One of the best ways to experience the Sunshine Coast is by car, taking a leisurely drive and exploring the tiny communities, beaches, stores and restaurants that dot the peninsula with their vibrant colour.

A few minutes drive west of the Langdale Ferry Terminal is the town of Gibsons. This seaside village is home to Molly's Reach Restaurant, a famous landmark originally built as a set for "The Beachcombers", a popular TV series in the 1980s. Today it is a seafood restaurant on the bank of the ocean. Located in the oldest part of town, it is a stone's throw from Molly's Lane, a cluster of funky and eclectic stores that sell imported treasures and handcrafted local items on the waterfront.

Nature and history buffs will not want to miss the Elphinstone Pioneer Museum which details the history of the Sunshine Coast and Coast Salish Nation, and houses the Bedford Shell Collection and a large butterfly collection. There is also the Sunshine Coast Maritime Museum located in Molly's Lane, with a superb display and explanation of Maritime history along BC's waterways and coast.

THINGS TO DO

Mountain Biking and Hiking
There's an extensive network of biking and hiking trails across the Sunshine Coast, including easy, paved paths and off-road forestry trails for the more adventurous. For maps and detailed information, contact the local Visitors Information Centres or the Forestry Service, or explore the coast's website at www.bigpacific.com.

Golf
The oldest golf course on the coast is the Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club in Roberts Creek, a scenic oasis carved from the coastal rain forest that borders the course on all sides. The Sechelt Golf & Country Club is 2 km from downtown Sechelt, surrounded by views of the Sechelt Inlet and the mountains. Only 4 km from Madeira Park, the Pender Harbour Golf Course is a nine-hole course close to some of the coast's loveliest lakes and mountains.