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This charming seaside town is close to Vancouver and makes the perfect spring getaway

While there are countless places to visit in British Columbia this summer, Gibsons should be high on your list of vacation destinations.

 Photo: hm_marchand / Photo: christagrochowski / Instagram

While there are countless places to visit in British Columbia this summer, Gibsons should be high on your list of vacation destinations.

Not only is the peaceful, seaside town nestled in the beautiful Sunshine Coast, but it also offers a range of delectable eateries, fabulous shops, and fun activities.

Known as the 'Gateway to the Sunshine Coast,' Gibsons is a fisherman's paradise. In fact, visitors may even buy fresh fish from a number of local fisherman right on the public dock. In addition, many restaurants offer mouth-watering seafood fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so seafood fanatics may enjoy an oceanic option at any time of day. Visitors may also take cooking classes in this area, and there are often guest speakers in the market.

Of course, no visit to Gibsons is complete without a visit to Molly’s Reach restaurant, which was the site of CBC’s longest-running Canadian drama - the popular Beachcombers TV series. This charming eatery serves daily specials, soups from scratch, freshly baked desserts, and, of course, heavenly seafood options like beer-battered fish and chips; Molly's Reach is also famous for its burgers.

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Gibsons also offers fishing charters and equipment rentals for visitors who prefer to reel in their own seafood. In addition, there are a range of other aquatic activities to enjoy in the town, which include everything from sailing to kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding to windsurfing, and much more. The Marine Education Centre also provides the opportunity to view underwater world exhibits – as well as interactive displays – without a single piece of equipment; the popular centre has over 30 exhibits that display local marine fish and invertebrates from the waters of the Howe Sound.

Not a fan of the water? No problem: visitors may also rent scooters and enjoy unbeatable 360 degree views as they discover the breathtaking Sunshine Coast. There are also interesting art galleries to stroll through, as well as a big, beautiful park along the water.

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While Gibsons is located on mainland B.C., guests travelling from Vancouver must travel by ferry or plane due to the region's mountainous terrain. As such, Lower Mainland locals will need to take a 40 minute ferry ride from West Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay terminal.