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Nanaimo – not just a Harbour City
We had a lukewarm review of Nanaimo from our visit last summer and concluded that its main purpose was to serve as a “stepping stone to nearby attractions”. But it turned out, to appreciate the Harbour City, one has to look away from the harbour. We had a chance for a second visit this year,…
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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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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…
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Sunshine Coast: Gibsons
The last leg of our BC Coastal Circle Tour was also the reason why we planned a circle tour in the first place. Our super generous friends Nancy and Gordon offered to let us use their home in Gibsons while they were away on vacation for a week, so we extended our Vancouver Island trip…
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Powell River
Our time at Powell River was cut short due to ferry cancellation the day before, but we made the most of it. The Sea Walk The Powell River Sea Walk is a flat, 2.7km out and back trail (1.3km one way) right on the water’s edge starting near the ferry terminal. The views of the…
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Comox Bonus Day
After Parksville, we said goodbye to Amy and Aaron and headed north to catch a ferry in Comox. It’s a quick 1 hour drive, and we had a choice of two routes. The faster option was through Highway 19, a boring 4-lane highway that would get you to Comox about 10 to 15 minutes faster.…
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Parksville – seaside vacation destination
When we stayed in Nanaimo, we visited Parksville on multiple occasions. In hindsight, we should have looked for a place to stay closer to Parksville since there were so many more things to do around here. No only is it only a short 10 minute drive to the eclectic community of Coombs, Parksville also has…