Are you looking for the perfect place to spend Christmas in British Columbia? There are lots to choose from. This vast province has endless mountains and a wild coastline, world-class skiing resorts and cozy little towns. You can see fairy tale snowy landscapes, lush green temperate rainforests or giant waves.
Whether you travel to BC or live here, I’d like to help you find some of the best BC Christmas vacations.
Want help planning your BC road trip?
- Get the BC Road Trip Guide eBook.
- Use the easy-to-follow itineraries.
- Go and enjoy your trip.
TOP 5 BC Christmas vacation getaways
First thing first, let’s see the most special Christmas holiday getaways in British Columbia. While it’s absolutely personal what makes a place really special, and we admit that this list is subjective, it’s also quite broad. We rather collected five unique experiences instead of cities or towns.
A mountain cabin near Vancouver
Vancouver has its own Christmas treats, but you don’t need to travel too far to experience something completely different: deep snow, silence, towering peaks, logs on the fire. Postcard perfect winter views from a cozy mountain cabin.
a magical snowy day in the forest in Lynn Canyon Park
Sunwolf Riverside Cabins
The Sunwolf Riverside Cabins officially belong to the small town of Brackendale, but they’re out in the woods, at the convergence of two rivers and with views of the breathtaking Tantalus Mountains. Guest rooms have gas fireplaces, and best of all, you can even take your pet with you.
It’s close enough to the Sea to Sky Highway, but far enough to feel peaceful and remote. Yet it’s an hour drive away from Vancouver. Nearby Alice Lake Provincial Park offers easy forest trails that you can take all year, even when it’s snowy (but I recommend microspikes or snowshoes, depending on the conditions). The Stawamus Chief and Garibaldi Provincial Park are both a short drive away.
Check availability and price, and book your stay here.
Sasquatch Mountain Log Cabin
If you love skiing and snowboarding, this spacious and comfy log cabin on Sasquatch Mountain in Harrison is just perfect for you. The Sasquatch Mountain Resort offers 37 ski runs, and with an 1350 cm average snowfall, powdery fun is guaranteed (well, things about the weather can’t really be guaranteed, but when it comes to precipitation and the BC coast, I’m quite confident in writing such a sentence). If you’re tired standing in line on the ski slopes of Vancouver, this is a good alternative.
This log cabin sleeps 10 people, has 3 private bedrooms, a kid-friendly loft and two full bathrooms. And a firewood fireplace!
Check availability and price, and book your stay here.
Camperland Bridal Falls RV Resort & Cabins
The Camperland Bridal Falls RV Resort & Cabins is in the Fraser Valley, 1.5 hours drive from Vancouver downtown. It offers a sauna and a hot tub for guests, and you’ll be near the famous Harrison Hot Springs and – of course – Bridal Falls. It’s very quiet in the off season, and you can choose either a room or a chalet.
Check availability and price, and book your stay here.
A spa hotel
What’s better than enjoying a hot bath on a cold winter day? A pampering stay in a spa hotel might be a relaxing, romantic Christmas present. And when it comes to hot springs in BC, you can’t miss the one which so obviously states it in the name:
Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa, Harrison Hot Springs
This resort is on the coast of Harrison Lake and guests can enjoy the naturally hot pools, fed by two springs and their waters cooled down to a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius. There are kid-friendly pools, an adults only area and an indoor pool, as well.
The pretty Sasquatch-themed Lights on the Lake event returns every year for the Christmas season, adding to the holiday vibes with an array of lights and themed decorations. The Starlight Skating Rink operates from mid-October to the end of February. Also, you can take the Harrison Lagoon Walk or the Spirit Trail any time of the year.
If you aren’t staying at the main spa resort, you can still visit the public pool to take delight in the soothing Harrison hot springs. It’s located next to the resort.
Check availability and price, and book your stay here.
Poets Cove Resort & Spa on Pender Island
For a secluded, more remote coastal resort, check out the Poets Cove Resort in Bedwell Harbour on South Pender Island. Pender Island is one of the islands – really, it’s two, North Pender and South Pender – between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Its two islands are separated by a narrow canal connected by a one-lane bridge.
The island is just a short ferry, boat or seaplane ride away from Vancouver, Victoria or Seattle. It has a sub-Mediterranean climate which means that there’s no real winter here, though rain is common and frequent. You can wander on the beaches, explore the lakes, hills and coves, and you even find a handful of art galleries, shops and restaurants nearby.
Poets Cove Resort & Spa spoils guests with breathtaking ocean views, luxurious, pet-friendly accommodation, a full-service on-site spa and special spa treatments. Each cozy unit comes with a fireplace, some also with a harbor view.
Check availability and price, and book your stay here.
An oceanfront cottage or cabin on Vancouver Island
Speaking of coastal getaways… if you prefer ocean views instead of snowy landscapes, find a cozy cabin on Vancouver Island:
Wild Renfrew Seaside Cottages
Located in Port Renfrew, the Wild Renfrew Seaside Cottages face the ocean, and you’ll even have a private beach area – mostly for romantic walks (or storm-watching), possibly in the rain if you visit for Christmas. Or you can choose a room with a sea view to enjoy the close proximity of water without the rain and the wind.
The restaurant offers a variety of seafood, and you can explore the shoreline, the beaches, waterfalls and hikes nearby.
Check availability and price, and book your stay here.
A gorgeous oceanfront cottage in Port Renfrew
If you’d like to enjoy your private cottage, this one is a good choice, with uninterrupted ocean views, a cozy fireplace and a cliff top deck. A luxurious treat for anniversaries!
Check availability and price, and book your stay here.
The Shoreline in Tofino
The Shoreline is a boutique oceanfront resort in the heart of Tofino, between the waves and old-growth cedar trees, delivering a remote, peaceful vibe. You can choose from A-frame houses and A-frame cabins, and they all come with modern, comfortable furniture, some come with ocean views.
Tofino is one of the cutest coastal towns we’ve ever seen, and the misty, wet winter days surely give it a unique vibe. Another great choice to celebrate an anniversary.
Check availability and price, and book your stay here.
A wooden forest cabin or treehouse
Cabins are romantic, but wooden forest cabins or treehouses(!) take it to another level. Especially if you choose a tranquil location. Like this luxurious treehouse with a jacuzzi and amazing forest views on Salt Spring Island. Or the Owl’s Perch Treehouse, a unique treehouse perched 30 feet high amongst the trees in Sooke on Vancouver Island. It has a large deck with stunning views of the Salish Sea and a cozy indoor space with a comfortable living room and a fireplace.
The Wildwood Cabins of Bowen Island are tucked into the forest canopy and are built from local and reclaimed timber, perfectly blending into the surrounding cedar, hemlock and fir trees.
A floating home in North Vancouver
How about choosing Vancouver, an excellent location for a variety of winter and Christmas related activities, but spicing it up with an unusual kind of accommodation: a floating house!
This top level space of a modern floating home is docked at Mosquito Creek Marina in North Vancouver. You’ll have the close proximity of the ocean and also quick and easy access to downtown Vancouver, maybe a glimpse of a playful seal. Two suites are offered, this is the other one.
What is Christmas weather like in British Columbia?
It depends. People usually expect Canadian winters to be freezing cold and snowy, and it’s definitely true for the interior and mountainous areas of BC. Southern BC winter temperature ranges from -5°C to 3°C (23°F to 37°F), and the weather is relatively dry. Northern BC gets freezing, often around -10°C to -20°C (14°F to -4°F) and white Christmas is guaranteed (but challenging road conditions are more likely, as well).
Mountainous regions, like Whistler, Revelstoke or the Kootenays, get frequent snowfalls, making them prime destinations for winter sports. But the coastal regions, like Vancouver or Vancouver Island, have mild and rainy weather, with temperatures hovering around 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) – and the occasional snowy day.
So which location and weather do you find the most tempting?
