Where to Travel Around Vancouver

The best tips on where to travel from Vancouver to the most wonderful places around. I will guide you on different one or two day trip options that everyone in your family will enjoy.

Get ready to go on an exciting tour where you will find great things to do and see during your vacations in Vancouver and British Columbia.

Discover where to fish and camp, wildlife watching and more activities for all ages that will make of your visit a rich and unforgettable experience.

Our tour will start on the western shores and will continue east to the beginning of the Fraser Canyon. This area is known as The Lower Mainland.

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History, tradition and adventures

Richmond BC is the place to see the exquisite multicultural blend of traditions, languages and cultures, one of the reasons that places Vancouver and the surrounding areas into the top 5 livable cities in the world.

In Richmond's shopping malls and other Asian shopping areas, you will find jewelry, clothing, and many other products from Hong Kong, Tokyo, India and Taipei.

The most popular, and my favorite, spot in Richmond is Steveston. Locals are usually seen walking, cycling, rollerblading or just reading a book on the boardwalk by the waterfront.

You and your family will have a wonderful time visiting the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Park. The village and canneries are preserved just as they were back in the early 1900s. Friendly guides will show you around the place and share wonderful stories about the first Chinese and Japanese immigrants.

Whale, wildlife and bird watching

The Lower Mainland's mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers and coast offer a great variety of exciting outdoor adventures.

Wildlife, bird watching and of course taking photographs are some of my favorite outdoor activities. From October to March I love going to Delta or many other spots to see and get beautiful photographs of bald eagles.

In Richmond, as in many other places in Vancouver and the coastal cities in the Lower Mainland, you can rent a boat to go fishing or join a Whale and Sea Lion watching tour.

Steveston Seabreeze Adventures, is a very experienced company that offers all these activites.

Visit the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Delta is located in the lower part of Mainland BC. It is a fantastic place for wildlife watching.

If you like to go bird watching just as I do, I recommend going to Delta. All kinds of birds can be seen there all year.

From Mid-October to March you can see bald eagles and hundreds of snow geese. Sea Lions, orcas and grey whales can be found offshore.

On Delta's beaches you can go horseback riding or have a nice family picnic.

The most fantastic place to see different birds, all throughout the year, is the George C. Reifel MIgratory Bird Sanctuary, located in the Village of Ladner, Delta BC. It is dedicated to the conservation and promotion of the waterfowl and wetlands in British Columbia.

You will always remember your visit to this beautiful sanctuary. It is a unique opportunity to see and photograph these beautiful birds in their natural habitat

Lovely beaches and world class cuisine and shopping

White Rock and South Surrey are very popular spots among the Lower Mainland residents.

Beautiful beaches, musuems and exquisite European style shops and galleries are just some of the main attractions in the area.

Spend the day at the beach or take a stroll along the Pier to see stunning views of Mount Baker and the San Juan Islands in Washington State, USA.

For dinner enjoy a delicious meal at one of the world class cuisine restaurants and then, to finish the day, go back to the Pier to enjoy a romantic breathtaking sunset.

Sailboats by Photo_mall

During the summer, families and friends gather at the beach for a picnic and practice their favorite water sports.

Day at the Beach by Photo Mall

Education and culture

The City of Burnaby is only a few minutes away from downtown Vancouver. It is the third most populous city in British Columbia.

What I like about the City of Burnaby, is that it is full of restaurants, shops, parks and opportunities for different outdoor activities.

Burnaby hosts different events and concerts throughout the year. At the Visitor's Center, you can check for programs and schedules.

One of the most interesting attractions in Burnaby is the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology located at the Simon Fraser University.

The City of Burnaby is home to a multiple variety of natural parks for the whole family to enjoy. Some of these parks are: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, Burnaby Lake Regional Nature Park Central Park and my favorite Deer Lake Park.

History and recreation

Fort Langley, in the Township of Langley, is one of the cities around Vancouver that I would recommend the most.

I love it because when I travel to this beautiful place, it is like traveling back in time and then, because as a passionate photographer, I always find great photo opportunities.

There are so many things to do in Langley that it makes it impossible to list them all but I will show you the most famous and the ones I like best

The Fort Langley Historical Site is a fantastic place to visit. The guides are dressed up in 19th century costumes and will guide you through the different tasks that people used to do. You and your children will have lots of fun panning for gold and participating in other activities related to the times when the fort was built.

Just across the street, you will visit the old Canadian National Train Station and behind the main building, climb into the old caboose; to get the feeling of how it was to travel by train back then.

Outdoor Activities

As in all cities in the Lower Mainland, Langley is perfect for outdoor activities. Just a few steps from the Fort Historical Site you can rent boats and kayaks for a nice trip on the Fraser River.

Do you like overnight camping, picnics, fishing and to be in contact with nature? At Derby Reach, one of Langley's Natural Parks, you can do them all.

If you were wondering where to fish in British Columbia, Derby Reach by the Fraser River offers easy sport fishing access to the many Fraser River salmon runs.

We can make a stop in our tour and have cup of coffee or tea. while we do, would love to know what are your favorite outdoor activities.

Outdoor Adventures

Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge are two cities in which a quiet lifestyle and nature blend together.

Surrounded by forests, mountains, lakes and rivers, they are both nice places for recreational activities.

We will travel along Highway 7 (Lougheed Highway), to find shopping areas, restaurants and touristic attractions while we admire lovely scenic views.

Alouette Lake and the Golden Ears Provincial Park are perfect for swimming, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking fishing and other boating activities; rentals available. This park is also a beautiful spot for overnight camping at any of the three well secured campgrounds.

When I want to go for a nice walk and get beautiful landscape photographs, my first choices would be the dikes by the Pitt River, the paths by Alouette Lake or the Kanaka Creek Regional Park.

On each visit, I always find nice people cycling, walking or horseback riding. It is there where I have met other photographers who, just like me, enjoy the scenery and we always end up exchanging photo tips and advice.

A Legacy

Mission, British Columbia is a city in which you will find all kinds of activities. If you are looking for a place with history, wildlife and outdoor excitement or spirituality, then you will love this city

Go fishing to any of the various lakes where you can also spend a beautiful day at the beach. Rolley Lake and Sun Valley Trout Park are among the favorites of local residents.

If you are a camping enthusiast, you will find secure camping areas by the lakes and rivers like the Old Orchard RV Resort.

During winter, snow skiing is one of the most popular acitivities in Canada and Mission has a perfect place for it at the Hemlock Mountain Resort.

The Monastery at the Westminster Abbey is a lovely place to visit, featuring a beautiful church surrounded by peaceful and quiet paths from which you will be amazed by spectacular views of Mission and the Fraser Valley (photo above).

Among other attractions at Mission BC we can visit the Restored Grotto, Stave Falls with the old power house and the Mission Museum.

If you love race cars, attend exciting drag races at the Mission Raceway.

Just outside of Mission continuing east, visit the XayTem Longhouse Interpretive Center and learn about the Sto:lo Culture. You will be able to participate in workshops and discover beautiful native art. At the site, visit two pit houses and learn about this ancient culture: way of life, activities and more interesting facts.

Around the Fraser Valley

The Fraser Canyon is full of excitement and adventure. There are multiple activities for all ages. If you like excitement, register for a river rafting expedition.

For a more relaxed tour, visit the multiple heritage villages around.

The beautiful Alexandra Bridge and Provincial Park is another wonderful attraction in the Fraser Canyon.

At Hell's Gate you can take the Airtram and descend into the canyon to see the fish ways built to help salmons pass through the Fraser River.

Beautiful landscapes, a paradise for photographers

Driving east, past Mission, we will make a short stop at Deroche to get some delicious home made beef jerky, and then continue our trip to our final destination. This road is so pretty, that you will want to make a few stops to take amazing photographs and scenes of forests, lakes and rivers; of course, I always do that!

Camping facilites and parks can be found around Harrison Mills and Harrison Hot Springs.

We are almost at the end of our tour to the best things to see around Vancouver. Before we go back, I would like to take you to two of the most beautiful places near the Fraser Canyon: Harrison Mills and Harrison Hot Springs

History and tradition

In Harrison Mills we will visit The Kilby Historical Site. A great place for the whole family.

Here we will see the old general store, the museum and the farm where the little ones in the family will enjoy getting close to farm animals.

Make sure to visit the site during one of the fun events that the site organizes during the year.

Behind the Kilby Historical site you will find The Christmas Cottage. A fabulous and beautiful cottage hidden in the forest where you can buy high quality Christmas ornaments and gifts.

Harrison Hot Springs is an exceptional place for relaxation and water activities. There are several international cuisine restaurants and cozy coffee shops. This is why I decided to leave this resort at the end of our tour.

The most famous feature in Harrison Hot Springs are the natural hot spring pools where you can enjoy a relaxing Spa.

My suggestion would be to stay, at least, for a couple of days in this destination. You can make a reservation at any of the various hotels in Harrison Hot Springs like the Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa.

After an exciting trip to different cities around Vancouver, we can go back now. To find the most extraordinary things to do and see in this beautiful city, please visit this page

Vancouver British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia is considered one of the top livable cities in the world. Explore Vancouver through this page to learn facts and the best places to visit in this beautiful city.

Hope you had fun and enjoyed my suggestions on Where to go around Vancouver.

Would love hear about the places you liked most and what activities you would like to do when you visit the Lower Mainland.

Remember you can get the images displayed in this page at Photo Mall my shop in Zazzle.