Take a weekend away from bustling Vancouver and enjoy the Sunshine Coast starting with your departure from the ferry terminal in Horseshoe Bay.
Arriving in Landgale, roll down your window and begin your journey along the Sunshine Coast highway an incredibly scenic drive, with gentle twists and turns, running alongside the Strait of Georgia.
After driving through Gibsons and Sechelt, turn left on Maderia Park Drive and stop in at Copper Sky Gallery and Café (EarthlyCreatures.ca) for a picnic lunch to go. Park your car and take a short hike to Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park, where you can take in some truly turbulent (and dangerous) rapids created by the ebb and flow of the tides.
Back in the car, continue to the town of Egmont where, tucked away, is West Coast Wilderness Lodge (WCWL.com). The lodge is popular for its outdoor wilderness excursions, and if youre lucky, you might even spot a double rainbow during your visit.
Still feeling adventurous? Leave Earls Cove in your rear-view mirror and drive aboard the second BC Ferry, bound for Saltery Bay and the Upper Sunshine Coast. Once youre there, youll have plenty of options for spending the night.
Beach Gardens Resort and Marina (BeachGardens.com) offers hotel-style accommodations, with a seaside restaurant and pub called The Savoury Bight. Interestingly, it is also the host of the annual Powell River Blues Festival.
A little farther along the highway and to your right, you will find Herondell Bed and Breakfast, where the meals are homemade and the hosts provide great stories, warm conversation and jokes that will knock your socks off. A true hidden gem.
As you make your way closer to Lund, and Mile 0 of the Pacific Coastal Highway, youll come to the turn-off for Desolation Sound Resort (DesolationResort.com). These accommodations might be best described as tree forts for adults. You will feel like youre revisiting your youth but with a king-size bed and hot tub.
At the highways end, you can steer to the left and continue exploring the Sunshine Coast by boat.
TerraCentric Coastal Adventures (TerraCentricAdventures.com) offers adventure learning with its marine sightseeing tours by Zodiac.
Prefer to stay on land? The 180-kilometre Sunshine Coast Trail (SunshineCoast-trail.com) is easily accessible. With the option to hike for an hour or several days, remember to plan your hike and tell someone where you are going.
If, by this time, youre ready for a snack, Nancys Bakery in Lund prepares scrumptious cinnamon buns that have the locals raving.
However, if youre ready for a delicious meal, the Historic Boardwalk Restaurant (TheBoardwalkRestaurant.ca) will definitely leave you sated with a smile.
Looking for a souvenir? No problem. On your way back through Powell River, stop in and visit Townsite Brewing (TownsiteBrewing.com) where each beer has a local Powell River name.
Not ready to bid adieu? On your way back to the ferry stop in at Rock Water Secret Cove Resort (RockWaterSecretCoveResort.com) for dinner, a spa treatment and even glamping glamourous camping in one of the resorts luxury tenthouse suites.
