How to have the ultimate Vancouver lifestyle without living here
You want to live in Vancouver, but the reality is that most of us can’t.
You want your amazing career and an easy commute. You want access to gorgeous beaches where you don’t have to fight for a spot on the sand. You want to feast on the freshest local fare. You want to get to know your neighbours; to feel like you’re a part of the community. You want to go hiking on a whim without worrying about a massive crowd. You want to gaze at the sunset without the glaring skyscrapers standing in your way.
But you can’t – unless you find an alternative.
And so you find yourself sipping your hot coffee on a balcony with unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean’s rolling waves. Better yet, you enjoy this view on your way to work during a scenic 40-minute ferry ride. When you return home, you’ll frequent the market where you’ll pick up locally made artisan ingredients.
And no – you’re not on vacation. For the record, this is where you live.
29,970 people also call the stunning Sunshine Coast their home, and for good reason too. The resplendent coastal stretch spans more than 86 whopping kilometres, allowing for endless evening strolls underneath the sparkling stars.
Here are some of the other amazing things you can do.
Biking
Photo courtesy of Rachel Dempster Real Estate, Chromag and Stephen Mathews
Venturing out on your mountain bike and discovering the labyrinth of trail systems on the Sunshine Coast is something you love doing on the weekend. It’s easy for you to see why the area is becoming a premier destination for mountain biking in Canada with the Coast Gravity Bike Park, plus trails including Red Dragon, Hot Lap, and Dynamite Panther.
The ocean
Photo courtesy of Rachel Dempster Real Estate and Dolf Vermeulen Photography
One of your favourite ways to spend time on the water, simultaneously topping-up your tan is on your paddle board. With rental locations in Gibsons and Pender Harbour, all you need to focus on is where you’d like to explore.
Camping
Photo courtesy of Rachel Dempster Real Estate and Dolf Vermeulen Photography
Reconnecting with nature and camping in Porpoise Bay Provincial Park is something you do throughout the year between April and October. After making a reservation, you enjoy the sandy beaches in the park along with some hiking, cycling, fishing, and swimming.
Hiking
Photo courtesy of Rachel Dempster Real Estate and Dolf Vermeulen Photography
It’s hard to get tired of this world-renowned, free trail – even when you live on the Sunshine Coast. Stretching over 180 kilometres, the hut-to-hut hiking experience has taken you on a majestic landscape-changing journey from Sarah Point in Desolation Sound to Saltery Bay, more than once.
Dining out
On Saturdays you meet up with your friends and head to your favourite oyster bar, located in the heart of Lower Gibsons, right next to a working wharf at Smitty’s Marina. You know this eatery serves up the best in fresh, local fare. But it’s still often difficult to choose between raw or pan-fried oysters.
Craft brewing
This community hub meets microbrewery is one of the best places to enjoy a coastal-inspired brews and food. It’s one of your personal favourites on Cruise Lane in Gibsons, for screenings, live music performances, and DJ-spinning events.
There are a plethora of reasons why relocating to the Sunshine Coast from Vancouver is a life-changing transition.
And since Hootsuite’s director of internal communications, Grace Carter, recently made the move to the Sunshine Coast from East Vancouver, she has set up Gone Coastal – a Facebook group where new residents build a community and share coastal resources. You can read more about Grace’s transition online.
“When I’m in the city I always have FOMO. Cutting out that noise has been so great for me on a soul level. I spend a lot of time walking in nature with the kids. I found it really centring and relaxing to move to so much green space,” Carter told Daily Hive.
And as it transpires, Gibsons RE/MAX realtor, Rachel Dempster, is running a ‘Test Drive the Sunshine Coast contest’ on Facebook where you can enter to win a free weekend getaway with Sunshine Coast Air and West Coast Wilderness Lodge.
For more information about living on the Sunshine Coast check out Rachel Dempster online, on Instagram and Facebook.
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