All Canada British Columbia

The Atlas Obscura Guide To British Columbia

135 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in British Columbia

Updated December 9, 2024

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  1. Comox Strathcona K
  2. Duncan
  3. Field
  4. Greenwood
  5. Hope
  6. Maple Ridge
  7. North Vancouver
  8. Osoyoos
  9. Port Renfrew
  10. Qualicum Beach
  11. Radium Hot Springs
  12. Richmond
  13. Surrey
  14. Tlell
  15. Vancouver
  16. Victoria
  17. Whistler

Unusual Attractions in British Columbia

See All 135 Things To Do in British Columbia

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Architecture 20
Architectural Oddities 13
Plants 11
Trees 10
Animals 10
Museums 9
Art 8
Abandoned 8

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Stories About British Columbia

In British Columbia, Dead Salmon Make for Happy Butterflies and Bees

Researchers hauled bins of fish carcasses through bear country to learn how salmon affects plants and pollinators.
by Suzie Hodges
Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation's Gitdisdzu Lugyeks Marine Protected Area (MPA) was recently awarded a coveted "blue park" status by a renowned international ocean conservation group.

Canada's First Blue Park Is a Stunning Showcase of Marine Stewardship

British Columbia's Kitasu Bay is the first Indigenous-protected marine park in the world.
by Rochelle Baker

New Clues Emerge About the Fluffy Dogs Once Bred for Their Wool

The story of these distinctive doggos is emerging from ancestral knowledge of the Coast Salish peoples and a new genetic study of the pelt of a pup named Mutton.
by Roxanne Hoorn
A young spirit bear, part of a genetically unique population found only in Great Bear Rainforest on British Columbia's central coast, is one of many animals First Nations coastal guardians work to protect.

On the Coast of British Columbia, Ancient Stewardship Gets a Modern Spin

From tracking rare spirit bears to responding to disasters, First Nations coastal guardians are on watch.
by Ashley Stimpson
The author, right, and slime mold expert Pam Janszen add water to Triquetrella californica and watch the desiccated moss rehydrate and unfurl.

One Island's Effort to Count Every Species, and Make Every Species Count

Scientists, residents, and visitors have banded together for a massive biodiversity survey of British Columbia's Galiano Island.
by Marina Wang
The nose knows when invasive species are present, thanks to dogs' innate superpowers of scent and extensive training.

Meet the Dog With a Nose for Keeping British Columbia Free of Invasive Mussels

Destructive mollusks threaten the Canadian province's waterways but K9 Kilo and his handler are on the case.
by Marc Fawcett-Atkinson

How Radar Is Helping Track Down Lost Indigenous Gravesites

It's getting easier to find potential remains non-invasively—but that's just one step in a long and painful process.
by Diane Peters
Maternal pens for cows and calves—and human guardians who watch over them 24/7—are a key part of an Indigenous-led conservation effort to save caribou in British Columbia.

How Indigenous-Led Conservation Brought a Caribou Herd Back From the Brink

An innovative collaboration between two British Columbia First Nations protects the most vulnerable animals.
by Ashley Stimpson

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