Collage of photographs from British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast by Jefferson Graham for the PhotowalksTV collection
Even if you dwell in a coastal paradise, it’s nice to typically get away to a land with greener grass and timber, islands and inlets, berries that develop on timber in conjunction with the highway, large skies and the notion of going to locations the place the one route is by way of a ferry.
You’ll be able to see a few of that in Oregon and Washington through the summer season, however go just a little farther up the highway, and also you get to go to a distinct nation with a 25% worth break on every little thing you purchase, (the distinction between the Canadian and U.S. greenback) extremely pleasant folks, shops that promote merchandise with labels in English and French and a waterfront that appears fairly totally different from ours. Two phrases: inexperienced and mountains.
I first found the Sunshine Coast of Canada in 2010, when a pal who lives in Vancouver really helpful it as a much less congested tackle Vancouver Island, which is dwelling to Victoria, the capital of the province. Boy was David Hathaway proper.
I left there pondering the Coast was one of many high 5 most beautiful locations on the planet, on par with New Zealand and Kauai and now got down to return and show it to the remainder of the world. In August I introduced my cameras to the Coast for the newest version of the PhotowalksTV journey collection on YouTube. You’ll be able to watch the episode immediately under.
Canadians know all concerning the Coast, however again dwelling in California, most folk we’ve encountered don’t know what we’re speaking about.
As I clarify on the accompanying video, we inform them we’re going to British Columbia, they usually point out Vancouver or Victoria. Or Whistler within the winter. They assume the Coast is on Vancouver Island, however as Coast locals proclaim on T-shirts, “Not an Island.”
The Sunshine Coast is a part of the mainland, by way of two inlets, south and north, which can be solely accessible by boat or (sea) airplane.
Logistics: Fly to Seattle (a brief two hours from the Canadian border) or Vancouver, lease a automotive and head to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, (an hour’s drive from the border) which is able to take you on a brief 40 minute hop to Langdale. The town of Gibsons, the primary main cease in your tour, is just a few miles up the highway.
Vital to notice: test the ferry crossing occasions as they don’t depart that always. For those who miss the boat, you’ll sit within the automotive awaiting the following one for a superb one to 2 hours. Reservations are accepted, however they price an extra $15.
Gibsons is dwelling to about 10,000 folks, an exquisite marina, a cute small city, and a number of cool photograph spots. As I level out within the video, they embrace Gospel Rock and Soames Hill for scenic overviews, the marina itself and the myriad, secluded seashores that look throughout the water to Vancouver Island. The place to remain? We love the Caprice Mattress and Breakfast, which overlooks the water and has an eagle nest in one in every of its timber. Guide early, as rooms go quick. The place to eat: the Black Bean Cafe is a superb native hangout, and there are Chinese language and Mexican eating places on the town with waterfront views. Gibsons was as soon as dwelling to a preferred Canadian TV present, the Beachcombers, the place a lot of the motion came about on the Molly’s Attain restaurant.
Roberts Creek: A cool tiny city by the ocean greatest recognized for 2 issues: a group mandala artwork challenge that, and an exquisite pier with nice BC views.
Davis Bay: A conventional shoreline that stretches alongside the primary routes going out and in of Sechelt includes a lengthy picket fishing pier that appears akin to the kinds you may discover in Hawaii, jutting out from the shoreline. It is a widespread vacation spot to seaside comb, windsurf, fish or swim.
Sechelt: the most important metropolis on the south facet of the Sunshine Coast, with over 10,000 residents. Right here you’ll discover bigger shops, a cute hometown, one other nice pier that offers the texture of being immediately over the water, and an exquisite ice creamery named EBs.
The view from the facet of the highway at Skookumchuck Narrows in Egmont, British Columbia.
Skookumchuck Narrows: Just some kilometers up the highway is the Shoockumchuck, one of many fundamental sights of a Sunshine Coast go to. Merely put: right here’s the place twice a day the tide modifications and reverses instructions. In addition to onlookers and photographers like us, it additionally attracts excessive kayakers who get pleasure from maintaining with the currents. (The which means of Skookumchuck, by the way in which, is quick water within the native language.) Make sure to test the tide desk charts earlier than you come. They’re posted throughout city, and at customer facilities. You’ll wish to time your go to accordingly, however know that the tide motion will begin up half-hour earlier than the marketed time, and proceed half-hour on the opposite facet as properly. To get to the rapids, you’ll take an hour hike right down to the water, and one spotlight of the stroll is that this nice bakery within the woods at the beginning of the hike which focuses on cinnamon buns, espresso and different baked items.
After Skookumchuck, as you proceed north, it’s time to take one other ferry to cross the water to Powell River, from Earl’s Cove, touchdown in Saltery Bay.
Powell Riveris the most important “metropolis” on the Coast, with over 15,000 folks. The north facet of the inlet has myriad mountain climbing, biking and water alternatives and an incredible historic city that’s simply an excessive amount of enjoyable. There are just a few motels right here and there, however the native tourism board really helpful reserving by way of Airbnb.
What to do in Powell? Go to the previous historic downtown, which is dwelling to the oldest regularly operating movie show, the Patricia and the previous Courthouse Inn, a small resort that’s the former dwelling of the courtroom, police station and jail. In any other case, downtown is filled with galleries, craft outlets and if you happen to’re into sausage, an exquisite store, the Chopping Block, which has many, many types.
Powell River is a transportation hub. It’s right here the place you possibly can catch a seaplane to Vancouver or Victoria, or take the ferry straight throughout to Vancouver Island, and the small city of Comox.
However photographically, essentially the most spectacular factor about Powell to us was the sunsets. The additional north we obtained on the Sunshine Coast, the richer and extra dramatic the colours obtained. Which after all, made the ferry journey properly up right here well worth the time and bother.
Previous Powell River, about half-hour up the highway, is the final cease, Lund. Route 101 ends right here, or begins, relying upon the way you take a look at it. If you wish to proceed up the coast of BC to Alaska, you’ll must get there by boat or airplane.
There’s not a lot to see in Lund, past a historic resort that by no means re-opened after COVID, and a parking zone for people boarding a water taxi throughout the way in which to distant Savary Island.
And talking of Savary–that’s one other story, coming quickly. Keep tuned.
Welcome to Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, by Jefferson Graham for the PhotowalksTV collection
