There's no two ways about it. British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province, is gorgeous!
A trip to the capital Vancouver should be on everyone's Canadian bucket list, to experience the city's blend of lush natural beauty and urban charm, set against the backdrop of majestic mountains and sparkling bays.
For anyone with a bit of extra time while visiting the area, and keen on an easy road trip, one of the best ways to experience the beautiful countryside surrounding Vancouver is to make their way up Highway 99. Better known as the Sea-to-Sky Highway, the road which stretches from Vancouver north up to Whistler and beyond, and has many fun stops worth looking out for along the way.
Whistler itself is only about a 90 minute drive from Vancouver, and so you may be tempted to do the Sea to Sky highway during a single day trip. But once you add in the various stopping off points mentioned below, the itinerary quickly becomes a long one. While it is certainly doable to complete the Sea to Sky road trip in 1 day by starting and finishing in Vancouver, we would recommend rather overnighting somewhere en route, and giving yourself ample time to experience all that this lovely road trip itinerary has to offer.
And so without further ado, here are all the things we saw and places we stopped off during our journey, touring up Canada's lovely Sea-to-Sky Highway 99.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Before even leaving the limits of the city, we made the first stop of our road trip at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in Northern Vancouver. The park offers a host of thrilling adventure experiences, set among some spectacular views.
The centerpiece attraction is the lengthy suspension bridge which spans a large gorge, for a thrilling and somewhat wobbly crossing that might have anyone suffering from vertigo with their heart in their throat. On the far side is a series of treetop walkways amongst the forest canopy which are good fun for the whole family.
For the slightly more adventurous, there is also a cliff walk: a narrow walkway that hugs the edge of a steep cliff, offering dramatic views of the river below.
Throughout the park there are educational exhibits like totem poles that highlight indigenous Canadian culture and the local history of the location. And you'll also find gift shops to visit, and various dining options, for anyone feeling peckish after all the excitement.
Shannon Falls
Not quite halfway to Whistler up Highway 99 you'll come across the parking area for the Shannon Falls. Here you'll find some public toilets, as well as some nice picnic tables beneath the trees and a lawn for the kids to run around on - it is a great place for a pit stop.
The walk to the Shannon waterfalls themselves is a quick and peaceful one, set as they are near the motorway. Beneath the towering pine trees and moss-covered rocks, it is a lovely amble to the falls, and we found it the perfect place to stretch our legs.
Sea to Sky Gondola
Just a few more minutes' drive further north along Highway 99 from Shannon Falls, we stopped again for our cable car trip up the Sea to Sky Gondola.
The gondola ride lasts about 10 minutes, is great fun, and affords magnificent scenic views over the bay and the surrounding cliffs. At the top of the ride there is a restaurant and café as well as a variety of panoramic viewing platforms, another suspension bridge to navigate, and a few easy walking trails to discover.
We wandered around for an hour or so, taking in the beautiful scenery all around, particularly the views of the Stawamus Chief granite massive. Julien even made friends with a local - and not-at-all bashful - little chipmunk that had wandered over to us hoping for some scraps.
The town of Squamish
Just up the road from the Sea to Sky Gondola is the town of Squamish, nestled in the imposing shadow of the Stawamus Chief Mountain.
A larger town than we'd thought, Squamish is a good spot to stop off for some lunch, a bit of shopping or just a wander around.
We grabbed a bite to eat at the Green Olive Market & Café, a charming little restaurant we highly recommend for tasty, fresh and authentic Mediterranean food. We weren't the only ones making the most of this wonderful deli - it was a very popular venue with locals queueing up on their lunch break.
Tantalus Lookout Point
Moving onwards and northwards from Squamish, by now we were over halfway on our journey from Vancouver to Whistler. We'd covered a bit of ground, surrounded by lovely scenery all the way.
And 30 minutes after leaving Squamish we arrived at the Tantalus lookout point.
Weather permitting, this is a spectacular place to stop for views of a trio of dramatic peaks, across serene forest vistas and the Squamish river down below. For a touch of history, be sure to read the information on the board featuring the Squamish first nations map.
Brandywine Falls Park
Another 15 minutes' drive would see us arrive at the Brandywine Falls Provincial Park.
As waterfalls go, the Brandywine Falls were definitely the most impressive of the 3 we would see on our journey following Highway 99. On the other hand, the easy walk from the car park to get to the falls - which only takes around 5 minutes - was perhaps the least pretty. Though only because it was up against some stiff competition.
The falls really are breathtaking: a 70 meter sheet of water plunging into the depths below. Do also wander on a little beyond the falls to the Valley Viewpoint, for a view across the valley which in good weather looks simply stunning and is worth a visit.
The Brandywine Falls Park also boasts a number of recreational hiking trails, for anyone who wants to venture a little more off track. We decided to tackle the Swim Lake Hiking Trail, which branches off from the main path just before it reaches the railway line.
The hike is a relatively easily doable 500 meters for anyone willing to do a bit of clambering along the way. However, it would not be appropriate for young kids or anyone with mobility challenges, as parts of the trail are a bit rough, with one short but steep climb along the way.
The peaceful little lake at the culmination of the hike was a postcard-perfect mirror of the surrounding forest and background mountains. We spent a little time hanging out at the lake's edge, the two of us sharing the peace and quiet with no-one other than a couple of dragonflies flitting above the water.
Train Wreck Trail
By now we were getting pretty close to Whistler. But before we arrived at the town, we had one more stop to make, at the Whistler Train Wreck.
Turning off the motorway onto Cheakamus Lake Road, we parked by the roadside near the intersection of Legacy Way and Jane Lakes Road, and set off down the walking trail.
An easy 20-minute hike later, with the Cheakamus river gurgling along beside us all the way, this was our favourite of all the walks we did on our Sea to Sky journey. The pathway is cool and hushed, surrounded by lush forest, and everything is covered in moss.
Soon we were crossing the suspension bridge and making our way over to the wrecked train carriages that were strewn across the forest floor haphazardly.
Covered in colourful graffiti, the train cars are a popular tourist attraction today that is frequented by many visitors to nearby Whistler, and make for a great photo opportunity. There are also a couple of information boards which describe the events surrounding the original train accident.
Whistler
This one goes a bit without saying, and needs no introduction. The most well-known location on the Sea to Sky Highway, and the final destination for many visitors, will be the mountain town of Whistler.
A vibrant resort town, this charming British Columbia staple is known for its world-class ski slopes and lovely alpine scenery. Whistler also has tons of upscale shopping and great restaurant dining options, and is a must-do on any road trip up Highway 99.
Nairn Falls
Keen to continue even further along the Highway? About 20 minutes from Whistler you'll find another great waterfall to visit: the Nairn Falls. For us, this would be the furthest north we would venture up the Sea to Sky Highway.
The hike to Nairn Falls was also the longest one we did, although it was still a very manageable 1.5 kms. The walk itself is a rewarding one, the pathway mostly just wide enough for 2 people side by side, with a drop off to the one side down to the fast-flowing milky-blue river.
The hike ends at the Falls, which gush vigorously into a basin, through an underwater arch and then on down a second brief chute, before the river goes once again on its merry way.
Honorable mention: Vallea Lumina
Not so much a stopping off point on Highway 99, this one is more of an activity to do along the route for which you will need to book tickets.
We were keen to include the Vallea Lumina experience on our list though, simply because we thought it was amazing! Only 10 minutes from Whistler, this is a magical immersive experience, as you wind your way after dark amongst the towering trees, while astonishing illuminations appear all around.
Highly recommended! For more information, and some amazing pictures that nevertheless hardly do the experience justice - have a look at our article on Whistler's Vallea Lumina experience.
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