If you’re looking for a relaxing seaside getaway, the Sunshine Coast checks all the boxes: long stretches of beach, expansive ocean vistas, and nautical-themed cottages. But there’s more to experience than just quintessentially West Coast scenery. Venture through these coastal towns and you’ll uncover a budding food and drink scene, quaint boutiques, a vibrant arts community, and incredible outdoor adventures along the way.
The area is made up of a north and south coast, connected by a fifty-minute BC Ferries trip from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay. Depending on your preferred style of travel, three days is enough time to explore one, the other, or both. Just keep in mind that the Sunshine Coast is all about slowing down and relaxing, so plan a mid-week excursion to make the most of your time there. Here are a few three-day getaway ideas on the Sunshine Coast, so you can choose how you’d like to explore.
From the Langdale Ferry Terminal, your first stop is Persephone Brewing Company. Here you can taste award-winning craft beer—some of it made with hops grown on-site. Gibsons also boasts two more breweries: Gibsons Tapworks and The 101 Brewhouse and Distillery, as well as the new Sunday Cider. Head to nearby Gibsons Landing to browse the local shops— including the Gibsons Public Market—and check out Molly’s Reach, famous for being the star location on CBC’s longest running Canadian drama, The Beachcombers. Lower Gibsons has a growing list of culinary gems including: The Drift Café and Bistro, Buono Osteria, Smitty’s Oyster House, and Lunitas Mexican Eatery.
Head up the coast to Roberts Creek for a gentle stroll along the pier, or on the trails in Cliff Gilker Park or Mount Elphinstone Provincial Park. If you brought your mountain bike, this is a great place to hit the local trails. The fast, flowy Mach Chicken trail is one of the area’s most well-known and sought after rides. Post-hike (or bike), settle into The Gumboot Restaurant for a locally sourced meal on their sunny garden patio.
Further north, Sechelt is home to great beaches for relaxation. There are a number of beach access points along the oceanside roads around town, and Porpoise Bay Provincial Park boasts views up the Sechelt Inlet. The Coast Gravity Park—a nearby shuttle-serviced bike park—is the perfect adrenaline fix for gravity junkies. If you don’t have your own bike, rentals are available from Off The Edge Adventure Sports in Sechelt. The Sunshine Coast has some of BC’s best year-round mountain biking, with more than 300 trails to explore.
For an elevated adventure, try craft brews and sky-high views when you explore the FLIGHTS to FLIGHTS Ale and Air Tour, a partnership between Sunshine Coast Air and Sunshine Coast Art Tours. While you’re in town, you’ll definitely want to sample Sechelt’s burgeoning culinary scene with a visit to Batch 44 Brewery and Kitchen, ElSegundo Restaurant, or The Bricker Cider Company.
Siyaya Reconciliation Community Totem Pole carving by Tony Paul, Dolf Vermeulen | Whitewater kayaking in the Skookumchuck Narrows, Dannielle Hayes | Forest Boardwalk in Roberts Creek | Dolf Vermeulen
Continue up the coast and make a detour from Highway 101 onto Redroofs Road for a scenic drive. Stop at the historic Halfmoon Bay General Store and Halfmoon Bay Café to fuel up on coffee and baked goods before a short walk in Smuggler’s Cove Marine Provincial Park. For an adventure, head to Secret Cove and take the water taxi to Thormanby Island, where you can spend the day exploring beaches and trails.
As you head towards Pender Harbour and Egmont, tackle the 10 Lake Challenge and swim in all the region’s lakes in one day. In Egmont, hike the four kilometres to the Skookumchuck Narrows and watch whirlpool activity during the daily ebb and flood tides. If you’re lucky, you’ll see kayakers riding the surf. Be sure to check out the Skookumchuck Bakery— tucked in the woods near the entrance to the park—for a pre- or post-walk snack. From Egmont, jump on a boat and cruise up the Princess Louisa Inlet with Sunshine Coast Tours. This five-hour tour takes you through a steep fjord, surrounded by cascading waterfalls. The highlight is mesmerizing Chatterbox Falls. Finish the day with a sunset dinner from the spectacular patio at West Coast Wilderness Lodge.
Make your way north and take the BC Ferries route from Earl’s Cove to Saltry Bay, making your way on to Powell River. While there, spend some time exploring the unique historic Townsite. Check out The Patricia Theatre—Canada’s longest continuously running movie theatre—sip on local beer at Townsite Brewing, get caffeinated at 32 Lakes Coffee, and book at stay at The Old Courthouse Inn. In the town’s downtown waterfront area, Costa Del Sol Latin Cuisine and Coastal Cookery area great places to grab a bite.
Take a ferry to Texada Island and take a walk down Shingle Beach or Shelter Point (also great for beach camping). Or, cruise to the sandy beaches and warm waters of Savary Island by way of the Lund Water Taxi. You can also book a boat or kayaking tour into Desolation Sound with Terracentric Adventures or Powell River Sea Kayak, who offer glamping in the wilderness at Cabana Desolation Eco Resort.
Prefer to stay on land? Explore Canada’s longest free hut-to-hut hiking network along the Sunshine Coast Trail. Opt for a day trip with Footprint Nature Explorations and get inspired to plan your next trip, when you come back and tackle the full 180-kilometre route.
Townsite Brewing, Local Wanderer | Manzanita Bluff and Inland Lake, Andrew Strain
There are plenty of ways to get to the Sunshine Coast. Beat the summer traffic (and take in stunning views while you’re at it) by flying with Harbour Air—they offer numerous flights from Richmond (YVR), Victoria, Nanaimo, Comox, and downtown Vancouver. Sunshine Coast Air and Pacific Coastal Airlines also offer service to the Sunshine Coast. Take the BC Ferries route from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale to get to Gibsons (reservations are highly recommended if you’re driving). In addition to the Earl’s Cove to Saltry Bay route, you can also get to Powell River from Vancouver Island via the Comox to Lund route—this is part of the Coastal Circle Route from Vancouver Island.
Featured Image: Strolling the beach in Sechelt | Chris Thorn Photography
This story was originally published in 2018 and has been updated.
From: Vancouver
Leah Adams-Chute likes to pedal bikes, wander trails, and chase snow. She spends her weekends exploring BC and all her other free time searching for cheap flights to places she's never been to.
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