There are road trips—and then there’s Rainforest to Rockies. This epic cross-province journey through British Columbia isn’t just one of the most breathtaking ways to explore the west coast; it’s also a true feast for the senses, and perhaps the most delicious adventure you’ll take this year. Imagine meandering from the wild Pacific Ocean, through lush rainforest and fertile farmland, all the way to the dramatic peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Now add in seasonal farm-to-table meals, glasses of terroir-driven wine, and the warmth of local producers inviting you to taste, sip, and stay awhile. That’s Rainforest to Rockies—an edible odyssey across one of Canada’s most abundant landscapes.
The journey begins near sea level, often starting in Vancouver and winding through regions that transform with every hour on the road. Up the Sea-to-Sky Highway, the salty ocean breeze gives way to misty mountains and canyon-carved valleys. In Squamish, a town known more for rock climbing than dim sum, travellers will find Slow Rise Bakery—a charming outdoor café that puts a Hong Kong-inspired twist on farm-fresh ingredients. Here, pillowy buns filled with pineapple or coconut meet savoury dumplings made with unexpected ingredients like jicama and black fungus, all washed down with rich milk tea. Nearby, the buzz of Bee Wild Paradise Valley Farm is literal: it’s a haven for pollinators, where visitors don protective suits, peek into hives, and sample raw, unpasteurized honey kissed by the flowers of the valley.
As the road climbs, so too does the sense of discovery. Lillooet, once a gold rush hub, is now home to a blossoming wine scene and rich Indigenous history. At Xwísten Experience Tours, guests are invited to walk the salmon fishing grounds still used by the St’át’imc People and explore an archaeological site before sitting down to a salmon barbecue served with bannock and whipped berries. The connection between land, people, and food is unmistakable—and unforgettable.
Agriculture thrives across the Harrison River Valley, where the self-guided Circle Farm Tour offers a meandering taste of the region’s offerings. There’s lavender lemonade at Harrison Lavender, cider tastings at farm-based Cedar Cider, and crates overflowing with produce at Wells Farm Market. At day’s end, rustic-luxe accommodations like Bramblebank Cottages feel tailor-made for lingering over the day’s bounty.
Further inland, the Trans-Canada Highway unfurls like a ribbon through dramatic canyon country, sweeping forests, and lively interior cities. In Kamloops, the community-run Sweláps Market celebrates local and Indigenous foodways, bringing together fresh produce and traditional knowledge in one beautifully curated space. Continuing east, in Vernon, Cambium Cider Co. has become a destination in its own right. Set in an organic orchard, this cidery serves up dry, complex ciders alongside hearty, seasonal fare. Think seafood chowder, wood-fired beets, and the kind of margarita pizza you dream about long after the road trip ends.
For wine lovers, the Kamloops Wine Trail offers sweeping vineyard views and valley sunsets to pair with every pour, while West Kelowna’s iconic Mission Hill Winery blends old-world techniques with cutting-edge sustainability practices. If you time it right, you may find yourself attending one of their open-air summer concerts, glass in hand, as the notes of Jann Arden or Blue Rodeo echo through the vines. Just down the road, Quails Gate’s legendary Old Vines Restaurant is raising a toast to 25 years of seasonally inspired excellence—an ideal excuse, if you need one, to book an overnight stay at their Lake House or Nest guest homes.
But the journey doesn’t stop there. Take the southern Crowsnest Highway through Canada’s only true desert and into the heart of BC’s agricultural goldmine. In the Similkameen Valley, Keremeos lives up to its reputation as the Fruit Stand Capital of Canada. At places like Dave’s Farm Fresh Fruits and Veggies or Gerry’s Fruit and Veg, colourful pyramids of pears, plums, and tomatoes dazzle like edible art installations. Just beyond, Cawston reveals its hidden identity as the Organic Farming Capital of Canada. Klippers Organic Acres, a 60-acre property with a restaurant, marketplace, and cidery, is where chef Brandon Frederick recently returned to helm the Row Fourteen kitchen—bringing with him culinary chops honed at some of Vancouver’s most respected restaurants. His menu is a love letter to the land, plated with reverence and creativity.
In the Kootenays, River Valley Ranch stands as a beacon of sustainable living, where guests can spend the night on a working biodynamic farm, cast a line in the river, and sip coffee with a curious family of Highland cows. Creston’s Honey Bee Zen rounds out the flavour map with wildflower honey harvested from the slopes of the Selkirk and Purcell mountains. Owned by beekeepers Amanda and Jeff Lee, the award-winning operation proves that honey is more than a sweetener—it’s a story of care, ecology, and love for the land.
Wine country continues to impress, especially in Cawston’s Orofino Vineyards. The solar-powered estate, set against a backdrop of mountains and vines, invites overnight guests to sleep surrounded by the very terroir they’ve tasted. Meanwhile, in Osoyoos, Nk’mip Cellars—North America’s first Indigenous-owned winery—offers a powerful and delicious window into Okanagan Syilx culture. Every glass and every dish at their restaurant, Sweetgrass, tells a story of land, history, and resilience.
What makes Rainforest to Rockies so unforgettable isn’t just the scenery—it’s the people and the places that feed you along the way. It’s the farmer handing you a sun-warmed peach. The vintner explaining how the soil shapes the Syrah. The chef who left the city to cook where his ingredients grow. Every stop on the route is a reminder that food tastes better when it’s rooted in place—and when we take the time to savour it.
For anyone hungry for connection, culture, and a deeper understanding of BC’s edible landscape, this journey offers all that and more. Rainforest to Rockies isn’t just a road trip—it’s a pilgrimage of flavour, a toast to sustainability, and a reminder that the best meals are shared with the land that makes them possible. —Vita Daily
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