Top Things to do in British Columbia
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The 10 Best Visitor Centers in British Columbia, British Columbia
Discover the best top things to do in British Columbia, British Columbia including Vancouver Island Visitor Centre, Grand Forks Visitor Centre, Peachland Visitor Centre, Whistler Activity and Information Center, W.A.C. Bennett Dam Visitor Centre, Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre, Merritt Visitor Centre, Sooke Region Museum & Visitor Centre, Wells Gray Information Center, Powerhouse at Stave Falls Visitor Centre.
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1. Vancouver Island Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 56 reviews
Whether you are in the planning stages of your vacation or have arrived in the area and don't know where to begin, the Comox Valley's Vancouver Island Visitor Centre is your first stop to create an unforgettable vacation! The Centre also offers a fun and interactive introduction to Vancouver Island from ocean to alpine! Touch a live oyster, identify local trees or explore the region through a touch table of Vancouver Island images. Take a few fun photos of your own and enjoy free WI-Fi so you can catch up on the news at home. There are outdoor picnic tables, pet walking area and a children's play structure. There is even an e-vehicle charge point.
Reviewed By chc9533 - Hong Kong, China
My wife and I were fortunate to have been many places in Canada and visited many visitor centers. They are literally all good. But we found VIVC-CV to be the best of the very best. We came here seeking info about the herring spawn. There wasn’t too much public info out there and the help, guidance and support given by Glen and Kazumi were simply unbelievable, well above and beyond our expectations! The herring spawn was truly a nature’s spectacle. We want to share our experiences but TA doesn’t provide a good spot for posting this type of reviews which are not tied to one particular destination. As such, we decided to post it here. Hopefully people coming for herring spawn in future will also visit this site. We stayed in Comox for 14-nights, Feb 29 – Mar 14. The very first thing we did upon arrival was visiting Vancouver Island Visitor Centre, Comox Valley. We collected tons of helpful info and great advice. Highly recommend that you make VIVC to be your first stop! We also read DFO’s Fishery Notice religiously. They gave updates at least daily and upto 2-3 times/day at the peak period, giving us good pointers on where to go. Saw our first ever herring spawn on Mar 4. We were so glad to have arrived 4 days early and had the opportunity of exploring the potential spawning sites, getting ourselves familiar with the area, and doing some sight-seeing. Make sure you pick up a leaflet “Comox Valley Nature Viewing Guide”. We visited 14 of the 17 sites listed in the leaflet. Many of these later turned out to be spawning grounds and we had the benefits of knowing time needed to get there, where to park and the access trail to the beach, etc. We visited Denman Island on Mar 2 and leisurely checked out hotspots like Morning Beach, Fillongley and Boyle Point. Not only we enjoyed the discovery, such knowledge became invaluable assets afterwards. Between Mar 4-14, we viewed spawning from the following sites. It seemed to move in a North to South direction (see our map). - Kitty Coleman Beach - Seal Bay - Kye Bay - Point Holmes/Cape Lazo - Longbeak Point (Denman Island) - Morning Beach (Denman Island) - Fillongley (Denman Island) - Fanny Bay - Bowser - Qualicum Bay - Qualicum Beach - French Creek - Parksville Beach Most of our viewing was done on land, but we also chartered a boat with Adam of All in Sportfishing as viewings from a boat was different. There were also places only accessible by boat. We went out 4 times from Comox marina: - Mar 4: circumnavigated Denman Island, then returned north to Kitty Coleman and saw our first ever herring spawn ☺. - Mar 8: spent most of our time in upper Lambert Channel along Komas Bluff. - Mar 12: sailed south down Baynes Sound to Bowser. - Mar 13: sailed along the east coast of Hornby to Flora Isle, then checked out Bowser before returning to Comox. Our best viewings were: - Mar 4 at Kitty Coleman: we viewed from the boat in the morning and went back again to the beach in the afternoon. Fishery was not yet opened. Seabirds and marine mammals were in their full strength. It was an unbelievable sight and truly a nature’s spectacle. Viewings from the boat and from the beach were very different and we were so glad doing both on this day! - Mar 6 at Morning Beach: Fishery opened today. Over a hundred fishing boats were dotting the upper Lambert Channel. The spawning was more spread out, the feeding frenzy continued just not as concentrated as Mar 4 when the sky of Kitty Coleman was literally covered by birds. - Mar 7 at Longbeak Point: Spent the whole afternoon here watching the bald eagles went fishing. We lost count but there must be over a hundred eagles. Unlike catching salmon when one fish can feed the family, herrings were much smaller and the eagles had to work harder. They seemed like bombers launched wave after wave. A couple of river otters were also there fishing and playing. We had a wonderful afternoon and so did the eagles! - Mar 8 at Komas Bluff: There seemed to be less fish today and we didn’t see too many eagles around. Nonetheless, sea lions seemed to be working harder and we had some amazing photos taken from our boat which allowed us getting closer to the action. - Mar 11 & 14 at Qualicum Bay and Parksville Beach: While we continued seeing the spawn zone in the water, there seemed to be less fish in our inexperienced eyes. The gulls were mostly working on the roe at the beach. Sighting of numerous species of seabirds was highlights of these 2 days. According to DFO, seine fishery opened at 6:30am on Mar 6 and closed 26.5 hours later at 9am on Mar 7 after reaching a validated catch of 2,019 against the 2,025 ton quota. However, gillnet fishery took a much longer time. Gillnetters’ accumulated catches against their 7,215 ton quota were as follows: - Mar 6: 850t (est.) - Mar 7: 1,300t (est.) - Mar 8: 3,500t (est.) - Mar 9: 6,000t (est.) - Mar 10: 6,800t (est.) - Mar 11: 6,800t (est.) - Mar 12: 6,800t (est.) - Mar 13: 7,090t (est.) - Mar 14: 7,090t (est.) - Mar 15: 7,067t (validated) - Mar 16: 7,067t (validated) - Mar 17: 7,067t (validated, fishery closed) We are no experts, our thoughts from a layman’s perspective: - Gillnetters had the ability of catching more than 2,000t/day as seen on Mar 8 and 9. - Yet they seemed to struggle since Mar 10 and their catches almost stagnated. When fishery closed on Mar 17, they didn’t even hit their quota. Maybe there were good technical reasons behind, otherwise we were tempted to think the herrings en mass weren’t there?! - This almost coincided with our own observations. Since Mar 10, we have travelled up and down the coastline and found wildlife activities not as intense as before. Could it be that the predators were already full after days of feeding? We don’t know but it begs the questions on where were the herrings and more importantly, will they be coming back? - Please forgive us for our ignorance. We were merely a one-time observer and lack the insights of the locals. But from people we met, including the good ladies at our motel, many dog walkers on the beaches, the passionate photographers, and the friendly islanders at Denman/Hornby were all telling us the spawning seemed to be getting smaller by year. Hope DFO will do the right thing to protect the well being of the herrings, a small but such an important species in our ecology. The wildlife drawn by the herring spawn was spectacular. We are not birders, but we can still name the following birds: bald eagle, surf scoter, common goldeneye, great blue heron, bufflehead, long-tailed duck, mallard, greater scaup, common loon, red-necked grebe, brant goose, double-crested cormorant, brandt’s cormorant, dunlin, black oystercatcher, American wigeon, northern pintail, common merganser, hooded merganser, killdeer, snow goose, greater white-fronted geese, mew gull, glaucous-winged gull – thanks to the ebird app! There were birds that we couldn’t ID and surely we must have missed some others. When we finally returned to Vancouver, the world has turned into a very different place. We both left YVR on Mar 17. My old friend flew home to Toronto and I departed for Auckland. Without prior knowledge, I took literally the last Air Canada flight that landed in Auckland 14 hours before NZ closed its border! We counted our blessing of seeing what we saw, a special thanks again to Glenn for his guidance, much appreciated!
2. Grand Forks Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 25 reviews
Welcome to the Grand Forks Visitor Centre - The Grand Forks Visitor Centre is operated as an integrated Visitor Service Department of Gallery 2 – the Grand Forks Art Gallery. Stop by for all your local information needs; whether you are looking for a place to eat, a place to stay, or the latest Arts and Culture offerings, we have you covered! Gallery 2 is Boundary Country’s Public Art Gallery. Featuring engaging contemporary art exhibitions, an artisanal gift shop, and a vibrant art rental program, the gallery provides visitor information and experiences to tourists and local alike.
Reviewed By KassiKat
This gallery always has thought-provoking and outstanding installations. There are four galleries to visit and Canadian and Indigenous artists are often showcased here. I always enjoy the atmosphere and the friendly staff. Plus, I can't help but check out the gift shop. There are beautiful collections of pottery and ceramics, jewelry and books, toys and ornaments. For residents, there is also an art rental program here that enables you to take home works by local artists for a very reasonable price.
3. Peachland Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 34 reviews
Peachland is a picturesque community located in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, a part of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Region. Situated across from popular Swim Bay, the Peachland Visitor Centre and Legends of the Lake Interpretive Centre provide visitors with friendly and knowledgeable information about local events, attractions, restaurants and accommodations. Come in and say hi! The Peachland Visitor Centre builds and nurtures connections between people, nature and the community by providing positive outdoor experiences, opportunities to learn about Peachland’s Past, and information and guidance to provide a positive travel experience.
Reviewed By juliaandtoby - Unna, Germany
We stopped by the visitor center on our RV stay in Peachland and were so delighted by the overwhelming kindness of Susan. She gave us a lot of information about little Peachland, the bats in the attic and helped us with planning our further travel itinerary towards Hope, so we could take a much more scenic route than initially planned. Seldom have we experienced such a warm and passionate service! Definitely need to go there again, if we happen to be in Okanagan valley again one day. The little art gallery in the rear of the building is also worth a visit!
4. Whistler Activity and Information Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By 62christinee
I stopped by these information centres and always met with Friendly smiles and conversations, great info. Local staff with good knowledge.
5. W.A.C. Bennett Dam Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
The W.A.C. Bennett Dam Visitor Centre will remain closed for the 2021 season. This will support everyone's safety and well-being during this challenging time. Any updates for the 2022 season will be posted on bchydro.com/bennett. Thank you for your understanding.
Reviewed By darwinmoore - Spring, United States
Impressive visitor center + impressive dam and operation + good tour. The exhibits in the visitor center are quite good and the staff are quite informative if you chat with them. There are some nice items (and a really good view) on the grounds around the center. Reserve if you can, we had to wait a bit over an hour for an upcoming tour, but there was plenty to see and do, so the time went quickly. Don't miss driving across the dam to the elevated viewpoint on the opposite side. The tour itself is fun and educational, with the highlight being the huge interior area where the water exits the turbines and heads out of the dam -- very cool! Add in a couple of eagles on the spillway and we had a great visit.
6. Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 239 reviews
The Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre will remain closed for the 2021 season. This will support everyone's safety and well-being during this challenging time. Any updates for the 2022 season will be posted on bchydro.com/revelstoke. Thank you for your understanding.
7. Merritt Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 70 reviews
Tourism Merritt is at the heart of the Nicola Valley. Whether you’re traveling to or through the City of Merritt, the Merritt Visitor Centre at the Baillie House is a great location to start your visit. You can find Merritt tourism information, enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, or juice, and enjoy the lovely property which is especially vibrant in the spring and summer months. If you’re looking for a place to stay in Merritt, the staff at the Merritt Visitor Centre at the Baillie House can assist you with visitor information, finding accommodations, restaurants and local points of interest.
Reviewed By yvonneb57 - Penticton, Canada
The Merritt Information Centre is located on the grounds of Baille House. My sister and I were geocaching in the area and one we were searching for took us to this historic site. The Nicola Valley Heritage Society welcomes visitors to Baille House during the months of May to September. Before touring the grounds, we asked the volunteer about geocaching and where we could find the necessary document to record our finds. She was very helpful about geotourism in the area and provided us with two volumes containing great information about geotourism adventures in Gold Country. She indicated that a third volume is being published and would be available in the near future. The grounds are well maintained and is dotted with large shade trees, colorful flowers, tables, chairs with an old-fashioned buggy sitting in one corner of the yard. After touring the house, barn, store and storage garage, we continued on our geotourism adventure.
8. Sooke Region Museum & Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 129 reviews
The Sooke Region Museum & Visitor Centre is a community museum that explores the human and natural heritage of the region from Sooke to Port Renfrew. The museum also operates the local visitor information centre for the region. We have both exhibits in the main museum building and around the grounds. In the Summer we are open 7 days a week. In the off season we are closed Mondays and most Stat holidays. Starting the first Thursday in June, and running until first Thursday in September, we host a night market from 5pm to 8pm and museum stays open during this event.We also usually are closed over Christmas and the first week of January. The museum holds various special event during the year, has a gift shop with local arts & crafts, plus can do special meals for pre-booked tour groups.
Reviewed By marko437 - Sooke, Canada
This is just outside Sooke town centre near the bridge. We always take our friends and family visiting us there. They always buy something as it has very reasonably priced souvenirs with good quality and we buy as gifts for family and friends when traveling like mugs with humming birds on them and the Sooke name It has a very well presented museum of Sooke and the surrounding area with a good and friendly information centre.
9. Wells Gray Information Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 281 reviews
The Information Center is the place to begin your adventure into the Wells Gray Provincial Park and Clearwater. You will find maps and literature, historical and natural history displays. You will be able to book accommodations and excursions, use the internet and have some refreshments. Relax and enjoy our beautiful building and grounds. You are welcome!
Reviewed By staceyhE4832CX - Victoria, Canada
Make sure to stop in here before you start to explore Wells Gray provincial Park. The guides are so helpful and provided us with so much information for activities that are available for people to experience here. They give out an excellent easy to follow map, ask you how many days you’re staying, and then go from there to provide you with information about all that you can experience in Wells Gray. The staff were really friendly and helpful and gave us suggestions that we didn’t even know were available, hence why it’s so important to stop in before you start to explore. ???? The info centre is a great place to explore itself as it has information about the area, animals, Indigenous peoples and souvenirs.
10. Powerhouse at Stave Falls Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 92 reviews
The Powerhouse at Stave Falls Visitor Centre will remain closed through the spring and summer of 2021 to support everyone's safety and well-being during this Covid-19 pandemic. Updates on a possible fall opening will be posted on our website.
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