Things To DoYou and your dogs will arrive back at the cottage happily exhausted in the evenings after exploring the local hiking trails. We can direct you to the best trails for you, from easy hikes to more difficult climbs. Click here for some good descriptions of hiking trails on the Sunshine Coast. A forest trail starts right at the cottage door. Guest dogs and their people can explore to their hearts’ content, without having to think about leashes, traffic, or noise. In fact, it’s most unlikely that you’ll meet up with anyone else in this little corner of paradise. Living in the forest means we live in a mushroomer’s paradise. Plan your stay around the peak seasons for the various mushrooms; we’ll even point you in the right direction! Swimmer-dogs will love the lake just down the hill or the quiet little saltwater beach just a few minutes away. Skookumchuck Narrows is home to world-famous tidal rapids. Click here for a calendar showing the best viewing times. The 4-km hike to the viewing area is a gorgeous rainforest experience in itself. The Sunshine Coast is home to artists of all kinds, and their studios and galleries dot the landscape. The Purple Banner program makes it easy to find particular artists or to map out a day of leisurely stops. The Iris Griffith Field Studies and Interpretive Centre (off Highway 101, 1 km south of Ruby Lake) offers a full schedule of events of interest to all ages. This is an exceptional new facility; we’re delighted to have its presence in the area. Check the centre’s website at www.lagoonsociety.com. These are but a few suggestions. One of our absolute favourite sites for all manner of Sunshine Coast activities is www.bigpacific.com, where, among other things, you’ll find details about:
HikingSilas’ favourite hiking trail, and the easiest to get to, is the forest trail that starts right at the cottage door. This leads you through Bear Bay Forest, where we can direct you to some huge old-growth firs and a 100-year-old “donkey engine” left from the early logging days. Pender Hill When you sit at the top of our driveway and look out over the view, you can see Pender Hill. It’s a 10-minute drive or a 60-minute hike to get to the start of its trail. The short, steep hike—about 30 minutes—rewards you with a fabulous view over the Harbour. Mount Daniel This is a longer climb than Pender Hill, with another great view at the top. You can drive to the start of the trail in 10 minutes. Daniel Point Marine Park Another lovely hike within minutes of Bluff Hollow. The steep trail takes you right down to the water – not a beach for swimming or wading, but a place to watch the waves and look for intertidal creatures. Francis Point Marine Park This trail has fabulous views of the water, and at some points goes through some steep rocky areas above the ocean. Skookumchuk No visit to Pender Harbour is complete without a visit to Skookumchuk Narrows. This is an easy 4-km hike, best if it’s timed to coincide with the tide change; we’ll provide you with that information. Klein Lake Another beautiful hike that your puppies will love is the trail to Klein Lake. It’s not so “rain-foresty” as some of the other hikes, but you do get some lovely views.
Art in the HarbourFibreWorks Studio and Gallery A rich dislay of fibre in the artist’s studio, plus a gallery featuring the creations of fibre artists from all over the world, all in a cluster of attractive yurts Motoko’s Original Art Original contemporary art by Motoko, a gracious and talented painter Copper Sky Gallery & Cafe Selected artwork from Harbour artists, along with scrumptious homemade food
Watery Things To DoMalaspina Water Taxi
DiningWhile at Bluff Hollow, you’ll enjoy a variety of great breakfasts prepared by Rick the Chef. For other meals, we can direct you to any number of dining experiences, from fine dining to pub food to take-out lunches, and everything in between.
Casual Dining
This is our neighbourhood pub, where you’ll find tasty pub food as well as sumptuous restaurant meals. The deck is one of the nicest places to be on a summer evening. Pender Harbour Golf Course Recently renovated, the golf course restaurant presents tasty meals. On fine days, you can sit on the deck overlooking the green. Another place where you can find good pub food—we’ve heard great reviews about their pizza—and another deck with a fabulous view. After a hike to the Skookumchuck and back, you’ll be ready for a good, basic meal. The pub overlooks the narrows; there’s also a restaurant.
Fine Dining You wouldn’t expect to find fabulous food prepared by a world-class chef in our little village, but that’s what you get at the Painted Boat. Excellent food, served with style, in a beautiful location
First-class food with a spectacular view at the West Coast Wilderness Lodge in Egmont
Italian dining in a lovely lakeside setting
Quick and Tasty
Delicious made-from-scratch entrées, sandwiches, and desserts, along with a gallery featuring the work of local artists Java Docks A local stop for great coffee and yummy things to eat Bud-a-Bing Burgers This blue trailer serves fresh, wholesome burgers made by the talented butchers at the Oak Tree Market.
Here you’ll get heaps of classic fish ‘n chips, as well as burgers and sandwiches. Crossroads Grill Homemade soups, sandwiches, and burgers—you can eat at the picnic tables outside or in the heated hut on cool days.
Festivals and Special EventsPender Harbour is becoming known for its festivals and special events, which bring visitors back year after year. Book your accommodation early if you plan to take part in these special occasions. Annual April Tools Wooden Boat Challenge A sure sign that spring is on the way! This wacky and creative event challenges teams of up to four individuals to build a boat within an hour and propel it around the Harbour. But there’s always a catch—on the morning of the event, teams find out the “twist” that must be incorporated into their design. Pender Harbour May Day Everyone returns to Pender Harbour for all the festivities surrounding the May Day Parade, a genuine community event. Pender Harbour Blues Festival Relax and take in some of the best blues music around, in the laid-back atmosphere of the Garden Bay Pub. Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival The 2011 Festival promises an exciting weekend filled with an eclectic selection of chamber music, including works by composers not heard before on our stage. Pender Harbour Jazz Festival Groups play all around Pender Harbour, in tiny villages and corners (too small to be called villages) smack dab on the ocean. A local water taxi plies the Harbour, dropping folks off at venues. Great local crafts are available at the Copper Sky’s Craft Affaire in downtown Madeira Park. 4th Annual Sunshine Coast Mushroom Festival Spend a day examining an amazing variety of wild mushrooms found locally on the Sunshine Coast. Demonstrations, presentations, vendors of local produce and food products. Guest speaker: Daniel Winkler, renowned mushroom expert from Washington state. Presented by the Sunshine Coast Society for the Hunting, Recognition and Observation of Mushrooms (SHROOM)
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Today is February 23, 2012
Rick and Ann Harmer
5027 Bear Bay Road, Garden Bay, BC
604-883-3678 | 1.888.422.2632
5027 Bear Bay Road, Garden Bay, BC
604-883-3678 | 1.888.422.2632
Copyright 2011 Bluff Hollow - Dog Friendly Bed & Breakfast on the Sunshine Coast of BC, Canada. Website design by Spiderplus
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