Coastal Circle Route

From Tsawwassen, south of Vancouver, board BC Ferries and sail to Sidney on Vancouver Island. If you have additional time, consider a detour to one of the Southern Gulf Islands, known for creative communities and fresh local fare.

Galiano, Mayne, Saturna, and Pender islands each have vibrant artistic collectives, with the biggest concentration of galleries and studios on Salt Spring Island in the village of Ganges. Many of the islands also offer a weekend farmers’ market.

The community of Sidney, located just south of the BC Ferries terminal, is known for its group of eclectic book stores all located within a four-block radius. Find new and used books on a wide variety of subjects, including books for collectors.

Visit the impressive Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea where you can learn about the living ecosystem and see marine life from the surrounding waters. And don’t miss the renowned Butchart Gardens, a national historic site, in nearby Brentwood Bay.

Feeling peckish? Check out the Greater Victoria Flavour Trails for self-guided touring of orchards, vineyards, farms, distilleries, and more in the Island’s Saanich Peninsula.

In the capital city of Victoria, 30 minutes from Sidney, stroll along the picturesque Inner Harbour and stop at the Royal BC Museum to explore galleries that showcase 10,000 years of BC’s natural and human history.

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is home to BC’s largest public art collection, which includes a permanent collection of more than 22,000 pieces that features western Canada’s most important collection of Asian art.

Finding fuel for your journey is an easy task in Victoria, a city that’s home to creative food trucks, oceanside fine dining, traditional tea rooms, and everything in between.

From Victoria, head north along the Trans Canada Highway and stop at the Malahat Skywalk for panoramic ocean views over Saanich Inlet. On a clear day, you can spot Washington State’s Mount Baker in the distance.

Continue through the beautiful Cowichan Valley, home to charming communities rich in Indigenous culture. Stop in Duncan, known as the “City of Totems,” and take a self-guided tour of more than 40 totem poles on display through the downtown area.

Farther north, Chemainus—originally a logging town—boasts the world’s largest outdoor gallery of murals and sculptures. The influence of art and artisans can be felt throughout the community, including at the popular live theatre venue.

Follow the Trans Canada to the pretty town of Ladysmith with its heritage walks and its antique and curio shops. The Ladysmith Historical Society offers insight into the town’s coal mining and logging past.

Next you’ll come to the energetic city of Nanaimo, a hub of land- and water-based outdoor adventure, as well as a historic city centre complete with scenic oceanfront walkway.

While you’re here, board a small passenger ferry bound for Saysutshun (Newcastle Island) Marine Provincial Park, an important site for the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Enjoy a picnic on one of the many beaches, and seek out historic sites including Snuneymuxw village sites.

From Nanaimo, take Highway 19 north and, if time permits, detour onto the 19A for a meandering oceanside route through Parksville and Qualicum Beach en route to Comox.

Stretch your legs along Parksville’s expansive Rathtrevor Beach, or smell the blooms at Qualicum’s Milner Gardens & Woodland. Prefer to keep it artsy? Another popular detour takes you west of Parksville to The Old Country Market in the tiny town on Coombs, best known for its resident goats on the roof.

When you reach Comox, plan to visit the Comox Air Force Museum to learn about military aviation history. And check out some of the many boutique shopping opportunities that feature local products, including I-Hos Gallery and Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery for stunning Indigenous jewelry and art pieces.

Take in gorgeous views (and watch for whales!) as you sail from Comox to Powell River on the Sunshine Coast with BC Ferries.

Situated between ocean and forest, with plenty of lakes and rivers, Powell River offers easy access to the great outdoors combined with a historic city centre that’s home to the Patricia Theatre—Canada’s oldest, continuously operating movie theatre.

If the popcorn leaves you thirsty, pop across the street for a beer at local institution, Townsite Brewing.

To reach the northernmost destination along the Sunshine Coast Highway, drive 30 minutes north to the eclectic community of Lund.

From here, consider a paddling trip into spectacular Desolation Sound Marine Park. The Lund Resort at Klah Ah Men makes an excellent base. Alternatively, travel for 15 minutes in a water taxi to reach Savary Island; the island’s white-sand beaches and warm-water swimming are reminiscent of more tropical destinations.

South of Powell River, at Saltery Bay, board another BC Ferries vessel to Earls Cove and the Southern Sunshine Coast.

Visit nearby Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park and hike the easy 4-km (2.5-mi) trail to a viewpoint where Sechelt and Jervis inlets meet. Twice a day, during peak tide change, the turbulent rapids form spectacular whirlpools and whitewater.

Farther south, stop in picture-perfect Pender Harbour to cast a line for salmon or lingcod, or to swim in the ocean or the area’s freshwater lakes. Fifteen minutes down the road, rent a kayak and paddle the peaceful curve of Halfmoon Bay’s stunning coastline.

Tip: As you make your way along the coast, keep watch for the purple banners that indicate an artist’s studio or gallery is open to visitors. The self-guided Purple Banner Tour stretches from Powell River to Gibsons.

Sechelt, nestled between Sechelt Inlet to the east and the Salish Sea to the west, boasts tons of waterfront and access to water-based recreation. Pedals & Paddles, for example, offers kayak and SUP rentals, as well as guided tours.

Located on the traditional territory of the shíshálh Nation, the community is also home to the tems swiya Museum. Visitors can view a collection of artifacts and learn about the cultural heritage of the area’s original inhabitants.

There are eclectic studios, galleries, and shops in Sechelt, some of which participate in the Purple Banner Tour. And you can check out the year-round schedule of exhibitions displaying local and off-coast art at the Sunshine Coast Arts Council.

At the south end of the Sunshine Coast, the town of Gibsons overlooks Howe Sound and several small islands. Stop in at the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives to learn more about local history before perusing the latest exhibition on display at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery.

To gain insight into the local waters, visit the TidePools Aquarium, where you can experience hands-on learning with their interactive touch tanks. Meet the creatures who live in the diverse habitats below the surface.

Need a bite to eat? The aquarium is located in the Gibsons Public Market with its local food vendors and popular market bistro. Toast your time on the Sunshine Coast with a stop at Persephone Brewing Company before heading to the BC Ferries terminal for a 40-minute sailing back to Vancouver.

Back in Vancouver, explore the most significant holding of works by BC-born artist Emily Carr at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Carr’s paintings feature landscapes of the west and northwest coasts.

A few blocks away, the Bill Reid Galley of Northwest Coast Art celebrates the extraordinary work of contemporary Indigenous artists hailing from the northwest coast. Included is an impressive collection of pieces by legendary Haida artist Bill Reid.

One of Reid’s best-known pieces, The Raven and the First Men, is featured prominently at the Museum of Anthropology, located on the University of British Columbia campus. This spectacular museum houses works by Indigenous artists from the Northwest Coast, and from cultures around the world.

Across the Granville Street Bridge from Vancouver’s downtown core is an area known as “Gallery Row.” On South Granville street, between the bridge and 16th Avenue, you’ll find a collection of small fine art galleries showcasing painters, sculptors, photographers, and more.

And under the Granville Street Bridge, Granville Island is home to a wide range of artisan studios, from jewelry and paintings to glass blowing and hand-crafted brooms. The Granville Island Public Market is the perfect place to gather ingredients for a picnic on the grass or on the beach in Stanley Park, one of the continent’s largest urban parks.

Originally published in March of 2022. Updated in February of 2026.