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

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

Delivering total Canadiana in myriad forms, Nita Lake Lodge is one of the top three resorts in town, combining sexy chalet style, a laid-back vibe, top-notch dining and hillside convenience in one seamless package. That it is a hangout for locals, too, yields even more authenticity. Vibe: Nita Lake Lodge is the real Whistler, complete … Continue reading Whistler: Nita Lake Lodge →

posted on Tuesday, March 24th, 2020 by Doug Wallace Posted in HOTELS Comments Off on Whistler: Nita Lake Lodge