British Columbia – In Broad Strokes • Explorer Sue

British Columbia…

Where the whale-inhabited waters of Puget Sound bleed into the international waters of the great Canadian province of British Columbia. This 944,735 km² acre western section of Canada rises up to meet the untouched wilderness of Alaska. So it should come as no surprise that this entire stretch of land is a paradise for the outdoor lover. Luckily, it’s not too hard to wax lyrical about the mighty mountains, deep forests and dramatic coastlines here that instantly lower heart rates to tranquil levels.

It takes a full 24 hours (without sleeping) to drive from Vancouver, B.C all the way up to the northern-most point in B.C. If it were a straight shoot, it’d be a lot less, but the quickest road is also windy. Along the way, you will feel like you are the only one on the planet, as you traverse deep wilderness and endless plains.

As you drive further north, the large watery peninsula of Alaska will be just a few short kilometers to the west, but you can’t simply head west to get to it – there are no roads heading directly there. You will need to drive all the way into the Yukon Territory, then dip south again to get to it by car. Or, of course, take the ferry from Prince Rupert (much easier).

While the obvious destinations such as Vancouver and Victoria are all well and good – to really experience authentic British Columbia, one must venture into Kelowna and Kamloops.

It’s also hard to beat the welcoming, sometimes quirky character of smaller communities – from Cumberland to Powell River and to Salt Spring – that are the beating heart of British Columbia.

Wherever you head, the natural scenery will always beckon you to partake. Dare to put your camera away for just a few hours and live in the moment. British Columbia is the stuff of life-changing travel…with hiking and kayaking experiences that surpass your expectations, however grand.

British Columbia’s coastline is a behemoth unto itself. Rugged and expansive, it stretches more than 27,000 km (17,000 mi), with deep fjords that would make Norway blush. It’s 6,000 islands tease the seasoned traveler to explore…but alas, most are uninhabited and don’t get many (if any) visitors.