There's no better way to get to know a place than by asking a local. Especially on the Sunshine Coast, where the best kept secrets generally remain hidden. So to get to the heart of the Coast, every now and then I'll be featuring 'these are a few of my favorite things' by some long time Coasters or anyone random and interesting.
Today's list of Coastal faves is by the Madam aka my surrogate Mother. She brought me home to the Coast after a boozey Alaskan trip (who knows what she was thinking), and I'm still here. These aren't in any particular order by the way...
1. The deck in Summer We sure have thrown some great parties on our deck in Summer. There's no better place to be when the days are long, the nights are warm and the music's cranking. People on the Coast take great pride in their gardens so if you're ever invited to a garden party, be sure to take up the invitation! Jello shots definitely get the night started!
2. North Fletcher Rd, Gibsons Ohhh I miss our old house on North Fletcher. The street has an incredible vibe, like some old surfing town, not to mention the stunning views of the North Shore Mountains and Keats Island. Our neighbours there were wonderful.
3. Molly's Lane Molly's Lane is old town Gibsons at its best. It's a hidden street alongside the famous Molly's Reach Restaurant which houses shops galore. From the street front it looks like there are one or two shops inside but once you open those doors you can weave your way through vintage finds, bags, beads, jewellery, art supplies, music & instruments and even uggs.
4. Antique cabinet from Trinkets & Treasures We bought our first piece of furniture from Trinkets & Treasures when we moved from Powell River to lower Gibsons. You could spend hours wandering through their antique collections and jewellery, not to mention the vintage photos of Gibsons from the early 1900s.
5. Lund The start of highway 101 or mile 0, one of the world's longest highways which ends in the South American town of Quellon, Porto Monte, Chile. Lund is a picturesque fishing village with lots of funky little eateries. It's also the gateway to some of BC's nicest scenery in Savary Island and Desolation Sound. If you're ever in Powell River, it's very much worth the short trip up to Lund.
6. Take 5 Media This is my go-to store on Winter days to stock up on DVDs. They have the best selection of foreign & independent films, the latest new releases as well as my favorite horror flicks. The staff are hugely knowledgeable about film and on those indecisive days, it's always worth taking a peak at the shelf of DVDs carefully selected by the staff.
7. The Gibsons Grind aka Soames Hill. It's our version of Vancouver's famous Grouse Grind but you can make the trek up this hill in under an hour if you have your go-fasters on (husband's pet term for sneakers). There's a spectacular view of Vancouver Island, Vancouver and Gibsons from the peak.
8. Ruby Lake One of the best times we've had on the Coast is going round and round in circles on Ruby Lake in our leaky canoe! You can book canoes from the restaurant for a day of paddling and dipping your toes in the warm water. So much fun.
9. Trout Lake The Trout Lake loop is great for hiking, biking, horse-riding and off-roading. It's an awesome spot for Summer picnics, swimming and fishing too.
10. The Waterfront Restaurant My husband and I love this place. It's so warm and welcoming. We'd go there for breakfast, lunch and dinner if we could. They serve everything, not to mention the view of Gibsons Harbour and Keats Island.
11. Skookumchuck Narrows A 4km trail leads you to the rapids at the Skookumchuck Narrows where you can see some spectacular whirlpools and whitewater. If you catch it at high tide you'll see some of the world's best paddlers trying to ride the rapids. It's pretty awe inspiring.
12. Gibsons Recycling We're a pretty green bunch up here and our recycling program is second to none. We're all doing our bit to get to that goal of zero waste.
13. The ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale If you can avoid the madness & waiting times that come with the Summer tourist rush then taking a trip on the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale can be one of the most stunning and relaxing trips you'll make. There's an abundance of wildlife that usually ride the ferry wakes and the Captain generally points out porpoises, otters and seals as they cruise along with the boat.
14. The People I've found it so easy to meet people on the Coast. They're so open and friendly. Despite being tagged as the place for retirees and hippies, there is an amazing diversity of people who live here and a huge amount of creative talent - artists, musicians and writers.
15. Pebble Beach Such a good spot for picnics at dusk! By moonlight you can see the phosphorescence in the water. It's awesome.
Also on her list (which I didn't have photos for) are: being a mall rat and doing the groceries at SuperValu (?!? typical mom!), camping and parties at Texada Island AND her love affair with Deb at Howe Sound Massage Therapy!
Thanks to the Madam for these great tips. I have to admit I'm surprised that Woody Driver doesn't feature in her list of faves...
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