British Columbia

==Outdoor life and athletics==
[[File:Whistler ice sailor.jpg|thumb|Ice sailing in [[Whistler, British Columbia|Whistler]]]]
[[File:Holland Point Shoreline Trail, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 05.jpg|thumb|Shoreline Trail in Victoria]]
Given its varied mountainous terrain and its coasts, lakes, rivers, and forests, British Columbia has long been enjoyed for pursuits like hiking and camping, [[rock climbing]] and mountaineering, [[hunting]] and [[fishing]].

Water sports, both motorized and non-motorized, are enjoyed in many places. [[Sea kayak]]ing opportunities abound on the British Columbia coast with its [[fjord]]s. [[Whitewater rafting]] and [[kayak]]ing are popular on many inland rivers. [[Sailing]] and [[Windsurfing|sailboarding]] are widely enjoyed.

In winter, [[Cross-country skiing|cross-country]] and [[telemark skiing]] are much enjoyed, and in recent decades high-quality [[Alpine skiing|downhill]] [[skiing]] has been developed in the Coast Mountain range and the Rockies, as well as in the southern areas of the Shuswap Highlands and the [[Columbia Mountains]]. [[Snowboarding]] has mushroomed in popularity since the early 1990s. The [[2010 Winter Olympics]] downhill events were held in [[Whistler Blackcomb]] area of the province, while the indoor events were conducted in the Vancouver area.

In Vancouver and Victoria (as well as some other cities), opportunities for [[jogging|joggers]] and bicyclists have been developed. Cross-country bike touring has been popular since the [[Bicycle gearing|ten-speed]] bike became available many years ago. Since the advent of the more robust [[mountain bike]], trails in more rugged and wild places have been developed for them. A 2016 poll on global biking website Pinkbike rated BC as the top destination mountain bikers would like to ride.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Felton |first=Vernon |date=August 26, 2016 |title=Where would you go, if you could road trip anywhere? – Pinkbike Poll |work=Pinkbike |url=https://www.pinkbike.com/news/where-would-you-go-if-you-could-road-trip-anywhere-pinkbike-poll-2016.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303045620/https://www.pinkbike.com/news/where-would-you-go-if-you-could-road-trip-anywhere-pinkbike-poll-2016.html |archive-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref> Some of the province's retired rail beds have been converted and maintained for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. [[Longboarding]] is also a popular activity because of the hilly geography of the region.

[[Equestrianism|Horseback riding]] is enjoyed by many British Columbians. Opportunities for [[trail riding]], often into especially scenic areas, have been established for tourists in numerous areas of the province.

British Columbia also has strong participation levels in many other sports, including [[golf]], [[tennis]], [[Association football|soccer]], [[ice hockey|hockey]], [[Canadian football]], [[rugby union]], [[lacrosse]], [[baseball]], [[softball]], [[basketball]], [[curling]], [[disc golf]], [[Ultimate Canada|Ultimate]] and [[figure skating]]. British Columbia has produced many outstanding athletes, especially in aquatic and [[winter sports]].

Consistent with both increased tourism and increased participation in diverse recreations by British Columbians has been the proliferation of [[Resort hotel|lodges]], [[chalet]]s, [[bed and breakfast]]s, motels, hotels, fishing camps, and park-camping facilities in recent decades.

In certain areas, there are businesses, non-profit societies, or municipal governments dedicated to promoting [[ecotourism]] in their region. A number of British Columbia farmers offer visitors to combine tourism with farm work, for example, through the [[WWOOF]] Canada program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwoof.ca/|title=WWOOF Canada|website=wwoof.ca|access-date=April 11, 2020|archive-date=April 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412231039/https://wwoof.ca/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Sports===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of sport teams in British Columbia
|-
! Team !! City !! League 
!Stadium/arena
|-
|[[Abbotsford Canucks]]|| [[Abbotsford, British Columbia|Abbotsford]]|| [[American Hockey League]]
|[[Abbotsford Centre]]
|-
| [[BC Lions]]|| [[Vancouver]]|| [[Canadian Football League]]
|[[BC Place]]
|-
|[[BC Thunder]]
|[[Richmond, British Columbia|Richmond]]
|[[National Ringette League]]
|Richmond Ice Centre
|-
|[[Kamloops Blazers]]|| [[Kamloops]]|| [[Canadian Hockey League]]
|[[Sandman Centre]]
|-
|[[Kelowna Rockets]]|| [[Kelowna]]|| Canadian Hockey League
|[[Prospera Place]]
|-
|[[Pacific FC]] || [[Langford, British Columbia|Langford]] || [[Canadian Premier League]]
|[[Starlight Stadium]]
|-
|[[Prince George Cougars]]|| [[Prince George, British Columbia|Prince George]]|| Canadian Hockey League
|[[CN Centre]]
|-
|[[Vancouver Bandits]]|| [[Township of Langley|Langley]]|| [[Canadian Elite Basketball League]]
|[[Langley Events Centre]]
|-
|[[Vancouver Canucks]]|| Vancouver|| [[National Hockey League]]
|[[Rogers Arena]]
|-
|[[Vancouver FC]] || Langley || Canadian Premier League
|[[Willoughby Community Park Stadium]]
|-
|[[Vancouver Giants]] || Langley || Canadian Hockey League
|Langley Events Centre
|-
|[[Vancouver Warriors]] || Vancouver || [[National Lacrosse League]]
|Rogers Arena
|-
|[[Vancouver Whitecaps]] || Vancouver || [[Major League Soccer]]
|BC Place
|-
|[[Victoria Royals]] || [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]] || Canadian Hockey League
|[[Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre]]
|}
{{Further|List of professional sports teams in British Columbia}}