Driving from Vancouver to Whistler on the Sea to Sky Freeway is a quick journey by freeway journey necessities, nevertheless this stretch alongside Freeway 99 in British Columbia is filled with so many points to see and do, it would take days to find. We’ve rounded up the best sights from Vancouver to Whistler along with places to stay, the place to eat, and what adventures accessible.
Having lived in Vancouver, now we have now pushed the Sea to Sky Freeway many cases in our lives, nevertheless it absolutely wasn’t until we revisited it as vacationers that we actually took our time to take in all the best sights alongside the Sea to Sky corridor. So sit once more, profit from the views, and start planning your particular person freeway journey from Vancouver to Whistler BC.
Sea to Sky Freeway Freeway Journey
The Sea to Sky Freeway is barely 154 km (95 miles) prolonged and the drive time from Vancouver to Whistler may very well be completed in a mere 90 minutes. In case you want to plan a tremendous Sea to Sky Freeway freeway journey, plan on 4 to five days.
This journey is superb and there are so many points to would you like time to go mountaineering, uncover its epic waterfalls, immerse in its historic previous and take inside the sights. So let’s get started.
Areas to Go to from Vancouver to Whistler
1. Vancouver
Spend the night time time in Vancouver and uncover one amongst Canada’s best cities for on the very least a day. There are a number of points to see in Vancouver which will maintain you occupied from the waterfront path on False Creek to historic Gastown and the well-known Granville Island. Listed below are a few of our excessive methods for points to do in Vancouver.
The place to Hold in Vancouver
The Opus Vancouver is an excellent boutique lodge positioned in Yaletown that is strolling distance to all of the items. This fashionable lodge was named certainly one of many excessive lodging by Forbes and the best luxurious property in BC. Be taught additional: The place to Hold in Vancouver – Biggest Lodges & Journey Leases By Area
It had among the many friendliest service we’ve expert at a lodge. It needs to be that modern West Coast air that makes all people utterly blissful! We extraordinarily recommend it. Plus there are good decisions for consuming and nightlife shut by and its solely a fast stroll to the waterfront.
2. Stanley Park and Downtown
We advise starting with exploring Stanley Park. Rent a bicycle and take a spin throughout the Sea Wall. Be sure that to stop on the Marina for among the many best views of the Vancouver Skyline. A terrific stop will be the Stanley Park Totem Poles at Brockton. The totem poles present the indigenous custom of British Columbia which may very well be very prevalent alongside the Sea to Sky Freeway aka British Columbia Freeway 1. Check out 26 Biggest Points to do in Vancouver, BC
Spend the rest of the day exploring False Creek with an excellent chunk of time at Granville Island. Granville Island is filled with eateries, boutique shopping for, artists studios, and even a theatre. It’s a pleasant spot to hold round. Then take the water taxi all through False Creek to walk alongside the waterfront to Gastown. Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood was based mostly by Gassy Jack Deighton in 1867. There’s quite a few shopping for and consuming in Vancouver.
3. Capilano Suspension Bridge
In your second day in Vancouver, head out inside the morning to see the well-known Capilano suspension bridge. The Capilano Bridge is a 137meters prolonged (450 toes) suspension bridge swinging 70 meters (230 toes) above the Capilano River. That’s the star attraction, nevertheless there’s moreover a extreme ropes treetop journey and they also provide guided strolling excursions by way of the rainforest. There are free shuttles from downtown Vancouver, nevertheless when you could have a automotive, we suggest driving since it will be finest to find the other sights near Vancouver.
4. Grouse Mountain Gondola
Grouse Mountain is home to some good snowboarding correct near the city coronary heart. There moreover Cypress Bowl and Mount Seymour for winter sports activities actions, nevertheless Grouse Mountain has loads of summer time season actions and points to do. To get to Grouse Mountain, cross the Lions Gate Bridge that takes you into North Vancouver.
Grouse mountain is a year-round trip spot merely quarter-hour from downtown Vancouver. Take the Grouse Mountain Gondola up for magnificent views of Vancouver. In case you’re touring inside the winter, snowboarding is certainly in order nevertheless if you happen to’re not into snowboarding or visiting all through one different season, there’s a zipper line journey, lumberjack current, two resident grizzley bears that benefit from a pure sanctuary, consuming, and mountaineering. Be taught additional: 14 Biggest Hikes in Vancouver to Profit from the Good Open air
5. Hit The Seaside
If mountaineering and heights aren’t your points, You may spend the day making an attempt out Vancouver’s seashores. Vancouver has a few cool seashores to go to. Chances are you already visited Second and Third Seashores when biking spherical Stanley Park. And when working your methodology from Stanely Park within the path of Granville Island, there’s English Bay Seaside (the place we used to dwell) and Sunset Seaside. Nevertheless in case you go all through English Bay to Kistalano, there are far more seashores.
The best Vancouver seashores to go to listed below are Jerico Seaside, Kitsilano Seaside, Spanish Banks Seaside, and Wreck Seaside. Wreck Seaside is taken under consideration among the many best nude seashores on the earth, so be warned, you’ll see loads of pores and pores and skin. The reason it was most certainly chosen as an excellent nude seashore is as a result of 5 hundred steps fundamental all the best way all the way down to the sandy seashore making it pretty secluded.
Stops on the Sea to Sky Freeway
After spending a couple of days exploring Vancouver and North Vancouver, it’s now time to hit the freeway and let the Sea to Sky Freeway freeway journey begin. The drive takes us as quickly as as soon as extra all through the Lion’s Gate Bridge to North Van after which a drive by way of West Vancouver with a quick stop at Lighthouse Park sooner than coming into Horseshoe Bay. This, individually the place the Sea to Sky Freeway truly begins.
6. Whytecliff Park
A most popular stop at Horseshoe Bay is Whytecliff Park. This marine sanctuary is home to shipwrecks and an abundance of Marinelife and may very well be very in fashion with scuba divers. It’s good for swimming, plus at low tide, you probably can stroll out to Whytecliff Island. Be sure that to stop proper right here for some images and to take in the view.
7. Britannia Mine
The next stop is doubtless one of many hottest sights alongside the Sea to Sky Freeway. The Britannia Mine Museum is a Nationwide Historic Web site of Canada that was as soon as a very powerful copper mine in your complete world. Proper now it’s a excellent interactive museum that takes visitors on a apply to the middle of the mountain to see the place miners dug for copper. Make sure to check out the model new current, BOOM. The multi-sensory film takes place inside the massive 20 story developing the place we research in a very entertaining methodology regarding the 96-year historic previous of mining in Squamish.
There’s moreover the “Linked by Copper: From Cells to Cell Telephones”, which supplies a glimpse of how copper has influenced our each day lives all via historic previous since historic cases, from connecting us with electrical power to wi-fi and defending us from harmful micro organism. Be taught additional about it proper right here.
8. Britannia Seaside
Shut by you probably can stop at Britannia Seaside which was as quickly as a booming mining metropolis, nevertheless at current it is a small and charming village. Britannia Seaside was as soon as one of many polluted areas in North America as a result of copper mine mine, nevertheless in 2005, a big problem was undertaken to wash up the waters. Proper now, the waters of Howe Sound at Britannia Seaside are 85% recovered with marine life coming once more an rising variety of yearly. Be sure that to check it out to your self.
9. Shannon Falls
The first waterfall we come all through between Vancouver and Whistler is Shannon Falls positioned merely South of Squamish. The falls are a quick and easy stroll from the parking lot so make sure you get out and have a look! Shannon Falls is the third largest waterfall in British Columbia. There are a couple of completely totally different viewpoints to take in the big 335-meter (1099 foot) cascade. From Shannon Falls, you possibly can start one amongst three treks to the Stawamus Chief.
10. Sea to Sky Gondola
The Sea to Sky Gondola takes you as a lot as Summit Lodge for superior views of Howe Sound. If you end up on the excessive there are a variety of viewing platforms, The Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge, and loads of mountaineering. That is doubtless one of many premier sights on anyone’s Vancouver to Whistler freeway journey. (it was closed as soon as now we have been there, nevertheless it absolutely is doubtless one of many excessive sights alongside the Sea to Sky Freeway and to not be missed)
11. Sea to Sky Air
Given that Sea to Sky Gondola was closed, we nonetheless managed a hen’s eye view by taking an unimaginable scenic flight on a floatplane over the Coast Mountains and Howe Sound with Sea to Sky Air. Our pilot David took us over the waters the place we landed on Howe Sound to toot spherical for a while looking for marine life. It was among the many best scenic flights we’ve ever taken.
12. Squamish
Driving from Vancouver to Whistler, the first fundamental group after Horseshoe bay is Squamish. This is usually a good place to spend the night time time and check out the web sites and actions inside the house. For a additional in-depth info be taught 14 Very good Points to Do in Squamish BC
The place to Hold Squamish
An excellent place to stay in Squamish is Sunwolf Riverside Lodge. These log cabins are positioned on the river in a forest setting. They’ve wood-burning stoves and a unbelievable restaurant that is in fashion with locals and vacationers alike. It makes you are feeling as if you happen to’re out in nature nevertheless has the entire amenities you need.
13. Stawamus Chief
Recognized merely as The Chief, the Stawamus Chief is a 702 meter (2,303 foot) granite cliff towering over the city of Squamish. Rock Climbers come from everywhere in the world to take care of its routes. The Chief is Canada’s Reply to El Capitan.
You don’t should be a rock climber to benefit from The Chief, you probably can hike to the best too! There are three completely totally different hikes, First Peak, Second Peak and, Third Peak hikes. (How genuine correct?) In case you could have restricted time the First Peak is the shortest (4km spherical journey) and has pretty views.
14. Bald Eagles at Squamish River
In case you occur to maintain at Sunwolf Riverside, you’ll be immediately on the Squamish River the place you’ll uncover the right Bald Eagle sightings on the earth. From November to February an entire lot of bald eagles flock to the river to munch on the abundance of salmon stock. We have now been there in October and we seen numerous bald eagles ourselves, so one factor tells me they’re spherical all 12 months lengthy. We stood on the bridge overlooking the river and watched them sweep in for his or her catch sooner than sitting on extreme treetops.
Sea to Sky Half to – Squamish to Whistler Stops
After on the very least 2 nights in Squamish, it’s time to hit the freeway as soon as extra and make your methodology within the path of Whistler. There are numerous stops on this portion of Freeway 1, so you may wish to take your time and profit from the drive.
15. Garibaldi Provincial Park
Dwelling to the placing Mount Garibaldi, Garibaldi Provincial Park is a big recreation house at 480990 acres (194,650-hectares) in house. Modern mountaineering trails from Diamond Head embody a cool hike out to Elfin Lake the place for $15 you probably can hold in a cabin full with a propane vary. This is usually a in fashion park for mountaineering and canoeing too! See one different BC mountain trip spot at The Biggest Points to do in Revelstoke, BC – Furthermore Snowboarding
16. Brandywine Falls
The next well-known waterfall on our Vancouver to Whistler journey is Brandywine Falls. It’s one different easy 10 to 15-minute stroll from the parking lot all through a railway observe to a fantastic 70 meters (230 foot) dashing waterfall dropping proper right into a horseshoe canyon.
17. Whistler
Congratulations you made it to Whistler! Whistler is one amongst Canada’s excessive vacationer places and we advise staying on the very least a few days. Longer in case you intend on snowboarding or snowboarding! There are so many points to do in Whistler, it makes for an exquisite ending degree to our Sea to Sky Freeway journey.
Whereas there, you may need to check out the Olympic Village, hit among the many Olympic web sites similar to the bobsleigh to try your hand at a spin down the observe or head up the mountain for magnificent views on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. There are good mountaineering trails and if you happen to’re visiting inside the winter, there are clearly excellent winter sights nevertheless listed below are a few ideas open air the traditional snowboarding and spa experiences in Whistler.
18. Follow Wreck Path
The next in fashion stop on our drive from Vancouver to Whistler is the Follow Wreck Path. Positioned on the Cheakamus River, the Trainwreck Path turned additional merely accessible to vacationers in 2013 after the municipality opened up the bridge to take care of of us from crossing the apply tracks to entry it. The trail begins at Cheakamus Crossing and is a few 15-minute hike to a ravishing suspension bridge. After crossing the bridge, the stays of seven wrecked boxcars stand inside the forest. They’re lined in graffiti making for great {photograph} options.
The boxcars are stays from a 1956 apply derailment from Lillooet. The apply was behind schedule, so to make up time it was going nearly twice the tempo prohibit. When it received right here to a sharp curve on a slim a part of the observe, it flew off the rails. Get coordinates proper right here from Google maps.
19. Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
We had been to Whistler numerous cases and under no circumstances made it to any of the indoor sights nevertheless I’m glad we lastly did! The center is dedicated to the historic previous and custom of The Squamish and Lil’wat tribes. It’s a excellent interactive museum.
20. Whistler Image Safaris
In case you’re visiting Whistler via the summer time season months, you may wish to hop on a bear safari. Whistler Image Safaris takes you via the Whistler Olympic Park within the hunt for black bears. You moreover get a tour of the Whistler Olympic Park’s Ski Jumps and cross nation snowboarding tracks.
It’s an efficient option to get out and uncover additional of the encircling Whistler and to see some wildlife alongside the best way by which. The ocean to sky freeway positively lives as a lot as its fame as certainly one of many good drives on earth. Now now we have an entire put up dedicated to points to do in Whistler proper right here so check it out to see the entire points to do whenever you end your Sea to Sky Freeway freeway journey.
The place to Hold in Whistler
We made our base on the Pan Pacific Mountainside positioned immediately on the mountain. It’s good for ski in ski out inside the winter or for easy entry to the gondola within the summertime. And it has parking! Now now we have stayed in many alternative lodging downtown Whistler and also you truly can’t go mistaken with any of them.
Watch our Sea to Sky Freeway Freeway Journey Video
Did you benefit from the entire excellent points you’ll be able to do from Vancouver to Whistler? What are you prepared for? Start planning your drive alongside the Sea to Sky Freeway and guarantee to spend some time in every Vancouver and Whistler, two of Canada’s most pleasant and pleasant places.
Be sure that to get the tunes ready to your drive. We’ve put collectively the Ultimate Freeway Journey Playlist.
- Be taught additional the stops on the Sea to Sky Freeway at:
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