5 Reasons to Visit the British Columbia

If you are making plans for your next getaway, you might want to consider British Columbia as your next destination. This stunning part of Canada has a lot to offer whether you are looking for a city break, outdoor adventuring, or even visiting the filming location from one of Hollywood's most iconic franchises. Here are five reasons why you should visit BC.

BC is beautiful

In Beth D’Addono’s ‘10 Reasons You Should Explore Beautiful British Columbia’, she describes the Canadian province as “gorgeous,” pointing out that Vancouver is “laced with sandy beaches, wooded hiking trails, kayaking blueways, seawall bike lanes and urban gems like Stanley Park.” British Columbia is also home to the Kootenay Rockies, a breathtaking region with snow-capped mountains up top and rivers, lakes, waterfalls, beaches, and mineral hot springs below the stunning peaks. As a bonus, you can enjoy a bevy of activities in these beautiful places, like hiking and trekking breathtaking trails and kayaking in crystal-clear waters.

The food is amazing

The delicacies in British Columbia are truly delectable, especially in the municipality of Vancouver, which according to D’Addono has “one of the best foodie scenes on any coast.” If you only have one day to visit, she suggests that you spend it eating and drinking, notably at Granville Island market and on a Vancouver Foodie Tour where you get to eat in food trucks downtown. The British Columbia food scene is highly recommended by Traveller.com, too, which suggests a food trip to Edible Canada Bistro, Forage, and Pilgrimme.

You won’t run out of things to do

Whatever your interests, you will surely have something worthwhile to do in British Columbia. The British Columbia official website lists a number of activities you can do while in the beautiful province. If you are fond of the arts, culture, and history, you can immerse yourself in the aboriginal past of Canada by visiting the various interpretive centers and museums. You might even chance upon actual totem poles—longstanding remnants of the rich aboriginal history of the province—in their original locations. If sightseeing is something you enjoy, then you can take part in the many sightseeing tours offered by both the local government or travel companies in and around the area.

BC was used as a key location in Planet of the Apes

War for the Planet of the Apes was extensively filmed in locations around British Columbia including the Richmond, Lower Mainland and Long Beach on Vancouver Island. Not only was the film a big success at the box office, it also boosted the British Columbia economy by $81 million. Fans of the franchise can visit the locations and imagine themselves on a film set.

Adapted from the 1963 French novel by Pierre Boulle, the Planet of Apes franchise has spawned nine films, two television series, and numerous comic book strips. Planet of Apes has become as globally recognized as Star Trek and Star Wars with merchandise and tie-ins across all areas of the entertainment industry. Unsurprisingly, the franchise has also attracted interest from even the gaming community, with Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier released last November for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. Slingo’s online slot game Planet of the Apes takes elements from both the 2011 Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and the 2014 sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and adds them to the gameplay. Both these films were also filmed in British Columbia showing how the province is not only a popular destination for travelers but also films studios.

Check out other fun things to do in the British Columbia here.

The festivals are truly festive

British Columbia is home to a variety of festivals, and each offers an experience to get to know the province even better. The merry-making is memorable, the food mouthwatering, and in the case of the Cowichan Wine & Culinary Festival or anyone of the three Okanagan seasonal wine festivals, fine wine is overflowing. There are also festivals for theatre, music, dance, film, crafts, and visual arts throughout the year.

Xoxo Ania Travels 💜