Your Guide to a Rejuvenating Escape to the Sunshine Coast This Spring

The Sunshine Coast offers an easy and restorative coastal escape without the crowds during the winter and spring seasons. The 180-kilometre stretch along the Salish Sea is tucked into the southwest corner of B.C.’s mainland—and it’s only a scenic flight or ferry ride from Vancouver. Between forest walks, fresh ocean air, warm food and a vibrant local culture, life slows to a calm—in the very best way possible. If you’re looking for a coastal reset, the Sunshine Coast offers precisely that.

Coastal Time

The mountains and coastline of the Sunshine Coast set the perfect backdrop to relax, unwind, and simply be. Take your time waking up in the morning, whether it’s in a cozy cabin in Lund Harbour, a forested retreat in Pender Harbour or a quaint lodge in Gibsons. Watch the mist along the water with a warm cup of coffee and, in the evening, soak in a hot tub under the stars. Give yourself much-deserved time to de-stress at the spas and saunas scattered throughout the coast.

Savour the Flavours

Introduce your taste buds to the region’s fresh flavours. Sip and savour culinary creations at the Sunshine Coast Flavour Festival from March 6 to 15, where you can sample menus from a tasty variety of vendors from Gibsons to Lund. Complement the meal with a visit to the Sunshine Coast Beer Festival on Saturday, March 7, sipping handcrafted brews and crisp ciders by the sea at Gibsons Public Market.

Craving a night in? There are recurring farmers’ markets in Coast communities like Powell River and Roberts Creek, so you can browse local ingredients and whip up a farm-to-table meal in the comfort of your home away from home.

Immerse in Arts & Culture

Creativity and culture thrive on the Sunshine Coast, with plenty to keep you occupied on your retreat. Have a leisurely movie night at the 25^th annual qathet International Film Festival (qIFF). From March 6 to 14, the festival features a lineup of award-winning and nominated films from B.C., Canada and around the world, all screened at the historic Patricia Theatre in Powell River. Feeling jazzy on the Sunshine Coast? Let the rhythm roll in as the Townsite Jazz Festival returns to Powell River, April 9 to 11, filling coastal air with the sound of Canada’s finest jazz musicians.

Fun for Everyone

For live events everyone is sure to love, the inaugural Winter Pride Festival is running from February 27 to March 8. Get your laughs in at the Coast Comedy Night or win a prize at drag bingo. The festival also celebrates inclusion in sport, with its culminating event, This Tournament Has Everything (TTHE), a women’s/trans/two-spirit/non-binary inclusive hockey tournament. Join the small-town energy and big-time spirit—catch the games for free at the Sunshine Coast Arena in Sechelt on the weekend of March 6 to 8.

Fresh Outdoors

This is the time of year when nature flourishes on the Sunshine Coast. Get up close to the region’s coastal waterways on a boat tour, or a kayak or paddleboarding excursion. The Sunshine Coast is also home to an abundance of trails for all skill levels. Walk among the timeless giants of the rainforest, deeply breathing air as fresh as the forest itself.

From boating to lounging, the quiet coastal rhythm of the Sunshine Coast in spring offers a refreshing change of pace for all to relish.

Plan a getaway that matches your pace at sunshinecoastcanada.com.

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