8 EASY WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THE WILDERNESS NEAR VANCOUVER
Experiencing nature in Vancouver is easy, and there are so many ways to do it. Walk across a suspension bridge, soar through the air in a floatplane, go for a laid-back hike, or get whisked into the mountains on a gondola. Use our list of easy ways to experience the wilderness near Vancouver to find even more options.
Take advantage of both the sun and snow when you explore the landscape of the northern town of Vancouver.
With longer days, sunshine and a plethora of available activities, Whistler is the perfect place to spend your spring days.
Whether you’re looking to bond with your family or just wanting a solo trip where you can relax, now’s the best season to come visit.
1. GO FLIGHTSEEING
One of the most unique ways to experience the beauty of Vancouver’s mountains is from the air on a flightseeing tour. Local floatplane and helicopter tour companies have lots of fun options to choose from. Book a scenic floatplane tour to alpine lakes and glaciers with Harbour Air or an epic helicopter flight over the mountains of the North Shore and the Sea to Sky region with Sky Helicopters. If blue ocean dotted with islands is more your style, sign up for Harbour Air’s Gulf Island’s Mail Run tour. You’ll hop from one picturesque island village to the next.
2. TAKE AN EASY HIKE
While many of Vancouver’s hiking trails are steep and tough, there are lots of easy options too. Pick a trail from our list of easy hikes around Vancouver. They are all flat enough to push a wheelchair or stroller, so they’re great for those who use mobility aids too.
3. HEAD TO GROUSE MOUNTAIN
Let the Skyride whisk you to the top of North Vancouver’s Grouse Mountain. Set high above Vancouver, it has great views of the city and the surrounding mountains. Don’t miss the many natural attractions including the grizzly bear sanctuary, owl talks, a ropes course, zip lines, and the famous lumberjack show.
4. WALK ACROSS THE CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE
Gorgeously green temperate rain forest surrounds Vancouver. One of the easiest ways to immerse yourself in it is to visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver. A network of catwalks takes you high into the tree canopy for a squirrel’s-eye view of your surroundings. The highlight is the 130-year-old suspension bridge which hangs 230 feet above the rushing Capilano River.
5. RIDE THE EAGLE COASTER
New for 2021, the Eagle Coaster at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver lets you strap into a cart, then fly like an eagle as you twist and turn down the mountain. Enjoy great views and beautiful forest as you hurtle downhill. Book tickets in advance.
6. PICNIC IN NATURE
The Vancouver area has lots of stunning nature parks a short drive from the city. Pack a picnic basket, then head to one of our suggestions for the best places to picnic in nature near Vancouver. You can dine next to the ocean, at a lake, in the forest, or at the beach.
7. GO WHALE WATCHING
Vancouver is one of the best locations in the world for whale watching. Several pods of orcas live here year-round, and you can also see humpback, grey, and minke whales as well as dolphins, seals, sea lions, river otters, porpoises, and eagles. Whale watching season runs from March to October, but you can go on a wildlife boat cruise all year long. Find whale watching tours.
8. RIDE THE SEA TO SKY GONDOLA
Get high into the mountains above Howe Sound on the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. You’ll travel from sea level to the summit while you enjoy jaw-dropping views of the ocean, mountains, and the granite peaks of the Stawamus Chief. At the top, explore the viewing platforms, go for a hike, walk across the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge, or grab a seat on the patio to enjoy a meal with a panoramic view.
WELCOME TO WHISTLER IN SUMMER
In summer, Whistler attracts adventurous travellers from around the world. This place is magnetic. From the unmatched alpine landscape and the world’s premier mountain bike park to the endless options of the Village, its diverse offering of rugged West Coast beauty, passionate community and unrivalled selection of refined experiences make every summer day unique.
You’ll find Whistler in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia. The world-renowned resort town is just a two-hour drive from Vancouver along the awe-inspiring Sea to Sky Highway. In summer, Whistler is an international mecca for outdoor adventure. It’s a place of striking natural beauty with amenities for discerning travellers and undaunted athletes alike. Here, youthful energy meets a worldly perspective, proving that bad-ass and world-class are not mutually exclusive.
The legendary flow of the Whistler Bike Park draws mountain bikers from around the world and is the perfect setting for guests to discover the exhilarating pull of gravity on the trail. If you’re looking for adventure at a different speed, award winning golf courses, breathtaking glacier-fed lakes, lush forests of towering trees and waterfalls are all linked by a network of paved trails, so you can discover Whistler at your own pace. From the deeply intense to the profoundly relaxing, summer is a season of endless choice.
Whistler Village is the beating heart of a social community where locals bring their up-for anything attitude to every shop, restaurant and gathering place – its energy is palpable.
For those in search of calmer moments, the buzzing hub of the Village is also a haven for physical rejuvenation and quiet reflection. Whether you find it in the therapeutic baths of the spa, the inspiring artwork of the museum or the dimmed lights of a five-star restaurant, is up to you. From the cultural to the culinary, the educational to the entertaining, the Village’s boutique shops, museums, restaurants, galleries, events and festivals deliver countless options for all.
There’s an endless list of reasons Whistler is a summer mecca for outdoor lovers and cultured travellers alike. If you have a passion for nature’s dramatic beauty and a thirst for refined experiences, its pull is magnetic. When you come here, you feel it in your soul. There’s a good chance that feeling will have you coming back.
Entire Travel Group – Whistler and Vancouver: Ready to Explore Promotion – Receive $200 AUD off per couple* on our Whistler and Vancouver packages. Offer expires 31 March 2023. *Terms & Conditions apply.
Photo Credits: Destination Vancouver, Destination BC, Heath Moffatt, Sky Helicopters, Jordan Dyck, Kindred & Scott, Kate Millford; Tourism Whistler, Mike Crane, Justa Jeskova, Mark Mackay
