Vancouverscape, a Vancouver based blog covering travel, tech, and lifestyle

Pick up a copy of Jack Christie’s 52 Best Day Trips from Vancouver and discover (or in the local sense, rediscover) our beautiful backyard. In print since 1989, 52 Best Day Trips gets a fresh update every few years based on repeat visits, reader tips and updated details.

The informative, humorous day-trippers’ guide is currently in its fourth edition and includes two new chapters: Callaghan Valley in the Coastal Mountains and 1,001 Steps Park on Surrey’s beaches.

Thumbing through the compact softcover, I am continually in awe of the Christie’s knowledge on any given region. From Skagit Valley trout fishing tips to provincial foliage and history, this book makes a great road companion!

[Fort Langley National Historic Site]

What’s Inside

– 19 provincial parks
– 18 regional parks
– 29 municipal parks and recreational trails
– Five conservative regions
– Three BC Forest Service interpretive forests
– Two BC Hydro recreation sites
– Two Parks Canada national historic sites
– One gas tank-worthy Washington State park visit (once our borders re-open of course)

[Sea to Sky Gondola, Squamish]

There’s a brief overview at the start of each of the 52 chapters outlining the trip’s distance from Vancouver, activities and directions/access. Each area’s unique history is showcased, peppered with Christie’s suggestions on making the most of your selected outing.

Although the photos are in black and white, small maps are included to point out highlights of each area; local phone numbers and links to websites are also provided.

Post-lockdown bliss! Over 300 pages of getaways are here, and best part is you don’t even have to leave the province to enjoy them all. If you’re already a fan of Christie via his column in the Georgia Straight, you may want to check out his two other best-selling guidebooks, The Whistler Book and Best Weekend Getaways from Vancouver.

[Minnekhada Regional Park]

Christie also welcomes feedback from readers, so don’t be shy. Send in your tips and who knows, you may see them in print when edition number five rolls off the press!

52 Best Days Trips from Vancouver is available through Greystone Books for CAD $19.95.