How to plan a British Columbia road trip

Planning a trip to BC? Today we share how to plan a British Columbia road trip, including the best things to do in BC.

British Columbia is Canada’s westernmost province and the location for the adventure of a lifetime. Whether you’re into lengthy hikes in unspoiled wilderness, dining on some of the freshest seafood in the world, or kicking back with all of the home comforts you could want, British Columbia can deliver. There’s a great mixture of town and country, perfect for travelers who might want to run off different itineraries. For now, we’ll suggest following this one as we believe that it has something to make this trip one remember for everyone.

Kick Things Off at the Glacier National Park

Starting your trip with an adventure into the mountains is always a fun way to set the tone. The Glacier National Park is one of Canada’s most spectacular parks, quite the accolade considering just how many there are. Of all of the scenic drives you can experience, driving along the Going-to-the-Sun-Road is the most special. This road is truly spectacular at every turn, offering incredible views of the Rocky Mountains and as the name suggests, beautiful views of the dramatic skies too. Be sure to take a drive along this road, planning to be back well before the sun goes down as the road closes for snow plows at this point.

Once you’ve experienced the views from the car, it’s time for a little hiking. There are more than 700 miles of trail in this park, so there really is something for all abilities. Lake Macdonald has a really good range of hikes for all abilities and the Glacier National Park website features information on all of them, including their length in kilometers, hours, and elevation. Plan ahead so as not to waste time whilst you’re there, wear appropriate clothing and consider bringing a picnic too, unless you can wait until dinner time that is!

Eat Straight From the Ocean

British Columbia is a stunning province to visit, perhaps one of the very best in Canada, but not only is the landscape beautiful, but it’s also plentiful too. Having so much coastline, it only makes sense to indulge in some seafood during your trip. Atlantic salmon is a British Columbian favorite, but if you fancy something a little different then try Dungeness crab instead. These delicious crustaceans are found all along the Pacific Coast, but they’re particularly good from the colder waters of Canada.

You can snag yourself a fishing license for less than $10 if you’re feeling adventurous, but otherwise, you needn’t feel any shame in leaving it to the professionals. The Lobster Man has a store on Granville Island that sells super fresh fish straight off the boat. When it comes to the ocean to plate eating, it doesn’t get much closer than this.

You can treat yourself to a dressed crab and grab a couple of crusty sourdough rolls and a fresh lemon to enjoy a seaside picnic that would rival any other. Of course, if you want the restaurant environment then you’ll be spoiled for choice in Vancouver. Oddfish provides a seriously contemporary menu with seafood as the star of every dish, whilst The Vancouver Fish Company has a paired back menu of classics including a bouillabaisse to die for. 

Stay at the River Rock Resort

There are plenty of seriously luxurious hotels to choose from in British Columbia, but the River Rock Resort is where we’re suggesting this stay. This 4-star hotel not only boasts its own spa, pool, and no less than five different restaurants, but it also has a state-of-the-art casino where guests are welcome to play at any time.

If you’ve still got any energy left in you after the day’s sightseeing then it really is worth the extra effort to go and check the casino out. There are all kinds of table games, as well as a pretty impressive range of slots too. On the other hand, if you’re wiped out from all of that adventuring then the hotel is very happy for you to use their complimentary wifi to play games online instead. This breakdown of the best online casinos in Canada will be helpful in selecting the site that has the games that will suit you the best. They’re also each given a handy star rating to speed things up so that you aren’t fast asleep before you log on.

Once you’ve finished gaming for the evening you’ll be guaranteed a great night’s sleep on Egyptian cotton sheets and spacious king-size beds. It’s amazing what you can cram into one day in this diverse province, but we’ll leave it up to you what you get up to tomorrow.