See British Columbia From A Different Angle, Photo Credit: MODE Photography
Don’t forget your sense of adventure when packing your bags for this summer’s Vancouver vacation. As the weather heats up, these three new deluxe experiences offer exciting new ways to sightsee, dine and travel in and around Canada’s third-largest city.
A bird’s-eye view of Vancouver
A new helicopter tour takes you high above British Columbia’s natural wonders just outside of the city. On Sky Helicopters’ Waterfalls and Canyons tour, you’ll soar over western Canada’s wilderness and touch down in the back country, where you’ll first hike to the base of a waterfall and then up to a lookout platform for a gourmet picnic lunch.
This deluxe outdoor adventure, priced at $295 (US$), includes your flights, lunch and transportation from multiple downtown Vancouver hotels.
The company provides several other helicopter tour options, too, from a 15-minute Experience Vancouver flight over the city and a Mountain Sunset excursion with optional champagne, to a 30-minute scenic tour of the North Shore mountains and the iconic sea-to-sky corridor north of downtown Vancouver.
Take Your Meal To New Heights, Photo Credit: Dinner in the Sky
Sky-high dining
Dinner in the Sky, a memorable meal served in a glass pod dangling 150 feet above the city, will launch its Vancouver edition in July. Seating 22, the Belgian-built dining platform will lift off from The Creek Marina in North Vancouver between July 1 and 31, hoisted by a 200-foot crane, serving up expansive views of the city skyline and beyond, to accompany your lunch, brunch or dinner.
Lunch and brunch tickets start at $220 (US$) for a two-course meal with a glass of champagne. Four-course dinners start at $297 (US$).
And because you’ll undoubtedly want to know about restroom facilities: the platform will be lowered halfway through each meal for a bathroom break on terra firma.
Embark on a Culinary Cruise, Photo Credit: V2V Vacations
Cruise to Victoria in style
Also launching this summer is a new luxury ferry service to Vancouver Island. The 3.5-hour scenic cruise by V2V Vacations runs from downtown Vancouver to Victoria’s Inner Harbour, giving you the chance to enjoy the stunning natural beauty of western Canada throughout the leisurely ride.
And who knows? There may also be a whale sighting or two aboard the 300-passenger V2V Empress, a high-speed catamaran adorned with a red, white and black orca design by First Nations artist William Cook.
The ship’s base is the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, the floatplane station adjacent to the Vancouver Convention Centre on Coal Harbour. In Victoria, the V2V Empress arrives at and departs from the historic Steamship Terminal on the Inner Harbour.
Basic Premium Comfort seats are $90 (US$) one way, while you can upgrade to First Class or Royal Class options, for $148 (US$) or $185, respectively. The latter two add a three-course meal and prime seat locations. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in all classes.
You can also package your cruise with an overnight stay at the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended River Rock Casino Resort, handy to Vancouver International Airport, or Fairmont Empress, located just a short stroll from the ferry terminal in Victoria.
