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Camping at Cal Cheak Recreation Site
Quick facts: With the addition of Baby Bro, we thought camping in 2022 was mostly off the menu for us. With Grandpa’s help, I did manage to sneak in two trips to Rolley Lake in the spring with the two bigger boys, but Baby Bro was much too young at the time. As we entered…
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Killarney Lake Loop – Crippen Regional Park
Quick Facts: Crippen Regional Park is located on Bowen Island, a bit further afield than the other Metro Vancouver Regional Parks. We made a day trip of it with our friends Amy and Marcus’ family and tackled the Killarney Lake Loop. We drove up to the picnic area where there’s a small parking lot. The…
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Still Creek Paddle
Parking and Launching: Burnaby Lake Rowing Pavilion Launching type: low profile dock Difficulty – very slow, barely noticeable moving water Boat traffic – no motorized boats on Burnaby Lake View – marshy channels and abundant birding opportunities, but definitely an urban paddle with visibly poor water quality Facilities – free parking Overall score – 4/10…
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2022 BC Coastal Circle Tour
Our biggest trip of 2022 is a 15-day circle tour of a beautiful section on the southern BC Coast, with stays in Sidney, Nanaimo, Comox, Powell River, and Gibsons. The 530km (including ferries) circle we drew: July 15 to 18: Sidney BC July 18 to 21: Nanaimo July 22: Bonus day in Comox, Goose Spit…
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Skookumchuck Narrows Hike
Quick Facts: The hike in Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park is perhaps the most famous of all hiking trails on the Sunshine Coast. It’s an fairly easy 8km hike to the Narrows, where impressive whirlpools at ebbing tide and standing rapids at flooding tide can be viewed. The volume of tide water in the entire Sechelt…
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Paddle in Smuggler Cove, Sunshine Coast
After a previous hike to Smuggler Cove, the idea of paddling here stuck. The cove looked so serene and quiet, and the surrounding areas looked like a fantastic rocky maze to explore. When the chance arrived, I jumped on it and put together a float plan. I would get up bright and early, and do…
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Sunshine Coast: Ruby Lake
Ruby Lake is a gorgeous lake with a nice resort and restaurant. It’s about 4km across, and it’s popular with boaters. There’s a public boat launch at Ramp Road, and there’s a small sandy beach at Dan Bosch Park down a short dirt path. Guests at the Ruby Lake Resort could also use their private…
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Sunshine Coast: Pender Harbour
If we didn’t have our super generous friends who let us house-sit for a week, and we had to vote on what we think is the best vacation spot the Sunshine Coast, I think Pender Harbour might just be the crème de la crème. Here are some reasons why. Painted Boat Spa Rated as one…
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Sunshine Coast: Halfmoon Bay
A bit further up from Sechelt is the community of Halfmoon Bay. Grandpa and I scouted the area for beach access and on-shore crabbing opportunities, and to prepare for my Smuggler Cove Paddle. Sargeant Bay Provincial Park Our first stop was Sargeant Bay Provincial Park, which grants easy access to a beautiful stretch of rocky…
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Sunshine Coast: Sechelt
Sechelt is the central hub of the Sunshine Coast. It houses the highest population in the region, has the most shops and restaurants, and is basically unavoidable as one travels through. We’ve spent considerable time in Sechelt on our previous trips, including camping at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park, and doing an expedition paddle trip up…