The town of Gibsons wins awards for its pleasant lay-out, its scenic spots and for the high quality of life one enjoys here.Many Gibsons residents live in a home that overlooks the water; this is because there is such a nice slope to the land offering views in all kinds of directions. Parks and walkways make life pleasant; nothing is far away in the town of Gibsons.Essentially, there are two main shopping areas; the one surrounding the harbour (which is where Molly’s Reach is located) and the one straddling the  Sunshine Coast Highway.

Langdale, Hopkins Landing, Grantham’s Landing, Twin Creeks, Elphinstone, Port Mellon.

There are many small clusters of communities around Gibsons. Most have names that sound like places from a storybook. Every little corner of the Sunshine Coast has a bit of a different feel, possibly a reflection of the diversity of those that have settled.

The ferry arrives at Langdale, making the vicinity of the terminal a sought-after spot for those that commute into Vancouver.

Hopkins Landing still has a true cottagy feel, thanks to the many Summer homes that have been put up in this area, over the decades. The views across Howe Sound are often just spectacular from this area.Also, the outlying areas of the town of Gibsons are quite nice; these would be part of the SCRD (Sunshine Coast Regional District). Various land uses are in effect, including farming.

Port Mellon is still an industrial hub but there are also residential areas that all benefit from the sights and sounds of Howe Sound. Port Mellon is the Eastern-most point, accessible by paved road, on the Sunshine Coast.

Services.

Gibsons pretty much has everything to offer: all schools, various retail locations, parks, marina, restaurants, cinema, automotive, bus service and last but not least: your local Royal lePage office.

A little bit of local history.

The town name “Gibsons” comes from the first lone European settler, one George William Gibson. The area was actually settled by a group of Finnish immigrants in about 1905.Early farmers concentrated on various berries, an industry that followed naturally was the canning business which continued into the fifties.The Finns introduced various aspects of their cultural life to the area, including of course the sauna.

Before regular ferry service became available to the Sunshine Coast, the Gibsons area was quite remote. Life revolved pretty much around the various churches and community centres, some of which are still in evidence today.

Over the past decades, Gibsons has become the gateway to the Sunshine Coast. It has achieved a status of fame through the TV-series “the Beachcombers”. The featured pub “Molly’s Reach” is still there as a major tourist attraction, now located in thriving “Lower Gibsons”.

Please continue your Virtual Tour to several of the distinct communities on the Sunshine Coast. The next area would be Roberts Creek: CLICK HERE to visit the Roberts Creek page.