iNwine Adventure to the Sunshine Coast: Eat, drink & escape to the seaside

My recent adventure to B.C.’s beautiful Sunshine Coast included delicious food, a cozy cottage, glamourous sunsets and dolphins. I booked a cozy little cottage through Airbnb called Little White Coast Cottage. Sitting above the highway in Sechelt, owners have lovingly restored a 1930s classic cottage and transformed it into a happy place.

On the food scene, among the favourite meals was breakfast at the Basted Baker in Sechelt. The eggs benny served on house-made biscuits was divine. I loved the cool space and the great coffee. Wheatberries seem to be an institution here, with one in Gibsons and Sechelt, good coffee and best ever bran muffins. We picked up granola here for our cottage breakfasts to enjoy with drip coffee made with local Beachcomber Coffee.

We took a day trip to explore Gibsons and destination eats were at Smitty’s Oyster House. Set right on the docks, you couldn’t be closer to the sea if you tried. Here they shuck the very best oysters — local B.C. Kusshi and Fanny Bay oysters are my all-time favourites. And these were some of the creamiest, most delicious oysters we have ever had.

Our shucker informed us that this time of year harvests the best oysters as they are in water for an extended time to plump up with nutrients from the sea. The broiled oysters are a must as well. I can’t wait to return on a warmer day to enjoy a meal on the dock tables outside.

On another little side trip, we discovered Roberts Creek, a cute little hamlet between Gibsons and Sechelt. The Gumboot Restaurant and Gumboot Café are popular eateries here and they are snuggled together with other cute shops in a beautiful seaside setting. We didn’t have the chance to eat here but it looked amazing.

More than once we visited the Wobbly Canoe set right across the road from stunning Davis Bay. The historic Davis Bay wharf operates as both a scenic stroll and swimming deck as well as a full-time post for local fishers. While enjoying a glass of wine and their addictive Wobbly Canoe shoestring fries and big salads, we were treated to an extraordinary show of dolphins leaping across the Bay. This oceanic magic show was followed by a world-class sunset.

The Sunshine Coast has been brewing up a delicious drink culture. Breweries, distilleries and a cidery are currently in play, making the area a perfect destination for a libation crawl. We adored Persephone Brewing aka The Beer Farm. Set on an awesome organic farm with a big, old red barn, the entire property is built for fun. There are outdoor seating areas that mingle with the forest and a great indoor tasting room.

There are a couple of distilleries in the area too as well as Bricker Cider Company. Located in the wilds of Sechelt on an orchard, this family-run operation has picnic tables and a food truck that had people sipping merrily even on a cool fall day.

The trip to Sechelt and the Sunshine Coast is super easy. One quick 45-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay to Gibsons and then a 20-minute car ride brought us to our cottage door. I'm looking forward to returning again to soak up more extraordinary coastal landscapes and continue our discovery tour up the coast. Next time will include sea kayaking and a trip to Savary Island.

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