SOUTHWESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 306

Island two kilometers (1.2 miles) south of the ferry terminal. Within the two-story home
are three guest rooms, each with ocean views. Facilities include a lounge area overlooking
the water, an outdoor hot tub, Internet access, spa services, and in-room luxuries like fluffy
robes. A big breakfast will set you up for a day of outdoor activities.
The ordinary rooms at Beach Gardens Resort (five kilometers/3.1 miles south of
the ferry terminal, 7074 Westminster Ave., 604/485-6267 or 800/663-7070,
www.beachgardens.com , $149-229 s or d) are more than made up for by water views and
amenities like an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, tennis courts, a fitness room, Alpha Dive
and Kayak headquarters, and a marina with boat rentals. The resort's Savoury Bight res-
taurant offers reasonably priced food (dinner mains $14-27) and sweeping water views.
Willingdon Beach Campsite (4845 Marine Ave., 604/485-2242,
www.willingdonbeach.ca , $19-32) enjoys a great waterfront location one kilometer (0.6
mile) north of the ferry terminal. You'll find sheltered and very popular campsites along the
beach, as well as a laundry and washrooms with free hot showers.
Food
My recommendation for breakfast is Edie Rae's Cafe (6243 Walnut St., Townsite, 604/
483-3343, 7am-3pm daily, breakfasts $8-13), within the restored Old Courthouse Inn, a
government building dating to 1939. Given its history, the space is surprisingly warm, with
a cheery ambience and a menu that takes full advantage of healthy choices, using free-range
eggs, real maple syrup, and homemade preserves.
Another place well worth searching out away from the main road along the water is
River City Coffee (4871 Joyce Ave., 604/485-0011, 6:30am-6pm Mon.-Fri., 7am-5pm
Sat., lunches $7-10), in the Crossroads Village Mall, where the coffee roasted is in-house,
delicious bread is baked daily, soups are homemade, and the baking is gluten-free.
Back down along the oceanfront, at the road entrance to Willingdon Beach, the Beach
Hut (4835 Marine Dr., 604/485-0224) is busy throughout summer serving battered fish and
chips, hamburgers, and the Sunshine Coast's most popular ice cream. Expect to pay around
$10 for your takeout meal.
Alchemist Restaurant (4680 Marine Ave., 604/485-4141, 5pm-9:30pm Tues.-Sat.,
$15-37) is a dark, stylish dining room along the main road through town. Highlights include
lobster ravioli, made in-house and smothered in a creamy tomato and cognac sauce. Meat
lovers are also catered to, with the beef tenderloin topped with blue cheese and figs poached
in red wine a winner.