Sunshine Coast

Markus peering through the logs to get a good look at Sargeant Bay, British Columbia

This past week was Victoria Day long weekend for us Canadians and we made the trip to Sunshine Coast, which is a ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in North Vancouver. We've had many friends recommend this trip to us and since we've slowly been working through a list of British Columbia's Southern Gulf Islands to visit, we figured we'd add this one to the list as well (even though it's not a Gulf Island). The trip was a lot of fun for both of us and Markus and as usual, we wanted to share some of the things we did with you.

In hindsight we will definitely think twice about going over Victoria Day long weekend again. At the least, remember to make a reservation for the ferry. Since the ferries were fully reserved on the way there, we had to join the line to get on the ferry, which made for an early and nerve wracking morning where we weren't sure if we were going to make it on!

Sunshine Coast Resort Hotel & Marina

Type: Resort Hotel (3-star)
Pet Fee: $20/night per pet
Suite Available: N/A (bedroom)

The Sunshine Coast Resort Hotel & Marina was such a great experience. With a group of friends, we had rented both an Executive Cottage and an Oceanview Suite. Both of these were amazing and what I noticed the most was how much I felt at home. They felt less like a hotel and more like a room that you'd rent at an Airbnb and I believe that this was the reason why Markus was able to settle here quickly.

Another great thing about these rooms was that they were nice and quiet. Something that we mention a lot in these posts is that Markus is a reactive dog who'll feel threatened with footsteps or voices are close to the door. While we were staying here, we never heard other people (though there were definitely other people) and Markus never barked.

Our Recommendation For Reactive Dogs

As an owner of a reactive dog, I would definitely stay at the Sunshine Coast Resort Hotel & Marina again. There weren’t many rooms per area and per floor, so the noise was kept to a minimum. Each room also had smaller individual rooms inside, which added another layer to the quiet. We highly recommend you to checking out the Sunshine Coast Resort Hotel & Marina!

Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park

Markus enjoying the view at the top of the Smuggler Cove hike

The Smuggler Cove hike is an absolute must-do with your dog if you're in Sunshine Coast. The hike itself takes about an hour and a half, but you can easily spend more time to stop and enjoy the views along the way. You can read our full breakdown on Smuggler Cove here. In it, we cover some of the things to expect and other things (like snakes!) to look out for.

Skookumchuck Narrows

Skookumchuck Narrows was another trail that we did while we were in Sunshine Coast. If your time is limited and you have to pick between one of Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park or the Skookumchuck Narrows, I would definitely recommend the former. The length and the view of that walk makes for a high reward, lower effort type of hike.

The Skookumchuck Narrows also has great views, but compared to Smuggler's Cove, it was longer and more exhausting. We found it to be quieter as well, so if your dog is very reactive, you might want to consider this trail.

We also broke down our hike at Skookumchuck Narrows that you'll be able to find here.

Other Things to Do on Sunshine Coast

All of these stops on Sunshine Coast are a bit farther apart and requires a bit of driving, so keep all this in mind if you're planning your trip.

Sargeant Bay Provincial Park

We wish we could've spent a little bit more time here, but this walk ended up being a short stop for us. During the summer, this is a bay where people end up spending hours at a time enjoying the beach or swimming in the water. It also looked as though there's a large rock that people climb towards the end of the short trail, but since we had a dog with us, we didn't even try it. Still, if you're looking for a short stop, this is a great place with a great view to spend a little bit of time.

Persephone Brewing Company

It gets hot during the summertime on Sunshine Coast and when it's hot, we want a drink. What better way to quench that thirst than to stop at Persephone Brewing Company for a beer? The part that we liked the most was that they have outdoor seating so you're allowed to bring your pup with you! It's also just a little bit off of the town of Gibsons, so you can grab lunch before grabbing a drink here.

Gibsons Landing

About 10 minutes after you get off the ferry at the Langdale terminal, there's a small town of Gibsons that have a number of things to do. There are a few places for lunch like Molly's Reach (one of the main locations of CBC's longest running drama "The Beachcombers") that have outdoor patios available for dogs. We also tried Smoke On The Water and Smitty's Oyster House and those were also great options.

At Gibsons Landing, you can also walk along the water or visit some of the shops along Gower Point Rd. If you keep following this road, you'll come across the Gibsons Public Market off the side as well where you can find bakeries, a butcher shop, fish market and other fine foods.

Sechelt & the Sechelt Farmers' & Artisans' Market

From Gibsons if you keep driving up on Sunshine Coast Hwy., you'll eventually come across the town of Sechelt. We had stopped here for lunch at a great place called the Basted Baker where we could sit in the back in a patio with Markus. There are more small shops and stores to walk around in this area.

We also happened to be here on a Saturday when they had their Sechelt Farmers' & Artisans' Market. The market has a lot of different foods and local crafts and communities of people supporting one another, which is great to see. There was even a dog treat stand and Markus got a treat! The market is open from the first week of April through the end of September on Saturdays from 9:00am to 2:30pm.

Though the market is dog-friendly, be warned that it can be extremely busy with both people and dogs. It was so busy for us that we ended up taking Markus to walk along the outside of the market. If your dog is reactive or afraid of crowds or tight spaces, I would suggest that this market won't be good for them. There are quieter areas along the outside of the park, so if you're able to hand your dog off and take turns going into the market, I would do that instead.

Beach Along the Coast of Sechelt

Markus standing on a log and enjoying the beach along Sechelt, British Columbia

Close to the Sechelt Farmers' & Artisans' Market (but on the other side of the Sunshine Coast Hwy.), is a beach that runs along the coast of Sechelt and the walk here is amazing. We parked right at the end of Inlet Ave. (although we got lucky as there was one parking spot and we got it) and made our way down to Snickett Park and back. You can definitely park elsewhere along this beach, but keep in mind that parking can be hard to find in the summer.

Disclaimer

Markus is a reactive, but not aggressive dog. His instinct is to avoid other dogs and he may growl, bark or lunge if provoked, but will not attack. We normally do not have issues with leashed dogs when both sides are controlled, but we will be on guard when an oncoming dog is not leashed. There are varying levels to a dog’s reactivity and only you can decide if this park, trail or hotel is appropriate for your dog. Our visits generally will not include off-leash areas; most experiences shared on The Markus Project are within leashed or undefined areas.

Please remember that our past experience visiting a park, trail or hotel may not be the same as your experience at the same park, trail or hotel. We have no control of who visits the park and whether they adhere to park rules - like leashing their dogs on leash-required paths - or not. Please use your discretion with the information provided and with your personal knowledge of your dog’s reactivity when visiting these parks, trails or hotels.