Vacation rentals in Sechelt

Situated on Canada’s Sunshine Coast on mainland British Columbia, with the Strait of Georgia to the south and the expansive Sechelt Inlet to the north, the small town of Sechelt promises seaside views, rocky beaches outlined by evergreen forests, and a charming downtown.

The calm sea waters of the strait and inlet lend themselves to a variety of water-related activities, including kayaking, scuba diving, and stand-up paddleboarding. After spending the day hiking in the parks or windsurfing, you can take a drive along the Sunshine Coast Highway which meanders along the water’s edge or wander along Cowrie Street downtown to shop for local art, handmade goods, and vintage treasures. The hiking and biking trails that snake up the surrounding mountains may bring you past cascading waterfalls such as Burnett Falls, which become even more dramatic during the spring melt.

The Sunshine Coast has received its name because Vancouver Island, across the Strait of Georgia, protects the region from denser precipitation and cloud cover, yet it still experiences eight months of overcast, rainy days. Summer is generally considered the best time to stay in a Sechelt vacation rental. Temperatures from June through September are comfortably hot. This is also considered Sechelt’s dry season, a great time to attend a festival in the area such as the Festival of the Rolling Arts, where you can enjoy a parade, a car show, and food. As autumn rolls around, the temperatures drop and the low clouds return. This is the rainy season in Sechelt, so make sure you bring warm waterproof boots and a lined rain jacket. The temperatures hit their lowest points in December and January, when the rain turns to snow, so come prepared with warm clothes if you plan to spend your days outdoors. Once British Columbia’s long, slow spring begins in March, you can expect warmer temperatures, moderate rainfall, and flowers everywhere you look.

Sargeant Bay Provincial Park

Located less than 10 minutes west of downtown Sechelt, the 146-hectare Sargeant Bay Provincial Park — also known as Halfmoon Bay because of its beach shaped like a half-moon — is covered in wetlands and dense evergreen forests. From the pebbled shore, you can take a 1.5-kilometre up-and-back-trail through both trees and marshes to Triangle Lake, listening for the sounds of the many birds who make this park home.

Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives

Located around 20 minutes from Sechelt, the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives has collected photographs, newspaper articles, and thousands of artefacts that trace the region’s past. It includes exhibits on the Coast Salish peoples (including the Sechelt tribe) who have lived here for thousands of years, as well as industries of importance such as fishing, logging, and agriculture. The colorful butterfly and beetle collections provide a glimpse at the diversity of the wildlife here.

Davis Bay Beach

Running along the Sunshine Coast Highway, just south of Sechelt, Davis Bay Beach offers beautiful views of the sea from the rocky shore. You can spend the day windsurfing or kayaking along the coast, then walk out the pier to the gazebo, where you can fish or simply contemplate the lovely view of the Strait of Georgia.