Vancouver Island’s coastal oasis
By Susan Nerberg
Introducing Black Rock Oceanfront Resort.
Location, location, location
Perched on a rocky promontory on Vancouver Island’s west coast, Black Rock Oceanfront Resort is all about its spectacular setting. The sleek suites – housed in a cedar-accented building that hugs the craggy cliffs – commune with the great outdoors, either by overlooking the temperamental Pacific Ocean or opening onto the lush rain forest. But even indoors you can indulge in the area’s abundance: Nature’s plenty shines through on the dining menu as well as in the spa. And on a rainy day, why not take in the vista by the in-suite fireplace, which conveniently lights at the flick of a switch?
Spa-sational
Whether you’re in dire need of some serious TLC – like we were after an eight-day hike on the legendary West Coast Trail – or just want to be pampered, head to the Drift spa for a soak in one of the outdoor hot pools or the hydrotherapy tub. Better yet, double up with a massage for two in the Signature Couples Room. The Seaflora skincare products slathered on during and after your treatment contain inflammation-fighting seaweed or muscle-soothing marine mud – just what we needed to keep us trekking along the Wild Pacific Trail, which winds its way through the property.
Wining and dining
Executive chef Andrew Springett holds court at Fetch with an eye to the local bounty, like the sustainable seafood caught in the waters offshore and the seasonal fare from the fertile interior of Vancouver Island. We feasted on melt-in-your-mouth lingcod and lamb shank so tender it fell off the bone with a mere glance. The 90-seat restaurant offers exceptional views of the Pacific, and if you’re lucky you might spot gray whales from your very table. We used the sunset as an excuse to polish off yet another glass of Chardonnay from the island’s Church & State Wines.
Getting here
Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, 596 Marine Dr., Ucluelet, B.C., 1-877-762-5011, blackrockresort.com
Tourism British Columbia, 1-800-HELLO-BC (1-800-435-5622), hellobc.com
Susan Nerberg, the deputy editor of Air Canada’s enRoute magazine, is a self-described outdoor freak currently hatching a plan to hike the North Coast Trail on Vancouver Island.
Photo: Susan Nerberg
