Spacious Suites Overlooking the Salish Sea

Colorful one-story houses, some decked with porthole windows and life preservers, float on the water right next bobbing sailboats in the wharf of Cowichan Bay, a quaint, small town on Vancouver Island. It's a village centered on the sea and wildlife: fishermen pull in salmon, and visitors often spend time kayaking, whale watching, and dining on fresh seafood at waterfront restaurants while taking in views of the green Mount Tzouhalem, which juts out into the sea. Oceanfront Suites at Cowichan Bay, one of the area’s largest hotels, directly overlooks the water.

As part of their stay, vacationers are entitled to a round of golf at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club, which hugs the Pacific coast and features scenic views of Tzouhalem. Residing about a 15-minute drive south of Oceanfront Suites, the challenging, undulating 18-hole course was designed by Bill Robinson and has a four-star rating from Golf Digest. Back at the resort, there's a focus on a relaxing, home-like atmosphere. At the top-floor restaurant Terrain Kitchen, chef Joshua Hall whips up locally sourced, seasonal dishes such as pan-fried rockfish and slow-roasted pork stew from the monthly changing menu. Ocean Glo Wellness Spa, also on the property, soothes muscles worn down from giving piggyback rides to a local moose with Thai steam massages and vegan-certified facials. From the vantage point of each one-bedroom suite, one can see the dark mountains encircling Cowichan Bay and the lapping shores of the Salish Sea. A homey ambiance characterizes the suite, where a plush, fully furnished living room rests separate from a dining room, master bedroom, and kitchenette.

Cowichan Valley, British Columbia: Craggy Coastline, Whale Watching, and Winery Tours

Vancouver Island is set in the Canadian Pacific Northwest and is famous for its near-tropical overgrown greenery and craggy inlets. Cowichan Valley is a tiny enclave on the island lined with several award-winning wineries, which are open for tours. Several waterfront seafood restaurants serve up fresh catches and locally influenced cuisine.

Aside from being ideally positioned for hiking, swimming, and fishing, the seaside area is also a destination for whale-watching tours. Gray, orca, and humpback whales are commonly sighted around Cowichan Bay, and it's possible to see a pod of these gentle giants up close as they catch bottled fan-club letters in their blowholes.