The best time to get away to coastal British Columbia and Washington State is when the sun shines. While the cities of Vancouver, Seattle and Victoria have plenty to do year-round, you can enjoy even more top-notch experiences across this Pacific Northwest region during the warmer months.
We’ve put together three itineraries to help you plan your west coast travels during this sun-filled season.
Vancouver
Vancouver comes alive from spring into the fall, when nearly everyone heads outdoors to sun on the beaches, walk the waterfront seawall or sip a cocktail in a streetside café. This summer, the city is adding to its outside focus with new ways to explore the region’s diverse cultures.
What to do
Vancouver Art Gallery is exhibiting a retrospective of works by the ground-breaking Indigenous filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin, who has directed more than 50 movies highlighting Indigenous perspectives. The 90-year-old’s 1993 film Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance was a behind-the-barricades report from the “Oka Crisis,” when the Mohawk community and the Quebec government clashed over land rights. On view through August 7, this exhibit, “The Children Have to Hear Another Story,” matches a dozen of her films with artwork, newspaper clippings and other material that provides historical context.
Head for Vancouver’s Chinatown to hear stories from another community. At the multimedia Chinatown Storytelling Centre, residents and others with ties to this historic and still-thriving district share fascinating audio and video accounts that vividly depict the neighborhood and its people, from the 1800s to today.
The metropolitan area encompasses a vibrant South Asian community as well, especially concentrated in Surrey, east of Vancouver. A delicious introduction to these cultures is to follow the Surrey Spice Trail, a self-guided food crawl that can take you across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iran and beyond. You might sample a South Indian fish pollichath wrapped in a banana leaf at Kerala Kitchen, puffy gol gappay “shots” pairing stuffed pooris with herb-filled liquid at Chacha’s Tandoor & Grill, or a plate of aushak, savory spinach-and-leek dumplings at Afghan Kitchen. Your main challenge? Choosing among the dozens of restaurants on the Spice Trail.
Where to stay
At Paradox Hotel Vancouver, in the Coal Harbour district downtown, you can swim by day and party till the wee hours at Mansion Nightclub, where the indoor swimming pool turns into the dance floor every night. Book a treatment at the forest-inspired Xylia Natural Spa, then linger over dim sum at Mott 32, the high-end Hong Kong-style dining room on the property’s street level.
Where to eat
Multicourse, locally focused tasting menus are trending in Vancouver. Reserve in advance for the Quebec-meets-West-Coast fare at St. Lawrence, where chef/owner J-C Poirier and his team craft dishes like rabbit pâté en croute, grilled halibut with asparagus and oyster mushrooms, or flourless chocolate cake with sea buckthorn berries.
At Main Street bistro Burdock and Co, chef/owner Andrea Carlson is at the top of her game, offering nettle and ricotta ravioli or pairing dry aged pork loin with fermented spruce barbecue syrup. Over at Botanist, the flagship dining room at the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Fairmont Pacific Rim, order the “We’ll Take It From Here” feast, and the kitchen will send out a parade of plates highlighting the best of the season.
Seattle
As in Vancouver, Washington’s West Coast hub can take you outside and through its delicious neighborhoods and communities. A bonus: venture out on a side trip to the nearby wine country.
What to do
Wander through the city’s International District, where you can learn about this neighborhood’s origins and sample the varied — and delicious — fare at both historic and contemporary dining spots. Start at the Wing Luke Museum, the only pan-Asian Pacific American community-based museum in the United States, where the exhibits highlight Seattle’s diverse cultures, arts and histories.
Take a break with a lavender-hued ube latte at Hood Famous, a cool Filipino bakery-café, but don’t miss its hearty chicken arroz caldo (a savory rice soup) or a slice of creamy buko (young coconut) pie. If you’re still hungry, pick up a kare pan (a curry pastry) or a crunchy cream-filled malasada at Fuji Bakery, which has been baking Japanese-style pastries since 2009.
Next, get out of town with a day trip to Woodinville, the wine district just a 30-minute drive from Seattle’s city center. Check out women-owned tasting rooms, including Damsel Cellars, which opened a new Woodinville location to showcase releases like its Stillwater Creek Syrah or Boushey Vineyard Grenache, or Jaine, which makes drinkable whites, rosés and sparkling wines.
If you’ve ever thought that winemaking might be for you, sign up for Blend, a “winemaker for a day” workshop at Chateau Ste. Michelle, the region’s largest winery, where you’ll sample different varietals and create your own unique bottle.
Where to stay
While any of the Forbes Travel Guide-rated lodgings make excellent choices, consider staying at the Four-Star Lotte Hotel Seattle, where you can take in the views over Elliott Bay — excellent for those summer sunsets.
Where to eat
Continue your world-roaming food adventures with brunch at Café Hagen for Scandinavian cardamom buns, heart-shaped waffles and smoked salmon breakfast sandwiches. In the Central District, Fat’s Chicken and Waffles serves not only its soul food namesake but also an excellent plate of shrimp and grits and a don’t-miss honey-glazed biscuit.
Wrap up your Seattle stay with fine Spanish fare at MariPili Tapas Bar. Drawing on her Galician heritage, chef Grayson Pilar creates small plates ranging from traditional tortillas de patata (potato omelets) to new classics like sashimi-grade mackerel with gazpacho sorbet or poached octopus served with chili oil and pickled onions.
Victoria
British Columbia’s capital city sits at the south end of Vancouver Island, a 90-minute ferry ride or quick float plane hop from the mainland. In fact, you can swoop to the island more sustainably, now that B.C.-based Harbour Air has become the world’s first carbon-neutral airline.
What to do
Continue your sustainable travels by exploring Victoria by bicycle. At The Pedaler, you can even rent an e-bike to ride north to the Butchart Gardens, the island’s famed botanical destination, at its most lush during the warmer months. Back in town, the city’s Inner Harbour is compact enough to explore on foot, or for more of a challenge, hike to the summit of nearby Mount Douglas for sweeping island views. Another way to learn about the region is on a walking or canoeing tour with members of the Songhees Nation, which mixes storytelling and sightseeing, all from an Indigenous perspective.
Where to stay
Located directly on Victoria’s Inner Harbour, the regal Four-Star Fairmont Empress marks its 115th anniversary this year with newly refreshed Gold Rooms and Lounge. This hotel-within-a-hotel experience offers access to a dedicated Gold concierge, as well as the private lounge with complimentary breakfast, all-day nibbles and evening appetizers and desserts, along with a serve-yourself honor bar.
Where to eat
Newcomer Ugly Duckling is earning early praise for the inventive multicourse tasting menus served in its Chinatown dining space.
Back at the Empress, top off your travels with the recently launched Sunset Sips, an evening offering that combines all-new cocktails with a selection of savory or sweet snacks.
