• Cycling the Galloping Goose Trail: This rail-to-trail conversion starts in Victoria at the south end of the Selkirk Trestle, and weaves the back roads through urban, rural, and semi-wilderness landscapes. Different access points, many with parking areas, mean you can explore for an hour, a morning, or the entire day.
  • Golfing at Bear Mountain: Victoria, with its mild climate and Scottish heritage, is a golf-obsessed kind of place, with several public and private courses, including three in Oak Bay alone. It’s also the gateway to the Vancouver Island Golf Trail, 250km (155 miles) of golfing paradise from Victoria to Campbell River, with 11 courses to choose from. One of the best places to swing a club is at the Bear Mountain Golf & Country Club just north of the city, where you will find 36 holes of Nicklaus Design golf, along with a Westin Resort and world-class Santé Spa.
  • Whale-watching: The waters off Victoria’s coast are teeming with marine wildlife, and the best way to meet the orcas, porpoises, seals, and eagles is aboard one of the many whale-watching tours that depart from the Inner Harbour. Some include a visit to Butchart Gardens.
  • Kayaking, canoeing, sailing: This is boating paradise. Victoria has a proud maritime tradition that lives on in its vibrant sailing culture. And its many coves and bays, not to mention the calm waters around the nearby Gulf Islands, are perfect for paddling a canoe or kayak. There are numerous tour operators and rental agencies that can help you float your boat.
  • Hiking the Juan de Fuca Trail: Victoria is a great walking city, surrounded by even greater hiking opportunities. Among them is the rugged Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, which travels from Botanical Beach out past Sooke all the way to the ferry terminal in Swartz Bay. If you do the whole thing, it’s a 47km (29-mile) multiday hike, but you can easily do small portions of it in fairly easy day hikes.
  • Riding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola at Whistler Blackcomb Resort: Considered by many the best ski resort in the world, Whistler Blackcomb offers unforgettable experiences year round. It does, after all, have more than 200 ski runs and a world-class mountain biking network. But perhaps the most memorable experience is taking the record-shattering Peak 2 Peak Gondola between the two mountains.
  • Whale-watching off Steveston Harbour: The pretty little fishing village of Steveston is a great day trip from Vancouver, and getting out on the water to frolic with the porpoises and orcas is an unforgettable way to spend an afternoon.
  • Discovering Pacific Rim National Park: Vancouver Island’s west coast is a world of old-growth temperate rainforests and surf-pounded beaches. It’s also a place where you can experience both the primal glories of nature and the luxury of a first-class resort.
  • Meandering through Vancouver Island’s wineries: Just 45 minutes north of Victoria, the Cowichan Valley is home to vineyards, cideries, cottage farms, and art studios. Touring it is as easy as following the burgundy-and-white Wine Route signs.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.