The Coast

ACTIVITIES

Stonehaven Boutique B&B on the Sunshine Coast in BC, Canada, is located in one of the world’s greatest outdoor playgrounds. Stonehaven, Halfmoon Bay and the surrounding area offers vacationers a world of possibilities to relax or be adventurous. We have the mildest climate in Canada and Welcome Beach is known as one of the best low tide sandy beaches on the Sunshine Coast. Enjoy fishing, kayaking or explore the tidal pools bursting with crabs, jellyfish and other interesting marine life, just steps from your room. Halfmoon Bay also offers a myriad of easy or very challenging mountain biking and hiking trails that can be accessed right from Stonehaven. Boaters can launch their boat from Cooper’s Green Park which is just 5 minutes away. This park is also known for great scuba diving experiences. If golf is your game, you can choose from several great courses nearby. In the winter months you can enjoy snowshoeing, cross country skiing, tobogganing or snowmobiling in the nearby Trout Lake or Dakota Ridge regions.

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Sechelt, just 15 minutes away has several restaurants and shops. If you would prefer to stay closer to home, the Halfmoon Bay General Store is a small country grocery and liquor store. Adjacent to the store is the Upper Crust where you can get coffee, pizza and light deli snacks.

Halfmoon Bay Dock

For those wishing to travel a bit farther, you can go horseback riding at Malaspina Ranch, hike into the famous Skookumchuck rapids or take a boat trip to the beautiful Princess Louisa Inlet. Whatever fills your day, know that you can come home to Stonehaven and enjoy a soak in our ocean view hot tub perfectly situated to take in the spectacular ocean view.

DINING:

There are many dining choices within 15 minutes of Stonehaven. Each room is equipped with sample menus of our great restaurants. Whether you’re looking for a quaint coffee shop, luncheon café or a full dinner dining experience, we can point you in the right direction.

Stonehaven recommends the following dining establishments:

The Old Boot
The Upper Deck
Augusta Grill
Saffron
Mama’s Gelato
Rain Tree Market

If you prefer to stay home, Stonehaven offers a guest barbeque on the covered ocean view deck. Enjoy your meal in the privacy of your outdoor deck and take in the beauty of our natural environment.

EVENTS:

The Sunshine Coast is busy year round with various events and happenings. For the latest events check the following sites:

http://www.bigpacific.com/whattodo/calendar.html

http://www.bbsunshinecoast.com/calendar

SEA KAYAKING:

Whether an experienced kayaker or a never ever, Halfmoon Bay is a great place to start your kayak adventure. For kayak rentals and guided tours, check out Alpha Adventures at http://www.outdooradventurestore.ca/ or Halfmoon Sea Kayaks at http://www.halfmoonseakayaks.com/. We highly recommend the Full Moon Paddle (guided tour).

HIKING AND WALKING:

Halfmoon Bay offers a wide variety of hiking trails that you can access right from Stonehaven or just a few minutes drive. Each room is equipped with hiking maps of the area. Some of our favorite trails include Smuggler Cove, Triangle Lake and The Falls.

We also highly recommend the Skookumchuck Rapids. Here the Sechelt Inlet meets the Jervis Inlet, and as 200 billion gallons of water flows through this narrow passage, a three meter wave is created during maximum tide. Watch experience trick kayakers literally “surf” the wave or if you are lucky you may see sea lions playing in the tidal currents. In your room, you will find information on the best viewing times.

MOUNTAIN BIKING:

The Sunshine Coast is popular for the many easy or very challenging mountain biking trails. Directly behind Stonehaven is an excellent network of trails suitable for both beginners and the very experienced. Don’t have a mountain bike? No problem. The local bike shop is Sechelt will be happy to rent you the appropriate bike for you.

HORSE BACK RIDING:

Just a 25 minute drive from Stonehaven you will arrive at Malaspina Ranch. Enjoy a trail ride to fabulous view points overlooking Pender Harbour, the Georgia Straight and Vancouver Island. To book a trail ride call: 604-883-1122.

BIRD WATCHING:

Stonehaven is like watching National Geographic outside your window. If you are a bird lover, this is the place to be. Enjoy viewing Marganzers, majestic Bald Eagles, Loons, Hawks, Canadian Geese and many more bird species right from the comfort of your oceanside room.

FRESH WATER SWIMMING:

There are many fresh water lakes in the area suitable for swimming. Trout Lake is the closest, just 5 minutes away, and is great for experienced swimmers and people who enjoy rock jumping. Catherine Lake, approximately 30 minutes away, is a great family lake with shallow water and a small sandy beach. Look in your in-room area guide book for more recreational opportunities and information.

PRINCESS LOUISA TOURS:

Did you know there are glacial fjords in British Columbia? Princess Louisa Inlet, the granite bordered fjord is a source of amazement and wonder. Steep rock walls, crystal glass water, and numerous waterfalls are just a few things you will experience while visiting this magical place. Visit Sunshine Coast Tours for tour information.

GOLFING:

There are three great golf courses within 20 minutes of Stonehaven. The Sechelt Golf and Country Club now has the Augusta Grill for your dining pleasure after a day of golf!

SECHELT GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
18 holes
6177 Ripple Way Sechelt
Phone: 604-885-4653 Toll Free: 1-800-882-6177
http://www.secheltgolfclub.com/index.php

SUNSHINE COAST GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
18 holes
3206 Sunshine Coast Highway Roberts Creek
Phone: 604-885-9212

PENDER HARBOUR GOLF CLUB
Nine holes with four tee boxes to allow 18-hole rounds
13823 Sunshine Coast Highway Madeira Park
Phone: 604-883-9541 Toll Free: 1-877-887-9541

SCUBA DIVING:

Come to the Sunshine Coast and explore some of the best scuba diving sites in the world. British Columbia has been rated by National Geographic, Jacques Cousteau and many famous divers, as the second best dive spot in the world, next only to the Red Sea. The February 2003 issue of Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine rates B.C. as the top overall dive destination in North America. Crystal clear unpolluted water and vivid colors creates magical diving experiences. You may find yourself in the company of the largest species of octopus in the world, wolf eels, sea lions, pods of orcas, white-sided dolphins and Stellar seals.

There are several dive sites available for the beginner and the seasoned scuba divers:

Shore Dives: Dive right from the beach at Stonehaven. Watch Merganzer ducks dive and feed on the near by rock cliff. View starfish, crabs, and jelly fish. If you are lucky you will see seals and sea lions that often play in the bay. Another shore dive just five minutes away is at Coopers Green, a popular dive spot where you will see wolf eels, anemones and maybe even the resident octopus!

Current and Drift Dives: One of the most popular dives on the Sunshine Coast is the Skookumchuck Rapids. This dive is for the experienced scuba divers only. The high tidal exchange has created a visual orchestra of color which includes bright green and red anemones, dark purple starfish and vibrant yellow sponges. This challenging dive is only available at slack tide. Tzoonie Narrows is another great drift dive but with gentler currents.

Wall Dives: Agamemnon Channel is a very popular wall dive and is famous for the pristine waters, sponges and brilliantly red corals.

Wreck Dives: The HMCS Chaudiere, a 366’ ship was sunk in 1992 by the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia and now lies on her port side serving as an artificial reef, abundant with marine life.

The Sechelt based company Suncoast Diving http://www.suncoastdiving.com can help you with any of these and many other diving adventures available on the Sunshine Coast.

BOAT TOURS / THORMANBY ISLAND

Buccaneer Bay on Thormanby Island can be accessed by a short water taxi ride from Secret Cove which is just 10 minutes from Stonehaven. This breathtaking spot is one of the secrets of the Sunshine Coast and is definitely worth packing a picnic lunch and heading out for the day. Low tide joins North and South Thormanby Islands revealing a beautiful sandy beach dotted with tidal pools. If there were only palm trees, you would think you were in the Caribbean!

SNOW SHOEING AND CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

The Sunshine Coast is primarily known as a summer destination, however, those who live here understand the quiet beauty of winter also brings many outdoor opportunities. Stonehaven is just 15 minutes from the snowline in the Trout Lake region. This area is suitable for tobogganing, ATV’s, snowmobiling and snow shoeing. For those wishing to cross country ski, we also recommend Dakota Ridge which boasts 12 km of groomed cross country ski trails, for all skill levels. For more information about Dakota Ridge check out http://www.scrd.bc.ca/rec_dakota_ridge.html. For snow shoe, and ski rentals or guided tours on Dakota Ridge check out Alpha Adventures at http://www.outdooradventurestore.ca/

STORM WATCHING

If you are looking for a quiet weekend winter retreat why not come to Halfmoon Bay? In the fall you can witness the trees change into their beautiful fall colors and breathe in the crispness of the cool clean air. Fall and winter offer excellent storm watching opportunities at Stonehaven. With a spectacular view from every room up Welcome Pass you can enjoy watching the ocean boil and the waves roll and crash during our frequent strong wind storms.

RECREATION CENTER

Sechelt’s new aquatic recreation center opened in November 2007. This great new facility offers; 25M six lane lap pool, 1 metre diving board, in-pool climbing wall, leisure/therapeutic pool and lazy river, whirlpool, steam room, sauna, waterslide and fitness center. Check your in-room guide book for the latest schedule.

MOVIES

The Raven’s Cry theatre is located in downtown Sechelt. Check out their website to get the latest movie and viewing times. http://www.ravenscrytheatre.com/

Stonehaven Boutique Beachfront B&B
8409 Redrooffs Road, Halfmoon Bay, BC

604-885-0561 or 1-877-885-0561