Vancouver, a bustling west coast seaport in British Columbia, is among Canada’s densest, most ethnically diverse cities. A popular filming location, it’s surrounded by mountains, and also has thriving art, theatre and music scenes. Vancouver Art Gallery is known for its works by regional artists, while the Museum of Anthropology houses preeminent First Nations collections.

Victoria exudes old-world charm and fragrant, colorful flowers are everywhere. Founded in 1843 by James Douglas of the Hudson’s Bay Company, the city was first known as Fort Victoria. By 1848, Vancouver Island was a British colony and Victoria was its capital.

In 1858, Victoria was a tent city and the base for some 25,000 prospectors on their way to the Frasier River gold fields. When Vancouver Island was incorporated with mainland British Columbia in 1868, Victoria became the capital of the entire province.

Although it’s a port city, Victoria is not as industrially oriented as Vancouver. The harbors, especially Inner Harbour, are dotted with pleasure craft, ferries and floatplanes. The city is renowned for its beautiful gardens, charming houses and very British feel.

As the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies, Astoria offers a rich history for your exploration. It was first visited by Captain Robert Gray in 1792, by the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery in 1805, then adventuresome pioneers by the thousands. Now its your turn to experience the excitement of exploring Astoria.

Within a 20 mile radius, one can see dozens of exciting attractions including Fort Stevens State Park, Fort Astoria, Heritage Center Museum, Flavel House Museum, Uppertown Fire Fighters Museum, Astoria Column and the Columbia River Maritime Museum, home to one of the nation’s finest displays of model ships and nautical artifacts.

Astoria offers other fun discoveries, such as historic Victorian homes and the beautiful 4.1 mile-long Astoria Bridge.

Los Angeles is a huge metropolis with Hispanic roots and Hollywood glam. San Pedro serves as the port of Los Angeles and the gateway to the numerous neighborhoods and districts of “L.A.” waiting to be explored. You can find restaurants, shopping and museums — all of world-class caliber. Plus, parks, hiking trails and walking tours, too. And beaches? There’s a whole coastline of choices — from Redondo and Santa Monica to the shores of Malibu.