After flying into Vancouver International Airport and picking up your rental car, stop for lunch on Granville Island before catching a ferry to Vancouver Island. Given British Columbia’s long coastline, seafood and shellfish feature on almost every menu. Have lunch at the Vancouver Fish Company, a waterfront restaurant overlooking the marina. An absolute must-order here is the maple-walnut prawns. Though this eatery is conveniently located near Granville Island’s popular Public Market, it has somehow escaped the attention of most tourists.

After lunch, head down to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, a 40-minute drive south of Granville Island. The Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay ferry takes travelers and their vehicles directly to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. Ferries run every other hour. On the 95-minute trip, the boat glides through Active Pass, a picturesque strait separating Galiano and Mayne islands. Because the strait is narrow, the ferry gets very close to the shore. Orcas are sometimes seen.

From the Swartz Bay terminal, drive 20 minutes southwest to Brentwood Bay Resort. While not a Harper-recommended hotel, it is still a superb place to relax. This secluded waterfront hotel is nestled in a serene bay on the west coast of the forested Saanich Peninsula, and all 36 guest accommodations offer water views. Spend time soaking in the hot tub and revel in the magnificent surrounding scenery. Book a reservation for dinner in advance at the exemplary restaurant at the world-renowned Butchart Gardens nearby, as Brentwood Bay’s restaurant has its limitations.

Start out early to explore Butchart Gardens’ spectacular displays of flowers. This park draws nearly 1 million visitors each year, so it is a good idea to arrive at opening time. Not to be missed is the incredible Sunken Garden, which is located in what was the pit of the estate’s former limestone quarry. The Japanese Garden is also remarkable and leads to Butchart Cove, where boat tours are offered. If you are traveling with children, the historic Rose Carousel is sure to keep them entertained.

After exploring the estate, drive 25 minutes south to the province’s capital, Victoria, famous for its mild climate. A surge of immigrants to the city was initially driven by British Columbia’s first gold rush in 1848, and then heightened by the discovery of its coal seams not long after. Explore the waterfront of the scenic Inner Harbour, which lies at the heart of the city.

The following day visit notable sites in Victoria such as the Royal BC Museum, which offers a vibrant depiction of the First Nations culture, rituals and daily lives, and the Emily Carr House. Carr was a writer, painter and environmentalist who was way ahead of her time. Exploring her childhood home provides a vivid sense of what life was like in the late 1800s. Afterwards, visit Craigdarroch Castle. Some of the most spectacular views of the city, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the snowcapped Olympic Mountains can be enjoyed from the castle’s circular tower.

In the evenings, dine in Victoria before heading back to your hotel. Agrius is a fine option for seasonally inspired cuisine, as is the upscale restaurant in the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

Though leaving the calm of Brentwood Bay may be a wrench, the next property, Villa Eyrie Resort, is even more relaxing and offers magnificent vistas of the Saanich Inlet and Mount Baker. The drive to the resort provides spectacular views. At every turn, the rich greens of the forests and the cerulean waters dotted with boats are simply jaw-dropping. Villa Eyrie, encompassing just 38 rooms within three Mediterranean-style villas, boasts gourmet cuisine and is staffed by sincere and professional employees. It is the definition of a hideaway.

During your three-night stay, you can be as lazy or as active as you want. You could spend your days soaking in the scenery or enjoying a spa treatment. For those keen to be more active, the concierge is happy to organize sea kayaking, mountain biking, whale watching, horseback riding and fishing excursions. Fine hiking trails are located nearby. Not far away is the impressive Kinsol Trestle, one of the tallest free-standing timber trestle structures in the world. Nestled within the forests of Shawnigan Lake in the Cowichan Valley, it is a historically significant relic of the region’s industrial past. It is open to cyclists, hikers and equestrians. The complex latticework, wide deck and impressive canyon vistas are extremely dramatic.

You could also spend an afternoon touring the wineries in the Cowichan Valley. Dubbed the “Napa of the North,” the valley is currently home to 14 wineries. Our favorite wineries were Vigneti Zanatta, Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Unsworth Vineyards. We had a wonderful time dining at restaurants tucked within wineries, as well as at charming waterfront cafés overlooking Cowichan Bay.

Today, take a ferry back to downtown Vancouver. Snag seats at the stern of the ferry so that you can watch the island’s striking landscape recede. From the Tsawwassen terminal, drive 45 minutes north to the Loden Hotel, a 77-room property ideally located in upmarket Coal Harbour, just a short walk to the city’s seawall.

The following day, meander along the seawall and through Stanley Park. Not to be missed in the park are the First Nations totem poles at Brockton Point and Prospect Point for spectacular views of North Shore with snowcapped mountains behind. If you are traveling with children, the Vancouver Aquarium offers hands-on experiences with walruses, Wet Lab exploration classes and interactions with the aquarium’s penguin trainers. For lunch, opt for casual Cardero’s, a restaurant specializing in regional classics. Set in the harbor above the yachts in the marina, Cardero’s serves incredibly fresh seafood that has been thoughtfully prepared.

Vancouver is stocked with excellent museums. Today, visit the Museum of Anthropology and the Vancouver Art Gallery. If you wish to spend time shopping, suggested boutiques include Hill’s Native Art for carvings and prints by local artisans, Birks for fine jewelry, Banyen Books & Sound and the delightful gallery housed within Skwachàys Lodge.

During your stay you may wish to try any number of wonderful Vancouver restaurants, including David Hawksworth’s Nightingale for Mediterranean-inspired shared plates. We also recommend cocktail bars like the Diamond in Gastown and the Bacchus piano lounge in the Hideaway Report-recommended Wedgewood Hotel & Spa.

After a leisurely breakfast at the Loden Hotel, head to the airport for your flight home.