As many of you are traveling from out of province to our wedding, you may be looking to extend your stay. There are so many amazing places within a day's drive from Vancouver. Here is a quick highlight of some destinations that you might consider.

Sea to Sky Region (Whistler and Squamish)

Heading north of Vancouver along Howe Sound is one of Canda's most scenic drives. Including destinations such as Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton, this region is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts as it offers world class hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and more. For the less adventurous there are also opportunities for beach days or to get pampered at the Scandinave Spa in Whistler. A trip to Squamish can easily be done as a day trip too.

Sunshine Coast and the South Gulf Islands

For a more chill and relaxing time consider the Sunshine Coast or South Gulf Islands (Salt Spring Island being the most popular and developed of the islands). Life moves a little slower in these areas and they are a perfect place to unwind.

Vancouver Island

Known as "the Island", Vancouver Island is absolutely HUGE! There are so many destinations that it would be hard to tackle in one trip. Areas to consider on the Island include the greater Victoria region, the Cowichan Valley and Tofino/Pacific Rim National Park.

The Okanagan Valley

The Okanagan Valley is a stunning arid valley in the interior of BC. The valley is characterized by wineries overlooking large warm lakes. Kelowna is the main urban centre of the Okanagan. Other towns include Osoyoos, Penticton, and Vernon. There is tons to do in the Okanagan, including winery tours, biking an old rail trail, beaches, river floats, boating, hiking, and mountain biking.

Note that as an arid region, the Okanagan is prone to wild fires and smokey conditions in the summer. This past summer was a particularly bad fire season for the region. Fire and smoke conditions are hard to predict and can change quickly in the summer. Despite this, travel to the area does generally go smoothly in the summer, so we would still recommend the Okanagan as a destination if it appeals to you.