You may have heard the West Coast of BC referred to as the wet coast. On this tour of the Sunshine Coast, the most western edge of BC’s mainland, it literally was the sunshine coast. Travelling shoulder season as we prefer to do can be cool and wet but luckily for us, we were having a mainly sunny, warm spell as we set out to explore Gibson’s, Sechelt and Powell River.
Many people venture to this area for outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, paddling, fishing and whale watching to name just a few of the things you can enjoy both on and off the water. Or maybe museums or art galleries are your thing. Yup. They have that too. For a full list visit Sunshine Coast Tourism | Things to Do. We’re foodies so that directed our exploration.
We live in Victoria on Vancouver Island so that is where our adventure began, staying at one of our favourite private campgrounds, Living Forest Oceanside Campground in Nanaimo. We were fortunate to score an oceanfront site which determined the route we took heading up the Sunshine Coast after taking the Horseshoe Bay Ferry to Vancouver and then the Langdale Ferry which put us at Gibson’s for our first stop.
Gibson’s is a quaint seaside village with a famous past anchored around the CBC TV show The Beachcombers. Some may remember this classic from days gone by. Molly’s Reach is now a restaurant full of memorabilia from the show. The building itself is 100 years old and has been home to various stores over its lifetime before being taken over to shoot the series and finally evolving into its current iteration. The town itself is very walkable with plenty of shops and eateries to investigate right around Molly’s Reach as well as Gibsons Public Market where there are more small vendors and shops like Crazy Red’s Breads bakery. Outside town Persephone Brewing Company was close enough to walk over to from our campsite at Gibsons Creek RV Resort & Campground. In town we enjoyed the ocean views from Tapworks Brewing Company and Gramma’s Pub all with their tasty selection of local brews and food.
Next up the coast Sechelt, where we stayed at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park but not before taking in the town and bustling Saturday Market. For us the market highlight was the Mushroom Lady Sarah Rooney with her gorgeous edible mushroom bouquets grown at Walker Creek Farm. It was also interesting to see how Sechelt was a very different seaside town to Gibson’s in that their waterfront is devoted to homes, but it was a thriving pretty little town with lots to take in and a great patio at Twenty-Two Taphouse .
Then we headed towards Powell River but not before another ferry ride from Earl’s Cove to Saltery Bay. This ferry is free as it connects two parts of the Sunshine Coast separated by Jervis Inlet. Located just minutes from the ferry landing is Saltery Bay Provincial Park and the stunning Mermaid Cove where we had a relaxing stay forest bathing and soaking up the ocean vibes.
In Powell River we stayed at Willingdon Beach Campground right on the edge of town. It was a short walk to amenities like small local grocers, restaurants and shops. We also took a drive out to Townsite to see “The Giant Hulks”, a row of large ships that comprise the largest floating breakwater in the world. To geek out on this unusual site read The Giant Hulks – Powell River BC Canada – Member Stories. Townsite has a fascinating history as it once boasted the largest paper mill in the world providing 4% of the world’s paper. Very impressive for such a small, tucked away, piece of pristine coastline.
Leaving the Sunshine Coast, we took the ferry from Powell River to Comox on Vancouver Island and as our last stop before heading home to Victoria stayed at Bates Beach Oceanfront Resort in Comox. Yet another of these enchanting Vancouver Island campgrounds where you can virtually park your tires in the sand with stunning ocean views. Sit back and watch cargo and cruise ships drift by. They are especially lovely at night with all their lights on. Stroll the nearby beach full of tiny crabs, wispy white jellyfish and little fish that nip at your feet as you walk through the shallows while you witness blue herons fishing just offshore. It’s all part of the magic of a Sunshine Coast trip.
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Like this story? Here are are two more that might interest you:
Soak in the Sunshine Coast Along BC’s Salish Sea Route – Saltery Bay to Lund
Soak in the Sunshine Coast Along BC’s Salish Sea Route – Langdale to Egmont
For campgrounds and RV parks in British Columbia go to Camping and RV in British Columbia
Interested in RV tours and trips throughout BC go to Road Trips
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