Along the British Columbia coast you will find a coastal road called Highway 101. It is the world’s longest highway extending from Castro in Chile to Lund in British Columbia, a total of 15,020 km. The section between Gibsons, north of Vancouver to Lund, some 150 km northwest is known as the Sunshine Coast offering tourist and locals alike stunning scenery and a truly beautiful drive (with a couple of ferry crossings thrown in).

If you are planning on touring the Sunshine Coast you will probably be starting your journey from the Vancouver area, so will need to take a ferry from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across to Langdale. The journey will take approximately 40 minutes and will cost around $10 per adult depending on the time of year. Make sure your camera is handy as you sail between islands such a Howe Sound and Bowen Island.

Once you reach Langdale you drive south along Highway 101 to Gibsons which is known as the "Gateway to the Sunshine Coast." It is also known as the location of the TV series The Beachcombers. Although filming no longer takes place some of the places seen in the series are still there to see such as Molly’s Reach restaurant and the pier. Although not a huge tourist destination it is perhaps worth spending a little time here to explore the harbour front and take in the views.

The town is home to around 4,000 people and has recently undergone a revitalization which included the downtown area and the harbour as well as creating the Winegarden Waterfront Park which opened in 2001. This area includes ponds, play areas, walkways, boardwalks, wetlands, watercourse and is wheelchair accessible with beautiful views over the coast.

Once back on the 101, your next stop will be Roberts Creek, a quaint town which has become a haven for artists and craftspeople. It is known as the "Gumboot Capital of the World" a symbol adopted by the Gumboot Acoustic Society and the Gumboot Garden Cafe.

Whilst here, apart from visiting the town itself you will want to take a look at Roberts Creek Provincial Park located a couple of kilometres north of the town. The park covers an area of 40 hectares with cedar forests. The park has several trails as well as campsites and is wheelchair accessible. The beach area offers excellent picnic facilities where you can watch the ocean and if you are lucky see seals and whales pass by.

The next place you will come to is Sechelt which itself is not an especially stunning location, however just north of the town is Porpoise Bay Provincial Park which is definitely worth a visit. The park has easy to walk trails and access to Angus Creek known for its salmon population. The park covers an area of 4 hectares and includes campsites, playgrounds, picnic areas and facilities such as toilets and showers.

Once you have taken in the beauty of Porpoise you can continue north to Halfmoon Bay. This bay is protected from the open sea by Thormanby Island making it a peaceful location to watch the world go by. Here you will find a pretty coastline, harbours and wooded shores. This area is known for its arts and crafts and is home to several galleries as well as many home studios that locals open to the public.

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