January began quietly and slowly, marked by an unusually warm winter. The usual edge of the season felt softened, with less urgency to move and more space to settle into familiar routines.
February brought a shift, with Sarah’s family arriving from Nottingham alongside their friend Phil. It felt good to stay closer to home, showing familiar places from a different perspective.
We left early from Vancouver, making our way to Horseshoe Bay and boarding the ferry across to Langdale. The crossing carried us out into open water under low winter skies, the coastline and mountains gradually shifting as we moved further from the city. From Langdale, we joined the Sunshine Coast, a stretch of coastal communities and forested shoreline that runs north through Gibsons and Sechelt, quieter and more spaced out than the city.
Sechelt felt quieter, more spread out, the pace noticeably slower than Vancouver. We stopped for lunch at The Lighthouse Pub, set right on the water, its windows looking out over the inlet and surrounding hills. From there, we wandered down toward the pier and waterfront, taking time to explore the harbour before continuing on.
A stop at Batch 44 Brewery followed, a relaxed pause before beginning the drive back.
On the way toward Gibsons, we stopped briefly at Roberts Creek. The area had a laid back, slightly offbeat feel, with art scattered through the trees and paths leading down toward the water. We wandered through the small waterfront area before continuing on.
Not far from Gibsons, we pulled in at Sunday Cider, set back from the road and surrounded by open space and orchard rows. The setting felt relaxed and unpolished in a good way, a mix of wood structures, outdoor seating, and a slower pace that suited the area.
Back in Gibsons, we spent some time exploring the downtown area, walking along the waterfront and through the marina before making our way back toward the ferry, stopping briefly at Persephone Brewing along the way.
The day ended quietly, the combination of travel and fresh air settling in. The following morning came with a slower start before we set out again, this time heading north along the Sea to Sky Highway toward Whistler.
We stopped first at Porteau Cove, the water calm and the mountains sitting low beneath a grey sky. A rainbow appeared briefly appeared across the bay between stormy clouds. From there, we continued on to Shannon Falls, the volume of water cutting down the rock face, louder and more forceful than expected for the time of year.
Further along, we reached the Squamish Canyon, a relatively new attraction suspended above the river below. Steel walkways and suspension bridges carried us through the space, weaving between rock faces and forest, the scale of the canyon revealing itself gradually as we moved through it.
From Squamish, we continued north into Whistler, arriving into the village by mid-afternoon. The Olympic Rings sat as a natural focal point, drawing people in for photos against the backdrop of snow-dusted peaks. We spent some time there before wandering through the village itself, taking in the atmosphere before beginning the drive back.
Two days, close to home, but enough to shift perspective. Familiar places revisited, and a reminder that not every stretch of travel needs to take you far to feel worthwhile.
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