The magic of British Columbia, as most entranced visitors would certainly agree, lies in its majestic scenery and surroundings, which make the Canadian province's Latin motto of ‘Splendor sine occasu' (Splendour without diminishment) a perfect fit.
As well as its centuries-old towering sequoias, imposing white-topped mountains, many deep blue lakes and incredible whale-watching, it's no wonder that British Columbia's outstanding natural beauty has long attracted movie-makers looking for breathtaking backdrops and atmospheric locations. And so entranced was she after filming the first Twilight movie there, that director Catherine Hardwicke returned to shoot her most recent, flick, the Amanda Seyfried-starring Red Riding Hood there too.
Adventure-seekers will be in their element here, thanks to the rainforests, mountain ranges, rivers, volcanoes, waterfalls, sandy beaches and glaciers, with a plethora of tiny islands all begging to be kayaked around, and snowy slopes just perfect for snowboarding down. You'll also find caves for endless exploring opportunities, and picturesque cycle paths with choice picnic spots along the way.
Sun and ski all in one day
There was a reason that Vancouver doubled for the perpetually rainy town of Forks in Meyer's Twilight novels - it's pretty rainy there too - so don't forget to pack your raincoat.
Each district has its own distinct characteristics to discover and secrets to yield, so find delicious dim sum in Vancouver's historic Chinatown, before taking a stroll along to fashionable Yaletown to get lost among the roses of Stanley Park. The Granville Island brewery makes for a great day out, and we recommend the special Maple Cream Ale. You should also make time to check out the impressive 500-year-old tree at Seymour National Park.
Take a day trip to super-quaint Gastown, with its old-style houses and the famous Steam Clock, and if you have the energy, you can ski in the morning on the slopes of Grouse Mountain or Cypress Bowl, and sunbathe in the afternoon at one of the many beaches. Finally, head north to the Sunshine Coast for photo op-worthy cruises and diving, and to the famous Whistler Resort where you can climb frozen waterfalls and explore glaciers.
- Destination British Columbia
- Filmed there X-Men: The Last Stand, Fantastic Four, The Twilight Saga, Bird on a Wire, Mission Impossible
- Celeb fans Amanda Seyfried, Kristen Stewart, Jessica Alba
- Fly there… Lufthansa flies to Vancouver from Dubai. For flight schedules visit Lufthansa.com
- Stay here… Whistler Resort Experience one of North America's top year-round mountain resorts, which boasts world-class skiing. The resort acted as a host venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and features seasonal activities such as skiing, snowboarding, fly fishing, mountain biking and more, making it a great winter and summer vacay option. Visit fourseasons.com/whistler/
