This article was published on September 20th, 2015
Pick almost any destination along the West Coast of British Columbia and you really can’t go wrong. However, the Sunshine Coast, about an hour from downtown Vancouver, is a special place to relax and unwind. Not convinced? Here are seven reasons why you need to visit the Sunshine Coast this autumn:
1. Natural beauty. The Sunshine Coast of British Columbia spectacular coastlines where majestic mountainsides velveted with towering forests of lush pine trees meet the jagged rocks along the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean, which is dotted with small islands. The highway sweeps through the forests and opens up to expansive views and passes through tiny communities along the way. It’s picture-perfect every moment of the way. For the ultimate West Coast experience, take your journey to new heights with a scenic float plane tour of the region aboard Harbour Air. It will leave you breathless.
2. The Beachcombers. Gibsons is the quaint Oceanside town, which played the starring role of the hit 1980’s CBC Television series, The Beachcombers. The flagship restaurant, Molly’s Reach, and the iconic fishing trawler, Persephone, are proud remaining landmarks of the community, which draw visitors to see the real pieces of history from the famed TV show that put the small community on the map.
3. Microbewered beer. Named after the fishing trawler from the hit TV show, The Beachcombers, Persephone Brewing Company is an 11-acre farm and the only microbrewery on the Sunshine Coast. Located just minutes from the ferry terminal, it makes an easy stop as you arrive or before you depart from the Sunshine Coast. From IPA’s and ale’s, to lagers and stouts, they cover the full gambit of suds, including season varieties. The tasting room is open daily and is a great place to get a flight of beer and sample the selection. If you get hungry, there’s also an outdoor fire oven serving up hand tossed pizza.
4. Luxury accommodations. You don’t have to rought it on this trip either. There are beautiful luxury resorts to escape and relax. Painted Boat Resort and Spa has 31 spectacular villas overlooking Pender Harbour. Over at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, they have perfected the art of glaming (glamorous camping) with large, full-service canvas tents carefully perched above the ocean with spectacular water views. Both resorts have fantastic restaurants to experience fresh, local seafood.
5. Eat local. Foodies will be in heaven on the Sunshine Coast, as chef’s serve up the local fare with fresh harvests from the bountiful ocean. Clams and muscles, salmon, and crab are just the start! The area restaurants pride themselves on serving local and organic ingredients.
6. Free ride home! BC Ferries connects Horseshoe Bay and Langdale ferry terminals. BC Ferries runs non-stop from early morning through late evening, departing about every two hours. The large passenger and vehicle ferries make a fun and scenic part of the adventure. The voyage takes about 40 minutes. The Sunshine Coast is the only route in the BC Ferries system where you get a free ride back to Vancouver!
7. Beachcombing. The largest beach along the Sunshine Coast, Davis Bay is well known for the long pier jutting out into the ocean. Grab a bucket and wander and of the miles of rocky shoreline, searching for mysterious finds that have floated in the Pacific Ocean and washed up on shore. There’s also plenty of ocean life to see including starfish and crabs. If you’re lucky you might even spot a grey whale, which are known to hang out in the area.
Get planning your autumn getaway to the Sunshine Coast today. With the Canadian dollar at 10-year lows, it makes it an affordable vacation destination for American visitors, and a perfect opportunity for Canadians to experience a staycation in their own backyard.
