Day 1

After arriving in Vancouver, check in to your historical West End bed-and-breakfast. Plan on dinner at the Raincity Grill, which specializes in local seafood infused with West Coast flair.

Day 2

Make a detour through Barclay Heritage Square, a collection of preserved homes, on your way to Gastown, where the cobbled streets of the city’s original precinct are lined with interesting shops. Divide the afternoon between the colorful enthusiasm of Chinatown and the grand old buildings along Georgia Street. Allow time for a drink at Steamworks Brewing Co.

Day 3

Spend the first part of the morning learning about the city’s human history at the Vancouver Museum, and then move around the bay to the Vancouver Maritime Museum. After lunch at a 4th Avenue restaurant, admire the mansions in historical Shaughnessy as you drive out to the Museum of Anthropology on Point Grey, which does a remarkable job of cataloging the history of coastal native people.

Day 4

Arrive at Steveston early and explore the restored cannery village before catching a ferry to Victoria from the nearby Tsawwassen terminal. Deserve a splurge? If so, reserve a room at Victoria’s Beaconsfield Inn. After complimentary afternoon tea, head downtown for dinner at the Bengal Lounge and an after-meal stroll through the totem poles of Thunderbird Park.

Day 5

Even history buffs deserve some time off, so plan on spending this morning at Butchart Gardens. Following afternoon tea at the 1861 Point Ellice House, concentrate on the historical buildings of Rockland: Christ Church Cathedral, Craigdarroch Castle, and Government House. Take in an evening performance at the grandly restored McPherson Playhouse or order a pint at Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub, Canada’s oldest brewpub.

Day 6

Start your day with breakfast at old-style Willies Bakery, and then walk through the streets of Old Town, making sure to detour through restored Market Square. Drive out to Fort Rodd Hill, where an 1873 lighthouse is open for tours. Continue toward Sooke for an early dinner at 17 Mile Pub, a 150-year-old roadside pub.

Day 7

Take in the story of the province’s past at the Royal BC Museum, and then learn about one of Canada’s best-known artists at Emily Carr House. Catch a ferry back to Vancouver for a late-afternoon flight home.

© Andrew Hempstead, from Moon Western Canada, 3rd Edition