A historic destination in British Columbia will soon be home to a new heritage and tourism initiative that caught the eye of a prestigious publication.
BBC Travel, which covers topics from around the globe, recently revealed its 20 best places to travel in 2026, and the Slocan Valley in B.C.’s West Kootenay region is the only Canadian spot to make the list.
According to BBC, while Slocan Valley is renowned amongst travellers for its “raw, rugged beauty,” it was a new trail spotlighting one of Canada’s darkest chapters that makes it a must-visit stop in the year to come.
Japanese Canadian Legacy Trail
“In 2026, the Japanese Canadian Legacy Trail – a self-guided route honouring those forcibly uprooted and confined here during World War Two – will add deeper meaning to that landscape,” wrote Diane Selkirk for BBC.
“Between 1942 and 1946, more than 22,000 Japanese Canadians were displaced from coastal communities and sent inland to hastily built internment sites in farmers’ fields and abandoned mining towns such as Sandon in the Slocan Valley.
“Despite the hardships – the loss of homes, livelihoods and community – the internees built schools, gardens, cultural spaces and support networks. Their children and grandchildren would later contribute profoundly to Canada’s civic, artistic and academic life.”
Each stop in locations like New Denver, Sandon, and Slocan will offer a unique perspective on internment, resistance, and recovery.
Japanese Canadian Legacy Trail
“The Japanese Canadian Legacy Trail is designed to complement existing institutions such as the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre, adding narrative depth and geographical context to the broader story of Japanese Canadian history,” explains the trail’s website.
“Together, these efforts aim to preserve memory, promote cultural awareness, and inspire meaningful travel rooted in learning and empathy.”
The self-guided tour stretches for 60 km and will be accessible by vehicle, bicycle, or on foot. Along the B.C. destination trail, visitors will discover memorial gardens, museums, a memorial garden, a lakeside internment site, and exhibits developed in collaboration with Japanese Canadian families.
Japanese Canadian Legacy Trail
“Between stops, travellers can pause at farm-to-table cafes, paddle the still waters of Slocan Lake, browse craft studios, take a dip in a hot spring or practise shinrin-yoku in old-growth forest,” added BBC.
Slocan Valley isn’t the only B.C. destination to receive recommendations for world travellers in 2026.
Lonely Planet, which covers the world’s “most extraordinary places and experiences,” recently revealed that the province is one of the 25 must-visit destinations for the year to come.
Four B.C. destinations were also named top travel spots for Canadians this winter, including Vancouver and Whistler.
See the full BBC list of the 20 best places to travel in 2026 online.