Traveling to Canada.....places to stay?

We are planning a trip and were looking in the area of Vancouver. However, we are wanting to get away and not stay in a large city, but be close to one. We dont have to stay in Vancouver, but are open to any place. We want to stay in a private cabin....with privacy, and a great view. The ideal location would be small town, within a few hours from a large city, great mountain views, etc. Any points of interest would be great!

Try the ski lodges, that would probably fit the bill.

You Know, I'm really going to refer you to a cottage selection site; see links below.

For cottages, I suggest you look at Bowen Island, Vancouver Island, and Sunshine Coast. Be aware that the ferries can have long wait times, so plan.

Unfortunately you are not mentioning when you are planning to travel, as that really changes everything.

When coming in Winter, for the snow: you don't have to go as far as Whistler -- Cyprus is absolutely gorgeous (I was there today) . It's fun ski-ing, or even just walking around in Winter Wonderland.

When coming in Winter, for the water: you'll find that there are microclimates. Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast have some sunnier sites.