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Cool Things To Do On Your Family Road-Trip To Lund BC | Sunshine Coast

Discover Lund BC: Cute Little Coastal Town With Surprisingly Abundant Cool Activities For All Tastes and Fitness Levels. Sunshine Coast Road-Trip Series.

Lund BC is a perfect place to really get away from all the stress of big city life, find yourself off the grid, and one-on-one with the virgin wilderness of coastal British Columbia. Whether you like to be really active or just relax and chill, everyone will find cool things to do in Lund BC.

Lund BC is located on Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. It takes about 5 hours to get here from Vancouver.

The Village is often referred to as the End Of The Road. Indeed, there is even a monument just outside of Lund Resort to commemorate the Mile Zero, as this is where Highway 101 officially starts. 

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I first found out about Lund BC from a friend who excitedly told me about him and his wife harvesting oysters right under their feet and eating them right there at the beach in early April. He got me interested! The more I learned about this part of the glorious Sunshine Coast, the more I wanted to go. So this June we finally made our long-planned trip happen. 

In this post, I’ll try my best to relate my pure joy and excitement about Lund BC with its cozy community. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, the adventurous things to do in Lund are plentiful, and one can find Lund activities for any age and ability level. 

Are you ready? Let’s start!

Quick Links: 

• The Tla’amin Nation
• Historic Lund Village
• Modern Day Lund
• Lund Activities
• Where to Stay in Lund
• Places to Eat in Lund
• Visit Tips

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The Tla’amin Nation

“Since the beginning of time… “, the area around Lund BC was inhabited by the Coast Salish people, and it was referred to as Tla'Amin . 

Tla’amin community (ɬəʔamɛn people) resides in vast areas just north of Powell River along Highway 101 all the way to Lund BC. Its traditional territory spanned along the northern part of B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, extending down both sides of the Strait of Georgia. The primary settlements were Theodosia, Desolation Sound, Coast of the Malaspina Strait, Powell River (Tiskw'at), and many islands within the Strait of Georgia. 

The Tla’amin people are descendants of a rich heritage, its history stretching back for over 4000 years into the past. There are over 1100 members currently, and the community is rapidly growing.

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Sliammon Village

Today, the majority of the Tla'amin community lives in the main village site in Sliammon. Interestingly, in the past Tla’amin people were known as Sliammon Indian Band or Sliammon First Nation. 

You will be passing through Sliammon Village on your way to Lund – it is sitting right in-between Powell River and Lund. 

Be mindful of the community rules – the speed limit in the area is 30 km/hr max. 

There is a convenience store where you can make a stop, otherwise no visitors are currently allowed into the village. Please be respectful. If you are looking for native art or souvenirs, you can find those in Powell River. Otherwise Sliammon is a purely residential area with no “tourist stores”. Please be respectful of community rules.

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Klah Ah Men (ƛaʔamɛn) 

Lund BC  was given back its original name of Klah ah men (ƛaʔamɛn) with a ceremony and sign unveiling on June 21, 2018, as a result of Tla’amin successful official reclamation of the traditional name for part of its territory after a special event held on National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Klah ah men means “place of refuge” and was historically used as a safe place for the First Nations canoe pullers.

Earlier in 2000, the Tla’amin people purchased a majority share in the Historic Lund Hotel. Since then the establishment was renovated and renamed The Lund Resort at Klah Ah Men. It became the first, full-service Indigenous resort on the Sunshine Coast of our Beautiful British Columbia. Thus began the advancement of the tourism industry in Lund initiated by local tribes. The Tla'amin now offer other Lund activities, such as guided wilderness tours and interpretive art.

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Historic Lund Village

Lund's first European settler was Charlie Thulin. He arrived from Sweden in 1889, later joined by his brother Fred. They built a dock on the harbour and set up a small store to supply passing boats. The harbour ended up with the name “Lund” after a city in Charlie’s home country, Sweden.  

While Charlie and Fred were logging the area, they discovered a demand for accommodations so they built the very first hotel in the area: Malaspina Hotel. It later burned down so a new hotel was built where the current Lund Hotel now stands. Interestingly, a few other hotels they built have all also burned down over years… 

In 1929 the Lund community hall was erected, which still stands today – just uphill from the Lund Hotel (but is no longer usable due to age and lack of repairs).

Charlie moved on to Campbell River, where some of his descendants can be found today. Fred and his wife, Vira (also from Sweden), remained behind in Lund BC.

Some believe the ghosts of Fred and Vira still roam around and live in the Lund Resort. Hotel employees reported hearing footsteps, walking or running, up and down the stairs. 

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End Of The Road

In 1960ies, Lund BC was a “hippie town” populated by American war resisters, free-spirited Canadians escaping conformity, and anti-Vietnam war activists. 

In 2018 CBC had released the Absolutely Canadian documentary film series. One of its episodes – episode 31  “The End of the Road” explores the history of Lund, B.C.

The documentary tells the story of the community's growth since that first wave of settlers in the 60s. Luckily hippies were the “first bloggers”! They brought cameras with them and thoroughly documented their life in Lund BC.

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Modern Day Lund BC

Modern day Lund BC is a picturesque fishing village with a rapidly growing tourism industry. 

Recently the harbour was rebranded as “Thirteen Moons Marina” and has slips available for short term and long term rentals. 

Don’t misunderstand me, the Lund Village is still tini-tiny compared to other well-developed coastal communities and tourist destinations like Tofino, Sooke, or even Sechelt. There is literally only the Resort, a few restaurants and cafes, the Marina and a handful of galleries and souvenir shops. 

Yet you won’t come to Lund BC for the town – you come for the breathtaking natural harbour, for epic outdoor adventure experiences. Lund activities are many.

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Things To Do in Lund BC

Tiny as it is, Lund BC has most of the amenities you will need for your visit: it has delicious food, comfortable accommodations, and an abundance of exciting activities. Who would have thought, right? Let’s look at some things to do in Lund you can choose from.

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Quick Links: 

• Desolation Sound 
• Mitlenatch Island 
• Copeland Islands
• Whale Watching and Orcas
• Grizzly Tours
• Savary Island
• Okeover Arm 
• Sunshine Coast Trail
• Fishing, Shellfish & Oysters
• Kayaking
• Zodiac Tours

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Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park

Lund BC is the gateway to the world-famous Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park. Surrounded by steep evergreen mountains, beaming with abundant wildlife, the pristine waters of Desolation Sound are a true heaven for any outdoor enthusiast. 

The waters are warm in the summer months, making them ideal for swimming and snorkeling. 

Cruises

An excellent way of introducing yourself to the beauty of Desolation Sound would be to book one of the cruises that are offered locally at Lund BC.

A lunch cruise will take you through the Copeland Islands into the heart of Desolation Sound, offering marine life viewing, stunning seascape photography, swimming opportunities, and a delicious lunch. And a dinner cruise will awe you with an epic sunset. 

There are a few cruising companies operating in Lund BC: Beyond The Road is one of the most popular.

The Lund Resort at Klah Ah Men also offers dinner cruises and fishing expeditions to get fresh crab and prawns for your lunch or dinner.

Romantic Things to Do in Lund BC: watch sunset at a dinner cruise

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Mitlenatch Island Provincial Marine Park

Located in the Strait of Georgia right in between Lund BC and Vancouver Island, Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park is home to the largest seabird colony in the Strait of Georgia. The park is only accessible by water – about a 30 min boat ride from Lund. 

Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park is the heaven for bird lovers and nature photographers. The marine birds, marine wildlife and wildflowers (best between May and July) are plentiful!

However please note, the island has a very sensitive ecosystem that is extremely prone to damage by visitors. As such. Most of the island is closed to the public: the only accessible area is a short trail from Camp Bay to Northwest Bay ending in a bird blind. Pets are absolutely not permitted here too.

Things to Do in Lund BC for Bird-Lovers: check out bird sanctuary at Mitlenatch Island

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Copeland Islands Provincial Marine Park

Accessible only by boat, Copeland Islands Provincial Park is located a few kilometers North of Lund Harbour. It is a beautiful array of ragged islands with cozy sheltered bays and islets. 

The park was named after Joe Copeland, a veteran of the American civil war, who eventually settled near Lund BC.

Sea kayaking is exceptional around these islands! Sea lions, seals, deer, porpoises, orcas, whales and bald eagles can all be seen around here. 

If you are into scuba diving, Copeland Islands offer excellent visibility and abundant marine life. You may be able to spot salmon, cod, star fish, giant oysters, and even octopus!

Active Things to Do in Lund BC: rent a boat and explore marine life at Copeland Islands

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Whale Watching and Orca Tours

Who would make it all the way to Lund BC without a hope to spot magnificent Killer Whales? We certainly had our hopes up! 

The Desolation Sound of the Strait of Georgia is home to humpback whales, killer whales, pacific white-sided dolphins and porpoises, let alone the seals and sea lions.

You can hire a private charter or take one of the Marine Wildlife Tours that take place from mid-May through September in Desolation Sound Marine Park and the Discovery Islands. I’ve found only one company that is specifically offering Whale Watching and Orca experience: Lund Wildlife Tours 

Curious Things to Do in Lund BC: hop on a whale watching tour!

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Grizzly Viewing

Among all the Lund activities, Grizzly Tours are a truly unique experience one can find on Sunshine Coast. 

These are offered in Lund BC by local Klahoose First Nations and on the advanced reservations. Although Bear Tours are quite pricey (starting at approx. $400 CAD per person), I can totally see why people would want to experience this adventure. 

Located deep in the heart of the Klahoose First Nation traditional territory, the remote wilderness of Toba Inlet is still far away from mass tourism and opens a unique opportunity to watch grizzlies in their native habitat. Grizzly bears gather here in the river valleys in order to feast on salmon during this annual salmon run season.Locally sourced first nations inspired snacks, lunches and a fair share of Klahoose history comes a nice bonus too.

Grizzly Tours are offered by Lund Wildlife Tours company from mid-August to mid-October.

Unique Things to Do in Lund BC: get really close to grizzlies

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Savary Island Day Trip

By far, Savary Island is probably one of the most known attractions of Lund BC. Many visitors come here with one goal only – to spend a few days on the island off-grid and away from civilization. After taking a day trip to Savary Island, I must say, its reputation is Well-deserved.

At Savary Island we’ve discovered a unique out of this world place that is unlike anything we’ve experienced in British Columbia. 

There are more than a dozen beaches on Savary Island, each is different. From white sandy Tofino-like beach at Savary Shores, to Indian Point’s completely white clam-shells-covered floor, to huge green rocks of Springs, to completely Hawaii-twin views of Sunset Trail, I mean… we were completely blown away. 

They say, Savary Island boasts some of the warmest ocean waters north of Mexico. Well, I can tell that the water is definitely warmer than in Tofino. 

SAFETY TIP: it is easy to get carried away by the beauty of the Island. Little did we notice, but it took less than an hour out in the sun to almost get burned! Make sure you pack in your sunscreen with you, natural and ocean-friendly of course! See more on our favourite baby-friendly natural sunscreens here.

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Getting to Savary Island and Getting Around

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Savary Island is only a 15-minute ride from Lund BC by Water Taxi. The cost to get there and back as of the time of this writing: $20 per adult and $12 per child. Boats depart from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm one per hour, returning on every hour the last boat leaving from Savary Island back to Lund at 6 pm. 

Savary Island is not completely virgin though. There are over 1400 privately-owned lots on the island, although its permanent community is less than a 100 inhabitants (during the winter months).

5 min hiking from the main harbour you’ll find a bike rental shop. We strongly recommend taking advantage of it and getting yourself a bicycle. It is $20 cash per day. They even have those little hook-up trailers to transport kids and dogs. Cosmos had a lot of fun riding in the buggy! 

During summer months, they have one little shop open and one cafe – both in the middle of the island, and both working till about 3pm. Cash only. 

There are no public washrooms, garbage facilities or campsites here. Pack out your trash. 

Bring your own drinking water with you, although I believe there is at least one publicly accessible site in the middle of the island you can get your water bottle refilled.

MUST-DO Things to Do in Lund BC: take a day trip to Savary Island

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Okeover Arm Provincial Park

Okeover Arm Provincial Park is located only about 15 min away from Lund BC right at Okeover Arm inlet on the east side of the Malaspina Peninsula. There are no developed trails in the park, and it is best to explore this vast wilderness area via a kayak or a canoe. There are a camping site and a small parking lot here that are open all year round. 

NOTE: A short hiking trail you may find on AllTrails map called Mariner’s Way Trail is actually located on private land and is not accessible to the general public. Yes, we have attempted to get to the trailhead, only to be stopped by locals advising us to turn around as we have entered private property. 

If you are a diver, good news! They say the Okeover Caves on the east side of Okeover Arm are spectacular. We don’t know, we haven’t tried 🙂 

Things to Do in Lund BC for Marine Life Lovers: get underwater at Okeover Arm

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Sunshine Coast Trail

Sarah Point, 12km north of Lund BC is where the 180km-long Sunshine Coast Trail starts, weaving its path all the way to Saltery Bay. There are several access points near Lund that offer easy day hikes with spectacular views.

The most popular is the hike to Manzanita Hut. 

Unfortunately, as of the time of this writing, the trail is not on the AllTrails App map yet. Here are the two locations near Lund BC you can access this hike from: 

Location 1: 9672-9690 Pryor Road – the distance from here to the Hut is about 4km one way. 

Location 2: 9346 Malaspina Road – the distance from this point to the Hut is approx. 5.5km one way.

Things to Do in Lund BC for Hikers: walk the famous Sunshine Coast Trail

To help our active parents who can't seem to figure out how to get their kids to enjoy hiking, we have prepared this post: Five Tried-And-True Outdoor Activities To Get Kids to Absolutely Love Hiking – find many creative ideas, kids outdoor activities, treasure hunts, and nature experiments within!

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Fishing, Shellfish and Oyster Harvesting

The Desolation Sound waters provide year-round fishing thrills for anglers of all ages. Charter boats abound in Lund BC skillfully guided by captains experienced in finding the ideal fishing spots. Salmon and cod are abundant in this area. Man, you can cast your line right off the breakwater – the result won’t disappoint you.

Lund BC is also an important shellfish harvesting area still. Some call it the Oyster Capital of BC. 

You can purchase a Tidal Waters Sport Fishing License to gather your own oysters or dig clams on the beach. However, you need to be mindful of the season, the red tide, the norovirus contamination outbreaks, and so many other things. Check out this article that talks about everything you need to know about harvesting shellfish in Desolation Sound. 

Things to Do in Lund BC for seafood lovers: harvest your own shellfish!

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Kayaking near Lund BC

Powell River Sea Kayak company has a location right outside Lund harbor. You can conveniently explore Copeland Islands from this point. Otherwise, if your car is equipped for transporting kayaks, you can take it to the other side of the peninsula to Okeover Arm inlet and do some exploration there.

Another company to choose from is TerraCentric Coastal Adventures. You can do both: rent a kayak here, or take a sea kayak group tour. 

Active Things to Do in Lund BC: explore from a kayak

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Zodiac Tours

The same company, TerraCentric Coastal Adventures, that has kayak tours, also offers zodiac tours through Desolation Sound and beyond. 

You can enjoy stunning views of the coastal mountains towering over a myriad of islands, abundant wildlife, hear fascinating stories of First Nations and early European settlement. Stops at former village sites and homesteads, Copeland Islands Marine Park, hiking and even swimming.

Cool Things to Do in Lund BC: go on a full day zodiac adventure

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Where To Stay In Lund BC

The Lund Resort at Klah Ah Men, formerly the Historic Lund Hotel, is a 4-star property located right next to the harbor and is the most famous place to stay in Lund BC. It is owned by the local Tla’amin people and is the first, full-service Indigenous resort on the Sunshine Coast of our Beautiful British Columbia, featuring comfortable nature-inspired rooms, a good quality restaurant, and even a spa.

A short 15 min drive from Lund BC, right next to the Okeover Arm, you can find another unique property. Desolation Sound Wilderness Resort is a group of cozy chalets and apartments. Their promise is that every unit has a seafront balcony with a view of the Strait of Georgia. Free kayaks and canoes and a private beach are also on the menu here!

For a more intimate experience, Malaspina Bed-and-Breakfast is just five minutes away from Lund BC. They have an outdoor pool too!

If you are a proud member of an RV family, you’ll find SunLund By-The-Sea RV park right next to the Lund Village. They offer cabins too. During the times of COVID – advance reservation is required.

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Places To Eat In Lund BC

Lund BC has only a handful of places to eat. However the food is delicious! At least at both places we’ve checked-out on our Sunshine Coast road-trip. 

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The Back Eatery at Lund Resort at Klah Ah Men has a patio overlooking Thirteen Moons Marina, while you are shaded from the sun by palm trees growing around. Honestly, at some point you forget you are at a far corner of Sunshine Coast – the feeling is a “nice south resort” kinda feeling. 

Carrot soup and a bowl of mussels and clams with the olive bread from nearby Nancy’s Bakery, complemented by local blonde beer was to die for! Strongly recommend it for lunch. 

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The Boardwalk Restaurant, on the other side of the marina, is a cozy cute little place.

Their bowl of mussels and clams lost its battle to Lund Resort’s diner, however, the fish and chips were out of this world. Interestingly they have a sign posted that if the restaurant’s hours don’t work for you you can call them: and they open-up just for you. Haven’t tried whether this is true, but I thought it was quite neat. 

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Oysters & Shellfish

I absolutely love oysters and was hoping to see local shellfish on the menu of every restaurant on Sunshine Coast. To my disappointment, however, very few even had mussels and clams. None had oysters. Nada. 

When I asked why?.. I mean, oysters are everywhere here right under your feet!.. The locals told me that Sunshine Coast might be known for harvesting shellfish, yet they do not have processing plants. All of their harvest must be sent to Vancouver for testing for contamination and quality. And to get those oysters back is, well, quite costly and isn’t worth it. 

What an irony. 

In Russian we have a saying “сапожник без сапог” which means something like “a barefoot shoemaker”. It definitely feels as the case here in Lund BC.

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Visit Tips

Here are some tips for you to better prepare for your visit to Lund BC.

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Bring Cash

Although Lund BC is not completely off-grid, the cellular network is quite unstable. This could cause issues with the payment processors' connection. There are no banks in Lund either, and NO ATMs.

Some places and accept cash only. 

If you are traveling to Savary Island: their one and only cafe is also cash-only, their bike rental service is also cash-based.

So just to be on the safe side, make sure to bring enough cash when you make your way to Lund BC, so you don’t have to skip any planned things to do for the lack of good old bills.

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Public Bathrooms

The only public bathrooms in Lund BC are located near docks and the Water Taxi office. Their hours of operation are till 5 pm only. You may be able to ask to use the bathroom at the Lund Resort after hours too.

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Trash & Garbage

There are no street garbage bins anywhere around the village. Frankly, no surprise, as Lund BC is so remote. Please do not litter, and pack out everything you packed in. It is best to bring your trash back to your hotel, to your home, or to a larger city like Powell River with a well-developed garbage removal system in place to properly dispose of it. 

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Need Gas?

There are no gas stations in Lund BC for cars – only for boats. Your closest gas station will be in Power River, which is 28km away.

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Parking

There is a large parking lot near Lund Resort. Half of it is the hotel's lot, and half is paid public parking. The parking is not super-expensive, yet strictly enforced – the attendant’s booth is right there. 

Some visitors decide to park outside of town (luckily it is less than a kilometer hike) – you can park along the road anywhere where there is no restriction. This way parking is free. In my opinion, this could be a viable option if you need parking for a few days and are leaving your car overnight to either hike Sunshine Coast Trail or go to one of the islands.

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Water Taxi Booking

Lund has only a handful of water taxis available. Each boat holds a maximum of 12 passengers. What does it mean to you? During busy summer months, call and book in advance – you can pay by a credit card over the phone too. Otherwise, if you just show up, you might be seriously out of luck.

During COVID, face masks were mandatory when aboard the water taxi. Not anymore.

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Planning to Camp near Lund BC?

Since 2014 backcountry Camping fees have been in place for Desolation Sound Parks backcountry campgrounds (includes Desolation Sound Marine, Copeland Islands Marine, Malaspina, and Roscoe Bay Provincial Parks) from June 1st to September 15th.

Desolation Sound and the Copeland Islands Marine Provincial Parks protect globally significant ecological sites and cultural sites, therefore you are only allowed to camp in designated campgrounds. Campfires are also not permitted anywhere throughout the marine parks. 

Suggested post: Camping With a Baby – Six Baby Gear Essentials To Take With You

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Travelling with Kids?

Don’t miss the cool playground right next to the Lund Resort. Simple, yet extremely engaging, even parents are having fun there once no one is looking 🙂

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Bringing a Pet?

Pets are not allowed in the marine parks: at Mitlenatch Island and Copeland Island. All other parks require your pet to be leashed.

It is ok to bring your pet to Savary Island, but you have to notify the Water Taxi at the time of booking.

Frankly, it will be hard to enjoy Lund activities with a pet unless you have your own boat…

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Final Notes

To be honest, we did not expect much from our visit to Lund, only to be pleasantly surprised. This tiny village has a special aura around it like you are somehow getting detached from the World. We were absolutely charmed.

The day trip to Savary Island wasn't even in our plans. Yet locals kept talking about it, and we took a chance. Now I can state with all seriousness that Savary Island has to be at the very top of things to do in Lund on your road-trip.

In our opinion, Lund BC is a much underrated family-friendly travel destination that should definitely get more attention from those curious to explore Sunshine Coast.

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I hope we're successful in relating our joy after visiting Lund BC. This short overview of things to do in Lund is by no means exhaustive. As the Tla'amin community develops its tourism sector, I am sure new and exciting Lund activities will spring up! 

On your way back from Lund to Vancouver, don't neglect to make a stop at the beautiful Madeira Park and check-out Pender Hill hike!

If you feel we’ve missed something important, or if you have any questions about our visit to Lund BC – drop me a note in the comments or send us a message. We’ll be happy to help!

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Are you a destination tourism office and would like us to come to your city, town, or village to check you out and tell the world about our visit? Check out our Partnership section and do not hesitate to email us! 

Latest outdoors and travel experiences in British Columbia:

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Enjoy!

Cheerfully yours,

Alexandra, Alex & Cosmos

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