our favourite place
As some of you may know, the Sunshine Coast holds a very dear place in our hearts. For years before I met my fiancé, I would go with my extended family to stay at a camp there for a few days to celebrate my grandparent's wedding anniversary. I have fond memories of running wild with my cousins with dirt streaked smiles on our faces, canoeing or kayaking on the ocean with the salt breeze running through my tangled hair, performing Sound of Music for an audience after months of practicing together, and screaming with laughter until our sides hurt while playing card games into the night. So you can imagine our delight when the opportunity arose for us to go visit and have free accommodations during our trip! We packed up the car and headed off to the coast...you didn't have to ask us twice!
arrival & view
We had gorgeous weather for our drive and when we were on the ferry, got a quick bite to eat. Before we knew it, the ferry had arrived and we were off to our accommodations. Where we stayed was graciously offered by a family member and was in the very heart of Gibsons with the best view. It's hard to imagine a more idyllic place. Once we settled in, it was time to head to bed for a good nights sleep.
day 2 things.
When we awoke in the morning, we decided to walk down to Molly's Reach for breakfast. On the way, we saw a doe with two fawns and felt like we were in a fairytale. I ordered the reakfast Bowl and one of the best caramel macchiato's I've ever had...all while watching the ocean glitter out the window with my family. After breakfast, we explored a little bit on the pier before heading back up to the house to get ready to meet up with my parents in Sechelt who wanted to show us some special places, who also happened to be on vacation in Gibsons at the same time.
About a 25 minute drive from Gibsons is the breathtaking town of Sechelt. Think of those dreamy beach towns that you see in the movies and there you have the feeling that this cozy town gives you. Like Gibsons, you find yourself wishing that you could move here to live out the rest of your days in perfect peace. When we got there, we spent a brief time exploring and worked up a big appetite just in time for meeting my parents for lunch.
snicket park.
After a wonderful lunch at The Village restaurant where we got to celebrate an early Father's Day for my Papa, we headed back to Snickett Park for some exploring. My parents excitedly led the way to their special spot that they frequent every time that they visit the Sunshine Coast. It was about a 10 minute walk from where we found parking, over the logs and under the trees, and I could tell our son's excitement was just itching to go swimming.
oasis.
Nothing could have prepared us for what we saw when we reached the spot. The wild Pacific waters stretched out endlessly to kiss the blue sky as we lay beneath it and watched a group of seals sun themselves on a rock close by. We made sure to stay hydrated, admired the Great Blue Heron and seagulls, and enjoyed the sunshine. It was incredible to be able to listen to the waves lapping the shore as we spent time together chatting, swimming, and being grateful for the opportunity to spend this time together.
Chaster beach.
After a beautiful day, we decided to head to the next spot that my parents wanted to show us. As this was before the fire ban, we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to make a fire and have a hot dog roast on the beach with a beautiful view. We watched the ships sail by as we ate, went looking for crabs, dug in the sand, and watched the sunset to end one the most beautiful days we've ever had before parting ways.
our own trip
After a lovely nights sleep and a home cooked breakfast, we decided to have our own adventure with our family of three. We had a incredible brunch at Lunitas, a beachside Mexican Eatery, and had the greatest experience...the food was out of this world! We explored the Lower G Market to check out the local vendors, went to the Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives, and explored the other shops in the heart of Gibsons. My fiancé got me a beautiful Big Blue Moma handwoven basket from Whimsy Giftware & Home Decor for an anniversary present, pictured below. We were really wanting to go to a sandy beach, as the beaches we had been to primarily had been rocky, so Josh's aunt recommended Soames Beach, a local favourite. Once we parked, it was a short little walk down to the beach, and we were there!
We were pleasantly surprised that it was not overcrowded and that we had plenty of spaces to choose from to set up. We watched the sailboats anchored close to shore gently bob up and down while our son braved the crisp ocean water, then built some sandcastles before packing up and heading home to freshen up before taking my fiance out to Joe's Cabin Restaurant & Bar for the best Father's Day dinner we could have hoped for.
ferry home
The next day, it was time to head home. We had the best time staying in Gibsons but home was calling. We packed up and headed to the ferry for a beautiful ride back to the mainland. I opted for staying on the deck for the duration of the ferry to see all of the scenic beauty passing by and in hopes I could see some ocean life before we docked and then headed home with my family.
home safe & sound.
It was so incredible to see all that the Sunshine Coast had to offer and we had the best time moving at a luxurious vacation pace while we were there. We are so grateful for the places we got to see, the relaxation, the beautiful scenery, the exceptional foods, and most of all the opportunity to spend time with one another.
Until next time!