Sechelt -- Land Between Two Waters
Beautiful Porpoise Bay
25 minutes from the Langdale ferry terminal.
No trip to the Sunshine Coast is complete without a visit to Sechelt, which literally means "Land Between Two Waters" in the Coast Salish tongue, because it is situated on a strip of land bordered on both sides by the Pacific Ocean. Sechelt offers a plethora of seaside activities and in-town attractions to accommodate every interest.
Traveling west on Wharf Street (part of the Sunshine Coast Highway through Sechelt) takes you past restaurants with outdoor seating and local cafes where the food is as fine as the West Coast coffee. Wander around here and you will find some interesting shops tucked away. Continue around the corner down Cowrie Street to the main shopping area with its mix of craft, antique, hemp and second-hand shops. Sechelt also has a shopping centre and choice of supermarkets. Something experienced visitors to Sechelt do not miss is the Saturday Farmers Market located in the Raven's Cry parking lot from spring to fall. Lots of wonderful homemade creations with fresh baked breads, local produce, plants and crafts.
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Photo courtesy of BigPacific.com
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The Government Dock in Porpoise Bay
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Going east on Wharf Road will lead you to the Sechelt Inlet, and Porpoise Bay government dock. Float planes leave the calm waters of the inlet regularly taking passengers to Vancouver Island, up the coast or in to Vancouver - a wonderful chance to combine views of the Coastal Range's snowy peaks with your travel plans.
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Porpoise Bay Provincial Park lies further up the inlet with its gentle, quiet beaches and shore walks. The smooth reflective waters of Sechelt Inlet are a perfect place to try kayaking (rentals available). Sechelt will serve you up what you need in town and let you enjoy nature just around the corner.
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Twelve Coast Salish totem poles look out over Trail Bay - they recount the history of the Sechelt Indian Band (the Shilshalh), the very first band in Canada to gain self-government in 1986. The name 'Sechelt' came about because of a mispronunciation of 'Shishalh' by the Europeans, and is very appropriate for this town which shares both First Nations and European government districts. The Shishalh administrative and educational centre, along with the Raven's Cry Theatre & Cinema and First Nations Gift Store, is located on the west side as you enter Sechelt from Gibsons.
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Rated the second best place to dive on the planet by Jacques Cousteau, the Sunshine Coast's spectacular underwater attractions lure scuba divers from all over the world. The HMCS Chaudiere, a retired war ship, was purposely sunk in 1992 between the Sechelt and Salmon Inlets on the Lower Coast, creating an artificial reef for divers of all levels to explore. Another popular dive site in Sechelt Inlet is at Tuwanek Point Marine Park, where fish are so varied and numerous that you may think you're snorkelling in Hawaii.
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Photo courtesy of Porpoise Bay Charters
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While you're down there, keep your eyes open for giant Pacific octopi. Averaging between 23- 27 kg (50 -60 lbs.), with an arm span of approximately 6 m, (20 ft.), this is the world's largest species of octopus. You'll have to see it to believe it! The relatively shallow water on the east side of the bay provides good beginner and intermediate diving as well as snorkeling. Sechelt Inlet is also a favourite spot for kayakers from around the world.
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The Sunshine Coast is a maze of mountain-bike paths, the result of a progressive and enthusiastic attitude towards mountain biking. An area with some good intermediate/expert trails is the Angus Creek Bike Loop, between the Sechelt landfill and the Gray Creek Forest Road. The Angus Creek route is marked with a biking symbol and orange paint.
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Cross-country skiing is the choice of winter recreation pursuits. Snow often remains in the forest well into June, by which time most visitors have wisely headed for the beaches. Dakota Ridge is currently being more fully developed, hopefully in time for our athletes to train for the 2010 Olympics.
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Be sure to visit Sechelt, and we will give you an experience to remember!
Some of the information on this page provided by Sunshinecoast.ca.
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