Sure, you’ve likely driven the Sea-to-Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler many times, but what if you ventured off the road well travelled to see the sights, amp up the adrenaline, or savour local fare?
Here are 12 adventures to be found if you ease up on the gas along this famed ribbon of road.
This story was originally published in June, 2020.
The temptation might be to beeline through Stanley Park, but if you slow down, you could view this iconic Vancouver location in a new light. Take an Indigenous-led Talking Trees walking tour with Talaysay Tours, and hear why this area—known as the village of X̱wáýx̱way—has been a meeting place for Squamish, Lil’wat, and Musqueam nations for thousands of years. Also on the tour, you’ll learn how plants found in the park are used for food, medicine, and art.
Vancouver’s renowned culinary scene is shaped by the surrounding land and sea. But did you know many local chefs find inspiration in foods foraged from our forests and beaches? Learn what’s safe to eat (and, more importantly, what’s not) on a Wild Edibles Foraging or Sea Foraging tour with Swallow Tail. Go on a forest walk to identify delicacies from roots to shoots and leaves, or head to the seashore to discover what can be harvested from the ocean without a boat.
A few minutes north, the to Sea to Sky Gondola boasts unforgettable views of Howe Sound from on high. Enjoy the scenery as you ride to the summit and traverse the suspension bridge at the top. If you can tear yourself away from the view, there are walking and hiking trails to explore, complete with interpretive signage. After all that strolling, grab a cold drink and a hot meal from the Sky Pilot Restaurant. Be sure to purchase tickets online before heading up.
A guided forest walk at the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, Blake Jorgenson | Exploring inside the museum, @britanniaminemuseum | Sea to Sky Gondola, Paul Bride
A must-visit when you’re heading up Highway 99 is the Britannia Mine Museum, a stand-out landmark south of Squamish. Walk the spacious grounds of this National Historic Site to explore interactive displays and go deep below the surface on an underground tour of the copper mine (bring a warm sweater). Booking in advance is highly recommended; tour group sizes are small to allow for physical distancing. Insider tip: Before you leave, drop by the Chatterbox Café for some java.
Take in the natural wonders that lay just beyond the Sea-to-Sky Highway on a scenic flight with Sea to Sky Air. Choose from 10 different tours, ranging in length from 25 minutes to eight hours. While you may be inclined to sit back and enjoy the view (which is totally cool), extroverts are welcome to chat with the pilots, who are happy to share a few stories.
Choose from a family-friendly, bouncy ride (cue the giggles!) or take things up a notch with a whitewater adventure along the Elaho River, northwest of Squamish with Canadian Outback Rafting.
Aerial views of Squamish from Sea to Sky Air, Amber Turnau | Paddling Howe Sound, Amber Turnau | Aprés with a view at Fergie's Café, @fergiescafesquamish
Enjoy an afternoon at Squamish’s newest ocean-front park, Sp’akw’us Feather Park. The 11-acre park is located at the tip of Oceanfront Peninsula near downtown Squamish, and is a popular destination for wind and watersports. The park also offers plenty of land-based activities, including local art pieces, and a playground designed in collaboration with youth from the Squamish Nation that retells stories of the land.
One of the best ways to explore the Sea-to-Sky Corridor is on the water. Whether you prefer to keep it more mellow on a stand-up paddle board, or are looking for something more adventurous like kiteboarding, Squamish Watersports can help you get out on the turquoise waters of Howe Sound. Insider tip: Once you’ve worked up an appetite from your Squamish adventures, tuck into brunch with the locals at the recently reopened Fergie’s Café in Brackendale.
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is a tree-fringed, 2,800-square-metre (30,000-square-foot) architectural wonder in Whistler’s Upper Village. Step through the massive cedar entrance doors to the light-filled Great Hall to see extraordinary carvings and weavings set against a dramatic mountainous backdrop. Join a Cultural Ambassador on a guided forest walk—offered three times daily—to learn more about how the landscape features prominently in the past and present way of life for the Squamish and Lil’wat peoples. Don’t leave without a visit to the Thunderbird Café (the bannock is a must).
Horseback riding with Copper Cayuse Outfitters, Tourism Whistler/Mike Crane | Visiting Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre and tasting venison chili with bannock at Thunderbird Café, Blake Jorgenson
A flightseeing adventure, Blackcomb Helicopters | Sunset ATV tour, Canadian Wilderness Adventures | Margherita pizza at Pizzeria Antico, Amber Turnau
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