Gibsons - town in British Columbia, Canada

Gibsons is a coastal community of 4,600 (2016) on the lower Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada. It is the main marine gateway to the Sunshine Coast.

Understand

Although Gibsons is on the British Columbia mainland, the Sunshine Coast is not accessible by road. Vehicle access is by BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, a 40-minute crossing or a ferry from Vancouver Island. Gibsons is best known in Canada as the setting of the popular and long running CBC Television series The Beachcombers, which aired from 1972 to 1990. The storefront "Molly's Reach", now a cafe, the restored tug Persephone, and a display about the series at the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives are popular Gibsons attractions. Gibsons is a popular retirement destination, and has also attracted many artists and musicians.

History

The town was established in 1886 by George Gibson and his sons. It was incorporated in 1929 as "Gibson's Landing", and in 1947 the name was changed to "Gibsons" at the request of the residents. The town is now split between the seaside area known as "Lower Gibsons" and "Upper Gibsons. "Lower Gibsons" is mostly residential, but also has shops and restaurants that cater mostly to vacationers. "Upper Gibsons", which is clustered along Highway 101, contains the commercial areas of town, including Sunnycrest Mall, the town's two major supermarkets, and a variety of fast food restaurants.

Get in

By boat

• BC Ferries - Sunshine Coast (Langdale) ferry terminal, 49.4332°, -123.4739°. 2019-07-16
  • Routes servicing this ferry terminal
  • • Vehicle ferry from Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) ferry terminal in West Vancouver (40 minutes crossing) departs almost every 2 hours. Normally, the daily first inbound departure is at 7:30 am, the first outbound departure is at 6:20 am. Last departures vary seasonally from around 9 pm to as nearly 11 pm. The fare to Langdale is return, so you do not have to pay to travel from Langdale to West Vancouver. The ferries carry vehicles and foot passengers.
  • • Passenger only ferry that travels to Gambier island and Keats island, stopping mostly at Gambier (New Brighton) ferry terminal and Keats (Keats Island) ferry terminal, though a couple of daily trips reach Keats (Eastbourne) ferry terminal. Crossing time ranges from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the destination and whether the trip includes a stop along the way.
  • Reservations
  • • Reservations can be completed on BC Ferries' website or by phone.
  • • Reservations are a generally good idea, as ferries can fill up, especially heading toward the Sunshine Coast from the Vancouver area. If you book far enough in advance and prepay with saver fare is available, you may even pay less than showing up at the terminal. Otherwise, reservations increase the cost of the trip, between increasing cost between $2.50 extra and $17, depending on which option you choose.
  • • Even though you pay for a return fare for trips involving Sunshine Coast (Langdale) ferry terminal, there is a charge to reserve in each direction.
  • • Drivers must redeem their reservation at the ferry terminal at least 30 minutes before the scheduled sailing or they lose their guarantee to be on the sailing and are given the same priority as anyone else showing up at the ferry terminal without a reservation.
  • Public transit
  • *Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) ferry terminal is served by several of TransLink's bus routes including:
  • ** Route 250, connecting to downtown Vancouver. Enables connections with Burrard station (SkyTrain Expo Line) at its stop on Georgia St at Burrard St, and with Granville station (SkyTrain Expo Line) and Vancouver City Centre station (SkyTrain Canada Line) at its stop on Georgia St at Granville St
  • ** Route 257, a limited stop service connecting to downtown Vancouver. Enables connections with Burrard station (SkyTrain Expo Line) at its stop on Georgia St at Burrard St, and with Granville station (SkyTrain Expo Line) and Vancouver City Centre station (SkyTrain Canada Line) at its stop on Georgia St at Granville St
  • ** Route 262, connecting to Lions Bay and parts of West Vancouver
  • *Sunshine Coast (Langdale) ferry terminal is served by bus routes operated by BC Transit:
  • ** Route 1 connects with Sechelt via Gibsons
  • ** Route 90 connects with Sechelt via Gibsons, but includes less detours, resulting in faster travel time to and from Sechelt
  • Parking options
  • • Short-term and long-term parking are available at the ferry terminal. BC Ferries' website identifies the current amount of long-term parking remaining.
  • Amenities
  • *Wi-Fi: Free service at the ferry terminal. Not offered on the ferries.
  • *Washrooms: Available in the terminal and on board ferries.
  • *Eating and shopping: Vending machines selling snacks are in the terminal. A cafeteria style-restaurant and gift shop are on board the ferries.

By bus

• Sunshine Coast Connector, coastconnector@gmail.com. Bus service between Sunshine Coast (Langdale) ferry terminal and Sunshine Coast (Earls Cove) ferry terminal (1.5 hours) with stops in Gibsons, Sechelt, Madeira Park, and Egmont. Travelers to and from Powell River can ride the ferry at Earls Cove and BC Transit (Powell River Transit System) route 12 that connects with Powell River (Saltery Bay) ferry terminal. 2022-04-07

By plane

Gibsons is accessible by float plane to the harbour and by small aircraft to Sechelt Airport (IATA: YHS), approximately 20 km northwest of town. The nearest major airport is located in Vancouver (IATA: YVR).

By car

Gibsons is on the south end of Highway 101 (Sunshine Coast Highway); however, ferry travel is required. Highway 101 continues northwest.

Get around

By public transit

• BC Transit (Sunshine Coast Transit System), +1 604-885 6899. Operates bus routes within Sechelt and connecting with Gibsons and Langdale ferry terminal. Buses from Sechelt travel as far north as Halfmoon Bay. 2022-04-08
  • Route 1 operates multiple times daily between Langdale ferry terminal and Sechelt with stops in Gibsons and Roberts Creek. Travel time between Gibson's Sunnycrest Mall and the ferry terminal is 20 to 23 minutes and between Gibsons and Sechelt is 45 to 50 minutes.
  • Route 90 operates multiple times daily between Langdale ferry terminal and Sechelt with stops in Gibsons and Roberts Creek. Travel time between Gibsons and the ferry terminal is 10 to 15 minutes and between Gibsons and Sechelt is 30 minutes. Some trips travel and stop near Lower Gibsons (harbour area).

By taxi

• Sunshine Coast Taxi, +1 604-886-7337. 2022-07-29

By ride hailing

• Coastal Rides, info@coastalrides.ca. 2022-07-29

See

• Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre, 473 Gower Point Road (inside Gibsons Public Market, see Buy listing), 49.39814°, -123.50817°, +1 604-886-8814, info@gibsonsmarine-ed.org. Houses 30 exhibits displaying natural habitat and local marine fish and invertebrates from the waters of the Howe Sound. 2019-07-16
• Gibsons Public Art Gallery, 431 Marine Dr, 49.40225°, -123.50495°, +1 604-886-0531. Th-Mo 11AM-4PM. A small art gallery featuring temporary exhibitions of art by local and BC artists. Free 2023-01-15
• Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives, 716 Winn Road, 49.39984°, -123.50947°, +1 604-886-8232, scm_a@dccnet.com. Daily 10:30AM-4:30PM. Small museum showcasing the local history. 2019-07-17

Do

• Kayak or canoe - explore the waters off Gibsons Harbour, venturing over to local islands like Keats Island and Gambier Island. Alternatively, kayak up Sechelt Inlet, watching out for dolphins and deer.
• Fishing - Gibsons offers prime salmon fishing: coho, chinook, chum, pink, and sockeye. Further up the coast, anglers love the trout fishing at Trout Lake, Sakinaw Lake, and Ruby Lake. Fishing charters and equipment rentals are available.
• Hiking up Soames Hill 📍 offers a superb view of the region around Gibsons

Buy

• Gibsons Public Market, 473 Gower Point Road, 49.39814°, -123.5081°, +1 604-886-8814. Tu-Su 10AM-6PM (coffee window opens at 8:30AM). Grab farm-fresh produce and crafts by local artisans. The Market is also home to the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre, where you learn all about the local underwater world in Howe Sound. 2019-07-16

Eat

• Drift Cafe & Bistro, 546 Gibsons Way, 49.40313°, -123.50508°, +1 604-886-5858. 9AM-10PM. Farm to table restaurant, serving west coast cuisine, focusing on local and seasonal ingredients, beer and wine. 2019-07-17
• Molly's Reach, 647 School Road, +1 604-886-9710, info@mollysreach.ca. Daily 8AM-3PM. One of the chief locations in the CBC’s longest running Canadian drama The Beachcombers. Specials are posted daily, soups are made from scratch and the desserts are baked in their own kitchen. The coffee is roasted locally by the Strait coffee company. 2019-07-16
• Friendly Thai, 1A - 682 Gibsons Way, 49.40718°, -123.50767°, +1 604-840-3181, info@mollysreach.ca. M-F 11AM-2:30PM, 4-9PM; Sa noon-2:30PM, 4-9PM; Su closed. Not only are the staff friendly, but the authentic Thai food is delicious. If you eat at the outdoor tables, do not leave your meal unattended as hungry crows will be ready to pounce on your meal. 2023-01-14
• Smoke On The Water BBQ Shack, 611 School Road on the wharf, 49.40075°, -123.50459°, +1 604-840-0004. Summer: W-M 11AM-6:30PM. All meat products are smoked on site with hardwood to create the southern flavours for pulled pork, chicken, fish and brisket sandwiches. Sandwiches $11-18, mains $11-24 2019-07-16
• Smitty's Oyster House, 643 School Road, 49.40149°, -123.50539°, +1 604-886-4665. Summer: Tu-Sa noon-late, Su noon-8PM. Oysters and seafood, burgers, chicken wings and steaks. 2019-07-16

Drink

Pubs & breweries

• Blackfish Pub, 966 Venture Way, 49.40698°, -123.52410°, +1 604-886-6682. Daily 10AM-midnight. Pub with full menu. 2019-07-16
• Persephone Brewing Company, 1053 Stewart Road, 49.42077°, -123.50817°, +1 778-462-3007. Summer (May long weekend-Sept long weekend): M-W 11AM-7PM, Th-Su 10AM-9PM; Winter (Sept long weekend-May long weekend): Tu-Su 11AM-7PM. 11-acre farm and craft micro-brewery. 2019-07-17
• Tapworks Brewing Company, 537 Cruice Lane, 49.40276°, -123.50483°, +1 778-462-BEER, info@gibsonstapworks.com. Su M 11AM-11PM, Tu-Th 1-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight. Microbrewery. 2019-07-17

Cafes

• Beachcomer Coffee Company, 264 Gower Point Road, 49.40190°, -123.50615°. Daily 7AM-5PM. 2019-07-17
• Black Bean Cafe, 467 Marine Drive, 49.40285°, -123.50411°, +1 604-886-1716. M-F 7:30AM-4PM, Sa Su 8AM-4PM. 2019-07-17

Sleep

• The Bonniebrook Lodge, 1532 Ocean Beach Esplanade, 49.39000°, -123.55428°, +1 604-886-2887. A 7-suite Lodge sitting on stunning ocean front property. Restaurant on site. From $242 2019-07-16
• Caprice Bed & Breakfast, Gower Point Road, 49.38616°, -123.53102°, +1 604-886-4270. On an acre of ocean view land, surrounded by majestic west coast cedars. A BBQ is available for guest use. Breakfast provided. Swimming pool, hot tub, gardens and terrace. 2019-07-16
• Gibsons Garden Hotel, 963 Gibsons Way, 49.40629°, -123.52341°, +1 604-886-4638. 52-room property within easy walking distance of restaurants, galleries and boutiques and 1.5 km from the waterfront. Hot breakfast included, heated indoor pool, a dry sauna, a well-equipped fitness room, garden courtyard and business center. Free Wi-Fi, free parking, self-serve laundry. From $154 2019-07-16
• Sunshine Lodge Inn (main location), 679 North Rd, 49.40763°, -123.51418°, +1 604-886-3321. Free Wi-Fi, mini fridges and microwaves in every room, and cable TV. A few pet-friendly rooms. Also has an outdoor pool that is open seasonally. From $120 2023-01-14
• Sunshine Lodge Inn (new location), 835 Gibsons Way, 49.40649°, -123.51609°, +1 604-886-3321. Free Wi-Fi, mini fridges and microwaves in every room, and cable TV. A few pet-friendly rooms. From $120 2023-01-14

Connect

• Gibsons Visitor Information Centre, 417 Marine Drive, 49.40209°, -123.5052°, +1 604-886-2374, gibsonsvic@sunshinecoastcanada.com. May-Jun: Daily 10-4PM; Jul-Aug: Daily 9AM-5PM; Oct-Apr: W-Su 10AM-4PM. Located in the heart of Gibsons Landing in Pioneer Park, just steps from the public wharf and has a great view of Gibsons harbour. Carries maps and a wide range of free resource materials. 2019-07-16

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