Choosing your destination may prove the most difficult part of your trip — as a look at a small sample of the available activities suggests. Whale watching, kayaking along the rocky coastline or cruising the Pacific waters aboard one of British Columbia’s many ferries are just a few activities in the coastal regions. Visitors also can explore the mountains, hike, rock climb, cycle or live the life of a cowboy for a few days. And sightseers looking for cultural activities will find a multitude of theaters, art galleries, museums and other attractions in the cities of Vancouver and Victoria.

To help you plan a trip to British Columbia, a region bigger than Washington, Oregon and California combined, we’ve included highlights of Vancouver, Victoria and Vancouver Island, as well as Web sites with information about other regions of B.C.

Vancouver

Situated between the mountains and the sea, the city of Vancouver offers travelers access to beaches, museums, parks and art galleries — as well as a host of attractions to keep kids happy.

Visitors with a love of the sea will enjoy the Vancouver Aquarium. In addition to a multitude of marine species, including killer whales, sea lions, sea otters and more, the aquarium also includes an Amazon exhibit where visitors can experience an Amazon rainstorm.

At the Vancouver Maritime Museum, kids and adults alike will revel in the pirate lore and artifacts at Pirates Cove, delight in the hands-on Children’s Maritime Discovery Centre and marvel at the St. Roch, the first vessel to travel the Northwest Passage in both directions.

Recognized as the Hollywood of the North, British Columbia is one of the three top film production locations in the world. Film buffs who’ve always wanted to hear “Quiet on the set,” are in luck in this oft-filmed province. Every Wednesday, the B.C. Film Commission updates its list of movies currently being filmed in the area. Call (604) 685-0260 or visit www.bcfilmcommission.com/whatsnew/filmlist_1.htm for more information. Visitors in town during September and mid-October can also see what’s new on the “silver screen” at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Other sites of interest in the Vancouver area include the Museum of Anthropology (www.moa.ubc.ca) and the 1,000-acre Stanley Park with its walking paths, beaches and wildlife watching. For a more thrilling walk, travelers can trek to North Vancouver to the Capilano Canyon Suspension Bridge and Park or the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge.

Finally, a trip to Vancouver isn’t complete without a stroll through the city's distinctive neighborhoods, including the downtown district, Gastown and Chinatown, just to name a few. Additional information about Vancouver is available at www.vancouvertourist.com.

For people who want to venture further afield, a day trip from Vancouver to Whistler via the Sea to the Sky Highway (also know as Highway 99) might be just the ticket.

Victoria and Vancouver Island

Victoria, British Columbia’s capital, lies at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. A seaport with Scottish and British roots, this city has a very proper British atmosphere. A good place to start exploring is the Inner Harbor, where travelers will discover the impressive Empress Hotel. Inside, kids will grin during a visit to Miniature World (www.miniatureworld.com), with more than 80 miniature three-dimensional scenes. The Empress also is the perfect spot to indulge in proper, British, afternoon tea.

Nearby, the Royal British Columbia Museum provides a tribute to the area’s history. In the evenings, the Inner Harbor bustles with activity as street performers entertain people who stop by to watch the sunset and enjoy the magic of the harbor lights.

For a change of pace, travelers can enjoy the views from Beacon Hill Park or visit Butchart Gardens, a 130-acre site originally created as a sunken garden in a depleted limestone quarry that now boasts many other gardens as well. Whale enthusiasts can see Orcas in the waters off southern Vancouver Island from May to October.

When the exploration of Victoria is complete, visitors should consider a trip north on Highway 19, Vancouver Island’s main thoroughfare. Starting in Victoria, the road winds through towns such as Duncan, where approximately 60 totem poles are scattered around town, and Chemainus, where most walls in the town are covered with murals.

Island hopping is also a popular activity in this section of Vancouver Island. The Gulf Islands, situated off the southeastern coast, are home to many artisans. Visitors will enjoy picturesque views, quaint towns, beaches, wildlife and the serenity found there.

Farther along the northward trek on Highway 19, a short detour takes travelers to the Western Coast of the island. This rugged area draws many outdoor enthusiasts, with hard-core hikers braving the West Coast Trail, a seven- to 10-day hike along the western coast in the Pacific Rim National Park. Less determined visitors enjoy the more accessible Long Beach section of the park, which sports a six-mile section of beach and excellent hiking trails.

Travelers who continue traveling north along this main island highway eventually will reach Port Hardy — the end of the road and the departure point for ferry cruises up the Inside Passage. The 15-hour daytime crossing to Prince Rupert on the Northern coast of B.C. provides vistas of practically uninhabited coastline and close-up views of wildlife, including Orcas, salmon, bald eagles, porpoises and more.

Military history buffs may enjoy the following B.C. sites:

Fort Langley
Built in 1839, Fort Langley was part of the Hudson's Bay Company's network of fur trading posts across what is now Western Canada. Today, Fort Langley evokes a sense of history, with original and reconstructed buildings, costumed interpreters, historic objects and special events.

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse
A coast artillery fort built in the late 1890s to defend Victoria and the Esquimalt Naval Base, Fort Rodd Hill includes gun batteries, underground magazines, command posts, guardhouses, barracks and searchlight emplacements. Built in 1860, Fisgard Lighthouse was the first permanent lighthouse on Canada's west coast.

Fort Steele Heritage Town
Located in southeastern B.C., Fort Steele lets visitors experience history first-hand at this historic fort, with a steam train and street drama presentations.

Check out the following Web sites for more help planning your trip to British Columbia:

www.hellobc.com is the B.C. official tourism site (By phone: 1-800 HELLO BC).

www.travelbc.com offers regional information, as well as links to distance calculators and local weather reports.

www.discoverbc.com

www.currencyguide.com provides the daily exchange rate, as well as approximate costs of travel-related activities, lodging, dining and more.

www.bcferries.bc.ca includes everything you need to know about British Columbia ferries, including schedules, fares and maps.

www.elp.gov.bc.ca/bcparks offers a comprehensive list of provincial parks in B.C. and all the information you’ll need for day trips or longer camping adventures.

fogwhistle.ca/bclights lists the many lighthouses found in British Columbia.

www.bigpacific.com is a site devoted to the Sunshine Coast, north of Vancouver.

www.nbctourism.com offers information about traveling the vast expanse of northern British Columbia, which stretches from the Queen Charlotte Islands to Mount Robson Park.

www.cowichan.bc.ca provides information about the Cowichan region, know for its wineries and outdoor activities.

www.tourismwhistler.com offers information about Whistler, B.C.

www.islands.bc.ca provides a starting point for learning about the many islands in the region.

www.victoriabc.com offers links and information about Victoria, Vancouver Island and more.

visit-vancouverisland.com leads you to more Vancouver Island data.

www.gonorthwest.com provides tourist information for the northwest region of Canada and the United States.