Come with me to Mel’s cabin and Jack’s Bar

The real Virgin River is near Vancouver, British Columbia

By Chris Worthy

British Columbia, Canada is known as “Hollywood North” for good reason. Whether you know it or not, you’ve probably seen it for decades in movies and TV. It has doubled for other worlds, beachfront towns, (US) national parks, and all sorts of spots in between — even Florida a few times, with varying degrees of success, depending upon whether or not a snow-capped mountain was able to sneak into a shot.

With sincere apologies to the author of the Virgin River book series, I haven’t read one word of the books. I’m sure they’re wonderful, and typically I’m a book-over-movie/show person, but here we are. Don’t hold it against me.

In any event, we started watching the Virgin River Netflix series during the covid times, knowing that we were planning to visit British Columbia. The show is exactly the escapism we needed, and the setting could not possibly be more beautiful. It’s not TV magic – it really is that gorgeous at every turn. Driving just a few minutes from the center of beautiful Vancouver, you can experience mountains and beaches and rainforests and rivers. It’s a mossy, deep green, vast sky dream. Head north for the cabin and a bit up the Sea to Sky Highway toward Squamish for the river. You won’t be disappointed.

The Squamish River is just minutes from the Sea to Sky Highway, about 45 minutes north of Vancouver. It is exponentially more beautiful in person. This is a quick shot from my phone - no set designer could dream up anything more perfect.

If you’re tuning in for the seventh season today, I highly recommend adding BC to your travel list. It turns out that the real romance here is falling in love with a place.

Great places to start planning your trip:

Vancouver’s North Shore

Destination Vancouver

Explore Squamish

“Jack’s Bar” is really The Watershed Grill. The food here is really top-notch and would be memorable on its own, but the view makes it a one-of-a-kind experience.

The Murdo Frazer Cabin has been used for TV and film productions for years, including The X-Files. Would you believe me if I told you it is right in the middle of everything? Just walk past the pickleball courts (true story!) that are at the same District of North Vancouver park. Every inch of the property is achingly beautiful.

The pond really is just behind the cabin.

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