There is no place like the west coast of British Columbia! With amazing destinations like Victoria, Vancouver, Nanaimo, Tofino and the Gulf Islands – You’re bound to find an adventure the whole family will love! Plus, when you fly with Harbour Air, you can experience the magic of the coast together with our Kids Fly Free Promotion all family day long weekend and spring break! Times don’t suit? No sweat, kids fly for 50% off the confirmed fare all year long.
With convenient daily flights you can spend less time getting there and more time being there with the ones who are most important. Read about some of our favourite destinations and the best spots to explore with your crew this Family Day Long Weekend and Spring Break!
Explore the City
Vancouver is British Columbia’s largest city perfectly framed by the Pacific Ocean and beautiful Coastal Mountains; making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and cosmopolitan adventurers alike!
From sea to sky and in between, the city offers views and adventures for everyone! Familiarize yourself with Vancouver’s weaving ocean-side pathway (known as the Vancouver Seawall) that guides you along the edge of the bustling city. This iconic and free attraction is close to 30 kilometers of uninterrupted, mostly-flat and paved passageways that surround the city’s favourite and most picturesque neighborhoods; including a waterfront path around Stanley Park! Whether you want to experience the whole route or only a portion, lace up your best walking shoes or rent bicycles for a fun two-wheeled family adventure!
While downtown, why not experience the West Coast rainforest from another perspective? Enjoy the thrill of flying on floats as you take off from Vancouver’s Coal Harbour and take in aerial vistas of the city’s busy downtown skyline including quintessential sights like Stanley Park, English Bay, and the Lions Gate Bridge. After your seaplane flight, carry on to enjoy one of Canada’s most popular attractions, with our Planes and Parks tour!
After exploring from above, experience the great outdoors on foot at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Weave between the towering evergreens, cedar scented rainforest air and flowing rivers from suspended footbridges safely hanging 110 feet above the forest floor! With guided tours and tree-top adventures, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is located on the North Shore of Vancouver and is a short 15-minute drive from the downtown core.
Adorned with floral blooms and colonial architecture, BC’s provincial capital is a wanderer’s paradise. Go at your own pace and explore the streets of the quaint downtown core on foot. Take advantage of the diverse historical, architectural, and multicultural makeup that come from being the oldest city in the Pacific Northwest!
Our terminal is conveniently located right in Victoria’s Inner Harbour making it an easy transition from seaplane dock to downtown city adventures! Shop and bop your way through town – explore Victoria’s iconic shopping district lined with small boutique store fronts and discover locally handcrafted and brand named good as well as some tasty treats to enjoy along the way! On the hunt for a souvenir? Check out Chinatown Trading Co for a perfectly unique gift to take home!
Looking for the ultimate day-trip activity? The Butchart Gardens is home to over 30,000 bulbs blooming in an array of vibrant colours during the spring and summer months and is a perfect day-trip for kids of all ages. Stroll down the smooth stroller-friendly pathways that wind through the 55-acre property located 23 km north of the city center. Want to spend the day at sea? Whale Watching Adventures begin right beside our Victoria Terminal and with daily excursions you will never miss a whale tail! Perfect for the entire family! Keep on the lookout because whales aren’t the only wildlife you might see! Watch for seals, bald eagles, porpoises, and maybe even a Harbour Air Single Otter! Make the most of your visit to Victoria with our Spend the Day Tour!
Need fuel for your day of exploration? Check out our favourite spots to stop & sip in BC’s capital.
Small Towns and Natural Wonders
Located on the southern coast of British Columbia lies a quaint coastal town extending 177-kms between Desolation and Howe Sound. Its bordering rugged mountains and quiet inlets provide the true feeling of a West Coast escape. With an easy 20-minute flight to Sechelt, you can travel stress-free and avoid the backseat chorus of “are we there yet?”.
There’s no better place to spend time with your family that than in the beautiful outdoors! For avid hikers; The Sunshine Coast Trail boasts Canada’s longest hut-to-hut hiking route with 180-kms of pure wilderness bliss. For young families and little adventurers try taking an alternate path and explore the wonder of Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park. It’s the perfect balance of easy walking trails with the same natural West Coast beauty. Twice daily, Mother Nature puts on a show as the change in tidal flows switch direction and power magical rapids. The water levels can sometimes exceed 9ft in height with 200 billion gallons of water flowing through the Inlet providing you with one of the greatest natural spectacles in British Columbia affectionately named “Skook”. Dress the part – Remember, you’re on the “Wet Coast” bring a rain jacket and your best hiking shoes.
Looking for an urban adventure? From heaping waffle cones of gelato, handcrafted lattes and baked goods, to fish and chips with waterfront views – you’re sure to find your new favourite spot in Sechelt! The quaint downtown core is a convenient ten minute walk from our Harbour Air terminal where your can stroll your way through Cowrie Street’s locally owned shops, boutiques, and galleries – the perfect place to shop for local art & handcrafted goods, books, beads, sporting goods, and clothing. Finish your downtown adventure with a peek inside one of the vintage shops to find that one-of-a-kind item to take home with you.
Explore local coastal artisans and pottery studios with Sunshine Coast’s Purple Banner Route! With over 80 stops, you can plan your own adventure and explore the studios of the many talented West Coast artists! Just look for the flying purple banners from Langdale to Powel River – in many cases the banner is an invitation to drop in and say hello! A perfect activity for all ages to learn and get inspired by Sunshine Coasts most talented creators!
A true artist and nature lovers’ paradise! Salt Spring Island is home to spectacular coastal and pastoral scenery that makes up the 185 square km island. Its moderate climate offers visitors a variety of activities that can be comfortably enjoyed all year long. Despite its size and sophisticated range of attractions, it has a friendly, laid-back “glad you’re here” vibe that’s truly impossible to resist. A quick 20 minute flight drops you off in the heart of this serene town where your island adventures await!
Get outside with the family and take in spectacular marine views while enjoying the fresh island air! Mount Maxwell Provincial Park contains one of the highest points on Salt Spring Island – Baynes Peak. Offering stunning vistas of Vancouver Island and the surrounding Gulf Islands with the mainland of British Columbia as a backdrop. Save your legs and reach the peak on four wheels or walk the gravel road to the peak and enjoy the well-deserved sights!
Salt Spring Island is home to a vibrant artist community and is rich with spectacular local art, agricultural and food (not to mention shop your way through the small downtown area and get to know some of the local favourites!) Get fueled up for your day of exploration from Barbs Breads and visit the iconic Salt Spring Island Coffee. Pick up a perfect memento for you and your small traveler from West of the Moon – a vibrant toy shop that is very hard to miss; look for the bright blue door! End your day with local farm style tapas and share boards created by Salt Spring Island Cidery or swing by the iconic Salt Spring Island Cheese shop and source supplies to make your own island feast!
Feel the Magic of the West Coast
The city of Nanaimo is a classic West Coast community that offers stunning natural beauty and is home to the longest shorelines in Canada with a forest-filled mountain backdrop just outside the downtown core. Located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, Nanaimo is the place to find natural wonders, festivals, culinary joys, and so much more. Skip the traffic and ferry lineups with an effortless 20-minute flight.
Pack your bags and explore the outdoors with your kiddos at Wild Play Element Parks! Safely enjoy the outdoors and tap into your wild side with tree-top adventure courses, zipline tours, bungy jumps and primal swings!
There are only a few treats in life that are both famous and delicious. The Nanaimo Bar is a tremendously sweet, no-bake layered dessert from Canada! It’s birthplace is right here in British Columbia! We have the coastal city of Nanaimo to thank for this world-renowned creation. The Nanaimo Bar has made appearances in The New York Times, Seth Rogan and Dan Levy’s Twitter feeds, and multiple features on the Food Network! The common mistake: It’s not a cookie, it’s a bar; and yes, there is a difference. You don’t have to venture far to experience this Vancouver Island specialty. Hit the road with you and your appetite and familiarize yourself with the Nanaimo Bar Trail! With over 39 stops you can eat your way along this self-guided adventure!
Looking to head further west to Tofino? Check out our Fly ‘N’ Drive and read all about our favourite spots to stop, snack, sip, shop and surf along on the way to create the perfect Vancouver Island Road trip!
Home to quiet inlets, old growth forests and rolling waves. Tofino celebrates its acclaimed food scene, rich arts and culture, and is a favourited destination that attracts BC locals and visitors from around the world. The beautifully wild and untamed nature speaks to the soul while renewing your spirit and allowing a disconnect from the real world.
Explore the natural world of Tofino with it’s expansive sandy shores, strong wave riding rip currents, vast ancient cedar forests draped in vibrant emerald mosses and lichens. Put on your best walking shoes and stroll the endless shorelines of Long Beach or hike the unique boardwalks and gravels paths of Tonquin Trail and experience the beauty of the wild West Coast.
Feeling like taking up a new hobby? For visitors, surfing in Tofino is a bucket list item; for locals, it’s a way of life. Challenge yourself and learn from the best of the west from the many reputable surf schools for all ages and skill levels including Surf Sister, Live to Surf or Pacific Surf School. If surfing isn’t your thing or searching for a way to warm up after a day in the waves; we highly recommend Rhino Coffee – mastering the donut and coffee combo with the most colourful flavours and parings. Of course, no trip to Tofino is complete without a visit to Tacofino – a food truck that’s worth a visit. Grab a classic fish taco or discover a new favourite!
Experience the wild West Coast by adding a family friendly activity to your perfect Tofino adventure! Explore the calm inlet waters of Clayoquot Sound by Boat and spot bears in their natural habitat with our Coastal Bear Watching Experience! Or, enjoy a 1.5-hour boat trip to Hot Springs Cove and walk the boardwalk though an ancient rainforest before soaking in natural geothermal pools with our Hot Springs Cove Excursion! Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit!
There is so much to experience and explore along the coast of British Columbia the entire family will love! We’re making family travel a breeze with convenient daily flights to many of your favourite destinations. Plan your next adventure during our Kids Fly Free Promotion and make the most of your time with family. Experience the magic of the coast together.