Three British Columbia Day Trips from Vancouver

It's easy for travelers to stay within the Vancouver city limits and still have fun. To get the most out of visiting British Columbia, though, take a day trip to some of the nearby attractions. You'll find scenery, wildlife and mountain biking adventure. For these three destinations, renting a car is your best option.

Mountain Biking in Squamish

Hockey is Canada's spectator sport, but mountain biking its participant sport. It's no wonder why with something like 600 mountain biking trails encircling Squamish, 45 miles north of Vancouver on the BC99 highway. It's a cross-country rider's delight, and home to races like the Test of Metal.

Squamish seems a bit run-down and drab. But you're not here for nightlife. Find a trail like the Half Nelson and get a taste of everything British Columbia mountain biking offers; local riders call it Squamish's signature trail. Many trails are marked ski-style, with green squares to double black-diamonds warning of what lies ahead.

In the summer, be ready for lots of hours of daylight and mild temperatures - perfect for epic mountain biking. If you need anything from first-hand advice to gear to repairs, Squamish has plenty of bike shops.

Hiking in Whistler

You'll find the ski resort town Whistler about 75 miles north of Vancouver. When the snow's melted, it's all hiking, fishing and biking. If you're game for a hike, you'll find everything from quick three-mile jaunts like the High Note Trail, to nearly 15 miles to test you on the Single Pass. There's even a handy list of the top 5 hikes around Whistler.

As an exclusive ski resort town, Whistler is also expensive. For instance, there's a Mongolian BBQ-style restaurant that charges by the pound. And a moderate-sized dinner for two can easily top $40, especially if you go for any alcoholic beverages. Even in the summer, Whistler gets cool when the sun drops below the mountains. You'll catch glimpses of glaciers. Be ready with a decent jacket, especially if you're from a warm climate.

Photograph Sea Lions in Victoria

Vancouver is a maritime city - so board the ferry and head for Vancouver Island and the British Columbia capitol of Victoria. You'll have to get to Tsawwassen, just south of Vancouver to catch the BC Ferry. From there, it's about 90 minutes to Swartz Bay. It's a 20-mile ride to Victoria, with city buses a cheap option at about $2.25. There, you can either take in the pleasant, laid-back vibe and enjoy some shopping. Better yet, check out the boat tours. Some will take you out whale-watching. On others, you can aim smaller and search for sea lions. On the smaller tours, you might luck out and score a marine biologist as your tour guide. On one tour, a guide fished some seaweed out of the ocean for his passengers to sample.

Victoria is a bit warmer and drier than Vancouver and the rest of British Columbia. It does get windy, though, especially offshore. No need to bundle up, but a windbreaker will help. If you're hungry, you won't need to put much effort into finding quality seafood.