SUNSHINE COAST

The coastline stretches from Langdale and Gibsons, to Powell River and Lund. An unexploited wilderness, punctuated by deserted, sandy beaches and bays. Experience one of the least-vaunted but most spectacular drives in British Columbia.

Its name suggests endless, lazy, hazy days spent on quiet, fine sandy beaches doing little but listening to the song of the Pacific Ocean. And you will doubtless spend some of your time on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast doing exactly that. Nothing. But take a circular self-drive from Langdale and Gibson in the south of the coast, up as far Powell River and Lund in the north, and you will be inspired to do much, much more. The towns themselves draw you in, with their individual characters, their independent restaurants, their cafés, idiosyncratic shops and quaint buildings. The region even has strong cultural ties to Aboriginal art, history and craft traditions. And then there are the activities. You can expect to see local festivals and celebrations, explore the waterways by kayak or canoe, go fishing or mountain biking. Or even play a round or two of golf on a course that is both challenging and picturesque.