Vancouver, surrounded by mountains and the ocean, is a vibrant haven for outdoor lovers and cosmopolitan travelers. Its neighborhoods-Stanley Park, the West End, Gastown, Yaletown, and Chinatown-blend scenic pathways with rich arts, food, and culture. Famous as a filming location, it offers old-growth cedar forests, dramatic landscapes, and abundant wildlife: a big city perched on the edge of wilderness.

This lesser-traveled wonder embodies the Last Frontier: vast terrain, few crowds, and wild nature. At Anan Bear & Wildlife Observatory, brown and black bears feast on pink salmon for a few frenetic weeks each year. From town, walk to Rainbow Falls, jet boat the Stikine River, and watch Bald Eagles ride currents above glaciers and jagged peaks. Then ponder 3,000-year-old Tlingit petroglyphs at Petroglyph Beach.

Alaska's Hoonah Island is an epic land of humpback whales, bountiful bears and legends of the indigenous Tlingit told for thousands of years. A rugged paradise big on nature, you can kayak the coast, hike the Tongass National Forest, flight-see Glacier Bay and eye the waves for pods of orca and sea lions on scenic sailings. Cook up a feast with coho salmon or king, snow and Dungeness crab, and take in an eagle's-eye-view of the world while ziplining over the forested slopes of Mount Hoonah.

Haines, where Alaska's wilderness meets the fjords and glaciers of the Inside Passage, draws bears, bald eagles, and people alike. Fish for sockeye and chinook in scenic streams, or float and hike riverside trails in Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, where eagles gather year-round. Explore local history at Fort William H. Seward and take in the lakes and rivers of Chilkoot State Park.

Encircled by emerald rainforest and mist-veiled mountains, Ward Cove opens the door to Alaska's wild beauty. Nearby, glacial blue lakes, waterfalls, and snowcapped peaks frame Misty Fjords National Monument, best seen by floatplane or boat. Explore Tlingit and Haida heritage at Saxman Village, stroll Creek Street's historic boardwalks, or enjoy bear viewing and kayaking. Ward Cove invites adventure shaped by nature and spirit.

Victoria, on Vancouver Island's southern edge, is British Columbia's capital, set near the Olympic Mountains. Its history reaches pre-colonial times; in 1849, Vancouver Island became a British crown colony, reflected in Victorian architecture like Craigdarroch Castle. Indigenous legacies endure in festivals, ceremonies, dance, and art. Nearby are rugged Pacific coastlines, rainforests, gardens, lakes, waterfalls, fishing villages, and rich marine life, including four whale species.

Vancouver, surrounded by mountains and the ocean, is a vibrant haven for outdoor lovers and cosmopolitan travelers. Its neighborhoods-Stanley Park, the West End, Gastown, Yaletown, and Chinatown-blend scenic pathways with rich arts, food, and culture. Famous as a filming location, it offers old-growth cedar forests, dramatic landscapes, and abundant wildlife: a big city perched on the edge of wilderness.