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Pre and Post Travel DestinationsA few suggestions for outstanding Pre and Post Travel options:
Whistler From Vancouver, a scenic 90-minute drive north along the Sea to Sky Highway leads to Whistler, North America's #1 ski resort. Along the way, there are excellent photo and hiking opportunities, including spectacular Shannon Falls and the stunning Squamish Chief rock face. Once in Whistler, stroll the cobble-stoned streets, enjoy a wide selection of restaurants and outdoor cafés, or take in year-round special events and street performers.
Winter recreational activities include world famous skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. In the summer, enjoy championship golf, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, guided nature walks, swimming, and other watersports. www.tourismwhistler.com. Victoria & Vancouver Island Victoria, BC's capital city, is accessible from Vancouver by passenger/vehicle ferry, floatplane or helicopter. Spot Orca whales and sea lions en route as the ferry makes its way through the scenic Gulf Islands. In Victoria, experience the old English charm with a double-decker bus ride or traditional afternoon tea at The Fairmont Empress hotel. Other attractions include the Parliament Buildings and Butchart Gardens. www.tourismvictoria.com.
Just north of Victoria, there are wineries in Cowichan Valley, native totems in Duncan and art galleries in Chemainus. Continue to the West Coast of the island to Long Beach and the quaint fishing villages of Tofino and Ucluelet. See BC Ferries web site for ferry schedules and other travel information. Pacific Coach Lines offers bus service from Downtown Vancouver to Victoria and tour packages.Nanaimo, the Harbour CityNanaimo is accessible from Vancouver via two vehicle ferry routes, a high speed foot passenger ferry service from downtown to downtown, airplanes and seaplanes. The trip across Georgia Straight is part of your Vancouver Island experience; sit back and take in the breathtaking vistas of perhaps the most beautiful coast line in the world.As Vancouver Island's second largest city, Nanaimo offers all the amenities of a major centre. You will be impressed by the vibrant downtown core, the jam packed arts and entertainment scene, and inspiring natural beauty. Nanaimo boasts world class recreational facilities and opportunities; scuba dive the world's largest artificial reef, snorkel with seals, kayak protected waters, and challenge yourself against the endless hiking and biking possibilities. Located centrally, Nanaimo is the perfect base for your pre and post convention vacation on award winning Vancouver Island. www.tourismnanaimo.com Vancouver - Alaska CruiseVancouver serves as the home port for the renowned thousand-mile Inside Passage cruise, offering some of the world's most spectacular scenery. Passengers will be enthralled with the wondrous maze of forested islands, glacier-carved fjords and Southeast Alaska's most popular, frontier-friendly ports. Fraser Valley. www.portvancouver.com/vanAlaCruise/Okanagan Valley Situated in central British Columbia, the Thompson-Okanagan region is one of the province's most beautiful and best-kept secrets. With its green valleys, bountiful orchards, crystal clear lakes and mountain resorts, the area abounds with things to do and see year-round. From wine tasting tours to whitewater rafting, golfing and sailing to skiing and snowboarding, the Okanagan Valley has it all. www.totabc.com
Rocky Mountains Whether you are looking for peace and solitude or outdoor adventure, head to the BC Rockies. Here, the landscape is as diverse as the views are spectacular. You'll discover cool glaciers and natural hot springs, dense forests and wide open meadows. And there is plenty to do, everything from hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding to canoeing, kayaking and fishing. www.kootenayrockies.com
Content courtesy Tourism Vancouver |