The Wickaninnish Inn
The Wickaninnish Inn is a) virtually impossible to spell correctly, and b) on Vancouver Island's magnificently rugged west coast, minutes from the picturesque town of Tofino.
Alongside the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and the renowned beauty of the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve, the inn is situated on a rocky promontory at the westernmost point of Chesterman Beach and surrounded by the ocean on three sides, with ancient forest as a backdrop.
The rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows, cosy fireplaces and huge bathtubs, and are decorated with local artworks. There is fine food at the Pointe Restaurant with its spectacular oceanfront dining.
Why We Love It
Pull on a poncho and wellies provided by the Wick Inn and go for a wander along Chesterman beach after a storm.
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
A luxurious eco-resort set in the untamed wilderness of the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve - one of the best intact examples of temperate rainforest on Earth - this former mining outpost has been converted into a luxury tented retreat.
Arrive from Vancouver via seaplane, followed by a short boat ride to shore and finally a horse-drawn wagon to the lodge.
Guests at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort stay in white canvas tents, built on raised wooden platforms connected by boardwalks, all under the canopy of the rainforest and along the water's edge. Each tent is immaculately furnished with comfortable beds, gas stoves and rugs, and all aspects of the resort's operations are low-impact.
Knowledgeable guides are available to lead activities such as forest treks, sea kayaking, mountain biking, horse riding and whale or bear-watching. There is also excellent salmon and trout fishing. The newest addition to the Clayoquot Resort is the stunning Cloud Camp, which offers guests the chance to travel by helicopter and camp by a remote mountain lake for the night.
Why We Love It
The heart of the outpost is the ranch-style cookhouse with a huge fireplace and panoramic viewing decks where gourmet cooking is served.