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readers of all ages. If it's in stock, check out Held by the Land by ethnobotanist and Squamish Nation member Leigh Joseph—it's all about the healing powers of Indigenous plants. 38041 2nd Ave., Squamish ▶ The Squamish Farmers' Market is on every Saturday, April to September, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Find fresh flowers, local veggies and live music here. 37996 Cleveland Ave., Squamish ▶ You won't find a prettier modern boutique than Grateful Gift Shop. Vintage clothing, all-natural skincare, handmade jewellery and candles line the carefully curated shelves in this light- filled space. 38027 2nd Ave., Squamish FLY ▶ Take sea to sky literally by booking a scenic flight after paddleboarding—trust me, the water is even more gorgeous from the air. Sea to Sky Air offers tours starting at $135. There's no bad seat on these little planes, but the co-pilot spot is definitely the coolest. seatoskyair.ca (S E A TO S K Y A IR A ND S QUA M I S H FA R M ER S ' M A R K E T ) TO U R I S M S QUA M I S H/E X PLO R E S QUA M I S H EAT ▶ Pre-paddle, there's coffee and doughnuts at Fox and Oak, the cozy café that you're basically guaranteed to see a corgi at. Check out their rotating "community" and "experiential" doughnuts—the former donates a portion of proceeds to charity, the latter pushes baked good boundaries. 1386 Main St., Squamish ▶ Just north in Brackendale, the Watershed Grill has a charming riverside patio and is a prime eagle-viewing spot (it's just across the water from Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park, the part-time home of around 1,300 bald eagles— bring along your binoculars). Grab a salmon burger with wasabi mayo or split some baked brie with red onion jam with your adventure pal. 41101 Government Rd., Brackendale at the waist and keep your arms in a relatively stagnant position... kind of like how a Barbie might paddleboard. My (wrong) technique had me zig-zagging across the channel, needing to switch sides almost every stroke. Now, I'm on a much straight- er track, slicing through the blue-green water and hardly even thinking about how embarrassing it would be to fall in. Not only does Currie's instruction make me faster, it also makes me more energy-efficient: in the past I've found paddleboarding exhausting, but this method is downright meditative. The glorious marbled cliffs and lush forest landscape helps, too. We practice turning on a dime, paddling circles around a dock and facing the occasional boat wake head-on. Prior to this, I didn't think I needed a paddle- boarding lesson—like with ice skating or Spikeball, I thought this was just one of those standard seasonal PNW activities I'd approach with some spirit, little skill and zero grace. But there's something deeply satisfying about skimming over the water while gazing up at those serene Squamish views. I understand now why the paddle-happy retirees were so eager to get up and go. SQUAMISH CHECKLIST Out of the water, here's a list of things to do on (and above) dry land BIRD'S EYE VIEW FYI, Sea to Sky Air pilots are friendly but firm when answering no, you can't have a turn at the wheel Fox and Oak Squamish Farmers' Market ▶ Designophiles, take note: Taka Ramen and Sushi is dreamy minimalist space created by local Squamish designer Josianne Bérubé. On the menu is (you guessed it) ramen and sushi, plus sashimi salad, donburi and more. 38065 Cleveland Ave., Squamish SHOP ▶ To escape from your escape, there's Gather Bookshop, a store packed with stories for Taka Ramen and Sushi SQUAMISH LOCAL GE TAWAYS 44 B C B U S I N E S S . C A M AY 2 0 24

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