We love our weekend getaways in natural, rugged settings, but we’ll choose a luxury boutique hotel over a leaky tent any day.
From West Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay, we hopped the ferry to Vancouver Island, and then drove to the town of Ucluelet to settle in at the new Black Rock Oceanfront Resort (from $275 a night).
Looking over the Pacific Ocean on the rocky west coast of the island, the stunning view from our suite instantly reduced our stress. The natural colour palette of the outdoors continued indoors, with a palette of stone grey, oyster, and seaweed green throughout.
We could have stayed in our bathroom all day, loving the Acca Kappa toiletries, the rain shower, and the soaker tub that overlooks the bay. Instead, we started our day with a steamy mug of Milano coffee – the French press specialty is standard issue in every suite.
Next, we headed out for something to eat, settling into a window seat at Fetch Restaurant . We started with the absolutely divine Dungeness Crab and Avocado Salad ($12) then continued the seafood theme with the freshest Pan Seared Pacific Halibut ($27) we’ve had in a long time.
Feeling it was time to get our outdoorsy on, we hiked the Wild Pacific Trail (that Black Rock is situated on). Breathing in the good-for-us sea air while waves crashed below and bald eagles flew overhead prepared us for some serious eco-pampering, which we found at the Drift Spa. We melted our hike-weary muscles with a one-hour Shiatsu massage ($115), which used Sea Flora certified organic seaweed-based products that left our skin super soft and nourished.
We have to say – rugged rocks.
Black Rock Oceanfront Resort
596 Marine Drive
Ucluelet, B.C.
250-726-4800
1-877-762-5011