On our first full day in Vancouver, we rented a car and headed north along British Columbia’s famous Sea to Sky Highway. Our goals were pretty simple: see some incredible scenery, visit Shannon Falls, stop at a Virgin River filming location, and explore Squamish and Whistler.

After spending the day on the road, here’s exactly where we stopped, what we’d do again, what we’d skip, and a few things we wish we’d known before we started driving.

Is the Sea to Sky Highway Worth It?

Absolutely. Even if you don’t stop every few miles, the drive itself is worth experiencing. Between the mountains, forests, waterfalls, and ocean views, it’s easily one of the prettiest drives we’ve ever done.

If you’re spending four or five days in Vancouver, I’d absolutely set aside one full day for the Sea to Sky Highway. Just don’t try to cram in every stop—you’ll enjoy it much more if you choose a few places you’re genuinely excited to visit.

Here’s how we spent our day, including the stops we’d recommend and the ones we’d probably skip next time.

Stop #1: Shannon Falls Provincial Park

Shannon Falls was my first time seeing trees this big in person. The towering evergreens, moss-covered rocks, and lush greenery made it feel like we had stepped into a rainforest. It was completely different from the mountains and forests we’re used to back home.

Parking was really easy at Shannon Falls, but I think arriving shortly after the park opened made all the difference. It was definitely packed when we were heading out.

Our main goal was to see Shannon Falls itself, but we ended up loving the park just as much. We spent about an hour wandering the trails, climbing over rocks, and exploring every little corner.

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We also spotted the biggest snail I’ve ever seen! We just don’t have snails this large back in New England!!

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Stop #2: Watershed Grill (Jack’s Bar from Virgin River)

Next up on our drive was the Watershed Grill. If you’ve watched Virgin River, you already know why this was at the top of my list. IYKYK.

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We arrived right around lunchtime, so we decided to grab brunch. The food was good, but honestly, I’d come back for the views alone.

After brunch, I snapped some photos of the bar, but mostly of the Squamish River. Honestly, the river ended up being my favorite part. Seeing the exterior of Jack’s Bar was really cool, but these views are what it’s all about!

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Stop #3: Whistler & Brandywine Falls

Since we were already this far north, we figured we’d continue to Whistler. Unfortunately, the Olympic facilities were closed during our visit, so we weren’t able to explore much.

We’d love to give Whistler another chance on a future trip because we don’t feel we experienced enough to judge it fairly.

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Brandywine Falls ended up being our biggest surprise, and not necessarily in a good way. Looking back, this one was completely on us. We didn’t do much research beforehand—we just saw “waterfall” and “bridge” and figured we’d wing it. Turns out…that wasn’t our best idea.

Unfortunately for us, the walk was much longer than we expected, and the bridge we ended up at was the bungee-jumping bridge. Somehow we managed to miss both the suspension bridge and the waterfall.

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Oh well, you live and learn.

If I did it again, I’d either spend more time researching the trails beforehand or skip this stop altogether in favor of another attraction.

Stop #4: Tim Hortons Stop

After a full day of driving and exploring, sometimes you just need a Tim Hortons stop for some coffee and TimBits.

I’m usually an iced coffee person, but for some reason, I can always drink a hot coffee from Tim Hortons.

We also tried a Tim Hortons dirty soda another day, and good lord, that might have been one of the best drinks I’ve ever had.

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Driving Tips for the Sea to Sky Highway

Arrive early

Parking at Shannon Falls was easy when we arrived shortly after opening, but it was filling up quickly by the time we left.

Learn a few Canadian road signs

The flashing green lights, flashing red lights, and merge lanes definitely caught us off guard. Once we got used to them, though, driving was easy.

Pick only a few major stops

Trying to see everything makes for a rushed day. I’d choose two or three attractions you’re really excited about instead.

What We’d Do Differently

• Skip Brandywine Falls unless we plan a longer hike
• Spend more time exploring Squamish
• Replace Whistler with another scenic stop if the Olympic facilities are closed
• Leave even earlier to beat traffic

Final Thoughts

Looking back, driving the Sea to Sky Highway turned out to be one of our favorite days of the trip. Between the scenery, waterfalls, and stops around Squamish, it felt completely different from downtown Vancouver.

If you’re looking to get beyond the city, this drive is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. Pick a few stops you’re genuinely excited about, leave early, and enjoy one of the most scenic drives in British Columbia.

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Have you driven the Sea to Sky Highway?

Is Vancouver on your list of places to travel to?

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More From Our Vancouver Trip

• Four Days in Vancouver: Our Complete Itinerary
• Virgin River Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit
• Exploring Kitsilano in Vancouver
• Vancouver vs. Seattle: Which City Did We Like Better?