Increasingly popular as a haven of Hollywood film sets and television series, Vancouver and its British Columbian surroundings are known for an abundance of natural beauty, scenic drives and pristine environment. Whistler offers champion slopes for skiers in the winter and more mellow retreats in warmer weather. If it's more of an urban environment you're seeking, then head to Vancouver for city life that still offers escapes at nearby green spaces and Pacific shores.
Destinations Canada (tel. 888/475-4226; www.destinationscanada.com) has several trips to the Pacific Northwest. Trips to the Canadian Rockies in B.C. start from around $835 for flights from the New York area, four days' accommodations and a rental car. Summertime is full of golf options and canoeing excursions on some of the placid and glass-covered lakes where waterskiing and fishing are paramount to time away from the office. Many of the featured hotels are mountain resorts and lodges. Be advised the website is in the process of updating itself and late 2005 details and prices are pending. Presently, three seven-night trips are available with a variety of activities.
In addition to being Canada's national carrier, Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262; www.aircanada.com) has a hotel search engine for destinations all around the country. For Vancouver, we found a $107-per-night option at the centrally located Bosmans Hotel -- a short walk to the many downtown sites and restaurant options. It's a quaint, two-star motel located downtown near Chinatown and the waterfront. For flights, the site has some web specials as low as $258 one-way from Atlanta to Vancouver; Seattle to Vancouver starts from $109 one-way. These fares are based on a seven-days' advanced purchase. Check back for more specials on a weekly basis.
Travelocity (tel. 888/872-8356; www.travelocity.com), always a hotspot for Canada deals and other last minute travel options, has some great weekend deals to the Vancouver area. Flight and hotel to Whistler include a Saturday, July 23 departure with a Monday, July 25, 2005 starting at $662 for a trip out of New York City. Whistler is known for great treks, golf, a mountain climate that beats most concrete jungles and giant lakes. Air tax and security fees are additional for this trip that takes you to Whistler via Vancouver.
For detailed information on traveling to Vancouver and British Columbia, check out www.britishcolumbia.com. From campgrounds to chi-chi restaurants, the site lists many local spots and informative tidbits. The Vancouver page lists many areas of British Columbia including Whistler, the Sunshine Coast and the Fraser Valley.
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