5 of the Best Sunday Drives in BC
Fall weekends are the perfect time to go for a quick road trip. With the beautiful changing colours and the urge to drive away from the looming Monday blues, there is nothing better than a quick Sunday drive in your faithful steed on your favourite destination. If you’re in need of a getaway to relax from the week’s hectic schedule, then it’s time to bring back the Sunday drive.
While cars are mostly used these days for practical uses, i.e. the dreaded work commute or picking up your kids and spouse, it can be refreshing to take your vehicle out for a leisurely drive. With crisp, fall weather in full swing, there’s no better time to take in the beautiful autumn landscape than now. Grab your keys, create a playlist to soothe your soul, and head out of the city, away from the urban bustle and into brightly coloured trees lining quiet winding roads and over scenic oceanside highways.
Don’t know where to go?
Try the Sea to Sky Highway, which always stuns with gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean all the way up to Whistler. Take a quick selfie break in Squamish if you want to stretch your legs and go for a hike up the Chief. Landmarks such as Brandywine Falls and Lighthouse Park along the way are also great pit stops to soothe the soul. This stretch of the highway is perfect; It’s short enough for a day trip but far enough from the hustle of the city.
Need a little more distance? Hop over to the Island and go down the Sunshine Coast Highway, showcasing the best in BC’s natural beauty. Take a raincoat and a pair of rubber boots; it's bound to be wet.
If Eastern BC is your terrain, then a nice Sunday drive that never fails to wow is Highway 31A between Kaslo and New Denver. With little traffic, this narrow highway is a 50 km stretch between two Kootenay communities touts breathtaking views of forests, mountain glaciers, lakes, and the Kaslo River.
Want more time away from the concrete jungle? Try the Icefield Parkway. Just on the other side of the BC/Alberta border, Highway 93 links Jasper and Lake Louise and is the definition of scenic driving with wildlife, glacial lakes, and the Columbia icefields. It's been named by National Geographic traveler magazine as one of the 20 drives to make in your lifetime. We say go for it.
Last but not least, if northern BC is what you call home, you can never be disappointed with Highway 29, the stretch between Hudson's Hope and Fort St. John. This hour long drive is a must and has everything from rolling hills, farmland, views of the Peace River, and forests. Not to mention the amazing shows put on by wildlife; you're likely to catch bears, moose, deer, and elk on your drive.
Your car can be used as more than just a transportation medium for getting from Point A to Point B. All you need for a good Sunday drive is your vehicle, a trusty GPS or navigation system, some snacks for the road, and catchy music for the road.