Home Vancouver’s Sea to Sky Region

Vancouver’s Sea to Sky Region

Sea to Sky Region

Between Vancouver’s North Shore and the ski resort of Whistler lies the Sea to Sky Highway which is one of the most beautiful drives in the region.

The region is known as the Sea to Sky Corridor. On a sunny day the views are comparable to some of the best in the world.

 

The Sea to Sky Region and Highway

The Sea to Sky Highway connects Vancouver with Whistler. Along the way there are some amazing places to visit and events to check out. Continue reading for ideas of things to do in the area.

 

Britannia Mine Museum

 

Sea to Sky Tourist Attractions

The following are tourist attractions you’ll find along the Sea to Sky Corridor (and a list of parks is further below.)

  • Britannia Mine – a great copper mine museum and historic site. At the attraction you can practice gold panning, go on a tour of the underground tunnels, watch a show and learn about mining and the region’s mining-related past.
  • Rope Runner – a unique ropes course-style adventure park near the tourist information centre.
  • RZR Tours – all-terrain vehicle tours offered by The Adventure Group just outside Whistler.
  • Sea to Sky Gondola – an attraction for mountain sightseeing. As of the spring of 2023, purchasing a ticket online for an adult is $64.95 while purchasing a ticket on-site is $69.95 for an adult. The gondola takes you to the top of the mountain. From there you can enjoy the views, walking trails, gift shop and restaurant/pub.
  • Superfly Ziplines – home to some of Canada’s longest ziplines near Whistler.
  • Vallea Lumina – a year-round light attraction in the forest in Whistler.
  • West Coast Railway Heritage Park – a train museum in Squamish. The place has real train cars you can go into as well as a few historical buildings.
  • Whistler’s Aerial Obstacle Course – a popular ropes course facility in the forest near Whistler.

The main community in the Sea to Sky region is Squamish – the “Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.”

If you like golf, two of the Lower Mainland’s best golf courses include Furry Creek Golf and Country Club (at 150 Country Club Road in Furry Creek up the Sea-to-Sky Highway) and the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Resort (at 4612 Blackcomb Way in Whistler).

 

Britannia Mine at Britannia Beach
Britannia Mine at Britannia Beach

 

Sea to Sky Parks

The following are some amazing parks in the Sea to Sky region.

  • Alice Lake – a popular provincial park for camping, canoeing and just walking around. It’s located just past Squamish.
  • Murrin Provincial Park – a small park with a tiny lake, hiking trails and rock climbing areas between Britannia Beach and Squamish.
  • Porteau Cove – a provincial park for camping, picnics and admiring the views from. It’s a nice place to stay overnight, but also for short breaks. The park is also popular with scuba divers.
  • Shannon Falls – a small provincial park with a waterfall and walking trails. This is a popular spot for short visits. The waterfall is impressive and the walk to get there from the parking lot isn’t too far.
  • Stawamus Chief – a fairly serious place for hiking and mountain climbing. This provincial park also has a campground. From the top of the mountain the views of Howe Sound and the surrounding area are amazing.

 

Howe Sound View from Stawamus Chief
View of Howe Sound from the Stawamus Chief

 

Sea to Sky Events

Some events that take place in the Sea to Sky region are listed below.

  • Polar Bear Swims – two ice-cold swims at Porteau Cove and downtown Squamish on New Year’s Day.
  • Canada Day in Squamish – July 1st celebrations in downtown usually include an art market, beer garden, live music, cultural performances and other family-friendly activities.
  • Squamish Arts Festival – an annual community event with live music, food trucks, a beer garden and more in the summer.
  • Copper & Fire Arts Event – a unique art exhibition at Britannia Mine Museum around September featuring local artists and their creations made from mined materials.
  • Spooktacular Halloween – fun and educational Halloween-themed activities at Britannia Mine on select dates in October.
  • Squamish at Dusk – winter holiday light displays at Rose Park from November to December.
  • Photos With Santa – Santa Claus is at Britannia Mine for photos on select dates during the Christmas season. The museum is also decorated and open to explore.

Many events take place in Whistler as well, including Canada Day celebrations, the Whistler Village Beer Festival, Whistler World Ski & Snowboard Festival, and the Whistler Pride Festival. For a larger list of events, see our article about Whistler Village.

 

Tips and Advice

Below are some suggestions to help you make the most of your trip to the Sea to Sky region.

TIP #1: Take the drive on a sunny day if you can. On a day with bright blue sky, the scenery is absolutely stunning. On a cloudy day though, when the mountains and far off islands are hidden, it’s just a big windy highway.

TIP #2: Drive carefully – it’s a curvy highway and can be slippery when wet or below freezing. If heading to Whistler in the winter, it’s mandatory your car is fitted with good winter tires.

TIP #3: Top free places to visit in the area are Alice Lake, Porteau Cove and Shannon Falls. All are provincial parks that are nice to explore and include short walks. Stawamus Chief is the same, but with more serious hikes, plus rock climbing opportunities for serious outdoors people.

 

Murrin Provincial Park
Murrin Provincial Park

 

Other Information

Other articles that might be of interest include the following: