GIBSONS GETAWAY

How to plan a perfect trip to this Sunshine Coast destination

By Diane Selkirk

On a mild sunny day, there’s nothing better. The air is bewitchingly clear and everything has a sharp, bright focus. But all it takes is for the sun to scoot behind a cloud and suddenly I’m throwing on another layer or wishing for a fireplace. And if the wind picks up and a cold rain sets in, the only acceptable way to finish off the day is with a hot shower and a hotter drink.

This is why planning an early season getaway to Gibsons was such a great solution. There’s something special about being tied up to a dock (a ceramic heater keeping the air warm) with a misty Howe Sound view of the sea and snowcapped mountains just outside the porthole. If the weather’s good, there’s lots of outdoor exploring to be done (and maybe even a late season snowshoe trek at Dakota Ridge). If it’s cold and wet, there’s no lack of cool indoor spaces to visit. Instead of just another weekend of waiting for summer—a trip to Gibsons can end up feeling like a holiday and staycation rolled into one. Back in the day, Gibsons’ main claim to fame was that it was the setting for the TV classic, The Beachcombers. For many visitors this is where the picturesque town could have stayed stuck. Instead, the community of 4,600 has leaned into its natural outdoor charms; developing a range of forest trails and seaside walks. Add in the region’s evergrowing list of breweries, cideries, distilleries, restaurants, art galleries and coffee shops and Gibsons has become a great destination for boaters and tourists alike.

Book Early

Like much of the Sunshine Coast, once summer hits, Gibsons Landing can get really busy. This is equally true of the marinas. In peak season it can be tough to even get a slip at either of the two marinas. In the off season it’s a little easier—but you’ll still want to call ahead. Both Gibsons Landing Harbour Authority (GLHA) and Gibsons Marina offer transient slips and a range of amenities including showers, laundry and wifi. Both are also a short walk from restaurants and galleries, as well as from bus stops and car rentals.

Grab A Cosy Dinner

For off-season adventures I like to save time getting out on the water by making provisioning part of the fun—and saving some of the shopping for when I arrive. With shorter hours of daylight than in the summer—I’m always aware of making it into harbour before dark (especially when I’ve never been to the marina before).

After travelling to Gibsons and settling into your slip for the night, one option is to have dinner aboard with fresh ingredients picked up from the Gibsons Public Market (it’s just across the parking lot from Gibsons Marina). The small public market has a veggie stand; a fish counter; a butcher/deli; a cheesemonger; a chocolatier and a bakery. Another option is to walk to one of the restaurants in lower Gibsons for dinner out and save shopping for the next day.

Discover Some Art

After starting the day with coffee and tasty baked goods from Beachcomber Coffee Co., it’s time to explore. The Sunshine Coast boasts one of the highest percentages of working artists anywhere in Canada—so the trick isn’t finding an artist to visit, it’s winnowing them down so you don’t run out of time. You can try a do-it-yourself art tour by looking for the purple banners that indicate local artists are onsite and welcoming visitors (there are plenty around Gibsons), but we had the chance to go a little further afield on a tour with Sunshine Coast Art Tours.

Owner Douglas Bevans says he saw a need on the coast for his tours when he realized many visitors don’t know where to start when it comes to choosing which galleries to explore. So, he headed out and visited with dozens of artists to get a sense of who was out there. Then he curated a selection of studios that give a sample of the range of talent in the area.

After picking us up in his van, Bevans brought us to meet several artists. My favourites included the Macgee Cloth Company, a textile company where blankets and throws are made on antique English shuttle looms. Watching artist Pamela Macgee run the extraordinarily complex machinery is mesmerizing, and the blankets she creates are destined to become family heirlooms. Another favourite was Coast Raven Design Studio, where Indigenous artists Richard de la Mare and Artie George create traditional wood carvings and jewellery pieces while sharing their rich heritage. Bevan also offers a tour that includes breweries, wineries and distilleries. A stop at Bruinwood Estate Distillery in Robert’s Creek, where Jeff Barringer and Danise Lofstrom hand-produce tasty twists on craft gins and vodkas convinced me a visit to a few more producers was a must. Everything was delicious but I was partial to the Cherry Gin (perfect for a spritzer) and I picked up a bottle of the creamy and unique Advocaat for on board sipping.

Getting Around

One of the challenges of any boating destination is exploring beyond the immediate harbour. It’s easy to spend hours, or days, in just the core of Gibsons (there’s a small catch-and-release aquarium inside the public market that showcases local marine creatures, excellent locally owned shops including Fong’s Market & Gifts, vintage boutiques and thrift stores and even a brewery) but the more I saw, the more I wanted to do.

Fortunately, there are a few more options for getting around. The Coast Car Co-op has an agreement with other car co-ops in BC (Modo and Kootenay Carshare), so if you’re a member of one of those you have roaming privileges with Coast. There’s also a local car rental agency and BC Transit offers regular bus service that gets you within a short walk of Banditry Cider, Sunday Cider and Persephone Brewing Company.

The bus can also get you to Alpha Adventures in Roberts Creek. If you happen to visit the coast before locally run Dakota Ridge closes for the season (early to mid-April) you can catch an Alpha Adventures shuttle up to the ski and snowshoe area for a true sea to sky adventure. The snowshoe trails are well marked and the views from the ridge are gorgeous. And because most boats don’t have snow- shoes in their lockers—they provide equipment rentals too.

THE KEY WITH early season trips is to be adaptable and to pick a destination with lots of choose-your-ownadventure options. That way it doesn’t matter if the sun stays firmly behind dark clouds that threaten a chilly rain. There’s a hot shower and a hot drink at the end of your sail as well as the reward of a new horizon. Adventure doesn’t have to be saved for the summer months—all it takes is a good plan.

When You Go

Gibsons Landing Harbour Authority (GLHA)

The non-profit marina welcomes transient vessels for hourly or overnight moorage. 604-886-8017 glha@telus.net

Gibsons Marina

Offering fuel and hourly or overnight moorage for boats up to 85 feet. 604-886-8686

Bitter End Boater’s Exchange

1044 Seamount Way, Gibsons, BC

Purple Banner Art Tours

Developed by Coast Cultural Alliance—purple banners fly wherever artists are at work. coastculture.com/purplebanner-tour

Sunshine Coast Art Tours

Book an art of brewery tour and see more of the coast. sunshinecoastarttours.com

Alpha Adventures

Shuttle to Dakota Ridge and kayaking/ SUP tours. outdooradventurestore.ca