Where to start?!!

BC Ferries has its problems, but most of their routes from the Vancouver terminals offer quite spectacular scenery - a 2 hour mini-cruise from the mainland to Vancouver Island. Try to avoid summer weekends if you can though.

Are you renting a car? The drive from Vancouver to Whistler is quite dramatic. Stop in Squamish for a snack and a look around local art galleries. The eagles are a must see in the winter.

Gardens: Butchart Gardens, north of Victoria. Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver.

Parks: Stanley Park is a definite - rent bikes or rollerblades and go round the seawall. Pacific Spirit Park near UBC. Great views from the Dallas Road cliffs, Beacon Hill Park in Victoria.

Golf: Victoria Golf Club - Pebble Beach worthy views.

Sea Kayaking - a very BC thing to do, whether in the Gulf Islands, False Creek, or Victoria Harbour. Lots of outfitters offering courses/rentals/tours.

Museums: Anthropology Museum at UBC. Royal BC Museum in Victoria.

Missing SoCal?: beach volleyball at Kitsilano Beach (then cool off with a dip in the outdoor pool or a swim in the ocean), people watching on the Stanley Park beaches.

Restaurants - too many to name.

That's a very brief start - there's so much more, and this is making me miss BC very much!