13-Nights West Coast Island Discovery

Richmond, B.C.

Shaped by the mighty Frasier River, Richmond, British Colombia is the fourth most populous city of British Colombia founded and settled by many immigrants since 1860. Known for its waterfronts surrounded by gigantic landscapes of mountain vistas and thick forests, Richmond was once the center of aviation connecting Canada, Vancouver, and other Pacific Rim countries. The influx of aviation travel developed Richmond’s economy and also pushed advancements of technology in aviation. Now a multicultural urban metro, visitors can learn about the fur traders at Fort Langeley National Historic Site and the once quaint fisherman village of the North Pacific Cannery. Explorers can uncover unusual fossils in Yoho National Park or adventure through the ghost towns of Sandon in Slocan Valley.

Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Island is located just east of Vancouver Island. According to the 2011 Census, it was reported an estimate of 10,234 inhabitants are currently residing in the area. There is so much see and do in Salt Spring Island, enjoy a visit to the Cheese Company where you will learn about the process and even have the chance to taste homemade cheese and jam. There are also plenty of sightseeing tours, water activities and other walking tours that take you across town to visit the abundance of wineries in the area.

Whistler

Nestled in the spectacular Coast Mountains of British Columbia, just 75 miles north of Vancouver, lies Whistler Resort, a charming alpine village, and the Home of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Rising one vertical mile from a village of award-winning West Coast architecture, Whistler & Blackcomb Mountains offer the greatest vertical rise of any ski area in North America, and its massive high-alpine terrain rivals the major ski resorts of Europe. Whistler is also a popular summer destination as well, with many recreational activities for the whole family.

Vancouver

Vancouver is a thriving metropolis surrounded by natural beauty. With parks, beaches, gardens, museums, art galleries and the second-largest Chinatown in North America, Vancouver lives up to its promise of offering something for everyone. With modern buildings set against green, rolling hillsides, this city is breathtaking; no location offers a more spectacular view than Stanley Park - with a zoo, aquarium, totem poles and honking geese. A short walk from the park leads to Robson Street, which offers the town's best window-shopping. Stores with European flavor share the avenue with delicatessens and tea rooms ready to serve. As architectural heart of the city, Robson Square features a central plaza with a food fair and an old provincial courthouse, which now houses Vancouver Art Gallery. Be sure to stop at 8 Pender St. - "the narrowest building in the world." Other points of interest include the Museum of Anthropology; Japanese-style Nitobe Memorial Garden; and VanDusen Botanical Garden. Capilano Canyon is site of the world's longest and highest suspension footbridge.

Victoria, B.C.

British culture and island informality collide in Victoria. This sophisticated seaside city is full of historic sites, parks and gardens. Take a walking tour - many of which begin at Parliament Buildings at Victoria's Inner Harbor. Combined with majestic Empress Hotel, these monumental buildings give the city a regal European feel. See equally impressive modern structures, such as Royal British Columbia History Museum, or replicas of large, native Northwest Indian houses at Thunderbird Park. Unique attractions include Undersea Gardens, Miniature World, Maritime Museum, Chinatown and Royal London Wax Museum. A memorable places to visit is world-famous Butchart Gardens, with 5,000 fauna varieties. The dazzling gardens on Saanich Inlet are beautiful at night, when hundreds of lights sparkle along winding paths. Additional gardens in Victoria include Crystal Garden and the gardens surrounding Government House and near Craigdarroch Castle, a towering Victorian mansion complete with a tower and turrets. Tour this city in a horse-drawn carriage.