Views from Squamish

Squamish is located about an hour away from both Vancouver and Whistler and it certainly appears to be a pleasant community of about 15,000.




The town had its beginnings with the construction of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in the early 1900s. That strangely named railroad is now part of CN.

Forestry has always been important to the town and in recent years Squamish has become a bedroom community of sorts for people working in Vancouver or Whistler, wishing to escape the high cost of living in both places.

Squamish is also the  name of the group of Coast Salish people who have lived in villages in Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound and the Squamish River watershed "since time immemorial."






After contact with the European settlers, sixteen tribes united as the Squamish Band in 1923. Their territory is recognised as comprising over 6,000 square kilometres, though the lands controlled directly by the Squamish Nation are scarce indeed.

The views from Squamish on a sunny winter's day are incredible. This is a beautiful place.

Photos by Jim Murray. Copyright 2014.

Howe Sound Inn ~ Squamish

In retrospect, we probably should have stayed here.

At the end of the main street in downtown Squamish, the award winning Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Company appears to be all that one might expect in a pub. Excellent craft beers of course, great pub food and a casually warm atmosphere too. The house made lamb burger was superb, with its curry mayo and pineapple chutney.

There's a comfort factor here that isn't present in most hotels and on the day we visited the sun was shining through the grand windows, Chelsea and Man City were on one of the screens and the service was fine indeed.

Speaking of screens, though there are a number, they aren't as obtrusive and obstructionist as is the case in other venues. Perhaps it's the high ceilings,  the open post and beam construction, the beautiful views or the pleasant company I keep.

Both Sherry and I had flights of different ales and stouts, enjoying all, some enthusiastically. The Pothole Filler Stout was excellent, as was the more seasonal Pumpkineater Ale . The Baldwin & Cooper Bitter exceeded expectations too. Truth is, they all seemed good to me, especially as the afternoon progressed.

Yes, in retrospect, we probably should have stayed here. And we will on another occasion.

Photos by Jeem.  Copyright 2014 by Jim Murray.