Day 1

Arrive in Vancouver and spend the remainder of the day exploring downtown, making a stop at the main Vancouver Visitor Centre, wandering around the white “sails” of Canada Place, and then visiting historical Gastown.

Day 2

Day 2 is dedicated to museums: the Vancouver Museum, the Vancouver Maritime Museum, and the Museum of Anthropology, each representing an element of regional history. Get some fresh air by taking a walk along English Bay Beach before dinner.

Day 3

Rise early and strap on your skis for a day on the slopes of a local resort. Families should head to Grouse Mountain or Mount Seymour and snowboarders to Cypress Mountain. Nonskiers can rent a bike and lazily make their way around Stanley Park.

Day 4

Rent a vehicle or jump aboard a tour bus to visit Whistler. Even if you don’t plan on skiing or boarding, this alpine village located a 90-minute drive north of Vancouver offers plenty to see and do throughout the winter.

Day 5

Depart Vancouver for Victoria by seaplane. After checking into a historical bed-and-breakfast for a two-night stay, spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the Inner Harbour on foot; include a visit to the Royal BC Museum.

Day 6

Rent a bike and ride around Marine Drive, making your final destination one of the many tearooms in Oak Bay. Spend the afternoon at Butchart Gardens.

Day 7

Head out to Goldstream Provincial Park, where a large population of bald eagles spend winter feasting on spawned-out salmon. Return to Vancouver for your homeward flight.

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