British Columbia is an adventurer’s playground with impressive natural beauty. It’s hard to get bored with the beautiful Pacific coastline and legendary old-growth forests.
Johnstone Strait, a glacier-carved channel between mainland British Columbia and Vancouver Island, is especially beautiful — and you might even see a humpback whale in the water if you visit at the right time.
One of my favorite experiences on the province’s Vancouver Island is kayaking around the shores in the morning. I watched Steller sea lions glide through the water, and a river otter play on a nearby dock.
Once you’re done with the water, venture to nearby picturesque communities like Telegraph Cove and Hanson Islands. Or perhaps find your footing and try the Haddington Beach Trail (just under 2 miles out and back) or the Salmon River Estuary Trail (under a mile out and back).
While there, I suggest learning about the area’s diverse ecosystem — and there’s perhaps no one else better to teach you than members of the Tlowitsis Nation, a group acknowledged as being among the first to originally live on this stretch of land.
Taking time to learn about Indigenous cultures in the area and booking experiences through Indigenous tour guides can also enrich your trip, helping you learn the history of the land you’re visiting and why it’s so important to protect it.
This story was originally published on July 11, 2024, and most recently updated on September 2, 2026.
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