Bucket-List BC Road Trips.
Stay and Do
July 18 2024, Mercedes-Benz Vancouver
Road tripping in BC is world-renowned for a reason and there’s no better time to do it than summertime. We’ve cherry-picked some choice luxury accommodations around the province for your perfect summer road trip itinerary.
Whistler
STAY: Zip up the Sea-to-Sky Highway for a stay at Four Seasons Resort & Residences Whistler, the epitome of luxury in this iconic mountain village. Exhale the stresses of the city as you soak up the solace of heated outdoor pools and an on-site spa, take in eye-catching art throughout the property curated by the Whistler Contemporary Art Gallery and gaze at the mountains from your private balcony.
DO: Soar almost 1,500 feet above the valley floor between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains on the PEAK TO PEAK Gondola or rent an e-bike and take to the trails outside your front door. Return to the hotel to dine on a bucket-list meal: the Chef’s Tasting Menu at Sidecut Steakhouse, where every dish is a spectacle (think black ice, black truffles, gold garnishes) and the highlight is a cut of rich, olive-fed A5 wagyu steak; Sidecut is the only restaurant in the country to serve it.
Harrison River Valley
(Photo: Robyn Bessenger)
STAY: Book into the sleek new Woodland Cabins at Rowena’s Inn on the River at Sandpiper Resort to experience Scandinavian-cool design, Ofuro cedar soaking tubs on your private porch, and a naturally beautiful 160-acre estate and golf course.
DO: Harrison Hot Springs is just a 15-minute drive away; swim in the lake and browse the quaint shops, then explore the newly opened Harrison River Valley Sasquatch Museum before returning to Sandpiper Resort to dine. There’s the classic River’s Edge Clubhouse Restaurant, but be sure to check if there are any special cocktail-and-fine-dining nights taking place at the English-style manor on the property—it feels, elegantly, like stepping back in time.
Campbell River, Vancouver Island
STAY: Open since May, Naturally Pacific is a new female-owned boutique hotel which offers up coastal vibes in Campbell River. A luxury spa awaits for massages and facials as does fine-dining at Carve Kitchen + Meatery. Pro tip: Drive the slower, picturesque Oceanside Route from Nanaimo to really take in the coastal road-trip beauty—no rushing necessary.
DO: Soak up the scene(ry) through an Indigenous lens with Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours, which offers a variety of excursions leaving from Campbell River. Wind down your day with a Sunset on the Salish Sea tour—keeping eyes peeled for sea lions, birds and orcas along the way—and learn about the ancestral waters of the Homalco people upon which you travel. The resort is also home to the Campbell River Golf Club, one of the island’s best courses, so you’d be wise to book a round.
The Shuswap
(Photos: White Lake Cabin / Left: @momentsofwild, Centre:
@bylarissalee)
STAY: White Lake Cabins is a slice of heaven on the water’s edge of hidden-gem White Lake in the Shuswap. Unplugging in nature is the name of the game at this family-run property, which is also home to a few horses and goats, too. The studio and two-bedroom cabins are tastefully appointed, each with fire pits and kitchen facilities, and a couple of them (Paddle Inn and Float Inn) also have private hot tubs.
DO: Opt for a 75-minute hydrotherapy session to reset your lymphatic system on-site—cold plunge and sauna included—then the lake in a kayak, or sit on the dock and read in the sun. Activity-seekers can book a round at Shuswap Lake Estates Golf and Country Club, a 15-minute drive away, or sip their way through the local wineries before returning to sweet solitude.
Okanagan Valley
STAY: Never been glamping? Take this as your sign. Just a 45-minute drive from downtown Kelowna you’ll find Okanagan Glamping Co.’s furnished luxury yurts and tents—think fresh linens, private fire pits, memory-foam mattresses—set across a 6-acre site with views of sparkling Okanagan Lake.
DO: Two words: wine tour. There are myriad operators leaving from Kelowna, such as Uncorked Okanagan Wine Tours. Take their Scenic Sips in Lake Country Tour, for example, which whisks groups around in luxe high-top Mercedes Sprinters to four wineries, which could include Gray Monk, Arrow Leaf, Blind Tiger and more.
Banff National Park
STAY: An icon in its own right, Fairmont Banff Springs also happens to be located in a must-see-in-this-lifetime setting: Banff National Park, a UNESCO Heritage Site. The grand, castle-like property is 135 years old and boasts almost 800 regal guest rooms, many of which feature original architectural features.
DO: With the Rockies as your backdrop, pick your passion when it comes to outdoor activities. Perhaps it is a scenic bike tour of the Vermilion Lakes, adventurous ATV-ing with Toby Creek Adventures, or a laid-back Banff Gondola trip to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Into golfing? The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course offers the most breathtaking views to tee off from.
