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10 Ideas For Spring Getaways in British Columbia

Published by To Do Canada On March 17, 2026 Leave a response

There are several fun and family-friendly ways to plan a spring getaway around BC! Whether the getaway is for families, friends, couples, or solo travellers, these spring vacation ideas have something for everyone.

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Credit: Destination Vancouver/Jason Lee Wang

Embark on the season’s first outdoor adventures with BC Parks, hiking trails, adventure parks, or the rush of spring waterfalls. On the other hand, several places and events in BC offer a more relaxing vibe for a spring vacation, like the start of the camping season, the hot springs resorts, or the sightseeing tours.

 

The spring celebrations around BC take all forms, too. Choose between the music and mountain festivals, the animal and wildlife celebrations, or numerous flower and spring bloom events.

BC’s Botanical Gardens & Spring Flower Festivals

Between the bloom festivals and the many botanical or manicured gardens around the province, BC has a ton to offer a getaway centred on spring flowers. And for every area that hosts an annual spring flower festival, there will be a local garden to visit and walk around during your visit.

Visiting BC Parks

There are several year-round parks around BC that welcome visitors year-round and offer a variety of activities. Then, there are seasonal Provincial Parks that start opening to the public in late March or early April. Between the now-open parks and the year-round parks around the province, are opportunities for spring hikes, camping trips, boat or fishing trips and more.

 
  • Start your spring getaway in the BC parks that open for camping in the early spring. Those with campgrounds opening this April include Bamberton Park and Cowichan River Park, both on the Island, Bromley Rock or Ellison Park, both in the Okanagan, Juniper Beach Park in the Thompson region, Moyie Lake Park in the Kootenays, or Sasquatch Park in the Lower Mainland.
  • For those eager to hit the park trails this spring, there are a few hiking areas or trails that offer some of BC’s best spring scenery, including the blooming wildflowers. The trails of both Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks are great places to start for rolling meadows of spring blooms. And while at these large parks, take in other spring activities like hiking, cycling, birding, picnicking, and wildlife viewing.

Spring Festivals around BC

These major events take place at different locations around the province, offering a few different locale options for a spring getaway. The festivals cover activities for all ages and adult-only events while celebrating arts, culture, music, food, and wildlife.

  • SEISMIC Spring Mountain Festival at the Silver Star Mountain Resort is a week of arts and cultural celebrations, mountain activities, après sessions, and fun for all ages.
  • Head to Kelowna for a week of indulgence in the sweeter side of life. Each spring, the city hosts the Maple Festival with indoor and outdoor activities, maple education, art displays, and more.
  • A second après ski and mountain festival will pop up this spring at the Big White Ski Resort. As the largest après music festival in Canada, Altitunes is an adult-only event.

Birding & Wildlife Festivals

Aside from some of the aforementioned spring festivals, even more celebrations will pop up this spring around the province, and all of them are focused on the animal kingdom. As the spring weather warms up, the province sees many mammals come out of hibernation, as well as a huge migration of various bird species.

  • Pacific Rim Whale Festival in Tofino, Ucluelet, and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, is an excellent wildlife viewing opportunity as the week-long festival celebrates the migration of the Pacific grey whales.
 
  • Brant Wildlife Festival at the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere will feature guided walks and nature tours, bird photography workshops, and more educational opportunities over the weekend.
  • Tofino Shore Bird Festival follows the area’s Pacific Rim Whale Festival to include celebrations around the bird migrations.
  • Wings over the Rockies Nature Festival runs this year under the theme of “Our place in nature.” The festival celebrates the birds of the Columbia River Valley with events taking place around the town of Invermere.
  • For birders closer to southern BC, plan for the annual Creston Bird Festival with guided birding walks and canoe trips, photography workshops, and other social events.
  • If you’re not able to make the festivals or want extra birding opportunities, explore the BC Bird Trails this spring! These are migration hot spots in places like the South Fraser Valley, Okanagan, the Island, the Columbia Valley, and the Sea to Sky Highway.
  • Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve in Chilliwack is home to the largest nesting colony of great blue herons on the Lower Mainland. There is a ton more wildlife to witness within the nature reserve and rare or exotic plants to explore.

Boat Tours

The coast, the Strait of Georgia, and the many lakes of interior BC, can all be explored this spring and summer with the help of local boat tours and cruise tours. These include whale and wildlife viewing boat tours, historical, dining, sightseeing, or sunset tours.

Train Rides

These train excursions and sightseeing trips around BC include a variety of themes, trip types, and background scenery for the train ride. Choose between an entire vacation on the rails, or day excursions centred on spring holidays, history, or dining and live entertainment.

  • Kettle Valley Steam Railway begin its spring season on May 10 with a Mother’s Day train ride. From then on, these train excursions run all week and the weekend! The trains run through the gorgeous valleys around Summerland and the Okanagan.
  • Train rides will start up with the opening days of Vancouver’s Railway Museum of British Columbia. Each spring, the museum also hosts the annual Sea to Sky Model Train and Hobby Show.
  • A little further east in Surrey is the Fraser Valley Heritage Rail, who open for the season on May 2nd. From then on, the train rides run every Saturday and Sunday.
  • Those after a longer and more luxurious rail experience can take advantage of the sightseeing journeys offered by Rocky Mountaineer. These overnight trips cover all of BC from east to west; the rides depart from Vancouver with a final stop in Jasper, AB.
 

Adventure & Aerial Parks

Adventure season begins with spring in BC, especially with the many aerial or outdoor adventure parks. These areas usually offer things like outdoor adult jungle gyms, clip-and-climb experiences, mountain biking and hiking trails, or other attractions like pipe coasters and summer gondolas.

Hot Spring Vacations

A hot springs vacation is great for any time of year. But when the warmer weather of spring arrives in BC, some hot springs become easier to access. Plus, the spring foliage and greenery of any of these locations add a great backdrop to your soak (some locations still might have snow!).

  • Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park brings the spring vacation into northern BC with one of the most magical hot springs surroundings and settings in the province. The area is also exceptional for wildlife viewing, especially the moose!
  • From north to south on eastern BC’s Lake Windermere shores are three different nearby hot springs: Fairmont, as part of a resort, Lussier, the all-natural experience, and Radium, the cliffside hot springs. And a bit further south, on the shores of Kootenay Lake, find the Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, or the Halcyon Hot Springs Resort.
  • Those near Vancouver and the lower mainland include gorgeous areas like the Harrison Hot Springs Resort

Towns to Visit

A spring getaway in BC may be as simple as picking a new place, town, or community to explore and get to know.

  • Whether you prefer a spring getaway centred around outdoor adventure, relaxation, local history and culture, or all around food and dining, Nanaimo has it all! The town is on the east side of the Island and the Strait of Georgia with beautiful cottages, bed and breakfasts, and campgrounds. The town’s proximity to different parks found more inland also makes Nanaimo an excellent basecamp for adventures. Plus, a quick walk around town during spring offers several spaces of spring blooms against the ocean landscape.
  • Squamish makes a quick escape for anyone near Vancouver and has ton to offer all sorts of interests. The town sits on the Howe Sound with a thriving local dining, arts, and entertainment scene. Around the Squamish, pubs and restaurants are smaller local events, while the Banff Mountain Town Film Festival will also make a stop for mid-April. Attractions around Squamish, like the Brittania Mine Museum or the Railway Museum of BC, offer indoor and outdoor activities that ramp up during spring.
  • Summerland and Peachland, two smaller towns in the Okanagan Valley, combine to create the ultimate (and possibly warmest) spring getaway within BC. The Okanagan Valley during the spring means rolling hills of lush greenery, wildflowers, and rushing creeks or rivers. The region has several types of accommodations, outdoor and indoor activities, and plenty of lakeshore space for spring picnics, walks, or bike rides. This is also the heart of BC’s wine country and home to the iconic Kettle Valley Steam Train.
  • The mountain town of Nelson has as much outdoor spring recreation and chances for adventure as any mountain destination in BC. Plus, Nelson is a hub for arts and culture, with celebrations and festivals happening all year round. The summer Mural Festival continues to add to the self-guided mural touring opportunity around Nelson, while Kaslo May Days offer a big celebration for spring.

Chasing BC Waterfalls

Spring is the best season for seeing any waterfall in BC at its most potent or intense stage. As spring melts run off into the rivers and creeks, the water flow increases and causes surges of rushing water over the rocks. Beautiful British Columbia is home to several regions that offer not just one waterfall to see but several to add to a day’s itinerary.

 
  • Some of the best waterfall views within Wells Grey Provincial Park are also the easiest to access like Helmcken Falls, the Mushbowl, and Dawson Falls. This park is well-known for its abundance of waterfalls, with others accessible via short walks, or day hikes.
  • Further to the south, but still in the eastern Rockies, are a few impressive waterfall views around Yoho National Park. Emerald Lake will most certainly be worth a spring visit while in the area as it becomes its signature emerald green colour. Access the park’s Wapta Falls on a day hike or the Hamilton Falls on a quick 1.5km out-and-back walk.
  • Similarly, Mount Robson Provincial Park offers two waterfall views, with one accessible from a longer hike (or multi-day hike), and the other viewable after a quick hike. Check out the park’s Valley of a Thousand Falls on the Berg Lake Trail that extends for 30km, or the Overlander Falls on a 1km walk.
  • Several waterways make their way across Vancouver Island’s rocky, elevated, or forested landscapes to create numerous waterfalls, large and small, all across the Island. There are viewing opportunities around Victoria, along the West Coast Road by Sooke, or further north near Nanaimo and Qualicum.
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