British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast is a stretch of lush shoreline and islands northwest of Vancouver, reachable only by ferry or seaplane. Long before loggers and shellfish farmers arrived, these lands and waters were home to the shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation, whose stories still shape the coast’s identity.

Expect a relaxed rhythm: salty marinas, pebbly beaches, and cedar-scented trails that finish at sunset viewpoints. TV buffs still seek out Molly’s Reach in Gibsons from the 1970s classic “The Beachcombers,” while hikers time their days to the legendary tidal rapids at Skookumchuck.

Practical notes: book your vehicle ferry on busy weekends, pack layers for cool evenings even in summer, and carry bear-aware hiking basics. A car is handy, though local buses connect the main hubs. Seafood, breweries, and excellent coffee fuel the adventure.

Gibsons

Gibsons Landing is your gentle introduction: a waterfront boardwalk, bobbing fishing boats, and a skyline of snow-dusted mountains across Howe Sound. Browse indie galleries, sip locally roasted coffee, and hike to panoramic lookouts by lunchtime.

• Top sights: Soames Hill (big views for a short climb), Armours Beach, Winegarden Park, Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives.
• Food and drink: Beachcomber Coffee Co. for award-winning roasts, Molly’s Reach for TV nostalgia and fish & chips, Lunitas Mexican Eatery for tacos on the pier, Tapworks Brewing’s rooftop, and Persephone Brewing’s hop farm and food trucks.
• Fun fact: The fictional town of “Molly’s Reach” helped put Gibsons on the map; the restaurant still serves hearty coastal comfort food.

Where to stay (Gibsons): Browse a range of walkable cottages and harbor-view suites on VRBO or compare hotels and inns on Hotels.com.

Getting here: Fly into Vancouver (YVR) with Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Drive or shuttle ~45–60 minutes to Horseshoe Bay, then take the 40-minute ferry to Langdale (foot passenger ~CA$18; vehicle + driver ~CA$65–85 one-way). It’s a 10-minute drive to Gibsons.

Day 1: Arrival in Gibsons

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs along Gibsons Landing. Pop into Beachcomber Coffee Co. for a latte and a bag of small-batch beans. Wander Winegarden Park and the public pier for classic harbor photos.

Evening: Dinner at Molly’s Reach for crisp cod and chowder, or grab tables at Lunitas Mexican Eatery for Baja-style fish tacos and margaritas on the water. End with sunset at Armours Beach; seals often surface when the light fades.

Day 2: Howe Sound Islands by Boat + Breweries

Morning: Fuel up with breakfast burritos and pour-overs at Beachcomber Coffee Co. Browse the Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives to get the backstory on The Beachcombers and coastal logging.

Afternoon: Embark on the Howe Sound Islands Cruise, a 2‑hour small‑group trip from Gibsons that threads past Keats and the Pasley Islands—watch for seals, bald eagles, and glassy coves.

Evening: Head to Persephone Brewing’s farm for wood-fired pizza (check food truck schedules) and a flight of wet-hopped ales. Or choose Smitty’s Oyster House on the wharf for local oysters, Dungeness crab, and a crisp BC white.

Day 3: Roberts Creek Trails and Coastal Eats

Morning: Hike Soames Hill via the south trail (about 40–60 minutes roundtrip) for sweeping views over Keats Island. Grab a post-hike pastry at Emelle’s Market Bistro or a scone from a local bakery in the Landing.

Afternoon: Drive 15 minutes to Roberts Creek. Lunch at The Gumboot Café (vegetarian-friendly bowls, house-baked treats), then walk the pebbly beach and snap the creek estuary murals. Continue to Cliff Gilker Park for a rainforest loop with little waterfalls and cedar bridges.

Evening: Back in Gibsons, Tapworks Brewing’s rooftop is perfect for a golden-hour pint. For dinner, 101 Brewhouse + Distillery serves slow-smoked meats, harvest bowls, and house spirits, or try Smoke on the Water BBQ Shack at the marina when in season.

Sechelt

Sechelt sits on a narrow tombolo between the Salish Sea and serene Sechelt Inlet, with beaches on both sides and mountain backdrops beyond. It’s an easy base for kayaking, tidal-rapid watching in Egmont, and day hikes in Halfmoon Bay.

• Top sights: Davis Bay promenade, Porpoise Bay Provincial Park, tems swiya Museum (shíshálh Nation), Skookumchuck Narrows (day trip), Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park.
• Food and drink: Basted Baker for brunch, El Segundo for Pacific Rim small plates and craft cocktails, Batch 44 Brewery & Kitchen for pub classics, Strait Coffee for local roasts.
• Good to know: Sechelt Inlet is typically calm—great for first-time paddlers. Time your Skookumchuck hike to peak ebb or flood for the roaring standing waves.

Where to stay (Sechelt): See waterfront condos and woodland homes on VRBO or compare hotels and motels around town on Hotels.com.

Getting from Gibsons to Sechelt: It’s an easy 30–40 minute drive (or about 45 minutes by local bus; fare ~CA$3–4). Stop in Davis Bay for a walk on the seawall and tidepooling at low tide.

Day 4: Transfer to Sechelt, Davis Bay, and Porpoise Bay

Morning: Depart Gibsons after coffee and follow Highway 101 to Sechelt. Stretch at Davis Bay: stroll the long pier, watch kiteboarders, and scan for harbor porpoises.

Afternoon: Check in, then head to Porpoise Bay Provincial Park for a sandy beach, warm(ish) inlet water in summer, and a gentle forest loop. Grab ice cream at Sechelt Bakery downtown on the way back.

Evening: Dinner at El Segundo for coconut-lime ceviche, lemongrass meatballs, and creative mocktails. Nightcap at Batch 44 Brewery & Kitchen with a coastal IPA and live music when scheduled.

Day 5: Skookumchuck Narrows and Egmont

Morning: Drive ~1 hour to the Skookumchuck trailhead near Egmont. Hike 1.5–2 hours roundtrip to Roland Point or North Point. Time your visit to peak ebb or flood for roaring rapids and kayakers surfing standing waves.

Afternoon: Refuel at the seasonal Skookumchuck Bakery & Café (legendary cinnamon buns) if open, or grab fish tacos and pints at the Backeddy Pub overlooking Sechelt Inlet’s outer reaches.

Evening: Return to Sechelt for a relaxed dinner. Try Shift Kitchen & Bar for modern Canadian plates and local wines, or keep it casual with burgers and poutine at Batch 44.

Day 6: Kayak the Inlet, Culture and Coast

Morning: Breakfast at Basted Baker (skillet hash, brioche French toast), then rent kayaks on Sechelt Inlet for 2–4 hours. The water is often glassy—paddle to islets, watch for starfish, seals, and moon jellies.

Afternoon: Visit the tems swiya Museum to learn shíshálh history and see exquisite woven and carved works. Coffee at Strait Coffee Roasters, then swim or nap back at Porpoise Bay if it’s warm.

Evening: Sunset at Davis Bay, where locals fish off the pier. For dinner, book El Segundo if you missed it, or try Blue Heron (seasonal) or a seafood-forward spot along the waterfront for halibut and local spot prawns in season.

Day 7: Halfmoon Bay’s Smuggler Cove, Then Home

Morning: Grab a quick breakfast and head 25–30 minutes to Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park. Boardwalks and mossy bluffs lead to hidden coves—allow 1.5–2 hours for the loop and photo stops.

Afternoon: Return to Sechelt, pack up, and drive ~45 minutes to the Langdale terminal. The ferry is 40 minutes back to Horseshoe Bay, then 45–60 minutes to YVR. Search flights home on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If you’re lingering a night in Vancouver, celebrate with West Coast sushi or a walk around Coal Harbour; otherwise, enjoy a final coastal sunset from the ferry deck.

Local dining cheat sheet (for quick reference):

• Coffee: Beachcomber Coffee Co. (Gibsons), Strait Coffee Roasters (Sechelt), Basted Baker (Sechelt).
• Casual lunch: The Gumboot Café (Roberts Creek), Porpoise Bay picnic, Smoke on the Water BBQ (seasonal in Gibsons).
• Dinner: Molly’s Reach or Lunitas (Gibsons); El Segundo, Shift Kitchen & Bar, Batch 44 (Sechelt); Backeddy Pub (Egmont day trip).
• Breweries: Tapworks Brewing and Persephone Brewing (Gibsons); Batch 44 Brewery (Sechelt).

From island-dotted cruises to tidal spectacles and forest walks, this Sunshine Coast itinerary balances outdoor adventure with excellent local food and easy logistics. You’ll leave with sea salt on your sleeves, new favorite roasts and brews, and a deeper sense of the shíshálh land and waters that define the coast.