British Columbia Ecotourism:
From the Pacific to Peaks,
Something for Everyone

I love British Columbia. I want to prattle on and on about how and why it is one of my favorite places on earth. But I will spare you my gushing and simply share examples of British Columbia ecotourism and how spectacular it is. It is a region in Canada that is easy to get to and truly offers something for everyone, no matter your interests.

Whistler/Blackcomb's ski and snow boarding slopes are Olympic-class. Wondering how a snow resort can turn green? Read on...

• Are you a water person? Sea kayak with whales off the coast of Vancouver.
• Into winter sports? Swoosh through Olympic-class snow and trails at Whistler and Blackcomb.
• Are culture and art more your tempo? Immerse yourself in the heritage and arts of the First Nations and Founding Peoples.
Not to mention spectacular food, scenery and people everywhere from the cities to the wilds. Want to explore more? Let's investigate some of the gems British Columbia ecotourism has to offer.

Yearning to Breathe Free?

Forming the western boundary, the Pacific waters off the British Columbia coastline are a popular destination for sea kayaking. With over 6,000 islands off the province's coast, kayaking through them alongside Orca whales is a magical experience. Sharks and giant octopus call the waters off BC home as well, making it popular with scuba divers.

Inland, more than 4% of British Columbia is covered in fresh water lakes, rivers and streams, drawing fishermen, hikers and boaters from around the world. Oddly enough, Canada's only desert area is in British Columbia as well.

But perhaps what most ecotravelers associate with British Columbia are its forests and mountains. Over 60% of the province is forested and home to some of the largest populations of moose, Grizzly and Black bears in the world. The Rocky Mountains and several other mountain ranges take up roughly 75% of the terrain in BC, creating ample opportunities to enjoy world-class and, in 2010, Olympic-class skiing and snowboarding.

Green AND Green-Minded:
Eco Facilities Flourish in BC Paradise

Let's look at the Whistler/Blackcomb ski resort as an example. Whistler, a luxury ski resort and home to the 2010 Winter Olympics, is committed to being green. Often when a luxury resort "goes green" it installs energy-saving lightbulbs and gives guests options not to have their linens washed every day--not exactly an ecotourism poster child. But according to their press information, Whistler is putting their eco-actions behind their eco-words.

• With the purchase of fleet vehicles for employee carpooling, low-emission snowmobiles, hybrid pick-up trucks, retrofititng buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reducing energy use and installing a river turbine, they have drastically reduced energy consumpton and waste emissions.

• Through recycling, reducing, reusing and composting tons of organics they have reduced the amount of waste going to the landfill by more than 60%.

• Part of Whistler's magical appeal is the pristine mountain habitiat for flora and fauna. To preserve habitats and their beauty for the wild residents and the human visitors, biologists, bear specialists and foresters engineered ways to reduce the resort's footprint from 40% to 5%.

• Whistler's water quality and water conservation are held to high standards. Filtration systems are reducing and eliminating the use of bottled water, which saves in transportation and packaging. Low-flush toilets and waterless urinals are being installed in various places. And enhancements to snow-making equipment save energy and resources by eliminating leak and sediment issues.

Booking a trip to experience British Columbia Ecotourism? Check out Travel Photo Tips to capture all the stunning scenery.