Planning a trip to B.C. can be overwhelming. There are seemingly endless places to go, views to see, and adventures to be had. While there are the go-to tourist spots in the province they don’t always live up to the expectations.
There’s nothing like wasting money and precious vacation time at an overhyped spot, so check this list and check it twice if you’re headed West.
This Opinion article is part of a Narcity content series. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Take it from me — after living in B.C. for two years I had my fair share of overrated experiences, but luckily I also discovered from hidden gems along the way that will level up any trip to the West Coast.
Here are some of the most overrated travel destinations and tourist hot spots in B.C., and where you should go instead.
Gastown Steam Clock
I’ll say this time and time again because I cannot comprehend why this is on every “must-do in Vancouver” list out there. The clock is actually beautiful and set on the cobblestone streets of Gastown, which makes you feel like you’re somewhere in Europe, but it’s maybe the most anti-climatic experience in the city.
You go and stand by this clock and you wait, along with the other tourists crowding around. Then the steam clock goes off, and that’s it. It’s not going to make or break a trip to Vancouver, let’s just say.
Instead spend you’re time exploring Gastown shops and restaurants, and you’ll probably happen upon the clock anyways.
Downtown Vancouver
B.C. is a massive province, filled with more beauty than one can imagine, but people mostly flock to the city and stay there. It’s not to say Vancouver isn’t amazing, because I love it, but there is just so much to see in B.C. and Vancouver isn’t even in my top ten favourite spots.
It’s definitely convenient to fly into the city, but I recommend renting a car and exploring as far and wide as you have time for. If you want a city vibe still Victoria is more underrated but full of cute shops, amazing food, and it’s picturesque. Plus going to Vancouver Island means getting to explore places like the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve — which is unlike anything else you’ll find in Canada – and some of the most beautiful beaches around.
If you want to stick to the mainland you can drive out to Whistler, or head to the Okanagan region. Vancouver is a stunning city but there’s a whole lot else out there in B.C. that’s incredibly unique and worth exploring if you’re making the trip to the West Coast.
Garibaldi Lake
This is the hike that you’ll see on postcards and all over the Instagram feeds of people on B.C. trips. It’s beautiful, with white-tipped mountains surrounding a bright turquoise lake. It’s no wonder it’s so iconic, and I don’t think anyone would be disappointed to go here, but I do think there are other more underrated hikes close by that are just as stunning, if not more.
When I did the Garibaldi Lake hike it was super crowded with people, and I found myself wishing we did a more low-key trail. One of my favourites is the High Note Trail on Whistler, which is also popular but I found there was more room to spread out along the way. There are also a few other hikes that will take you to alpine lakes in the area, and it’s worth doing some research and exploring more.
The Capilano Suspension Bridge
I’ve only heard good things about this experience, with its towering trees, enchanting light displays, and long suspension bridge. What gets me about it though is the price. For a single-day admission to the park it’s over $70, and although you get access to all the attractions that seems like way too much for me when there’s access to so much free beauty around.
Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge is set back deep into the forest and takes you above a rushing creek, and it’s free. There is a wide network of trails all around so you can spend the whole day here exploring the park and the lush greenery that it’s filled with.
With a free suspension bridge and an abundance of nature all around it’s hard for me to justify the Capilano price.
Kitsilano beach
One of the biggest perks of Vancouver city life is its proximity to nature, and the beaches right in the city are a highlight of that. In the summer you’ll see people flock to the beaches closest to the city centre – which makes a lot of sense — Kitsalino being one of the most popular.
If you want a quick and easy beach day options it’s awesome, but I easily get fed up with the crowds on this beach. For me, it was always worth making my way down to Wreck Beach, which is tricky to get to (thanks to the painfully long staircase) but is one of the most beautiful beaches in the city.
It’s actually a nude beach, and it feels more secluded from the city than others. You get an amazing view from here (especially at sunset) and it’s a massive shoreline with logs scattered throughout that you can lean up on.
Granville Island
Granville Island is one of the most popular tourist stops in Vancouver, and it’s filled with vendors, and restaurants, and its iconic market is cool — but definitely overhyped for what it is.
You can spend a little while walking around here and get some tasty food and a good view, but similar to most tourist spots it’s often busy. If you’re looking for delicious food it’s worth doing some research and finding some hidden gem restaurants in Vancouver, because there’s a lot to taste.
If you want a fun market I’d recommend checking out Richmond Night Market, which has a wild amount of vendors serving up delicious food, and some fun games to top it off. For daytime markets there’s also great farmers markets scattered around the neighbourhoods of the city that are worth checking out, and that way you can see some of the more underrated areas.
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