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Just south of the Langdale ferry terminal, the pretty seaside village of Gibsons (population 4000) serves as the gateway to the Sunshine Coast. Like the rest of the Sunshine Coast, Gibsons offers a mild
West Coast climate, breathtaking mountain-to-ocean scenery, and year-round outdoor recreation.
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Arts and Culture
A neat little lane to visit is Molly's Lane, where a number of funky retail shops offer imported treasures and local handmade goods. The lane also includes changing displays of historic sea-going activities – see ship engines, detailed models, charts and maritime artifacts.
You can learn about Sunshine Coast history and Coast Salish culture at the Elphinstone Pioneer Museum, which serves the area from Port Mellon to
Egmont, including: Gibsons, Roberts
Creek, Sechelt and Pender
Harbour. At the museum there are artifacts used by the early settlers, items from old steamships and the Charles Bedford shell collection.
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Gibsons hosts a variety of events, workshops, theatre shows and festivals including: the Jazz Festival, Fibre Arts Festival, International Outrigger Canoe Iron Race and the Sea Cavalcade.
Gibsons’ also offers performances at the restored Heritage Theatre.
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Getting to
Gibsons
Gibsons is located 5km south of the ferry terminal at Langdale, a 40-minute ferry ride from Vancouver. Floatplanes also link Vancouver and Gibsons’ harbours.
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Outdoor Adventure
There are many public beaches in the area, including: Armours Beach, Georgia Beach, Pebbles Beach Park, Secret Beach and Chaster Provincial Park. Gibsons also offers boaters a public boat ramp for launching.
For young and / or beginning mountain bikers, there is the Sprockids Mountain Bike Park, which has almost 14km of trails. For more off-road biking, as well as hiking, visit nearby Mount
Elphinstone. With its beautiful forest and a network of trails that accommodate different ages and fitness levels, this area is known for its diversity of mushroom species and flowering plants that contain no chlorophyll (i.e. the gnome plant, coral root orchid and pinesap).
You may also take a water taxi to Plumper Cove Provincial Marine Park from
Gibsons. The 57-hectare park is located on the northwest shore of Keats Island, across Howe Sound from
Gibsons. The park has a hiking trail system, upland picnic area and pebble swimming beach.
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