BEAR PAWS & WHALE FLUKES

Vancouver is a great destination for active families, with a range of outdoor activities on offer. Jumping on board the world-famous Skyride, you will scale Grouse Mountain’s summit and get familiar with the local wildlife at the Theatre in the Sky. Your next aerial adventure, the Flyover Canada experience, consists of hovering in the air in front of a 20-metre screen as you travel from east to west across Canada and see its most iconic sites.

Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of the highest and longest in the world, built 70 metres above the river of the same name. With entry to the park, you can explore the tree canopies and lush greenery of the area using a series of labyrinth-like platforms and boardwalks. There is also a tree house for kids and a First Nations Artwork exhibition.

Retreat to The Loden Lodge, a stylish property overlooking Stanley Park in downtown, which you can explore using the complimentary cruiser bikes offered by the lodge. 

Departing Vancouver, you’ll pick up your car and hit the road for the stunning drive along the Sea to Sky Highway, one of the most scenic routes in the world, which will take you to Whistler in around ninety minutes. An iconic ski resort in the winter months, during the summer Whistler comes alive in a riot of green as the snow melts, and moose and black bears can be seen roaming the slopes.

You will embark on a thrilling zip-lining adventure (with a choice of five different zip lines for varying abilities), suspension bridges and forest trails, with amazing views over Fitzsimmons Creek. See Whistler’s and the Blackcomb Mountain’s black bear population from the comfort of a 4x4, driving through the beautiful forests and meadows of the area and even walking to bear-feeding sites.

Your home for three nights in Whistler is Nita Lake Lodge, a luxurious alpine retreat on the pristine shores of Nita Lake.

Surfing district Tofino isn’t lacking in pristine sandy beaches, like the famous Long Beach (which, as its name suggests, is the largest and longest beach along the Pacific Rim National Park). But it ticks other boxes on the unspoilt wilderness checklist too, with beautiful lakes, inlets and ancient rainforests. With its hippie ambience, this charming resort town on the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is the perfect place to escape the city and reconnect with nature with the family.

You’ll be hitting the waters and going on a whale-spotting adventure, with the chance to also see seals and sea lions. The trip is tailored to your interests and you can enjoy the ride from the comfort of a heated cabin.

With four-poster beds and hot tubs on the patio of rainforest-backed cottages, Long Beach Lodge is the perfect place to unwind in complete bliss during your stay.