Top Things to do in British Columbia
What to do and see in British Columbia, British Columbia: The Best Hidden Gems Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in British Columbia, British Columbia including Wild Pacific Trail, Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad, Myra Canyon Park, Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch & Guest Cottage Buffalo Tours, The Book Shop, Emerald Lake, Burnaby Village Museum, Lighthouse Park, Lynn Canyon Park, BC Aviation Museum.
Restaurants in British Columbia
1. Wild Pacific Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,689 reviews
The Wild Pacific Trail is located in Ucluelet and is a seven phase trail system skirting the rugged cliffs and shoreline of the west coast of Vancouver Island. Overlooking Barkley Sound and the Broken Group Islands to the east and the open Pacific Ocean to the south and west, it offers spectacular shoreline panoramas and seaward vistas through ancient cedar and spruce-framed viewing platforms constructed on the best headlands along the route.
Reviewed By 369PeterR - Toronto, Canada
We did the Wild Pacific Trail in two parts. On two mornings, by 7 AM my spouse and I did the 2.5 km light house loop portion of the trail. It took us about 50 minutes, including a few stops to take photos. It is an easy walk with a little bit of up and down. One day in the afternoon we also walked the segment of the trail from Brown’s Beach as far as it would go. This was about 8 km round-trip. It was a beautiful walk, sometimes through rainforest and sometimes along cliffs overlooking the ocean. The trail is very well-maintained and almost entirely a gravel path. We love it. Despite walking the trail on a holiday long weekend, it was not busy at all.
2. Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 637 reviews
OPEN YEAR ROUND Monday to Saturday. A world Class Miniature Wonderland Experience. 4000 sq ft. of family fun with up to 45 computer controlled trains traveling on 2 km (1 1/4 miles) of tracks weaving through mountains and towns. Discover the 20000 + hand-painted little people and animals in scale 1:87 (HO) placed in humorous and funny situations and scenes. You'll be impressed with the devotion to details and the charm and humor of the presentation. Watch with delight, the unique operational car system running through towns, stopping for gas and traffic lights. So much more than just Trains. When driving from downtown Osoyoos, take Hwy 3 towards Vancouver (about 3 km.) Turn left at the SECOND entrance into the Buena Vista Industrial Park onto 115th Street. Look for the yellow warehouse with the big signs out front.
Reviewed By myersb2017
What a great place for all ages as this is an amazing creation that you need many visits to take it all in as there is so much detail
3. Myra Canyon Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,649 reviews
Reviewed By NatalieR629
Such a fun activity to do when visiting Kelowna! My husband and I rented bikes from Myra Canyon bike rental and spent the morning exploring the paths that take you around the canyon, through caves and over old bridges that were previously used for trains. Would highly recommend!
4. Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch & Guest Cottage Buffalo Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 169 reviews
Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch & Guest Cottage ~ Buffalo Tours. A working Buffalo & Guest Ranch. We offer educational buffalo tours daily May thru September. The owner, Leo Downey, does one tour every morning May 15th thru September, starting at 10:15 a.m. (Alberta Time )This includes the native fire making demonstration. We also offer year round accommodations in our fully furnished guest cottage and our peaceful cabin by the creek,, Wagon in the Woods and Buffalero's Bunkhouse in the Barn. Make yourself at home, see buffalo in their natural social order, learn about them first hand, wander the ranch and our pristine river frontage on the beautiful Blaeberry River.
Reviewed By 733brianaw - Perth, Australia
If you're visiting Golden, this is a must do! Leo is so knowledgeable and a really lovely person, operating a beautiful tour in a great country setting. My boyfriend and I visited a few days ago and got a private tour and absolutely loved it! The bison are just spectacular to see and his love of them is clear - thankyou so much Leo! :)
5. The Book Shop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 301 reviews
Reviewed By SalsaMom
An absolute MUST go for Book Lovers of all ages. Easily spent over an hour in here and would’ve spent many more had it not been for impatient kids. Loved all the unique and quirky corners and surprise finds. Left will nearly a dozen books (only because I couldn’t carry anymore)... I’ll be back.
6. Emerald Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,286 reviews
Peaceful lake nestled in the mountains and surrounded by lush, green forest.
Reviewed By RAEF715
Before our trip, without really knowing about the beautiful lakes in the Canadian Rockies, by 13 year old mentioned having a dream about being out on a beautiful lake with mountains around, and he wanted to do that, so a canoe trip here was a top goal on our trip. After hitting some construction traffic on the way, we got in the lot just a couple minutes before the deadline- he and my wife ran in and got the last canoe, while my other son and i just enjoyed the late afternoon light hitting the lake. Just a memorable time, and quite the contrast to the white water rafting we had completed earlier in the day. Louise and Moraine are incredibly beautiful, but loved our time at Emerald Lake.
7. Burnaby Village Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 555 reviews
Where History Comes to Life - Stroll down the streets of our 1920s community. Period costumed townsfolk welcome visitors and give demonstrations in the homes, businesses and shops. Visitors can feel the heat of the fire as the blacksmith works at the forge, hear the rhythm of the platen press at the Burnaby Post, smell freshly ground coffee in the General Store, be a 1920s student in a one-room schoolhouse, watch the tinsmith cut, crimp & curl flat sheets of tin into useful household items. Everyone is welcome to take a ride on the 1912 CW Parker Carousel, explore the restored 1912 Interurban Tram, and enjoy a treat in the Ice Cream Parlour. The Village is open seasonally (Spring Break in March, Summer Season- early May to Labour Day, and Heritage Christmas-late November to early January) and year-round for pre-booked groups and programs.
Reviewed By Guide607881
Love to ride the old-fashioned merry-go-round at Christmas, and wander the Village in the Summer...Several years ago we booked the church for my daughter's wedding! It was perfect!
8. Lighthouse Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 446 reviews
Named for the Point Atkinson Lighthouse located on its grounds, this coastal and rugged park is popular for day hikes. A beautiful old growth temperate rainforest along Burrard Inlet offers several easy walking trails with beautiful panoramic views.
Reviewed By juliesV9089TV - Vancouver, Canada
We went on a weekday morning and it was not very crowded, I could see that it would be popular in a sunny summer weekend though. We explored the paths and descended to East Beach and climbed the rocks at low tide. The kids learned about lighthouses and liked exploring the beach. By the time we left mid-afternoon the parking lot was jammed, so plan ahead!
9. Lynn Canyon Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,174 reviews
Interesting park with a suspension bridge, trails and waterfalls and an ecology center.
Reviewed By BrittanyMExplores - Winnipeg, Canada
Lynn Canyon is a beautiful, densely forested, natural park located in North Vancouver. The park has a variety of well-maintained, easy and accessible hiking trails, some waterfalls and gorgeous lush plant life. Lynn Canyon is a peaceful place to go for a hike and enjoy the gorgeous natural environment. The main attraction here is the suspension bridge which crosses a deep gorge. It is a fantastic (and free) alternative to the more expensive and touristy Capilano Suspension Bridge nearby. I was amazed at how tall the trees were in the park and it was cool to see so much moss and vines growing on and hanging from the trees. There were lots of ferns a gorgeous variety of plants. It felt like I was in a rainforest. I spent a morning at Lynn Canyon during my visit in May 2017. The trails were quiet and beautiful as they led through dense and lush foliage with a series of boardwalks and lots of wooden steps along the way for a great leg workout. I visited Twin Falls, a pretty waterfall that could be seen before crossing the suspension bridge. After crossing the bridge, follow the boardwalk to the right and the trail will lead to a better viewpoint of the falls. The 50 metrer high suspension bridge was the highlight of my visit. It stretched across a deep canyon with waterfalls and a powerfully flowing river below. It bounced and swayed as I crossed, which was a little freaky, but still an amazing experience. There were fantastic views and photo opportunities of the scenery while standing in the middle of the bridge. If you arrive early enough in the morning when the park opens, you can get good photos of the bridge with nobody else on it. The 30 foot pool was an interesting place to see, and could be found after crossing the bridge, turning left and walking for about 20 minutes. Along the edge of the rushing river, there were calm pools of water in between the large rocks where you could go swimming. There were beautiful views of this area from the top of the wooden set of steps. Lastly, I visited the Pipe Bridge. The bridge was built over top of a pipe that crossed the canyon. This was located on the edge of the park, after hiking from the 30 foot pool. It was peaceful there and I found amazing views of the canyon and surrounding forest. The hikes in the park were not too difficult, aside from some steps. I arrived to the park using public transport from downtown Vancouver and it took 3 buses to get there, but was easy and straightforward. The best part about the park, is the free entrance and opportunity for anyone to explore the beautiful nature there. There was a visitor's centre and cafe at the entrance to the park as well (with washrooms). Lynn Canyon is a gorgeous natural paradise in a temperate rainforest, with hiking trails and an amazing suspension bridge. This park is worth visiting when in Vancouver and is a wonderful escape from the city life.
10. BC Aviation Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 179 reviews
Come enjoy a trip back in time with the whole family, with over 20 aircraft on display in Sidney, at The BC Aviation Museum! Where learning and fun meet! Memorable visitor experiences include: • Sit in the cockpit of a warplane. • Discover the history of our valiant Canadian aviation pioneers with our passionate tour guides or on a self-guided visit. We’ve been collecting and preserving 8,000+ aviation books, 13,500+ photographs. Don't miss our gift shop - the perfect place to find aviation themed gifts. Come explore the BC Aviation Museum in Sidney, located near the Victoria International Airport.
Reviewed By Bob2885 - Victoria, Canada
I toured the museum in September as part of a group. The tour guide was informative, responsive to questions and entertaining. The exhibits cover the history of aviation in the 20th century with a focus on British Columbian and Canadian aircraft. There are planes, lots of them, tens ofunmounted engines in various stages of dress, helicopters, innumerable model aircraft and a good collection of memorabilia related to aviation in the First and Second Wars. This would be a fun tour with children. I climbed the stairs into a late '50s Viscount airliner, looked into the cockpit of a jet trainer, and was impressed by the huge size of the museum's latest restoration project, a Lancaster bomber. Don't miss it!
