Sea to Sky Gondola, Shannon Falls and the Chief

The view is the whole product, so watch the forecast and go on the first clear day you have. Summer and early autumn give the most reliable skies; mornings are usually calmer and quieter than afternoons. In winter the gondola keeps running on its own schedule and the summit turns snowy, which is beautiful but a different, colder trip.

Rent a car for the day. The highway itself is the attraction: there are pull-outs above Howe Sound and a string of stops, including Porteau Cove and the Britannia Mine Museum, before you reach the gondola. Continue north to Brandywine Falls or Whistler if you have the full day.

The operator explicitly warns against unofficial resellers. Buy on seatoskygondola.com, where online prices have undercut the ticket window, and check for late-afternoon discounts on certain days. Hours shift through the season and there is an autumn maintenance closure, so confirm before you drive up.

The Sea to Summit Trail runs from the gondola parking lot to the summit lodge: about 6.5 km with more than 900 m of gain, rated advanced, typically 3 to 5 hours. Strong hikers buy a cheaper ride-down ticket instead of a round trip. The operator does not recommend hiking down, as trail markers face uphill.

The summit loops are short and well built, the suspension bridge is thrilling without being scary for most children, and the lodge has food and restrooms. Shannon Falls at the bottom is a short, flat forest walk to the viewpoint, ideal for small legs.

The summit lodge has food and a big deck with the view. For more choice, Squamish is five minutes north, with cafés, bakeries and breweries in its compact downtown.

The Stawamus Chief is one of the world’s great rock-climbing walls. From the Chief Overlook platform at the summit, and from the parking lots below, look for climbers on the granite; binoculars help. The Squamish name for the mountain is Siy̓ám̓ Smánit.

This is an easy day trip from Vancouver, but if you are also hiking Joffre Lakes or Garibaldi Lake, stay a night or two in Squamish. It is closer to every trailhead and cheaper than Whistler.

Bring a warm layer and a rain shell for the summit, closed shoes for the loop trails, and sunglasses for the glare off the water. If you plan the Sea to Summit Trail, carry at least a litre of water: the operator notes there is none on the route.