Traveling with Children & Pets

Kids and pets are naturals on the Sunshine Coast. We've got miles and miles of places to romp and ramble for both species, and quite a few places to choose from for accommodations to suit every taste. There are day programs for kids at a couple of places on the Coast, and we'll give you the contacts you need to connect.

4 Cats Art Studio in Sechelt's Trail Bay Mall is a professional art studio offering classes, workshops and parties for artists aged 2-15. If you are bringing your children with you on vacation, be sure to check ahead with 4Cats.com/sechelt (604-885-2281) to find out about sessions on during your visit. Or, plan a party in the glass-fronted Jackson Pollock-style studio room, where kids can splatter paint to their hearts' content!

Traveling with Children

The visual reward for hiking Pender Hill (approx. 45 minutes)

The Sunshine Coast holds an extensive playground for kids and parents alike. There is, of course, the obvious beaches up and down the coast, but there are activities of all kinds as well. Visit www.bigpacific.com/whattodo/parks/index.html for parks on the coast and http://www.bigpacific.net/search/Category.aspx?scid=206 for sightseeing. The coast’s many attractions include art studios, jazz festivals and kayaking – you name it, we have it!

You can also find kid-friendly accommodations at the kid-friendly category and the following are some restaurants that cater to those with little ones.

If your family is into the outdoors, the Sunshine Coast has many mountain biking trails for you to enjoy (see link). Gibson is also home to a youth centre (http://www.scrd.ca/index.php?page_id=447). The youth centre is a drop-in rec centre for kids from 13 to 18 years old. Programs at the centre include yoga, cooking class and a leadership group. The SCRD (Sunshine Coast Regional District) has recreation facilities as well. (http://www.scrd.ca/index.php?page_id=238#) These include a swimming pool and programs like gymnastics and belly dancing.

Rainy day? Don’t despair! Go to http://www.bigpacific.com/whattodo/rainyday.html to keep those active minds out of trouble and having fun! You can visit a museum, a hatchery or the art centre!

And if you ever run out of things to do – there are always more! The http://www.bigpacific.com/whattodo/101things.html page highlights 101 of them! They run from going swimming, to visiting Molly’s Reach (where Beachcomber was filmed) to windsurfing and hiking. There is always something new to do or explore on the Sunshine Coast!

Powell River is also home to many attractions, including a rec centre which has a skating rink, a swimming pool and much more.

SCHOOLS: The Sunshine Coast is home to one preschool, 10 elementary schools and four secondary schools. See http://www.bigpacific.com/about/schools.html for more information.

The Sunshine Coast is great for kids for more than one reason. The coast is home to more than one museum, and kids can learn in the greatest school there is … the outdoors! While visiting tidal pools they can see all the different sealife there are; camping will show them survival skills, and many other interesting highlights. Getting kids out of the “city life” and into the “natural life” is an accomplishment in itself. They will enjoy the wonderment of wildlife, both in the sea and out of it. So book your vacation today for the Sunshine Coast!

Bigpacific.com Resources:

• SUNSHINE COAST RESORT - Kid & Pet Friendly, great for reunions!
• Family-friendly accommodations on the Sunshine Coast
• Things to do
• Parks
• Outdoor Recreation
• Arts & Cultural Activities

Additional Community Resources:

Traveling with Pets

Clamming pugs, Savary Island

The Sunshine Coast, which spans from Gibsons in the south to Lund in the north, is not only a great travelling location for people but for their four-legged friends as well. There are dog parks and pet-friendly beaches all along the coast, and many places for Fido to rest his weary paws for an evening’s stay.

Make sure you visit the Visitor Info Centres for the Coast to get detailed directions to the parks listed.

Pet Friendly Accommodations

Rules for Rover

When taking your pet with you on vacation, please keep in mind the following “pet etiquette” tips.

• Keep your pet on its leash when applicable by local bylaws.
• Do not allow your pet on furniture, including chairs and beds, even when in a pet-friendly location.
• Wipe your pet’s feet before your enter any premises.
• Leave your room as you found it – do not leave any “messes” for the staff to clean.
• Clean up after your pet. Remember to keep waste disposal bags with you at all times.

Kennels

• CastleRock Kennels, Roberts Creek, 604-885-9840
• Pawsitive Adventures (in-home boarding) 604-886-0528
• Happy Tails Ranch, Gibsons 604-886-1724
• Coastal Tails Pet Sitting 604.886.6677
• Catnip Cottage (cats) 604.885-4697
• Cedar Creek Kennels, Gibsons 604-886-8568

Trainers

• Andrea Richmond CPDT 604-885-2508 andrear@thek9clubbc.com
• Jane Bowers - Dogs of Distinction Canine Training Inc. 604-886-0348
• Lynn Nestman, The K9 Club 604-886.3966

Dog Daycare & Exercise

• CastleRock Kennels Day Program, Roberts Creek 604-885-9840
• Pawsitive Adventures, Gibsons 604-886-0528
• Coastal Tails, Gibsons 604-886-6677
• 4Paws 604-885-9875

Local veterinarians

• Eagle Ridge Veterinary Hospital – 604-885-5158
• Sechelt Animal Hospital – 604-885-2309
• Gibsons Animal Hospital – 604-886-7313
• The Landing Veterinary Clinic (Gibsons) – 604-886-8511
• Sunshine Coast Pet Hospital – 604-704-6633
• Madeira Park Veterinary Hospital – 604-883-2488

Rescue & Shelters

• SPCA Sunshine Coast Branch - 604-740-0301
• SPCA Powell River and District Branch – 604-483-3506
• Happy Cat Haven (cat and kitten shelter) – 604-886-2407

Looking for a lost dog? Try calling Cedar Creek Kennels at 604-886-8568 – all loose dogs are taken to the kennels.

Pet stores

Gibsons Pet Food & Supplies – 604-886-7242
Oscars Aquatics – 604-886-3441
Quality Farm & Garden Supply 604-886-7527

Pet spas/grooming

Dog on the Bay – 604-740-0178
Rose’s Dog Grooming – 604-885-2514
Ruff Cuts Dog Grooming – 604-740-0490
Canine Spa – 604-886-1224
Castle Rock Kennels – 604-885-9840

Dog licences

Licences increase to $30 for spayed or neutered dogs and to $70 for unspayed or unneutered dogs as of Feb. 1, 2011. All dogs in Halfmoon Bay, Roberts Creek, Elphinstone, West Howe Sound and Sechelt Indian Government district require licences that are renewed every calendar year.

Licences are available at:

SCRD administration office, 1975 Field Rd., Sechelt
Town of Gibsons, 474 South Fletcher, Gibsons
District of Sechelt, 5797 Cowrie Street, 2nd Floor (above library)
From the dog control officer

Dog-Friendly Parks

• Elphinstone Pioneer Cemetery (on leash until into trails; if your dog is unruly on narrow or steep trails please keep it leashed as trails are only wide enough for one person in various spots
• Soames (on leash) Gibsons. Watch out for your pet at viewpoints as the cliffs are steep.
• Shirley Macey Park, Chamberlin Road Gibsons. Great ball-chucking field if no soccer games are on. Can be muddy, keep pets leashed near building & playground.
• B&K logging road access into Elphinstone/Dakota Ridge - make sure you are at least to the powerlines before unleashing
• Cliff Gilker Park, Roberts Creek - leashed or unleashed with strong etiquette. Ball field good for chucking if no games are being played.
• Dakota Ridge - leashed, on Western snowshoe/ski trails only.
• Brooks Park, Chapman Creek - off-leash, reasonable ball chucking area but close to highway and no visibility for drivers if your pet runs to the road. Chapman Creek hike - please keep pets leashed around cliff edges as this is an area for erosion.
• Kinnickinick Park, Sechelt. Great 6k network of trails. Make sure to clean up after your pet or off-leash access may be revoked.
• Hidden Grove, Sandy Hook. Beautiful spongy trails and access to the Sechelt Heritage Forest and Hydro line for great views of Sechelt Inlet.
• Hackett Park - only suitable for leashed dogs or with good obedience/recall. Field is terrible for goose poop!
• Sargeant Bay - this park is listed as a leash-only area due to the sensitive marsh area and bird nests along the shore in breeding season. Some people risk off-leash walks and swims - just be careful of other wildlife and do not allow your pets to disturb other animals.
• Triangle Lake/Halfmoon Bay trail network. Very dog-friendly, long-circuit trail system.
• Smuggler's Cove - on leash during peak periods. No disturbing of marshy areas. Popular picnick area so if your dog is not polite around food, keep it leashed.
• Pender Hill - on leash during peak periods. Narrow turns and tree roots means rude dogs can cause a fall easily :)
• Mount Daniel - on leash during peak periods, watch dogs especially at the viewpoints.
• Skookumchuck - on leash during peak periods or on good etiquette. Leash pets at the end of the trail at tidal viewpoints; if your pet falls in there's no way to get them back without a leash on them.

Powell River Dog-Friendly parks:

• Larry Gouthro Park
• 3 Locations on the Seawall
• Entrance to Willingdon Beach Trail
• Sunset Park
• Lindsay Park
• Old Arena Site
• Grief Point Park

Dogs are NOT permitted on Willingdon Beach or Mowat Bay Park beach from May 1 - September 15.

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