Sea Views, Fine Dining, and Spa Services

According to legend, the Greek-born sailor known as Juan de Fuca sailed to North America's western coast in 1592, searching for the fabled Northwest Passage. Though he never discovered the Passage, de Fuca discovered an inlet that would later bear his name. The Juan de Fuca Strait curves like a giant boomerang between Vancouver Island and the state of Washington, and is filled with gray whales in the spring and killer whales in the summer. Best Western Premier Prestige Oceanfront Resort is nestled within Sooke Harbour, but also overlooks the Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains beyond.

The hotel's neocolonial façade faces the waterfront, with white columns and verandas that pop against the blue and gray surroundings. Inside, the Mix by Ric's boasts some of the resort's best views of the harbor in a setting reminiscent of a study, with brass-studded leather chairs, dark wood trim, and old maps that were totally wrong. The dinner menu features Pacific Northwest–inspired tapas such as grilled scallops ($15 CAN) and entrees that include fresh sockeye salmon ($23 CAN) and filet mignon ($34 CAN).

Ocean-view and premium ocean-view rooms all overlook the harbor's jetties as well. The décor varies from room to room, with tropical-themed interiors that add vibrant color to the moody Pacific Northwest palette, and contemporary interiors with slate hues borrowed from the rocky coastline. Downstairs at the Ocean Palm Spa, you can choose from a range of basic services such as leg waxing ($60 CAN) and signature body treatments including a seaweed body wrap ($105 CAN).

Greater Victoria, British Columbia: Rugged Seaside Bluffs and Rich History

Located about 45 minutes west of downtown Victoria, the seaside township of Sooke is surrounded by natural splendor. A number of nearby provincial and regional parks—including East Sooke, and Juan de Fuca—showcase the rocky coastline's tide pools and pine-covered bluffs. Sooke Potholes is among the most popular regional parks in summer, when kids cannonball into the emerald and sapphire swimming holes.

Back in town, the Sooke Region Museum illuminates the local history from First Nations to 19th-century loggers. For a more visually arresting history lesson, head to the Royal BC Museum in the heart of Victoria, where totem poles rise above Thunderbird Park and a reconstructed wooly mammoth models the latest tuskwear.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.