BEST OF British Columbia

British Columbia is geographically divided into 6 distinct regions encompassing 154 cities, towns, villages and districts that offer great diversity in recreation, entertainment, education, shopping, dining and lifestyles. The six regions are:

GREATER VANCOUVER, COAST AND MOUNTAINS

Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With the mountains less than 30 minutes drive from the city center, the BEST of this beautiful city's amenities, mountain parklands, water sports and world class skiing, are close at hand. The ability to windsurf in the morning and ski on local mountains the same afternoon attracts fun seekers from around the world. This is the ideal starting point for most visitors to British Columbia.

VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND

West of Vancouver, across Burrard Inlet, is Vancouver Island . . . The jewel of the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Full of beauty and natural splendor, the islands offer magnificent forests, majestic mountains, beautiful beaches and secluded bays. The Greater Victoria region covers the extreme southern end of Vancouver Island including Victoria Harbour and Victoria itself, the Capitol of British Columbia.

THOMPSON OKANAGAN

Just East of the Greater Vancouver Region is the Thompson Okanagan. Here you can find 1,000 km (600 miles) of beautiful lake shoreline and 25 marine parks. It's the ideal area for watersport activities such as boating (including houseboat cruising), swimming, water-skiing, Seadooing. The Thompson Okanagan region boasts more sunshine per year than any other region in Canada and features many vinyards and wineries and 2 dozen golf courses.

BRITISH COLUMBIA ROCKIES

Further East, nestled in the majestic Rocky Mountains, are many picturesque towns. Several of the region's communities feature naturally heated mineral hot springs. There are twelve major parks in the region, each a protected wilderness area of incredible beauty. Perhaps the most spectacular is Yoho National Park, with its 28 impressive mountain peaks. This area is ideal for hiking, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.

CARIBOO CHILCOTIN COAST

North ot Greater Vancouver is the Cariboo Chilcoltin Coast Region. Here you will rediscover the Gold Rush Trail that gold-seekers from around the world flocked to after Billy Barker discovered gold on Williams Creek in 1862. The region covers approximately 12,600,000 hectares (over 31 million acres) and has more than 40 Provincial Parks and the "World's Deepest Fjord Lake" which hosts unique Gerard rainbows, known to reach 8 kg (17 lbs).

NORTHERN BC

Northern BC is filled with parks and nature preserves from the mystical, storm-swept Queen Charlotte Islands in the West, to the  foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the East. In the Northern Rockies, you will find the Muskwa-Kechika Special Management Area. It is known as the "Serengeti of the North", because nowhere else outside of Africa is there such wildlife diversity and intact ecosystems in a relatively compact area.

Whether you are coming to shop, dine, golf, ski, play on the beach or just relax, British Columbia offers the BEST of everything. There are literally thousands of shops and places to eat, drink, play and relax. You can choose from a wide range of touring, recreation, shopping, eating and accommodations in all 6 regions. The BEST that British Columbia has to offer are listed on the Web Sites below with detailed information on their products, services and menus as well as interactive mapping that will direct you to their front door.

For the BEST shopping, services, restaurants, entertainment, lodging accommodations, real estate information and community events, click on to the community of your choice below and start planning your trip to beautiful British Columbia.