If you're planning a road trip this spring or summer and don't spook easily, you may want to check out some of B.C.'s abandoned towns and places. Canada's West Coast is filled with abandoned structures and eerie ghost towns and many of them are just a short trip from Vancouver. From a former psychiatric asylum to what was once Canada's richest silver mining community, here are six abandoned places near Vancouver you can check out. Sandon See on Instagram ​Address: The foothills of the Selkirk Mountains Why You Should Go: Sandon, located in B.C.'s West Kootenay region, was once the capita ..read more

Summer is just around the corner, and it's time to start planning some trips to the beach. If you're unsure where to go, three beaches in B.C. were just named among the most popular in the world, and with dreamy white sand, rolling waves and gorgeous settings, it's easy to see why. Online betting site Betway looked at the top beaches around the globe in a recent study. The company analyzed the popularity of beaches around the world based on a combination of Google searches, Instagram posts, and TikTok views, and used data from the past year to identify the beaches that were most popular with ..read more

If you're a big coffee drinker, you know Vancouver is a coffee lover's dream. The B.C. city is home to countless coffee shops and the sheer amount of cafes can be overwhelming if you're trying to find a new one to try out. However, that doesn't mean you should stick to your one go-to spot because there are so many incredible cafes in every Vancouver neighbourhood. If you're coming to Vancouver for a visit, then you may be curious about which cafes are worth going to. Here are 11 dreamy cafes that every Vancouverite and visitor should check out in 2024. Le Marché St. George See on Instagram ..read more

If you want to enjoy a European summer, there's no need to leave the country — Canada is home to several charming cities and towns with European flair that will whisk you abroad. For those looking for an English-inspired trip, you can head to Canada's "most British city," which is full of landmarks, historical sites and more that will make you feel like royalty. To be transported across the pond, head to Canada's West Coast. Located on the water on Vancouver Island lies Victoria, Canada's most British city. Originally known as Fort Victoria, a settlement named for Queen Victoria in 1843, Vic ..read more

Have you been itching to travel, but hate long-haul flights? A relaxing vacation doesn't have to mean numerous hours spent in the air; luckily, plenty of beautiful destinations involve just a quick plane ride from Vancouver. Whether you need a beach vacation or want to explore a new city in the U.S., your next holiday doesn't have to be far away. Here are 11 destinations you can fly to directly from Vancouver in six hours or less. Palm Springs, California See on Instagram ​Flight time: 3 hours Why You Need To Go: You can take off from Vancouver and head to Palm Springs, a city in the Son ..read more

Spring is the kick-off to tons of festivals in and around Vancouver and 2024 has a packed list of events coming to the city. Whether you like cultural cuisine, craft beer, music or film, there's no shortage of festivals featuring that and more over the next few months. Here are 19 festivals happening in and around Vancouver in 2024. Harrison Tulip Festival See on Instagram Cost: $12 - $20 Address: 5039 Lougheed Hwy., Agassiz, BC When: From April 6, open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekends Why You Should Go: You can wander throu ..read more

If you've been wanting to visit Alaska, now's your chance to book a trip on a budget. Anyone with a flexible schedule can book a standby cruise from Vancouver to Alaska and it only costs $70 a day, before taxes. Holland America Line has launched a standby program, which allows travellers to sign up for round-trips between the two destinations. One week to two days before the cruise departs, the company will review the standby list. If a space opens up for standby bookings, they will let the travellers on the list know to pack their bags. If they are unable to clear standby bookings, they wil ..read more

Along with cherry blossoms, tulips are in full bloom in Vancouver and that means the return of one of B.C.'s most popular flower festivals. You can now visit a massive tulip field on B.C.'s Lower Mainland that has over 5 million colourful blooms. So if you love flowers and a great photo opportunity, this is the event for you! See on Instagram The Abbotsford Tulip Festival, hosted by Lakeland Flowers, is back for another year with over 28 acres of tulips. Visitors will see 100 varieties of tulips as they wander along the walking trails. Another highlight includes specialty varietals impor ..read more

Visiting a new place usually comes with a long list of spots you want to see, making it hard to parse through them all. While some tourist attractions are all hype and very little payoff, Vancouver is home to some sites that are worth every bit of praise they get. Living in the city for a year meant weekends exploring some of the most talked about attractions, and while some took my breath away others fell flat. The best part is that most of my favourite places to go in the city are free, so you don't need to make your trip that much more expensive with overprices activities. If you only hav ..read more

With the weekend coming up quickly, you may be starting to think of what you'll get up to in the city. If you're trying to save money, but still want to get out and do something fun in Vancouver, we've got you covered. From art galleries to public markets and yoga, you can do loads of fun things this weekend that won't put a dent in your wallet. Here are nine activities you can check out in Vancouver this weekend. Visit a free art gallery See on Instagram Price: Free admission at the Belkin Art Gallery When: Belkin's Aporia exhibit runs until April 14 Address: The University of British C ..read more