Whenever I get lost in Vancouver, all I have to do is look for the mountains and at least I know where north is. The peaks are gorgeous at any time of the year, during any season, but they also function as a natural guidepost, an aide memoire of sorts.

They remind me that outside this metropolis of shiny skyscrapers, Olympic villages and aboriginal art galleries, this lovely place where the Fairmont Hotels make honey from proprietary beehives and pro soccer matches are broadcast in Punjabi—outside all of this, a veritable smattering of excursions exist for anyone who wants to temporarily recede from the urban landscape. Whether in the immediate vicinity or farther outside Vancouver proper, digressions from the city abound.

Bowen Island (25 km from Vancouver)

A 20-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, Bowen Island subsists as a popular outdoorsy picnicking getaway. Beaches, biking, art galleries, trails and forested retreats characterize this somewhat affluent island of 3,500 inhabitants, many of whom are artists. Even though the landscape is rural, locals, tourists and wandering backpackers seem to always find something worth visiting here. People arrive to purchase art, stay for the night or trip through the forest. Art festivals take place all year and the island is popular for film shoots.

Also check out: Artisan Eats (539 Artisan Lane) is a relatively new restaurant that lives up to its name. Everything is made from scratch. Lodge at the Old Dorm (460 Melmore Road) has six art-deco rooms for less than USD120.

Steveston Village (30 km from Vancouver)

Al fresco dining at the Steveston Boardwalk.

Built for the 2010 Winter Games, the Canada Line now goes from downtown Vancouver all the way to Richmond, an epicenter of authentic Asian shopping, culture and culinary delights. At the southwestern corner of Richmond sits the historical fishing village of Steveston, famous for seafood, colorful local characters and remnants of the canning industry. A fully functioning fishing village forms the backdrop to this intriguing hamlet right where the Fraser River dumps into the Pacific Ocean. A guided tour of the old Gulf of Georgia Cannery, once British Columbia’s largest producer of canned salmon, illuminates the entire operation of a cannery.

Also check out: Steveston Hotel (12111 3rd Ave., Richmond) and  Britannia Shipyard (5180 Westwater Drive, Richmond) is a national historic site with heritage buildings.

Harrison Hot Springs Resort (120 km from Vancouver)

Resembling a European spa resort community, Harrison includes not just the hot spring, but also a menagerie of outdoor activities like agritourism, waterskiing and corporate team building. The village straddles the southern edge of Harrison Lake with a postcard view of the mountain peaks behind it. The hot springs take advantage of the unique mineral content of British Columbia soil, which the Salish First Nations once used for various remedies. Today, the minerals bring in celebrities and royalty who arrive for rejuvenating treatments.

Also check out: Harrison Resort Hotel has 337 rooms and suites scattered throughout different regions of the entire property. It offers a wide range of vacation packages. Kilby Historic Site (215 Kilby Rd, Harrison Mills) is a great place to explore and/or research histories of the Fraser Valley, with its museum, general store, restaurants and camping areas.

Penticton (250 km from Vancouver)

Sandwiched by two lakes in the middle of the Okanagan wine country and situated on the deltas of three creeks, Penticton’s location is paramount to its existence. Over 80 wineries are within driving distance, the beaches are relaxing, and artists emerge from underneath every rock and pebble. It began a century ago as a tiny fruit-bearing village, but today the laidback town functions as a central stopping point for wine tasting treks.

Also check out: Penticton Lakeside Resort and Casino (21 Lakeshore Drive) on  the shores of Okanagan Lake is popular among vacationers, wine drinkers, corporate conferences. It has 203 rooms with balconies and stunning views. Lost Moose Lodge Resort (2301 Beaverdell Road, Penticton) is located in the foothills, away from the tourist throngs. It offers camping and B&B lodging with a fine-dining restaurant and local wine list.

Haida Gwaii (Daily two-hour flights from Vancouver)

With the wilderness of Haida Gwaii as the background, marvel at the groups of totem poles displayed at the Ninstints village.

Sometimes known as the Galapagos of Canada, this remote archipelago was renamed Haida Gwaii in 2009 as part of a historic reconciliation agreement with the Haida First Nations people. A secluded mystical atmosphere blankets the place. Although only a few small villages and towns comprise the area, the destination is common for sport fishing, rainforest adventures and wildlife expeditions. This is the westernmost part of Canada, and it will give you a sense of being at the edge of the world.

Also check out: Sea Raven Inn is a pet-friendly hotel that is walking distance to all the local facilities and activities.  Haida Heritage Center (Skidgate, Haida Gwaii) is an award-winning aboriginal cultural tourism site featuring galleries, a trading house, a greeting house, a restaurant and a performance space. The Haida Gwaii Art Route Tour is summed up in a 28-page brochure that details the work of several local artisans throughout the islands, as well as where to find them.