#ExploreBC Road Trip: Vancouver & Sea-To-Sky

3 Days / 300 km (186.41 mi)

If you like your scenery with a side of culinary adventure, then head to Richmond and the Sea-to-Sky Highway to follow in the footsteps of seasoned eater and imbiber Viranlly Liemena, a Vancouver local who set out to rediscover his own backyard. We describe Viranlly’s journey below, complete with his insider tips.

Part 1: Vancouver

15.9 km / 29 mins

Start your journey in Vancouver, where urbanites without a car can pick up an Evo using the car share app. Round up your friends and pack your luggage for a road trip south to Richmond then up the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Fuel up with a coffee from one of Vancouver’s many cafes—Viranlly recommends Revolver in Gastown—before you grab a car and hit the highway.

Part 2: Richmond

90.6 km / 1 hour 25 mins

Start your trip in Richmond, where the city’s multicultural population has made it a must-visit for international cuisine. Take an afternoon trip to the fishing village of Steveston for fresh-off-the-boat seafood, and a scenic stroll to walk off some calories. 

Viranlly's Highlights:

• “Chef Tony is the perfect way to start your day; the salted-egg-yolk custard buns are a must.
• There’s no wrong answer when it comes to dessert in Richmond, but we opted for Tiger Sugar bubble tea for something a little lighter.
• After dinner we walked around Terra Nova Rural Park to watch the sunset. It was beautiful.”

Part 3: Squamish

58.7 km / 48 mins

Leave Vancouver in the rear-view mirror and follow the Sea-to-Sky Highway as it undulates and curves around the Coast Mountains. Pull-over points allow for panoramic views of favourite local spots including Howe Sound, Bowen Island, and the Sunshine Coast as you drive up North America’s most southerly fjord.

Easily accessible adventure abounds in Squamish, where hotspots include Alice Lake (ideal for a cool dip) and glacial rivers where you might see black bears foraging along the riverside. Experience the views from the summit of the Sea to Sky Gondola where you can explore the suspension bridge, or make your way to the top via the thrilling Via Ferrata—a high-octane adventure that involves ascending the granite rock face with the help of a system of cables and metal rungs.

Viranlly's Highlights:

• “The flight over Howe Sound with Sea to Sky Air was amazing, and dinner at Salted Vine Kitchen + Bar was simple and well executed.
• Alice Lake was also a nice stop—especially on a hot day when you just want to be in the water.
• The Fisherman’s Cottage at Sunwolf was adorable. The interior is very cabin-chic: great kitchen, photogenic floor-to-ceiling bookcase, and the fact that it’s right by the river was the clincher.” 

Part 4: Whistler

120 km / 1 hour 36 mins

Next up? Stop in Whistler for outdoor and culinary adventures. The Village is ideal for outdoor dining in the summer, so take a mask to enjoy one of the many patios or order take-out and enjoy it at one of the many picnic tables available. Bars and restaurants are open with limited capacity, so book in advance if you have a favourite spot on your list. Work up an appetite with an adventurous UTV ride (Utility Terrain Vehicle: holding on is a workout in itself!) or take it easy by soaking up the incredible views on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola (closed for annual maintenance for a month each spring). Or simply soak in the hot and cool plunge pools surrounded by fresh air and the forest at Scandinave Spa Whistler.

Viranlly's Highlights:

• “Dinner at Il Caminetto was outstanding; the service, the wine and cocktails, and, of course, the food were all impeccable. Their secluded patio is one of Whistler’s hottest spots to see and be seen, and no visit is complete without the wagyu meatballs.
• We ended the trip with cocktail hour at Bar Oso and their spectacular new cocktail menu: ‘Alpine Collins’ is essentially a Whistler summer day in a glass, and the cherries of ‘Cherry on Top’ are so good: savoury, tangy, herbal, and sweet all in one bite.”