Note: This story was originally published in 2021.
Rock the water cooler with BC’s brag-worthy city getaways.
Check your email for this season’s hottest invitation: The pleasure of your company is respectfully requested—back at the office. Ready or not, the time has come once again to mix and mingle with colleagues at the water cooler. And if you’re worried your repartee is a little rusty after so many months at home and on mute, fear not: There’s nothing like a brag-worthy fall getaway to fuel the banter for weeks to come.
So, grab your bubble-besties and hop the Rockies for an autumn adventure. British Columbia is eager to safely welcome friends and neighbours for an intimate visit, before the rest of the world returns. And whether your vacation wish-list includes adrenaline highs or beta-wave bliss, BC’s big cities are standing by to serve up all sorts of memorable moments—and your next water cooler conversation.
For a land-locked Albertan, a 20-minute Harbour Air floatplane tour checks a lot of bucket list boxes, taking off from Coal Harbour to offer spectacular aerial views of Vancouver’s downtown skyline and iconic landmarks such as Stanley Park, English Bay, Canada Place, and the North Shore Mountains.
To keep the blood flowing, opt for a zipline rush across the peaks and canyons of Grouse and Dam mountains. Or, for a more grounding experience, Indigenous-owned Takaya Tours offers two-hour interpretive tours from the North Shore in replica ocean-going canoes similar to those traditionally used by the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. It’s a great way to work up an appetite.
You can build your own Dine Around experience by sampling some of the outstanding restaurants listed on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants. Kissa Tanto, Hawksworth, Boulevard, Botanist, L’Abattoir all made the top 50; French-themed St. Lawrence claimed third place. When it’s time for bed, put a bow on the day with a nightcap (and an overnight) at the Fairmont Pacific Rim’s celebrated Botanist Bar—home of Canada’s coolest cocktails.
If foreign flavours are your favourite part of travel, fly into YVR and you’re only a 10-minute Canada Line ride away from foodie heaven—a.k.a. the Food Court at Aberdeen Mall. Come hungry and armed with cash (or debit) to feast on unique and authentic tastes from all across Asia. It’s a cheap-and-cheerful introduction to Richmond’s dynamic culinary scene.
For a deeper dive into the city’s food and culture, don’t miss Alexandra Gill’s bespoke Dine Like a Critic tour, spotlighting the renowned critic’s favourite Chinese restaurants.
You can sleep it off in style at the chic new Versante Hotel, an unforgettably stylish airport hotel featuring a rooftop pool, 24-hour room service—and a great introductory rate for those who like being first. And don’t forget an over-the-top selfie of your great getaway: Bring your phone to the unique Moon & Back Gallery, an immersive Infinity Room light gallery featuring crazy-fun kaleidoscopic backdrops.
Looking to bond with long-lost friends after months of isolation? Get on board the Harbour Ferries Pickle Pub Crawl and put the “appy” in Happy Hour. A $25 wrist band pays for four water taxi trips and a free appetizer at six popular watering holes, including Canoe Brew Pub and LURE.
Keep the nautical vibe going with a half-day whale-watching tour—there are several companies operating around the harbourfront—and revel in the abundant marine wildlife in the waters surrounding Victoria including seals, sea lions, and orcas (also the focus of a compelling new exhibition at the Royal BC Museum).
Or experience a quieter kind of high on a guided forest-bathing experience with Elemental Magick Adventures: a 2.5-hour walking tour through a nearby rainforest, with a focus on spiritual connection and mindfulness.
After an encounter with the Forest Elder—a 650-year-old Douglas fir—you’ll return to the city in the perfect head space to enjoy the fabulously refined Afternoon Tea service at the Fairmont Empress. (Tip: Keep that indulgent vibe going all night long with an overnight stay on the hotel’s luxury-forward Gold Floor.)
Julie has lived on one island or another for more than half her life and is delighted to now call Victoria, BC home. An award-winning writer, she has worked at CBC Radio, Western Living, and The Globe and Mail, and freelanced for publications such as Canadian Living, Canadian Geographic, National Post, Vancouver Sun, Ottawa Citizen, Georgia Straight, Report on Business, Edible Vancouver Island, and Style at Home.
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