British Columbia’s year-round outdoor activities are the biggest draw to this coastal province, closely followed by the Pacific-Northwest cuisine, fine wines and lively entertainment scene.

In the winter, options for skiing and snowboarding in the Rocky Mountains are endless. Vancouver hosted the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and getting to the slopes is easy from this capital city. Enjoy the view of the peaks from one of Whistler's restaurants or luxurious spas.

Pick up the Pacific Crest Trail for formidable long-distance hiking in the summer months, or head down the Sea to Sky Highway for whitewater rafting, fishing and camping in the Fraser Valley. Surf schools on Vancouver Island are abundant, and surfers from all over the world flock to Tofino for the chill atmosphere and world-class waves. The Okanagan Valley has the country's sunniest weather and the best vineyards.