Seek Out Sooke For Your Next Escape

Young professionals looking for an easy weekend escape from the city need look no further

Pack your bags and hop aboard BC Ferries and find solace with a weekend escape to Sooke. You’ll be greeted by island style R&R with a side order of surfing for good measure.

This sleepy coastal community has begun to attract more and more ‘city folk’ looking for a rustic-chic escape from the everyday. Though rustic it may appear at times, Sooke still offers all the amenities and conveniences young professionals expect and need (hello, wireless). It’s all complimented by the ruggedly stunning coastal backdrop and lush, Pacific Northwest rainforests that blanket the area (a 30-minute drive from Victoria).

The recent completion of Prestige Hotels & Resorts’ Sooke location brings premium oceanfront accommodation, amenities and activities right to your backdoor; all you have to do is leave your car with the valet.  

We love the fact that this swanky (yet affordable) Fido-friendly resort is perfectly perched overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Olympic Mountains. If it’s inspiration you’re looking for, you’ll find it – just choose a cozy nook and unwind with a good book or head to the hotel’s spa.  Looking to explore the outdoors?   Grab a map and pick a day-hike: the Juan de Fuca West Coast Trail and Sooke Pot Holes are all nearby. 

Looking for more of an action-fuelled water-bound adventure? Swing by West Coast Outdoor Adventure Rentals and gear up for a day of Hobie kayaking or try your hand at Paddleboarding.  They’re open year round (see website for hours) and will help get you out to enjoy winter’s great waves.  Speaking of waves, if you’ve got a board (and a cozy 5/4/3mm wetsuit), there are a few noteworthy spots a short drive from Sooke that you may want to check out. Jordan River is always a gem this time of year, as is French Beach – just try not to drop in on the local riders.

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite after a day of leisure or action, you won’t have to go far.  Simply head to the resort’s own Sal’s Prime Steakhouse, known for amazing steak, seafood and fine wine selections. Grab post dinner cocktails at The Mix by Ric’s for an upbeat lounge experience, or opt for a glass of vino at the Yesaki Wine & Raw Bar.   

Rinse and repeat.

Photo courtesy Jane Jolley, Sooke.