8 Weekend Getaways from Vancouver
With summer and long weekends approaching, Iβm sharing some great places to visit within BC. I love a good road trip and the beauty of traveling in your own province is that itβs less expensive for families and fits anyoneβs budget! Also helps we live in a beautiful province of Canada. We’re both very lucky to have grown up in beautiful British Columbia, and one of our goals going forward is to see more of our home province! We have so many weekend getaways from Vancouver to choose from! It’s super easy to escape the city to a totally different climate, scenery, or city.
I admit I havenβt ventured up north yet, so these locations are in the southern part of the province. If thereβs anywhere I need to travel to up north, share in the comments! Curtis and I talk about this all the time about venturing more up that way. We woud love to do a weekend trip from Vancouver to somewhere up in Northern BC.
And we have something for everyone, wine country, surfing, skiing, because everywhere mentioned below is also great to travel to all year round. The beauty of the PNW and our mild weather!
My Choices for 8 Weekend Getaways from Vancouver
Tofino | 5 Hours (Ferry/Plane + Car)
One of my favorite places in the world, thereβs nothing else like it. A small surf and fishing town, itβs a great spot to visit all year round. The water is reasonable warm to surf even in the winter (I know because I’ve done it!) and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Plus the amount of great places to eat are unbelievable. Literally packed with great places such as Wolf in the Fog, Shelter, Shed Tofino and the list goes on and on.
Cowichan Valley | 2 Hours (Ferry/Plane + Car)
A scenic area we just visited this year on Vancouver Island full of pretty hikes, great food, a wine region and full of so many adventures. Check out my guide here, but from amazing local wineries and cideries, to great hikes with scenic views and adventure activities for adults and families.
Kelowna | 4 Hours
One of my favourite places in BC, located right on the Okanagan Lake. I used to go up as a kid frequently and Curtis and I visited Kelowna again last year, and really enjoyed ourselves exploring the city, wineries and eating our way around town. It’s also a short drive away from Big White, a popular ski town and just above Osoyoos and the rest of BC’s wine country.
Osoyoos | 5 Hours
Probably better for a long weekend trip from Vancouver, the trip to Osoyoos will take you about 4-5 hours to get to a whole new climate and atmosphere. Hot and sunnier in the summer and a bit cooler in the winter, Osoyoos is a fun weekend getaway. You can see my guide to Osoyoos here. It’s surrounded by desert, lined with rolling mountains and filled with beautiful vineyards, it offers an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Sunshine Coast | 2-3 Hours (Ferry + Car)
The Sunshine Coast is a small-town paradise that offers access to tons of great lakes, islands, and untouched nature. Youβll have to take a ferry to access the Sunshine Coast, so if you donβt have a car, youβll likely have to stay in Gibsons where you can do a walk on the ferry. If you have a car, take a tour down the highway stopping at anything that interests you.
Victoria | 2 Hours (Ferry/Plane + Car)
Our province’s capital city, is a ferry ride or sea plane away. Besides housing the pariliament buildings and university, it’s full of great restaurants, culture and live music. You can even hop on a whale watching tour, or enjoy high-tea at the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel. If you do take a ferry across, and it’s nice weather, make sure to pop outside, you might see some orcas! And you can go for great hikes, and wander the historic streets downtown, then visit the Royal BC Museum. Just a fun weekend!
Whistler | 1.5 Hours
Whistler is the closest getaway from Vancouver that makes you feel like youβre really getting away from the city. Especially in the wintertime when itβs raining in the city and snowing in Whistler (fingers crossed!). This little resort town is popular for so many activities or events, bachelor/bachelorette parties, weekend getaways with the girls, food festivals, spa time, awesome skiing/snowboarding and mountain biking.
It’s just as lively in the summer as it is in the winter, and you can take a dip in the nearby lakes in the warm weather! Check out my Whistler guide for ideas.
Seattle and Washington State | 2-3 Hours
And if youβre looking to venture to the US, Seattle is just a mere two hour drive. I always love visiting Seattle and it’s little neighbourhoods like Ballard or Queen Anne. Plus plenty of other great places to visit around there like Olympia, Seattle Southside, Chuckanut Drive and the San Juan Islands.
What are your choices for weekend getaways from Vancouver?? I always love to know other people’s favourite places in BC!
And here is a Pinterest image to save for future trip planning! And don’t forget to check out my Youtube Channel for travel vlogs!
Love that you included Cowichan Valley on here Leslie! I lived on Van Island for years, and I always felt like that area was so underrated! So much outdoor rec, quiet, good music scene, and the local food culture is unreal. I’ve heard rumours that there’s even a tea farm you can visit out there, but I’ve yet to confirm.
Thanks Emily! It is definitely a gem of an area, lots to do and yes there is a tea farm, we didn’t get to pop in on our trip π
Hi! Do you have any tips for taking the ferry to/from Vancouver/Victoria? My husband plan on traveling there in about a month or so. We would appreciate any advice to ensure the journey is smooth! Thanks in advance.
Hi! If you are driving, make a reservation in advance. It can be very busy in the summer! You can take either the ferry from Departure Bay or Tsawwassen, they both have a ferry that goes to Victoria.
If you are walking on, you can skytrain to richmond and then board a bus to the ferry terminal, then bus to victoria on the other side.
There is also a foot passenger only ferry from downtown Vancouver to Victoria called the V2V. It’s pricier, but takes you straight into the Victoria harbour.
Hope this helps! A car is always better if you can, you can explore more around Victoria and Vancouver π
Wow! Thanks for all the great tips! Can’t wait to start visiting these places… π