Passing Thru - For the Curious and Thoughtful Traveler

For the Curious and Thoughtful Traveler

  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Blog
  • Work With Us
    • Media Kit
    • Help with Your Business
    • Housesitting
      • How to Get Started as an International House Sitter
      • Our Housesitting Profile
  • Places
    • Africa
      • South Africa
    • Asia
      • China
      • India
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Australia & Oceania
      • Australia
      • Fiji Islands
      • The Philippines
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Bosnia and Herzegovina
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Czech Republic
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Latvia
      • Liechtenstein
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Serbia
      • Spain
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Alaska
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Florida
      • Hawaii
      • Illinois
      • Iowa
      • Kansas
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Missouri
      • Montana
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Pennsylvania
      • South Dakota
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Scandinavia
      • Finland
      • Sweden
    • General Travel
  • Resources and Tools
    • Gift Guides
    • Luggage and Packing
      • Luggage Tags
      • Passport Security
    • Resources for Zazzle and Print On Demand
    • Technology
  • Contact

7 Best Day Trips from Vancouver

By Betsy Wuebker Leave a Comment

(Last Updated On: January 29, 2020)

A visit to Canada is always worth it. It is a country full of great people, fascinating cultures and pristine nature. Among its provinces, however, British Columbia holds a very special place because all those features are even more pronounced there.

vancouver skyline in autumn - day trips from vancouver
Image by David Mark from Pixabay

This is especially true for the city of Vancouver, a beautiful modern metropolis with fascinating architecture which is home to people from quite literally all over the world. One of the most densely populated cities in North America, this bustling city will win you over with its culture, high standard of living, numerous events you can visit and so much more.

This post contains affiliate links and/or references to our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on or make a purchase using these links.

But, as previously mentioned, British Columbia also has a lot to offer, so if you want to explore it in greater detail, this is the best possible hub from which to organize your trips. Here’s a list of what many consider to be the best day trips from Vancouver.

7 best day trips from vancouver

Click here to see a great list of popular day trips and excursions with reviews from Vancouver.

Explore Vancouver’s Coastline

The coast around Vancouver is mesmerizingly beautiful and offers something for everyone. Nature in its most pristine form, small and peaceful coastal towns, the Haida Gwaii island chain and Lighthouse Park are the best reason to dedicate a whole day to this.

lighthouse park on vancouver's coastline
Photo Credit

What’s best, you really don’t have to travel far from the city to find yourself in a completely different world – about half an hour’s drive will be more than enough for the incredible nature to take over and leave you speechless.

This is also a great choice for those who are looking for a more active vacation, as there are plenty of places where you can go hiking, even rock climbing, or simply rent out a boat and go kayaking to get a view of the coast from a different perspective.

lighthouse vancouver canada

Otherwise, you can simply chill out on a beach or enjoy some excellent seafood in one of those small towns we mentioned earlier. The choice is yours and you WILL have a great time no matter where you choose to go and what you choose to do.

Visit Seattle Across the Border

On the other hand, if you don’t mind getting an early start and making a slightly longer trip, you can cross the border with the United States and go and visit Seattle. There are trains between the two cities, so you don’t have to drive if you don’t want to, and it takes about three and a half hours to make the journey.

You can visit the Space Needle, probably the most famous symbol of Seattle, a futuristic tower built in 1962 for the World Fair. It is fascinating both from architectural and design standpoint, plus it provides a spectacular view of the city from its observation deck.

Another great symbol of Seattle is the Pike Place Market, the longest continuously running market in the US. This fish market has been open since 1907 and receives a lot of tourists every year which are here to witness the famous fish throwing ritual.

seattle's pike place market - day trip from vancouver
Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Naturally, at a place like this you can expect to find some truly incredible seafood restaurants with very interesting dishes, but what is also here is the original Starbucks shop. Yes, the first ever! All in all, Seattle really is a great city to visit.

Click here to see a Two Day Tour option to Seattle from Vancouver.

Enjoy Whistler

whistler - mountain biking on a day trip from vancouver
Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Back to Canada. British Columbia is the best region to learn about the culture of aboriginal people, the so-called First Nations. Now, Whistler may not be the first place to come to your mind when we’re talking about this because it is a resort town whose main purpose is to accommodate skiing enthusiasts during winter, although it is just as interesting to visit in summer when you can cycle around, go hiking and do many other activities.

And what does this have to do with the First Nations? Well, Whistler is home to Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre, a fantastic institution dedicated to preserving the heritage of these peoples. It’s actually a museum with fantastic exhibits, shows and various other events through which you can learn a lot about both the Squamish and the Lil’Wat people. It also has a great gift shop, so it’s a great place to pick up some unique souvenirs, too.

You will also be impressed by the building itself, since it is a modern and quite beautiful building very much worth exploring on its own. So combine a trip to a great resort town and learning about the First Nations for a great day in British Columbia!

Click here to check out a Small Group Day Tour to Whistler from Vancouver.

Go Sightseeing in Victoria

While Vancouver is the biggest city in the region, it is not the region’s capital. That honor belongs to the city of Victoria, another great destination for a day trip from Vancouver.

victoria day trip from vancouver - parliament building
Photo Credit

What adds even more to the Victoria experience is that you can get there by ferry, which is a ride you won’t ever forget because of the beauty that will surround you throughout the trip. Compared to the bustling and modern metropolis that is Vancouver, Victoria is a somewhat more easy-going and more traditional town, so it will be easy to relax there. 

The city oozes late 19th /early 20th century charm, with its impressive Parliament Buildings which have a massive dome dominating the complex, Craigdarroch Castle, the beautiful Empress Hotel, and the spectacular Royal British Columbia Museum, something you absolutely must visit while you’re in town.

As soon as you start walking through the harbour, you will be engulfed by the city’s unique vibe, just don’t forget to check out the artists scattered around there. These performers are also something that makes Victoria quite famous.

Click here to check out a Victoria and Butchart Gardens Tour from Vancouver.

All in all, when you combine the architecture and history that permeates this city with the exceptionally beautiful ride here, you get something that will become a hallmark of your trip to Canada. Enjoy!

Surround Yourself with Nature at Capilano River

Capilano River is located just north of the city, so this is one of the closest Vancouver day trip destinations imaginable. What you want to head for is the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, where you can cross the aforementioned bridge (obviously) but also enjoy several other activities like the cliffwalk and the Treetops adventure where you cross a whole bunch of other suspension bridges suspended between massive and ancient trees.

capilano suspension bridge - day trip from vancouver
Photo Credit

From the suspension bridges, you will get a spectacular view of this fascinating rainforest just outside of the city and feel completely at one with the nature. Not to mention that the whole thing just relaxes you completely.

In addition, you can also learn about the First Nations here in their cultural centre, which only adds value to the trip. It’s something the whole family can enjoy, so if you don’t want the hassle of taking the kids on a longer trip, just take them here and they’ll love every minute of it.

Click here to see reviews and pricing on a guided Vancouver City Tour including the Capilano Suspension bridge.

Hop On a Ship and Go Whale Watching

The cold waters of north Pacific are absolutely teeming with life and Vancouver is on the migration route of countless whales. Orcas (i.e. killer whales), humpback whales, gray whales and other species can regularly be spotted in the period from March (especially from May) to October.

humpback whale watching - best day trip from vancouver bc
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

To see whales, all you have to do is get to Vancouver harbor, hop on a whale-spotting boat and take off. There is also the option of boarding a plane and watching the whales from the air.

In any case, you will be greeted by these majestic animals in their natural surrounding, which is a chance nobody should miss. Of course, the whales are not the only animals you can see, since there are plenty of unique birds and other animals you can see along the way, but we all know who the star of the show is. And if you have kids with you, just think how they will react when they see one of these huge beasts. It will be a memory they will treasure forever.

Click here to check out a Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure from Vancouver.

Sip Some Excellent Wines in Lower Mainland

Believe it or not, the area around Vancouver has some pretty good wineries to offer. Excellent, in fact. So, for all you foodies (especially wine lovers) out there, dedicating one day of your Vancouver trip to exploring these estates will probably be a great idea.

wine 1761613 1920
Image by Photo Mix from Pixabay

The great thing about it is that you don’t have to drive too far to reach them – just head to Langley, which is an area less than an hour away. Of course, if you don’t want to drive in order to enjoy all the wines to the fullest, you can easily find organized tours of these wineries and join other wine fanatics on their quest for these delectable beverages.

Click here to check out a Langley and Fraser Valley Winery Tour.

These trips usually visit three or four wineries where you can sample every product paired with carefully selected food to go along with it, so you will get to explore British Columbia and get to know its gastronomy a bit. Sounds like a great day out, doesn’t it? 

Anca One Day Itinerary

Meet Our Guest Author: Anca is the founder and chief editor of One Day Itinerary, a travel blog dedicated to those who want to make the most of their time in a new city, even if they only have only one day there. Thanks to the fact that she has traveled literally all over the world, she can tell you the dos and don’ts of pretty much every major city in the world. As a matter of fact, she’s already done so in her blog posts.

Tips for Trip Success

Book Your Flight
Find an inexpensive flight by using CheapOAir, a favorite of ours because it regularly returns less expensive flight options from a variety of airlines.

Book Your Hotel or Special Accommodation
We are big fans of Booking.com. We like their review system and photos. If we want to see more reviews and additional booking options, we go to TripAdvisor.

You Need Travel Insurance!
Good travel insurance means having total peace of mind. Travel insurance protects you when your medical insurance often will not and better than what you get from your credit card. It will provide comprehensive coverage should you need medical treatment or return to the United States, compensation for trip interruption, baggage loss, and other situations.

PassingThru is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

To view PassingThru’s privacy policy, click here.

Filed Under: Travel, Canada

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Aloha! We’re Betsy and Pete Wuebker. We traveled the world full time for close to four years and have visited almost 50 countries. If you’re a curious and thoughtful traveler, you’re in the right place. No matter if you’re new to travel or an old hand, we can help you refine your bucket list!

Here’s to a happier, travel-centered life!

How to Tour Europe by Train Using Eurail First Class Passes

Bucket List Ideas

  • Things You Will Learn About Yourself While Walking the Camino de Santiago
  • 10 Unmissable Attractions in Bhutan
  • Oktoberfest Getaway in Munich: Top Tips Ensure the Best Oktoberfest Plan for the Famous Munich Beer Festival

More Bucket List Ideas

Privacy Policy

Click here for PassingThru’s Privacy Policy.

Disclosure

PassingThru is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Click here for PassingThru’s complete Disclosure Policy.

Copyright © 2022 Passing Thru · Designed by Blue Sun Studio, Inc. on Genesis · Log in