Circle Routes Scenic Driving Guide

st COASTAL 1 In Vancouver, BC's largest city, you can begin your trip in the heart of the downtown shopping district. At the Vancouver Art Gallery, the city's former courthouse, marvel at the building's exterior. It was built in the early 20 th century by architect Francis Rattenbury, who designed many of BC's most iconic structures. Inside are extensive holdings of works by BC-born artist Emily Carr, whose paintings feature the landscape and Aboriginal peoples of the west and northwest coasts. Further south of downtown is the art lover's haven of South Granville, with approximately 20 small galleries showcasing art, photography, Aboriginal work and fine antiques. It's not surprising that area residents call the strip from the Granville Street Bridge to 16th Avenue "Gallery Row." 3 From Victoria, head north. As you head over the summit of Malahat Drive, pull into the viewpoint for panoramic ocean views over Saanich Inlet, the Saanich Peninsula and distant Mount Baker. Stop in Duncan—the "City of Totems"—in the Cowichan Valley to visit carvers at work at the Quw'utsun' Cultural Centre; a tour of local wineries and BC's first estate cidery also is a must. Drive north to explore the eclectic community of Lund, located at the end of Hwy 101, and visit the Historic Lund Hotel complete with art gallery, general store and restaurant. Watch for whales, sea lions, porpoises, seals and coastal marine birds on a scenic cruise into Desolation Sound. Or take a 15-minute water taxi ride from Lund to Savary Island; the island's white sand beaches and warm swimming waters are reminiscent of more tropical destinations. Continue north to Chemainus, originally a logging town, and see the town's 6 South of Powell River at Saltery Bay, take impressive outdoor gallery of murals and sculptures. Through the hands of artists, another BC Ferries trip to Earls Cove. At this town transformed its economy and Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park, now offers visitors an array of boutiques hike the easy 4-km (2.5-mi) trail to a filled with West Coast-inspired art from viewpoint of Sechelt and Jervis inlets. local artists and artisans. Further north, the These turbulent waters form spectacular pretty little town of Ladysmith has heritage whirlpools and whitewater during peak walks and various antique and curio shops tide change—watch for whitewater to peruse. kayakers riding the huge standing waves. Head south on Hwy 99 and 17 to 4 In Nanaimo, take a heritage tour, stroll Cast a line in Pender Harbour to fish for Tsawwassen and board a BC Ferries vessel along the waterfront or enjoy a short ferry salmon and rent a kayak to paddle the to the capital city of Victoria. You can take ride to Newcastle Island Marine Provincial peaceful curve of Halfmoon Bay's coastline. a detour and visit one of the southern Gulf Park for a picnic on one of the many The Sunshine Coast is home to one of Islands where many artists commonly sell beaches. For those interested in antiques the highest per capita ratios of artists, their work. Galiano, Mayne, Saturna and and artisan studios, detour west of crafters and talented artisans anywhere Pender islands each have a community of Parksville to Coombs, famous for its market in Canada—watch for purple banners artists, but the largest concentration of with goats grazing on the roof. Head north signalling that an artist's studio is open galleries and studios is on Salt Spring Island to Qualicum Beach, where garden lovers to the public for browsing or purchases. in the village of Ganges. should stop at Milner Gardens & Woodland. "The Purple Banner Route" stretches from 2 Drop by Sidney and find "Book Town," Plan to visit the Comox Air Force Museum, Powell River to Gibsons and includes more where in just a four-block radius book located on the Canadian Forces Base, for a than 60 studios and galleries. lovers have eight stores to shop for modern, fascinating history of West Coast military 7 Sechelt boasts a multitude of eclectic used, collector and antiquarian books. Plan aviation. A side trip to historic Cumberland studios, galleries and shops. Check out to visit the world-famous Butchart Gardens, is also worth the trip. the year-round schedule of exhibitions located in Brentwood Bay. Another must5 The Sunshine Coast is the next stop displaying local and off-coast art works at see is the popular Shaw Ocean Discovery on your journey. In Comox, board a the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt. Centre. Learn about this living ecosystem BC Ferries vessel to Powell River. Nestled Adventurers may want to rent a kayak or and see marine life from the surrounding between ocean and forest, rich in lakes and take a guided paddling tour of Sechelt waters. In Victoria, stop by the Art Gallery rivers, Powell River is a hub of the Sunshine Inlet. Visit the numerous galleries, spend of Greater Victoria, which houses BC's Coast that successfully combines the great time on the waterfront and complete your largest public art collection. Its permanent outdoors with historic and cultural appeal. holiday with a visit to the Sunshine Coast collection totals more than 17,000 pieces Take a walking tour of the Powell River Museum and Archives in Gibsons before and features artists from Asia, Europe and Townsite, one of only seven National sailing with BC Ferries back to Horseshoe North America, including works by Emily Historic Districts in Canada. Catch a flick Bay and Vancouver. Carr. Peruse BC's natural history dating at the Patricia Theatre, Canada's oldest back 10,000 years at the Royal British continuously operating movie theatre. Columbia Museum. Coastal DBC-SP-72_CircleRts_Reprint2013.indd 21 21 13-06-13 10:38 AM

• Cover