March is the ideal time to slow down and celebrate all things B.C. and mark our province’s 150th birthday and the 200th Anniversary of Simon Fraser’s and David Thompson’s journeys of exploration.

Victoria and Vancouver are overflowing with history, exhibits, and celebrations, some happening this month and others ongoing throughout the year. Visit www.bc150.gov.bc.ca/bc150.aspx for details.

If you’ve got kids, devote spring break to them and discover B.C.’s past together. No offspring? Then take time to reconnect with that certain someone while digging into our province’s eventful past. It’s as easy as booking into one of our Vancouver or Victoria properties—most are centrally located—parking the car, and exploring on foot. And we’ve sweetened the pot with a $20.08 discount coupon to put towards your stay.

In Victoria (a city since 1862 and provincial capital since 1871), it’s an easy stroll from your hotel to the Royal B.C. Museum that showcases our history through fascinating exhibits and ongoing events. Visit nearby Bastion Square, the original site of Fort Victoria (est. 1843) and one-time site of executions. Some claim to see the ghosts to this day. Nearby, Market Square was once home to opium dens and houses of prostitution. Charming Chinatown, Canada’s oldest, oozes history—take a walking tour for all the dirt.

In Vancouver, a visit to the Vancouver Museum is a must. The city’s past comes alive through cultural exhibits, aboriginal art, and centuries of stories. Nearby the Maritime Museum displays historic ships and antique nautical charts that bring centuries of seafaring discovery to life. More? A trip to nearby historic Fort Langley, B.C.’s birthplace, will enlighten and intrigue children and adults alike (www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/langley/index_e.asp).