, and the Royal BC Museum. The Magnolia Hotel & Spa is always a good bet, as is the Inn at Laurel Point, which offers a BC residents special.

To dive deeper into the city’s Indigenous culture and history, sign up for a walk in Stanley Park with Talaysay Tours. The Indigenous-led walking tours explain how the park’s trees and plants were used for food, medicine, and technology, and share stories and styles of art in the region, including the famous totem poles at Brockton Point. Then, visit the Bill Reid Gallery to get your fill of more Indigenous creations. Named after an acclaimed Haida artist, the gallery features carvings, sculptures, and jewelry in the contemporary style of Northwest Coast art. The Museum of Anthropology at UBC also sheds light on the stories and significance of a collection of historic Indigenous artworks in its ongoing exhibit In a Different Light: Reflecting on Northwest Coast Art.

For an even more immersive experience, stay overnight at Skwachàys Lodge, a boutique hotel with 18 stunning “art installation” rooms that were jointly designed by an interior designer and an Indigenous artist. Carvings, paintings, and even custom headboards imbue each guest room with meaning and story. The effect is like slumbering in an art gallery.

Beyond birds, being situated on a delta has other advantages; namely, Richmond is flat and makes for easy cycling. The city has more than 80 kms of routes and many interesting stops, including two National Historic Sites. Both the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, where fish were turned into edible “gold,” and Britannia Shipyards, a shipbuilding and maritime repair shop, are located here. A favourite ride is to cycle from downtown Richmond to Steveston Village, an eight-kilometre trip that joins up with the Railway Greenway, a former railroad that’s been converted into a multi-use pathway.

When you arrive in Steveston, spend time exploring this historic fishing village with a working Fisherman’s Wharf. Watch the daily catch come in, or dig in to fresh fish and chips at local favourite Dave’s. Then, lock up the bike and join a tour with Vancouver Whale Watch to look for orcas and humpbacks, along with seals, sea lions, and porpoises.

To aid and abet your outdoor endeavors, it’s worth checking in to the Fairmont Vancouver Airport. The hotel’s Pacific Flyway Adventure Package includes an overnight stay, plus use of a birding backpack with binoculars and maps, and a chef-prepared picnic lunch for two to take with you to nearby Iona Beach Regional Park.

Note: This story was written specifically for the unique travel circumstances of 2021. Information is accurate at the time of publication; we recommend you contact businesses directly to confirm availability and familiarize yourself with their COVID policies.

Image header: Kayaking in Victoria | Destination BC/Hubert Kang