Oceanfront Resort with Sea and Mountain Views, Fine Dining, and Spa Services
According to legend, the Greek-born sailor Juan de Fuca sailed to North America's western coast in 1592, searching for the fabled Northwest Passage. Though he never found the passage, de Fuca did claim to have discovered an inlet that would later bear his name, the Juan de Fuca Strait. The strait curves like a giant boomerang between Vancouver Island and the state of Washington, and is a good place to spot gray whales in the spring and killer whales in the summer. Best Western Premier - Prestige Oceanfront Resort Sooke overlooks the Juan de Fuca Strait, as well as the Olympic Mountains, from its oceanfront perch on Sooke Harbour.
The hotel's white, neoclassical columns and verandas face the waterfront, as do premium ocean-view rooms. For some of the best views of the harbor, head to The Mix by Ric's, an onsite restaurant that looks out onto the blue-gray ocean from floor-to-ceiling windows. This getaway includes a dinner credit that you can spend on Pacific Northwest–inspired tapas, such as grilled scallops (C$15), and entrees that include fresh sockeye salmon (C$23) and filet mignon (C$34). Downstairs at the Ocean Palm Spa, use your spa credit toward a range of services, such as leg waxing (C$60) or a seaweed body wrap (C$105).
Greater Victoria, British Columbia: Rugged Seaside Bluffs and Rich History
The seaside township of Sooke is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, about 45 minutes west of downtown Victoria. It's worth it to explore the rocky coastline by boat. One way to do that is by taking a whale-watching tour. From May to October, you can cruise through nearby inlets and you'll get the opportunity to see orca and humpback whales as well as seals, sea lions, and dolphins.
You can also get a look at the region's tide pools and pine-tree-covered bluffs at a number of nearby provincial and regional parks, including East Sooke and Juan de Fuca. Sooke Potholes is among the most popular parks in summer, when kids come to cannonball into its swimming holes.
Back in town, the Sooke Region Museum sheds light on local history, from the First Nations—Canada’s aboriginal peoples—to loggers. Alternatively, the Royal BC Museum in Victoria features totem poles that rise above Thunderbird Park while a reconstructed wooly mammoth models the latest tuskwear.
Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.
