Embrace BC’s Softer Side:
Spas, Holistic Health, and the Great Outdoors

There are myriad reasons to explore British Columbia this fall, and here’s one worthy of note: If you’re looking for getaways that combine self-care and wellness with a connection to place, BC delivers.

The province’s vibrant rainforest, snow-capped mountains, and pristine coastlines provide the backdrop for forest bathing, guided wellness experiences, and outdoor spa treatments. And with more than 70 per cent of eligible BC residents fully vaccinated, fall is a prime window for cross-border travel, with fewer crowds and increased health and safety protocols still in place.

This fall, make your first international trip to British Columbia, where you can recharge in the great outdoors (or in a treatment room), and rediscover BC at the same time.

Step outside in your newly glowy skin and do some mental cleansing in Lighthouse Park on the North Shore. Meanwhile, Rockwood Adventures leads a Rainforest Bathing Wellness & Salmon Adventure that teaches how to be in the moment among 500-year-old Western redcedars and towering Douglas fir trees. To see the forest canopy through a different lens, join the Talking Trees Tour in iconic Stanley Park. An Indigenous guide with Talaysay Tours will share history and stories, while educating participants about how local trees and plants were historically used for food, medicine, and building materials.

For a bird’s-eye view, take in the view of Howe Sound from the Sea to Sky Gondola near Squamish, or hop on a boat with Prince of Whales from Granville Island to catch a glimpse of the marine wildlife that call this area home. If a full-body cleanse is preferred, try stand-up paddleboarding; Vancouver Water Adventures offers SUP tours along the coast departing from Granville Island. This trendy pastime is meditative when the water is calm, and it will tone your core and improve your balance. Chances are good you’ll also become one with the water (translation: Fall in and get wet!)

It’s equally meditative being out on the water in the Victoria Harbour, where every dip of a kayak or SUP paddle can be a rhythmic call for introspection. Kelp Reef Adventures and Ocean River both offer tours in the protected harbor, where the pretty scenery of Fisherman’s Wharf, bobbing seals, and eagles soaring overhead will certainly be a balm for the soul.

When it’s time to call it a day, Victoria has no lack of hotels with spas onsite. Located right on the Inner Harbour, the Fairmont Empress and its Willow Stream Spa is the most iconic. Level up to the Gold Floor for the royal treatment, with sumptuous rooms, a private guest lounge, and daily happy-hour canapes (be sure to check out the hotel’s Wellness at the Empress package for maximum pampering). Across town, the oceanfront Oak Bay Beach Hotel is home to the Boathouse Spa and a series of tempting mineral pools overlooking the Salish Sea.

Consider upgrading to the spacious Jade Wellness Suite on the hotel’s Fairmont Gold level, where you can do your own preening thanks to a jetted soaker tub and wellness amenities including bath salts, body balm, and a chamomile body scrub, plus a diffuser with essential oils.

For professional treatments, Richmond has a number of spas, including local favorite Spa Versanté. There are also spots in town where you can try an Asian-influenced massage such as Thai, Shiatsu, or foot reflexology. If you’d rather just try to perfect your bird of paradise pose, head to YYoga at the Richmond Olympic Oval, which offers more than 40 classes a week, from hot yoga to yoga sculpt.

For a real forest bath, head to Scandinave Spa Whistler (tip: Reserve a time in advance for guaranteed access). These popular outdoor Scandinavian hot baths and plunge pools are as famous for their setting nestled in the woods as they are for the hydrotherapy circuit that detoxifies and rejuvenates as you cycle through in silence (no talking or cell phones allowed).

When it’s time to collapse in a relaxed puddle, Nita Lake Lodge has spacious suites with soaker tubs and comfy king beds. Plus, it has a full-service spa with rooftop hot tubs and a Mountain Après package that includes a Swedish massage and a signature facial that’s pure bliss.

Featured image: Cycling along the bridge at Green Lake, Whistler. | Hubert Kang