The Sunshine Coast benefits from a rain shadow cast by the Vancouver Island mountains, which catch most of the moisture coming in off the Pacific Ocean.

In winter, clouds regroup in the Coast Mountains to the east of the Sunshine Coast and provide sufficient precipitation in the form of snow to coat trails for cross-country skiing. The remainder of the year it falls as rain, British Columbia's 'liquid unshine,' which nourishes the temperate rain forest.

The Sunshine Coast is split into two portions on either side of Jervis Inlet. Roughly speaking, the southern half between the ferries slips at Langdale and Earls Cove occupies the Sechelt Peninsula, while the northern half between the ferry slip at Saltery Bay and Lund sits on the Malaspina Peninsula.

The beautiful coastline is deeply indented at Howe Sound, Jervis Inlet, and Desolation Sound. Jervis becomes Queens Reach, slicing into the Coast Mountain Range, with a branch to Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls.

Jervis Inlet and Desolation Sound are of such fjordic proportions that they attract a steady stream of marine traffic throughout the summer months, when brilliant sun shines on the countless cataracts that cascade down the sheer-sided slopes. Come moodier months, the clouds become ensnared in the snaggle-toothed peaks, making you feel just as pleased to stick to the sunnier coastline.

The world's longest highway, the Pan-American (also named Highway 101 in parts of the United States and Canada), stretches 9,312 miles (15020 km) from Castro on Chile's south coast to Lund on BC's Sunshine Coast.

The 50-mile (80-km) stretch of Highway 101 between Langdale and Egmont outperforms its size. Dozens of parks with biking, hiking, and ski trails; canoe and kayak routes; beaches; and coastal viewpoints are easily reached from the highway. Campsites are plentiful, and you won't have any difficulty in finding a place to pitch your tent or park your RV, except in July and August and on long weekends from May to September.