Lovers of Soft Adventure will be intrigued by the rugged pristine beauty of the Ocean, Mountains, Hiking & Biking Trails, Rain Forests & Natural Harbours. Explore the spectacular, unspoiled West Coast Beaches, with unforgettable sights and sounds of the Pacific Breakers and Magical Sunsets.
In our coastal waters you can experience some of the world's best year-round Salmon Fishing & huge Halibut in season! There are many local charter fishing opportunities - two very experienced and reliable charter fishermen we highly recommend to our guests after many years of working together are Al Kennedy at www.salmonexcitement.com - Terry Dobson at www.tandtfishingcharters.com and Norm Feil at www.sookebnb.bc.ca/fishing.html - check out their websites and you will find all the information you want to know on fishing the Sooke waters. Just a short walk from the B&B to Sooke Harbour Marina, Jocks' Dock & the Government Wharf and carrying on a little further along the one mile distance to the Sooke village you can detour through scenic Ed Macgregor Park - Sookes's newly designated Spirit Square (Band Shell, picnic tables and public washrooms here) - home to summer festivals, Art Shows, and the popular Philharmonic Fling. Through Spirit Square you will find yourself at the top of a zig-zag ramp (The Mother of ALL ramps!) which meets at the harbourfront with the new 1000 ft long Marine Boardwalk and on to the Rotary Pier crabbing dock! Here in Sooke three pods of resident whales (Orcas) visit from May until October and occasionally a surprise visit from other whale species. Over the past few years we are seeing the return of the Grey Whales in late September - exciting as they disappeared from our waters 30 years ago! You can enjoy the thrill of a Whale Watching adventure, spectacular Hiking, Diving, Sailing, Golf, Kayak & Bike Rentals - and for an extra thrill Adrena Line Adventure Tours offers eight ziplines (one is 1000 ft in length!) sprawled across 100 acres of ecologically-diverse coastal temperate rainforest in the Sooke Hills. Newly discovered amazing old-growth forest at Avatar Grove in Port Renfrew is about a 90 minute drive along the scenic West Coast Road - so a good day trip with lots of other interesting spots along the way. Sooke is renowned as a haven for our highly talented local artisans - follow a self-guided tour as you discover their galleries, studios and workshops scattered around the region. Gift Shops also display local arts and crafts and interesting local products such as soap, candles, kelp baskets, wood turning etc. The Sooke Fine Arts Show has established itself as Vancouver Island's premier juried fine art show - usually scheduled for the last few days in July and the first few days in August (10 day Show - open from 10am until 9pm daily) at the SEAPARC Leisure Complex.
Sooke boasts Canada's southern most harbour. You will find that from our B&B you are within walking distance to the ocean, harbour and village and only a short drive to the spectacular West Coast beaches, scenic coastal hikes and breathtaking rainforest (don't forget to bring along your camera!) We are located one mile from Whiffin Spit Beach - from the parking lot it is a spectacular one mile walk to the end of the Spit with the Sooke Harbour & Basin on one side and the ocean on the other with a view across to the magnificent snow-capped Olympic Mountains in Washington State - the perfect after dinner walk on a warm summers evening - but always spectacular whatever weather-mood Mother Nature decides for us - including crashing winter storms and breath-taking sunsets. Also, for a change in pace, just a 40 minute drive and you will find the quaintness and world-class tourist attractions of Victoria approx 33 km (20 miles)away.
There are many interesting and educational day-trips within a 1 or 1/1/2 hour drive from the B&B. Spend a day or two exploring the wonderful city of Victoria, strolling the world famous Parks & Gardens, visiting the Museums & Art Galleries and the many, varied visitor attractions. Plan an extra day on your itinerary and along the way to Victoria take the opportunity to spend a few hours visiting Hatley Park (a National Historic Site) - "On the ocean, amidst the forest, by the castle, in the garden" - take a guided tour of Hatley Castle and the wonderful gardens or stroll the property at your leisure. In the same area you will also find Fort Rod Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse - unique examples of Canada's military & maritime heritage. Another great day trip from here would be to take the Southern Vancouver Island Wine Tour and visit the vineyards, orchards and tasting rooms (most re-open after a seasonal close to the public in May) - some with amazing little restaurants, courtyard lunches and their own mix of music, poetry and local festivals. Here in Sooke and part of the Wine Tour you will find Tugwell Creek Meadery & Honey Farm - committed to products made from their own varietal honey and berries - visit their gift shop and tasting room. You will discover most of the vineyards on a self-guided, scenic, one-hour drive up-island - to make sure that you get home safe be sure to take along a designated driver if you plan to sample wine and ciders!! A few wineries on the tour are also on the outskirts of Victoria and the Gulf Islands.
Once our guests have settled into their rooms the most frequently asked question is "Where do you recommend for supper?" ... they are usually surprised to find that Sooke has such a wide variety of great places to dine to suit all tastes and budgets. Including: 1 mile away overlooking scenic Whiffin Spit Beach long established internationally renowned dining at Sooke Harbour House: Wild Mountain Food & Drink featuring locally foraged ingredients (just a short walk from our B&B): at Point No Point you'll find fine dining looking out over the ocean - 30 minute drive along the coast road. Also great pub food at 17 Mile House: family dining with good quality & variety (including gluten free choices) centre village at Stone Pipe Grill: you'll find patio & kayak rentals at Stickleback Waterfront Grill on Coopers Cove: in the village centre diner-style Mom's Cafe. Just a 5 minute walk from the B&B is the Pacific Grill serving steaks, seafood, pasta, tapas with wine bar/cocktail lounge & lovely patio looking over the Harbour. Maybe lunch or afternoon tea at our excellent Bakery/Tea Room at Little Vienna Bakery - and coffee lovers rave over Stick in the Mud Coffee House - in-house roasted coffee by owner/Barista. Or perhaps it just feels like a day to choose from our excellent supermarket deli counters or pick up a prepared picnic and enjoy lunch-on-a-log while overlooking the ocean and mountains. Last but not least, Eat-in or Take-out Chinese Food, Pizza, Sushi, Mexican, Subway & Burger places and all kinds of neat little cafe's for you to discover as you drive around this spectacular coastal community.
Bird watchers & Naturalists are drawn to Whiffin Spit Beach which shelters Sooke Harbour from the crashing waves of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Here they find an excellent vantage point for observing seabirds, shorebirds, marine mammals & intertidal life. East Sooke Park offers one of the best sites in the Pacific Northwest to observe the fall Raptor migration (starting mid-September). Witty's Lagoon & Esquimalt Lagoon are also excellent Bird-Watching spots.
More information about the Sooke Community