Wandering the twin towns of Comox and Courtenay in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island makes for a relaxing weekend of fun. With mountains and a glacier to the west and the Strait of Georgia to the east, this thriving lowland offers nature-lovers plenty of adventure. Well known for its air force base installed during … Continue reading Comox Valley →

posted on Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 by Doug Wallace Posted in DESTINATIONS Comments Off on Comox Valley

The Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa near Royston on Vancouver Island is many great things rolled into one tidy package—boutique beach resort, destination spa, yoga retreat and top-rated restaurant. Guests can sink into soothing hands at the spa, realign with a yoga class, take a dip in the outdoor pool, breathe in the lavender-scented sea … Continue reading Courtenay-Comox: The Kingfisher →

posted on Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 by Doug Wallace Posted in HOTELS Comments Off on Courtenay-Comox: The Kingfisher

VICTORIA—Empress 1908, one of my favourite gins, is pink. It’s actually lavender, but really, it starts off being blue. Confused yet? Made by Victoria Distillers for the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Empress 1908 Gin is infused with the now-trending butterfly pea blossom, a perennial herbaceous plant, native to Asia.

posted on Sunday, April 19th, 2020 by Doug Wallace Posted in FOOD & BOOZE Comments Off on This gin does tricks

TOFINO, BC—Salmon candy. It’s like a carrot on a stick. You dangle that in front of me and I will walk for miles. When I’m lucky enough to get my hands on these sweet and salty smoked-salmon morsels, I ration them for weeks, savouring every molecule.

posted on Sunday, April 19th, 2020 by Doug Wallace Posted in FOOD & BOOZE Comments Off on I get chummy with the chum

With just 64 rooms, the independently owned Magnolia Hotel & Spa always ranks high on the annual top 10 lists. A service-forward approach and a close-to-everything downtown location minutes from Victoria’s inner harbour make it a hit with both tourists and the busy bleisure crowd. Vibe: The majority of Magnolia guests are week-day travellers from the … Continue reading Victoria: The Magnolia →

posted on Wednesday, April 8th, 2020 by Doug Wallace Posted in HOTELS Comments Off on Victoria: The Magnolia

The hip home base of this ocean-front community on Vancouver Island’s west coast is a full-service, one-stop shop, delivering better-than-basic comfort, fine dining, a lively watering hole, a water taxi, and an ocean adventure centre ready to whisk you away to the region’s islands and inlets. Vibe: Rustic comfort rules at Tofino Resort + Marina, … Continue reading Tofino: Tofino Resort + Marina →

posted on Wednesday, April 8th, 2020 by Doug Wallace Posted in HOTELS Comments Off on Tofino: Tofino Resort + Marina

A Vancouver Island road trip yields bold libations, divine seafood, big hikes and heavenly hydrotherapy. The British Columbia coastal regions have a myriad of spots to explore, east and west. First stop: Comox. Hop in a car and onto the ferry at Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, then head north. This thriving region offers nature-lovers plenty … Continue reading Vancouver Island →

posted on Sunday, April 5th, 2020 by Doug Wallace Posted in DESTINATIONS Comments Off on Vancouver Island