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British Columbia Road Trip Ideas

road trip British Columbia

From the winding coast, to the Rocky Mountains, a road trip in British Columbia promises an unforgettable experience. With BC’s Guide to Arts and Culture in your glove box and the mobile guide on your phone, you’ll experience the art of the road trip.

It is no surprise that BC’s arts and cultural sector is a thriving and diverse community. Artists and cultural producers draw inspiration from the beauty of British Columbia’s geography. BC’s Westernmost communities are surrounded by the Pacific coast while further East, the Rocky Mountains rise and fall with stunning pinnacles and lush valleys. You can surf and ski in a matter of hours, traverse dense rainforests, discover waterfalls, lakes, glaciers, beaches, and sprawling valley vineyards. Wherever you begin, your road trip planning in BC is guaranteed to include unmatched beauty and the unique cultural vibe of local communities in every region of the province.

Vancouver Island

Whether you begin or end your road trip across British Columbia with exploring Vancouver Island, the Island is a remarkable place to spend 3-7 days discovering the unique communities along the East and West coast of the island. Experience history, aboriginal culture, unique farming, coastal vibes, great food, and a plethora of galleries, artist studios, outdoor adventure and must see cultural sites all across the island.

Whether on your way back to the mainland, or en route to Vancouver Island, a stopover in the Gulf Islands is a must. The Gulf Islands are a series of small island communities with a population of artists and artisans that have created a distinctive laid back local ambience. The experience of island time will overtake you as you explore galleries, art hubs, markets, studios, and small scale businesses.

On the Mainland, BC’s highways lead in the direction of five distinct regions, each with their own geography, history, climate and culture. Southwest – Vancouver Coast and Mountains

Discover diversity in the Southwestern part of the province where metropolitan centers stretch into lush rural valleys. Encircled by the Pacific Ocean and the soft, snow capped peaks of surrounding mountain ranges, an inexhaustible wealth of arts and cultural experiences and outdoor adventure are at your fingertips. From Vancouver and Whistler’s major galleries, performance centers and museums, to the rural artisan shops and studios in the Fraser Valley, there are artists around every corner. Markets and festivals run throughout the year and are a centralized hub for many local producers. Plan your itinerary from Whistler to Agassiz as you head toward the mountains once again.

Southeast – Thompson Okanagan

Home of peaks and valleys, deserts and glaciers, the Thompson Okanagan is a sprawling region of agricultural bounty, artisnal craft, and outdoor adventure. Discover laid back lakefront communities, desert vistas, ski resorts, and wineries, orchards, galleries, studios, heritage sites, museums, and more in this popular tourist destination. Experience rural life and stay on a ranch in the Thompson Valley, or if luxury wine and dining is your mood, choose a resort stay in the Okanagan Valley. For a laid back, quiet experience of art, craft and nature, explore the Similkameen Valley. Looking for a rustic experience? Track with the Kettle Valley trail into Boundary Country, home of delightful small towns and plenty of rugged outdoor adventure.

Southeast – Kootenay Rockies

In the heart of BC’s mountain ranges is the region of the Kootenays. It’s a perfect addition to your road trip across British Columbia. The Kootenay Rockies region is home to four significant mountain ranges—the Rockies, Purcells, Selkirks, and Monashees. Seven national and provincial parks and more than 75 provincial parks of the Kootenay Rockies region feature alpine adventure and exploration on a world-class scale. The trails, alpine valleys, meadows, waterfalls, crystal lakes, and peaks of the Kootenay region have a rugged cultural heritage. Life and art are interconnected with a distinct Kootenay vibe. Galleries, museums, heritage sites and plenty of small-town local shops add interest to the wild, natural experience of this region.

Central – Cariboo Chilcotin

Follow the Gold Rush Trail into the heart of BC’s mid-country, home of BC’s famous Barkerville – a historic gold rush town where performers take you back in time. The limitless sprawl of the Cariboo has given rise to a unique culture steeped in history and tradition of both settlers and aboriginal cultures, rich with practiced craft, agricultural roots and natural resources. The towns and communities in the Cariboo are defined by a distinctive pastoral sensibility where homesteaders, ranchers and locals live in harmony with the natural surroundings. From grizzly sightings to long rides on horseback, you’ll discover the Cariboo is a world of its own.

North – Northern BC

Extending to the furthest reaches of the border of Alaska, and sprawling from the West Coast to the Eastern border of Alberta, BC’s North has both coastal and mountain terrain. Rugged coastline and untouched wilderness give way to glaciated valleys and volcanic mountain peaks in this vast region. Along the Westernmost border of the region, is the UNESCO protected Heritage Site at Haida Gwaii – a world renowned and preserved piece of ancient aboriginal culture and a premier example of the life of the First Peoples. Staggering wilderness and wildlife abound in this sparsely populated area of the province, you are likely to experience sightings of truly Canadian animals like the Moose, Caribou, and Grizzly as you travel the pristine wilderness. Along the way, in addition to breathtaking natural surroundings, you’ll discover how the vastness and intact wilderness of the North has inspired its artists and craftspeople.

Roadtripping across BC is a one of a kind experience. Using BC’s Guide to Arts and Culture, broaden your experience in each of BC’s Creative Communities by adding recommended destinations to your itinerary. The wilderness, the people, the communities and the heritage coupled with the unmatched natural beauty promise an unforgettable experience no matter which road you travel.

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Reshaping Collections: Where History Meets Art | Chinese Canadian Museum

Chinese Canadian Museum
Vancouver
Date:
January 1, 2025
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September 28, 2025
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Vancouver, BC (September 4, 2024) – The Chinese Canadian Museum is launching a brand new exhibition inside the Poy Family Gallery titled Reshaping Collections: Where History Meets Art from September 25, 2024 to September 28, 2025, featuring unique art creations by six diverse Chinese Canadian artists from across the country. These artists were invited to reinterpret historical and cultural objects and materials that explore Read more...
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Vancouver Art’s District – Self Guided Tour

Vancouver Arts District – Self Guided Tour
Vancouver
Date:
January 1, 2025
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December 31, 2025
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Welcome to the Vancouver Art Walk, an initiative designed to showcase the remarkable galleries and art spaces in the Vancouver Arts District. Our mission is to collaborate with commercial and non-profit galleries and creatives to provide visitors with an exceptional and well-curated tour that can be enjoyed at their own pace. Our carefully crafted map presents a selection of the most Read more...
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Sunshine Coast Purple Banner Studio Tour

Sunshine Coast Purple Banner Studio Tour
Sechelt
Date:
January 1, 2025
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December 31, 2025
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Year Round Tour of Artists’ Studios Look for the flying PURPLE BANNERS all along the Sunshine Coast from Langdale to Powell River. Wherever you see a PURPLE BANNER, the arts are at work. In many cases, but not always, the banner is an invitation to drop in. Please refer to the specific listing to determine whether an appointment is required. See Read more...
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All Things Terry

Royal BC Museum
Victoria
Date:
January 2, 2025
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December 31, 2025
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For 44 years, Terry Fox has been an inspiration to Canadians and the world alike. In April 2024, the Royal BC Museum entered into a 20-year loan agreement with the Terry Fox Centre and the Fox family to care for, manage and preserve the legacy and personal belongings of Terry Fox. The van and a series of informational panels are Read more...
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Jonathan Hunt House

Royal BC Museum
Victoria
Date:
January 18, 2025
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December 31, 2025
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This ceremonial house and museum installation allows visitors to enter a recreation of the house of Chief Kwakwabalasami, the late Jonathan Hunt, a Kwakwaka’wakw chief who was born and lived his life in the community of Tsaxis, near Fort Rupert, BC. To refresh the space, the museum brought in master carver and artist Richard Hunt, Jonathan Hunt’s grandson, who helped Read more...
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Emily Carr: Navigating an Impenetrable Landscape

Vancouver Art Gallery
Vancouver
Date:
January 25, 2025
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January 25, 2026
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When Emily Carr (1871–1945) wrote about landscape paintings—her own and those of others—she would sometimes describe how an eye might move through the imagined space in the work. It is striking, then, that so many of her own paintings create an experience of dense, impenetrable forest that confounds such forward movement. In many cases, the viewer is tantalized with the Read more...
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Umami: Savouring Artistic Nikkei Identity

Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre
Burnaby
Date:
February 1, 2025
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September 30, 2025
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February – September 2025 Part 1: February 8 – May 17, 2025 Part 2: May 27 – September 27, 2025 Exhibit Opening + Artists’ Conversations: February 13 and May 29, 6 – 8pm In our 25th anniversary year, the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (NNMCC) celebrates the vibrant and diverse artistic expressions of Japanese Canadians with the “Umami: Savouring Artistic Nikkei Identity” Read more...
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Kihl ‘Yahda Christian White: Master Haida Artist I Bill Reid Gallery

Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
Vancouver
Date:
February 1, 2025
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February 5, 2026
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Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art presents: Kihl ‘Yahda Christian White: Master Haida Artist This landmark exhibition celebrates 50 years of work by renowned Haida artist Kihl ‘Yahda, Christian White. Curated by Sdahl Ḵ’awaas, Lucy Bell, it features highlights from Christian’s career alongside pieces by his apprentices. Known for his masterful argillite carvings, jewelry, and monumental works, Christian began Read more...
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