Rose Cottage Vancouver Coast & Mountains, Gibsons

Vancouver Coast & Mountains

From dramatic skylines to glistening mountain peaks, rolling pastures to breathtaking coastlines, Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
is home to some of the most spectacular scenery, not to mention unforgettable vacation experiences, in the world. Plan your trip today, and come see for yourself!

This region is the most populated part of British Columbia. The centre of the region is Vancouver (pop. 1,700,000)--B.C.'s largest city with its backdrop of mountains and the ever present ocean. However it does not take long to leave the big city bustle and discover the beautiful vacation areas not far from Vancouver.

To the east of Vancouver lies the lush Fraser Valley. Rich farmland, fresh water lakes and rivers, majestic mountain ranges and the mighty Fraser River combine with historic attractions to offer a wonderful vacation area. Notwithstanding the increasing pressure of development, the Valley has plenty of backroads, farms and pleasant communities such as Fort Langley (the location of Fort Langley National Historic Park), Abbotsford and Chilliwack. During the summer, many of the farms provide tours and the opportunity to eat freshly grown produce either by "picking your own" or stopping by a roadside stand. Don't leave the area without trying some fresh raspberries and corn.

The Fraser Valley is at the edge of a number of beautiful mountain parks and recreation areas - Golden Ears Provincial Park, Manning Provincial Park and Chilliwack Lake. There are many smaller regional parks as well--Campbell Valley Park near Langley, Derby Reach Regional Park near Fort Langley and Matsqui Trail Regional Park near Mission. Minter Gardens near Chilliwack, the Benedictine monastery, Westminster Abbey, at Mission, the Greater Vancouver Zoological Centre (which focuses on the preservation of endangered species) near Aldergrove and the valley's own estate winery, Tour Domaine de Chaberton Estates near Langley are also worth a visit.

If golf is your passion, there are more firstclass courses in the Fraser Valley than you could possibly play during a single vacation.

Special Days in the Fraser Valley: June - Aldergrove Festival Days (Langley) and Little Britches Rodeo (Langley); July - Berry Festival (Abbotsford), International Pow Wow (Mission), Agricultural Fair (Mission), Folk Music Festival (Mission) and Harrison Festival of the Arts (Harrison); August - Fur Brigade Days (Fort Langley) and Abbotsford Air Show (Abbotsford); September - World Championship Sand Sculpture Competition (Harrison Hot Springs), Agassiz Fall Fair & Corn Festival (Harrison Hot Springs) and Hope Brigade Days (Hope).

Cultus Lake:

Cultus Lake is a large lake located near the U.S. border south of Chilliwack. Cultus Lake Provincial Park bounds the south and east sides of the Lake. The Park is a popular, family-oriented, recreation spot conveniently located less than 90 minutes from Vancouver. It is great for swimming, canoeing, hiking and fishing. Cultus Lake Waterpark has a waterslide, go-carts, tennis courts, a golf course, horseback riding, hiking and mini golf.

Lake Erroch:

Picturesque Lake Erroch is situated only 90 minutes from Vancouver. It is a small lake ideally situated between Mission and Harrison Lake with easy access to major routes. Three golf courses are within a half hour's drive. Located in a very peaceful setting, the lake is perfect for families seeking a relaxing vacation. It is great for swimming, fishing, boating, windsurfing and canoeing. The lake is stocked with trout.

Whistler:

(pop. 4,500). On the other side of Vancouver, the Sea to Sky Highway takes you from West Vancouver, a beautiful residential neighbourhood literally hanging off the mountains above the ocean, along fjordlike Howe Sound into the mountains where you'll find the worldfamous ski resort of Whistler (ranked no. 1 in North America).

Although skiing is Whistler's raison d'être, it is becoming well known as a summer destination as well. Golf, tennis, windsurfing, canoeing, swimming, mountain biking, mountain hiking, horseback riding -whatever outdoor activity you are interested in, Whistler has it. Summer adventures also include gliding up the mountain in an enclosed gondola to 1300 metres, wandering in alpine meadows fragrant with wild flowers, sunbathing by peaceful lakes, heli-hiking....and even summer skiing on Blackcomb's Horstman Glacier. Not to mention the Village itself, with its flowers, street musicians and strolling visitors that can be enjoyed while sipping a beer or cappuccino at an outdoor restaurant.

On the way from Vancouver to Whistler, stop at Porteau Cove Provincial Park, Britannia Beach with the B.C. Museum of Mining, Shannon Falls Provincial Park with its 335 metre waterfall and the Brackendale Art Gallery in Brackendale. If you have time, a short side trip to Alice Lake Provincial Park for a picnic or easy hike is worth a visit.

Whistler/Squamish Special Days: January – Brackendale Bald Eagle Festival; July/August – Squamish Days Loggers' Sports Festival; August – Whistler Classical Music Festival

Pemberton:

(pop. 650). Pemberton is located about 35 kms. beyond Whistler. It is located in flat farming country, surrounded by dramatic mountains. Pemberton is in the centre of great wilderness country where you can river raft, hike in alpine meadows or to glacial lakes, visit ghost towns, fish, ride horses or explore native archaelogical sites. Visit Nairn Falls Provincial Park, Tenquille Lake, the Skookumchuck Hot Springs, Burkenhead Provincial Park and Mount Currie, a native village, is a few miles east of Pemberton.

Sunshine Coast:

The Sunshine Coast is a beautiful 40 minute B.C. ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay, north of Vancouver. The coastal road goes from Gibsons in the south (a little seaside town and the former location of the Beachcombers television series), past the town of Sechelt, to Earl's Cove. Another 50 minute ferry ride takes you to Saltery Bay and the coastal road then continues to Powell River and Lund - the end of the road. The entire coast is about 180 kilometres long and is dotted with a number of lovely seaside communities such as Gibsons (pop. 3,500) (take a walk on its seafront walkway), Roberts Creek (hike through Cliff Gilker Regional Park), Sechelt (visit the Sechelt Nations cultural centre - House of Hewhiwus), Halfmoon Bay (birdwatch at Sargeant Bay Provincial Park), Pender Harbour (visit some of the lovely resorts in the area) and Egmont and Earls Cove (the start of a hike to Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park).

The Sunshine Coast is a myriad of coves - ideal for beachcombing, fishing, scuba diving and relaxing. The whole area is an angler's dream the ocean offers salmon, rock fish and ling cod and the many clear, clean lakes and streams are full of rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout. There are excellent scuba diving waters around Madeira Park, crystal clear with octopus dens and large king crab. There are several fine golf courses along the coast. The whole area is particularly good for kayaking and canoeing whether on the ocean or lakes.

Powell River:

(pop. 13,000) is in the midst of an abundance of lakes, creeks and rivers. World class dive sites and salt and freshwater fishing are at your doorstep. The Powell River Forest Canoe Route, a chain of eight lakes linked by portage trails passes through magnificent forest reserves. Wilderness hiking and cycling trails abound and there is a beautiful new 18-hole golf course.

Lund:

Lund is located at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, about 20 minutes past Powell River. It is a small historic fishing village with an old wooden boardwalk and a number of art and craft shops. Lovely Savary Island with its sandy beaches and warm water is reached by water taxi from Lund. Lund is also the gateway for Desolation Sound, a sailor's paradise, which can only be reached by boat.

Sunshine Coast Special Days: June – Maritime History Weekend (Gibsons); July – Acoustic Gumboot Folk Society Concerts (Gibsons), Sea Cavalcade (Gibsons) and Halfmoon Bay Country Fair; August – Roberts Creek Daze (Roberts Creek), Festival of the Written Arts (Sechelt), Salmon Enhancement Fishing Derby (Sechelt), Pender Harbour Days (Pender Harbour), Texada Sandcastle Weekend (Powell River), Powell River Seafair (Powell River) and Sunshine Festival (Powell River); September – Sunshine Coast Fall Fair (Gibsons) and Storytelling Festival (Sechelt).