British Columbia's scale makes day trips genuinely rewarding from almost any base. From Vancouver, the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler takes about two hours and passes through some of the most dramatic coastal mountain scenery in the province. The Gulf Islands are 90 minutes by ferry from Tsawwassen. From Victoria, the Cowichan Valley wine region and the Butchart Gardens are both easy afternoon excursions. Guided tour operators offer whale watching, bear watching, heli-skiing, and multi-day wilderness expeditions throughout the province.