The best time to travel to British Columbia

The west coast benefits from milder weather compared to other parts of Canada, so winter can be a great time to visit. Whistler Blackcomb is the biggest ski resort in North America and ski season usually runs from around November–May, giving you plenty of time to make it to Whistler (although the most snowfall occurs around January or February).

B.C. is a great place to see bears during the salmon run. They are usually most active between late August and September, as they forage for food before hibernation begins. Campbell River or Prince Rupert are the best locations offering guided bear spotting tours. Peak whale watching season in B.C. is around May to September, before they head to warmer waters for the winter. Combine bear spotting and whale watching for the ultimate experience.

Finally, B.C. is home to one of Canada’s best wine regions, the Okanagan Valley. This part of B.C. is often a wildfire risk during the summer months, but cooler weather brings relief in the fall. Around mid-September, the leaves change in the valley, turning the vineyards and surrounding larch trees beautiful shades of yellow. There are also fall festivals to be enjoyed, such as the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival that takes place in October.