My name is Laurie McConnell, and I’m Your 1st-Person Guide to the Sunshine Coast, for over 15 years! Join me as I explore the Sunshine Coast, Powell River and surrounding islands and waterways in. From a full business directory, to blog (here), to video channel, to curated & trending social media page, to mobile app, I bring you the best of the Coast.
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The Sunshine Coast of British Columbia stretches from Howe Sound to Desolation Sound, encompassing two ferry routes, seven outlying islands, and 12 towns. Accessible by passenger/car ferry, floatplane, airstrip (scheduled flights to Powell River only by land) and private boat, the Coast is a world-class destination attracting global visitors even though it is only 40 minutes from the Lower Mainland.
From the ferry out of West Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay, the communities you will encounter are:
BIGPACIFIC SPONSORS:
Please support these businesses as they have made a huge commitment to marketing the Sunshine Coast community through their generous contributions to this site:
We’re an excellent DAY TRIP destination out of Vancouver, but we’re also a wonderful GETAWAY destination for visitors from the Lower Mainland, southern British Columbia, and Washington State. Accommodations range from family resorts, motor inns, affordable B&B or cottage stays, or luxury bed and breakfasts and self-contained private rentals for families and groups. Many offer packaged stays based on romance, adventure or cultural getaways.
Of course, once visitors have seen the Sunshine Coast, it isn’t long before they want to move here. We can help! Explore the relocation guide or check out the real estate pages for more information.
If you enjoy outdoor recreation, the Lower Sunshine Coast has a lot to offer… visitors are always pleasantly surprised to find such a wide range of activities from sea kayaking, sailing, mountain biking, hiking, fresh and saltwater fishing, beachcombing, and boat tours to such glorious destinations as the Skookumchuck Rapids or Princess Louisa Inlet – all without the crowds found on Vancouver Island or in popular Lower Mainland destinations and the Okanagan.
Lovers of the arts and all things cultural are regular visitors to the Lower Coast; events like the renowned Festival of the Written Arts, Fibre Arts Festival and Hackett Park Craft Fair attract thousands of visitors annually each year. The Coast Cultural Alliance, formed to encourage development of the arts as an economic participant in Sunshine Coast life has now expanded to include the Upper Sunshine Coast, and you can find out about hundreds of artists, events and gallery exhibits through the CCA.
You can also shop in one of our retail centres, or visit galleries, art studios, collectibles and antique stores, and all of the small retail businesses in the main areas of Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Sechelt and Pender Harbour. Dine in waterfront restaurants, bistro-style cafes or downtown locations for a variety of flavors and budgets.
Sunshine Coast is a 40 minute ferry ride out of Horseshoe Bay, Vancouver BC, and is approximately 4 hours from Seattle Washington. For more details about how to get to the Sunshine Coast, visit the maps section of Bigpacific.com.
Set amid some of the most beautiful scenery along the BC Coast, Powell River has a wealth of natural resources. The pristine beauty of the ocean, lakes, rivers and forests make it a wonderful place to live or visit. Powell River supports some of the finest educational, recreational and cultural facilities in Canada. New residents and visitors alike comment on the warm and friendly atmosphere when they first arrive in the community. Many people passing through decide to stay because there’s so much more here than they ever imagined.
The Powell River area is an excellent overnight getaway destination out of Vancouver, and Vancouver Island. Accommodations range from luxury bed and breakfasts and self-contained private rentals to family resorts, motor inns, and affordable cottage stays. Many offer packaged stays based on romance, adventure or cultural getaways.
Powell River is a year-round sea-to-mountain recreation area. The community boasts a first class recreation centre, an 18-hole championship golf course, a curling rink, tennis courts, a 400-metre track, as well as many baseball and soccer fields. Powell River offers world class salmon fishing, trout fishing, hiking, diving, canoeing, sailing, walking and kayaking. The community is a world-renowned ‘hot spot’ for scuba diving with 19 dive sites in the immediate vicinity. The world’s finest underwater statue, a 3 metre bronze mermaid, is located in 30 metres of water at Saltery Bay Provincial Park.
The community of Powell River lays claim to one of the mildest climates in all of Canada. The sun shines 1400 – 1900 hours each year on average. The July high temperatures average 23 degrees Celsius (what does that mean?) while the January highs average 5 degrees Celsius. Precipitation is moderate with an annual average rainfall of 104cm (40 inches). The mild climate in Powell River allows for golfing, gardening and fishing to be enjoyed year round.
Powell River is situated on the west coast of British Columbia, 142km (80 miles) northwest of Vancouver. Directly across the Strait of Georgia on Vancouver Island lie the communities of Courtenay and Comox. Powell River is accessible by road & ferry, bus, barge, and air.
Who we are… and who we’re not!
You may think Bigpacific.com is the product of a big community organization or franchised outlet, but we’re really just a small privately owned company – a family – made up of:
Values and philosophy:
Great and dynamic partnerships with other stakeholders and organizations in the community
Stewardship of the quality of life on the Sunshine Coast, so that while we invite visitors to come, we ask you to be mindful of our way of life, community values and the integrity of our visitor experience with its focus on the wilderness recreation experience, educational travel, and arts and cultural values. A jet-ski and bar scene destination we’re not!
Responsible participation in the Internet Economy. After 15 years of sharing the Sunshine Coast with the world, we’ve learned that the best Internet company is really a customer service company.
There’s no other company like this one, because we’ve gotten to learn from great people like you!
If you would like to advertise your business, organization or even yourself on this site, call 604-885-5913. If you would like to get involved and help Bigpacific.com/ TheSunshineCoast.com to grow and involve more of the community, we’d love to hear from you.
We’re a family here at Bigpacific.com…
Come join us!
Bigpacific.com/TheSunshineCoast.com
A Sunshine Coast Company!
Advertising Inquiries:
Laurie McConnell, webmaster@bigpacific.com
Content Inquiries:
Laurie McConnell, webmaster@bigpacific.com
Mail: PO Box 2119 Sechelt BC Canada V0N 3A0