Last week, we visited the beautiful Sunshine Coast! To get there we had to take a ferry – but guess what? It’s not an island! Because there are no roads from the Mainland to get to this coast.

  • Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal
  • On the way to Sunshine Coast!

The first place we visited is Sechelt, which is the largest city in the southern part of the Sunshine Coast.

Sechelt is known as the land between two waters: the Salish Sea and the Sechelt Inlet.

Bayside Campground

We stayed at Bayside Campground, which was only a few kilometers outside of Sechelt and an easy bike ride into town.

  • We enjoyed delicious s’mores!

  • Jiffypopcorn – before
  • jiffypopcorn – after 🙂

Skookumchuck Narrows

One day we went for a drive to the north to explore the Skookumchuck Narrows. The hike was 4 km each way and was a little tricky around the end by the narrows.

  • In Chinook jargon:
    skookum=strong, chuck=water
  • A mossy tree which looked the Grinch’s head!
  • Hollow stump, great place to hide!
  • Skookumchuck Narrows

These rapids are interesting to see as they reverse and create whirlpools and whitewater, considered among the fastest in the world. Some people even surf these rapids when the conditions are right!

  • This snake looks like he got run over by a car or bike
We found a really cool snake slithering along the path. ( don’t mind my dad’s hairy arms!)

Parks & Beaches to Visit

There are a TON of parks to check out, along with beach access points everywhere. We also saw numerous seals and jellyfish.

  • Really cool rock formations!

Sandy Hook Park

You can find Sandy Hook Park at the end of Arc Road. There is a boat ramp, playground with a funky tree and the park is beautifully maintained. Our lunchtime entertainment on the beach was seeing a seagull trying to devour a Starfish whole!

Sargeant Bay

Sargeant Bay is a bay with a nice beach wrapped around it and has awesome fort making opportunities 😉

Snickett Beach

Located right in Sechelt – another great beach for making forts and lots of interesting and smooth rocks for painting.

  • This is my favourite fort that I made in my life!

Hikes Worth Hiking

Hidden Grove

Hidden Groves, on the inlet side – just north of Sechelt, has over 16 km of well marked hiking trails in an old growth forest with ginormous trees!

  • We hiked the yellow trail.
  • And we hiked the red trail.
  • Pine Bluff view of Sechelt – the land between waters!

Burnett Falls

This hike is a super short hike with a beautiful waterfall at the end.

Smugglers Cove

It’s a great place to go hiking with a beautiful view of the ocean, nice place for lunch and ant catching 🙂

This is where we ate a picnic lunch.
  • I’ve never seen a red dragonfly like this before
Walkin’ through a swamp (you have to walk through a swamp before you get to the ocean).
  • Mom and me in deep conversation.

Smugglers Cove got it’s name from pirate Kelly, who smuggled Chinese labourers into the US. These Chinese labourers finished working on the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885 and gave pirate Kelly $100 in hopes of getting work in the US.

Later during Prohibition, Smuggler’s Cove was used as a safe haven by rum runners . Ships transported alcohol from Canada to thirsty US destinations.

Davis Bay

On our last day, on the way to the ferry, we stopped at Davis Bay for a picnic lunch on the beach. There was plenty RV parking spots beside the beach.

Gibsons, BC

On your way back to Vancouver, be sure to stop by Gibsons Landing and visit Mike’s Place for gelato. Mike’s Place has flavors such as jalapeno, mango and much more!!! 

  • Crazy tall sunfowers!!!
  • Yummy gelato! 🙂

Overall the Sunshine Coast is a nice place and has some beautiful and relaxing places to visit. I hope to return someday soon.