HAPPY SUNDAY!

Welcome to a small travel guide of the BEAUTIFUL BC. Well… at least where I traveled to. From roaming the beaches of downtown Kelowna and watching the perfect sunsets while getting ice cream pretty much every day to bungee jumping deep in the mountains of Whistler, I think I have gained some decent knowledge of the outdoors. Or at least I think I could be a good guide for a short period. This trip, we jam-packed tons of adventures and I felt like I was gone for months. I learned through everything that driving through the mountains may be one of my favorite past times and taking in what’s around me was a very perspective-changing experience.

In this guide, I want to share my ABSOLUTE must-do activities and food spots while showing some great sightseeing views! I hope you enjoy it!

BC TRAVEL GUIDE 101:

ACTIVITIES:

Whistler Bungee

Bungee jumping was an unforgettable experience. Storytime: Prior to leaving for BC, I was on the phone with my sister and shared an idea I had been considering for a while; sky diving. Hearing those words come out of my mouth even surprised me. I am quite scared of heights. Until recently, I wasn’t even a fan of rollercoasters. And for a split second, when sky diving came to me, I had the inner confidence thinking I could do it. My sister was so surprised but was more realistically thinking than I was, and suggested bungee jumping instead. And there we were… standing on the edge of a ledge, strapped in, and looking straight out onto a river with the mountains in the background. To be honest, the hardest part was jumping but then all of sudden it was exciting and I was so happy. It was thrilling and accomplishing and awesome. Pricing-wise, it was not terrible but don’t forget they charge for the pictures they take but I must say it is so worth it.

Shannon Falls

Shannon Falls is located in the town of Squamish, just outside of Whistler. We were actually supposed to hike The Chief, a three-peak hiking mountain, but unfortunately being the late planners, you had to book in advance and they didn’t let us in. But, we ended up walking to these beautiful falls and trying to find our inner parkour talent and create our own hike. Little did we know we’d be super sore after but it was all worth it in the end.

Knox Mountain

I guess this could fall into sightseeing but Knox mountain was a really fun hike. If you are ever in downtown Kelowna, it’s about a fifteen-minute walk from basically the center of downtown. The hike took about an hour and a half to get to the top with two viewpoints: one about a third up the mountain and the other at the very top. You basically get this view the whole time you hike and as you get higher up it gets better and better. We went at sunset, which was the perfect time considering it was finally cooling down after the humid day and you know me, I have a soft spot for any and all sunsets so it was my favorite time to go. Also, around this time was when the deer came out and I found myself standing ten feet away from one. So with a bit of wildlife, a great view, and exercise, this is definitely a must-do hike.

Mission Hill Winery

For my viewers of age, along with the beautiful rustic view of this winery, you can taste wine as well. For those like me (almost there) it’s nice to visit minus the wine. Mission Hill is very boujee I must say, so for someone who likes dressing up, this was the perfect opportunity to do so. There are many wineries in West Kelowna so for anyone looking into tours, this is the place to be.

SIGHTSEEING:

Sea to Sky Highway

I already said this, but my favorite thing was the fact that from any point in BC, I was looking at mountains. It just amazes me that they are so picturesque. I think on my first day of the trip, I probably commented on them looking like a green screen a thousand times. This view is a MUST STOP on the Sea to Sky Highway in Squamish. We were making our way back to Kelowna and stopped here to see the mountains. Definitely, one of the best views I saw during my trip. You could see so far ahead, looking at the mountain peaks and the bit of snow on each of the tops. Plus, it’s a pretty perfect picture stop.

Peachland

Peachland is on the west side of Kelowna and had one of the prettiest sunsets. I got the chance to visit it twice: sunset and a morning coffee run. It runs along Okanagan Lake and in the mornings is a perfect spot for coffee since they have a Bliss Coffee Chain (Iced soy latte is SO GOOD). There are a couple small shops in the complex and otherwise, you are walking along the water for the rest. There are park benches, small docs, and even the chance to rent paddleboards. For a small day trip, this is the perfect place to be.

COFFEE:

I think it’s fair that I should have a whole section for coffee. I tried many different spots so here are a few of my favorites:)

Sprout Coffee

Sprout is a more plant-based coffee shop with the cutest boho aesthetic that I loved the minute I stepped into the shop. This could technically fall under food too because their AVO toast was amazing, but the coffee comes in an environmentally sustainable cup and I support this coffee shop 100%.

Blenz Coffee

Blenz Coffee is a very popular chain coffee shop in BC. This is definitely a must-try if you want a good latte to start your morning!

NOT SHOWN: BLISS COFFEE – My absolute favorite coffee shop alongside Sprout. They have baked goods that are delicious (*chocolate chip cookie YUM) and their lattes are very good. If you want to branch out from coffee their matcha and chai are also amazing!

FOOD:

Flipside Burgers

After a long hike, we stopped at this burger truck in the small town of Squamish and it was 10/10. Their plant-based burgers were amazing and the fries, just overall YUM. Very popular, the vibe is very casual and I would definitely come here again.

Central Kitchen + Bar

The first day my parents flew in, we came here for lunch and it was amazing. My mom and I are very obsessed with POKE bowls so we had to try this and it was amazing. Also, it has a super cute patio.

Hot Buns Bakery

When we visited Whistler to go bungee jumping, we stayed overnight and found this hidden but cute bakery in the village. All the baked goods were prepared fresh that morning and the soy latte was delicious. A definite MUST TRY if you need a quick but delicious breakfast in the Whistler village.

Diner Deluxe

This was by far one of the more aesthetic restaurants I have been to. This is just outside of downtown Kelowna and it was SO GOOD. The coffee was amazing and all the breakfast meals were really good. Egg white frittata could be the way to go but they have such a wide variety. So if you are ever in Kelowna, make the trip to this breakfast spot.

 

And that’s it for my little (but not so little) travel guide. Check out my Instagram for more BC content and also feel free to ask me any questions about my trip! I’m always open to chat with all of you!

Stay Kind:)