- Outbound Station
- Unique Slow Rise Bakery
- Sea to Sky Gondola
- Squamish Canyon
Today the sun was out and we were making the most of the dry weather by taking a drive out to Squamish. Squamish is Canada’s outdoor capital and only 65 minutes from my home in Burnaby.
Outbound Station – O|S
27400 Sea-to-Sky Hwy, Britannia Beach, BC VON 1JO
outboundstation.com
We started the day at Outbound Station for light snacks. This is just before Britannia Village and is a popular food and drink pit stop for those continuing North on the Sea to Sky Highway.
They are a collection of containers painted and repurposed into a cafe with beverages and sweet treats on the right and more fulsome meals on the left.
My guest got a drip coffee and apple fritter, and I an ice cream, after being drawn in by its photo. A gelato swirl of black vanilla and the seasonal ube topped with my choice dehydrated mango, all in a black waffle cone. This was as tasty as it was stunning. Although even with the smallest kid size it did get a little too sweet for me towards the end.
Unique Slow Rise Bakery – Klahanie
36583 Darrell Bay Rd, Squamish, BC V8B 0A6
(604) 314-1502
For a more fulsome meal we then headed to Unique Slow Rise Bakery in Klahanie RV Park. A few years back it went viral after local superstar foodies posted about it online. I have attempted to visit a few times since, to see if it was worth the hype. However have always stopped by too late and they were often sold out. Today I was at the right place, right time.
We ordered their mini bowl combo to be able to get a bit of all their offerings, although they are best known for their baked buns. And in hindsight, had we stuck with that we might have enjoyed our meal a lot more. Full recap of this lunch and my honest review, in its own separate post.
Sea to Sky Gondola
36800 BC-99, Squamish, BC V8B 0B6
(604) 892-2550
seatoskygondola.com
Our next stop was a lot more scenic. A ride up the Sea to Sky Gondola. This is not only a great destination for tourists to BC, but a great option if you want the view from atop the Chief, without having to take the 3-6 hour hike across 7-11km.
The enclosed gondola ride up is 15 minutes long, up to the 885-meter-high summit. Not only do you get the ascending view from within, but even more panoramic wonders when you walk out at the top.
There, there is a slew of family friendly activities. From leisurely hiking trails to scenic view points, and play grounds to bars.
The trails are all mapped out with listed kilometres and the time it will take to complete them. Majority of them very well thought out and curated loops. But if you are not looking to endeavour the trails or are outfitted with the wrong footwear, you can still enjoy the view of Squamish Harbour and the surrounding mountains from the suspension bridge. There are also some quickie trails with just as impressive out looks from stone perches and roped off barricades.
When hungry, you can look to one of their many food and drink options. Small bites, hot beverages, and pastries from their café. Classic all beef burgers from their burger window, outside overlooking the outdoor patio. A more globally inspired entrée menu from the indoor cafeteria and bbq pit. And/or cocktails and mocktails, plus wine and beer from their full bar.
We would pause for a secondary lunch here. I enjoyed a classic grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup upgrade from their café. My guest got the deep fried shrimp po’boy sandwich from the Sky Pilot Smokehouse. And we enjoyed both in their air conditioned, all glass dining area, with views of gondolas passing.
When done we took the gondola back down to the base of the mountain, where our car was waiting.
Squamish Canyon
39180 Powerhouse Springs Rd, Squamish, BC V8B OC2
(778) 605-3030
squamishcanyon.com
Our next Squamish stop was Squamish Canyon. I have lived in Vancouver most of my life and have driven up to Squamish many times throughout it, but I never knew there was a canyon worth visiting until today. This is also a ticketed experience, $44 per person gives you access to the canyon’s boardwalks, photo ops, and cafe hidden within the forest.
It is a 13 minute drive off the Sea to Sky path to our destination. This is another family friendly, low effort and big payoff tourist attraction. The experience is a large loop that has you walking on smooth and well maintained wooden planks. It is made kid friendly with cartoon animals teaching them facts about the animals and trees living in this ecosystem.
There are also photo ops set up like hovering frames and stands for your phone to take shots from. Plus plenty of benches for resting and for you to sit and take in your surroundings, in peace while forest bathing.
The highlight was the series of waterfalls with grey rapids rushing past stones and cascading down cliffs. A naturally occurring beauty.
The entire loop is easy and low impact, despite a sign saying we would be taking 700 stair steps. Majority of them are down hill and in smaller steps. This is a beginner level course for all ages and all fitness types.
Towards the end of the trail is a clearing and a pit stop. Like a giant tree house with play ground, oversized table games, patio lights, and plenty of seating.
There is also a cafe and gift shop for those looking for a snack and/or drink, and the ability to purchase a commemorative souvenir of their time here. We would grab a savoury muffin, a sweet cookie, an iced strawberry Matcha latte, and an ice cold ginger beer to enjoy on their upper deck patio. Our visit was during a quieter, slower time and we were able to enjoy the sounds of the forest all around us, while we indulge in our treats.
From here we decided to end our day. The hot sun and the continuous standing and walking made us tired. With over 5kms travelled and double the calories ingested we would be driving out of Squamish on a high note.
