Planning a seaside getaway? Consider the Canadian seaside town of Sooke, on the south coast of Vancouver Island.
I had the chance to explore Sooke recently while road-tripping along the island’s Pacific Marine Circle Route, a looping scenic drive that takes you to wineries, rainforest trails, and remote ocean beaches.
Located about an hour’s drive west of British Columbia’s capital, Victoria, Sooke has good restaurants, including Wild Mountain Food + Drink, several craft breweries and a distillery, a salt producer, and a long shoreline for strolling, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
I stopped for the night at family-friendly Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina, a 34-unit condominium complex built in 2010 directly on the waterfront.
Here’s the scoop:
Guest Rooms and Facilities
Most of the units at Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina are townhouse-style condos on two or three levels. With two or three bedrooms and two baths, each unit can sleep at least six people.
The unit where I stayed was one of several “penthouse” units, set above the reception building, closest to the water. The entrance to these units is through a second-floor courtyard with an outdoor fire pit.
All the suites have similar sturdy furnishings — nothing fancy, but comfortable for a family holiday. The living rooms include pullout sofas to accommodate extra guests.
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The kitchens are modern with granite countertops, stoves, dishwashers, microwaves, coffeemakers, and all the dishes, pots and pans, and utensils you’d need to prepare meals for a family. The units all have in-suite washers and dryers as well.
With the buildings angled to take advantage of the seaside location, the suites have patios or terraces with a barbecue, and you can walk out of the master bedrooms onto a deck with views of the waterfront.
Note that the Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina is unrelated to the similarly named Sooke Harbour House, a highly regarded inn and restaurant nearby.
Services and Amenities
The property has two outdoor hot tubs for guest use.
From their office in the reception building, West Coast Outdoor Adventure rents kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and bicycles, and also offers kayak tours.
But you don’t have to go far from your condo to spot west coast wildlife.
Walking down to the pier just before sunset, I found these two sea lions soaking up the atmosphere on the marina docks — apparently a regular sight at this Canadian seaside spot.
Rates
Rates for a two-bedroom unit at Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina start at CAD$204 in the off season and at $354 during the busier summer months. You can also compare rates at Expedia.
Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. True Key Resorts & Hotels, which manages Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina, arranged my stay for review purposes.
