The Sunshine Coast Bed & Breakfast, Cottage Owners Association
Our Association is comprised of the finest accommodations on Canada's fantastic Sunshine Coast, a scenic 40 minute ferry ride from Vancouver, B.C. Each of our member properties adheres to standards which are among the most stringent in the hospitality industry, assuring our guests of a positive experience in a quality lodging. Whether you are looking for a quiet cottage in the woods or a luxury B&B on the water, a family vacation or a romantic getaway, our accommodations never disappoint. With over 120 properties from which to choose you are certain to find the one just right for you. Each and every one of our members are dedicated to providing the best possible experience for their guests.
For those of you planning your trip to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, the Sunshine Coast is conveniently located midway between these two Olympic venues. And a wonderful respite from the hustle & excitement of the 2010 Winter Olympic games.
With its pristine bays and inlets, towering cedar trees, hiking trails through old-growth forests, canoeing and kayaking, art galleries and many other activities and special events, the Sunshine Coast is your holiday paradise with ..... something for everyone ..... something for you!
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Have You Had Your Vacation Yet?
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Fall is the perfect time to visit the Sunshine Coast. The crowds are smaller, the weather is warm and you can still take advantage of all the outdoor activities that you could do in the summer. Our beaches are beautiful and quiet, the spas are more easily booked and all the marine tours are still up and running. The artists studios are open and ready to welcome you, and our restaurants and pubs are looking forward to preparing a wonderful meal for you.
If you haven't taken your vacation yet, remember we are only a 1/2 tank of gas away from the Fraser Valley, and our fares on BC Ferries are for 2 ferry trips: either from Horseshoe Bay - Gibsons round trip, or Horseshoe Bay - Gibsons and then Egmont - Powell River. Don't miss discovering the Sunshine Coast, one of the most up and coming tourist areas in our beautiful province of BC!
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The Sunshine Coast has been discovered! In June/08 The New York Times named the Sunshine Coast as one of '31 Places to Visit This Summer'.
Here is a link to the article: NY Times Travel Section Sun., June 1/08.
And again on August 24th, there is yet another article in the New York Times Travel Section! This article is a visitor's account of their experience on the Sunshine Coast:
Basking in the Sunshine Coast
Have you discovered the Sunshine Coast yet?
Click this logo for the Ferry Schedule
Your 40 minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale takes you through some of the most spectacular ocean and mountain scenery you will ever experience......what a perfect introduction to our stunning Sunshine Coast. With the combination of the dazzling beauty and the fresh ocean air.....just feel the stress falling way. By the time you arrive in Langdale, you are ready to relax and explore this remarkable destination.
 More Information
The BC Ferries car ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, or from Comox to Powell River, has a set schedule that changes with the seasons. The link above provides the current schedule, where you can also make on-line reservations ( optional but recommended during the busy summer season) and get general passenger information. Please note that if the online reservations are full, that does not mean that the ferries are full. BC Ferries dedicates only a percentage of total capacity to online reservatiions.
Circle Tour
If you have a week to ten days, you might consider purchasing a Circle Tour Pass. This reduced-price package entitles you to four ferry crossings. You can travel from Horseshoe Bay to the lower Sunshine Coast and the towns of Gibsons and Sechelt and up to Earl's Cove, then cross the Jervis Inlet to the Upper Sunshine Coast and Powell River. From there, cross the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island with its beautiful ocean beaches, visit the charming old city of Victoria, and finally take the ferry back to the mainland at Swartz Bay.
Sunshine Coast Activities
Arts & Culture
Dining & Pubs
Media & Tourism
Outdoor Recreation
Real Estate & Agents
Shopping & Supermarkets
Spa, Beauty & Wellness
Tours & Transportation
Festivals & Events
Sunshine Coast Communities
 GibsonsGibsons is known as the 'Gateway to the Sunshine Coast'. If you are longing to find that perfect little seaside village with stunning views, quaint shops featuring local artisans, picturesque places to enjoy a coffee or a delicious meal, then Gibsons is the destination for you. The Langdale ferry terminal is only minutes from Gibsons, and is the beginning of your Sunshine Coast getaway.
More Information This charming little coastal town is famous for its role in the TV show "The Beachcombers". An old-fashioned fishing village climbing the hills, Gibsons looks down on the busy pier and a harbour filled with boats of every kind. Along Marine Drive and Gower Point Road you will find many intriguing art galleries and unique shops for browsing, as well as cozy and welcoming coffee shops, pubs and restaurants, many overlooking the harbour.
The inlets and islands around Gibsons and up into Howe Sound are perfect for kayaking, sailing or pleasure cruising. Kayak rentals are available in the marina, or if you own your own boat, there are many marinas and marine parks in the area. There are several wonderful beaches in and around Gibsons, all great places to beachcomb, go for a swim, or launch your kayak. They stretch from Armours Beach in Lower Gibsons, to Secret Beach along Gower Point Road, and out to Ocean Beach Esplanade in the Bonniebrook area. This stretch of shoreline is one of the nicest on the Coast. Take a stroll, go for a swim, explore the tidal pools or gaze at the spectacular sunsets.
 Roberts CreekRoberts Creek is affectionately referred to as 'The Gumboot Nation' (you will see why when you visit!). Creekers are diverse, including business people, hippies, artisans and commuters - the community is unique. It is a haven for artists, artisans and craftspeople, many of whom open their home studios to the public. More Information Roberts Creek has a walking pier, sandy/rocky beach, estuary and a beautiful community mandala at the water. If you like to pick mussels and oysters and look for seashells, the beach at the Roberts Creek picnic grounds is a good place to visit at low tide.
Just up the hill from the beach is the Roberts Creek General Store, Gumboot Restaurant, Gumboot Café and the Heart of the Creek shopping area with gifts, clothing, organic food, outdoor gear with new stores opening on a regular basis. Kayak rentals and tours are also available in the heart of The Creek for those wanting to explore the water further
 Wilson Creek/Davis Bay/Selma ParkBetween Roberts Creek and Sechelt, you pass through these 3 communities. Wilson Creek offers retail shops, restaurants, and the turnoff to Dakota Ridge. Davis Bay has one of the most beautiful beaches on the Sunshine Coast, dotted with restaurants and shops overlooking the ocean esplanade. And Selma Park is a residential area hugging the ocean, with a small port and anchorage/marina.
More Information Dakota Ridge is an upcoming gem in the development phase of its life. It is accessed from the Sechelt Chapman Forest Service Road from Wilson Creek's Field Road. The summer season attracts the mountain bike, off-road and hiking enthusiasts to the Dakota Ridge area. The winter season attracts the snowshoers and cross-country skiers because of the vast network of trails slicing through forests, leading out to open plateaus with magnificent views of the Sunshine Coast and the surrounding vistas and mountain ranges.
The sweeping views of Davis Bay across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island are unbroken by any offshore islands, and are a rarity along the otherwise sheltered coastline. On a clear day, Vancouver Island is visible enough that the individual communities stand out. And as beautiful as this can be during the day, nighttime is breathtaking with all the sparkling lights revealing the locations of the Island's cities and villages.
 SecheltNo trip to the Sunshine Coast is complete without a visit to Sechelt, which literally means "Land Between Two Waters" in the Coast Salish tongue, because it is situated on a strip of land bordered on both sides by the Pacific Ocean. Sechelt offers a plethora of seaside activities and in-town attractions to accommodate every interest. More Information Sechelt is your next stop along the highway, and is a mecca for both the retired and the adventuresome. Your biggest decision is whether to relax with spa services in the privacy of a B&B, or venture out to kayak, bike or hike. Or, if you prefer, the Sechelt Golf Course offers a challenging links-style championship length 18-hole course.
Wharf Street (part of the Sunshine Coast Highway through Sechelt) takes you past restaurants with outdoor seating and local cafes where the food is as fine as the West Coast coffee. Wander around here and you will find some interesting shops tucked away. Continue around the corner down Cowrie Street to the main shopping area with its mix of craft, antique, hemp and second-hand shops. Sechelt also has a shopping centre and choice of supermarkets. Experienced visitors to Sechelt never miss the Saturday Farmers Market located in the Raven's Cry parking lot, available from spring to fall. Lots of wonderful homemade creations with fresh baked breads, local produce, plants and crafts.
 Halfmoon BayThe romantic name of Halfmoon Bay suits this peaceful curve in the coastline. The region stretches northwest along the coast from Sargeant Bay and includes Redrooffs, Welcome Woods, Halfmoon Bay, Secret Cove and Wood Bay. More Information Halfmoon Bay is the Marine Park center of the Coast. You are within boating distance of 4 magnificent marine parks and numerous Provincial parks. Not so long ago, Smugglers Cove was the hideout for rum-runners on the Coast! The whole of Jedediah Island is one of our newer marine parks. South Thormanby and Buccaneer Islands are havens for kayakers and boaters alike. And Sargeant Bay Provincial Park, Welcome Beach Park and Coopers Green Park all offer something unique for you to visit.
 Pender HarbourPender Harbour is known as 'Venice of the North' because of its maze of waterways. If you try to figure out this area as you pass by on the Sunshine Coast Highway, you'll be totally confused as to where freshwater lakes end and saltwater coves begin. More Information Pender Harbour's huge, protected deep harbour has many intriguing bays, coves, and islands making it a boater's paradise with some of the best diving, kayaking, and hiking to be found anywhere. In addition to the ocean, a number of pristine fresh water lakes offer swimming, canoeing, trout fishing, and waterskiing, making it a perfect place to consider booking a fishing charter, or taking a boat tour to explore the various communities. The many coves, bays, and islands around Pender Harbour make it the most popular diving spot on the Sechelt Peninsula.
 Egmont & Earl's CoveThis area of the Sunshine Coast boasts some of the most breathtaking natural surroundings at the entrance to the Skookumchuk Provincial Park. Egmont is the jumping off point for a visit to Princess Louisa Inlet, the most widely known attraction at this end of the Coast, while the ferry to Powell River departs from Earl's Cove.
More Information Just before the Earls Cove Ferry Terminal, take Egmont Road to the Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park where you will witness the awesome power of one of the world's fastest tidal rapids. It is also playground to those daring kayakers who like to play in the dangerous whirlpools and rapids. From here you can also explore Princess Louisa Inlet, or any of the nearby fishing villages.
 Powell River/Lund/Texada IslandPowell River's historic Townsite area offers a concentration of homes and commercial buildings constructed before 1930, with some even pre-dating World War I. North of Powell River is the historic fishing village of Lund. Texada Island is reachable by another ferry out of Powell River, where you can enjoy the quiet beauty of this beautiful island. More Information Your first highlight is Saltery Bay Provincial Park just north of the Saltery Bay Ferry Terminal. Among the most beautiful waterfronts in the B.C. parks system, its shores are the place to be if you want to view the seals and sea lions.
The area around Powell River has many lakes and sheltered ocean waters, providing an ideal location for canoeing, kayaking and scuba diving. Whether you're an expert or novice, you'll find everything you're looking for.
For the best detailed maps of Sechelt, Roberts Creek, Gibsons, Madeira Park, Wilson Creek, Egmont and the entire Sunshine Coast, choose
Sunshine Coast Maps |
For the latest local news, weather, sports and Ferry traffic reports, tune in to 91.7 CKAY FM, the Voice of the Sunshine Coast! |
Out of Province Visitors
In all of Canada, there is no more beautiful province than British Columbia on Canada's west coast; and in British Columbia there is no more beautiful spot than the Sunshine Coast. Surrounded on three sides by the sea and on the fourth by the spectacular snow-capped Coastal Range Mountains, the Sunshine Coast is accessible only by water, even though it is part of mainland British Columbia. You begin your journey with a spectacular 40 minute ferry ride across Howe Sound from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver.
After your arrival at Vancouver Airport, you may wish to spend two or three days exploring Vancouver, and then rent a car and head for the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal in West Vancouver, about 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver. Go directly to the "Langdale, Sunshine Coast" ticket booth where you purchase your return trip ticket.
On the Sunshine Coast you will find accommodation to suit every taste, from luxury B&B's, to woodland cottages. Reservations are just a click away - see our availability calendars and book on-line.
Heading north or south through the borders? If you are unsure as to what is required to cross the border, check it out at the Canada Border Services Information website.
And have a look at the conditions before you go.
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2008 Guide
