A drive to Sooke, on Vancouver Island, is less than an hour’s drive from the city of Victoria, but it feels like a world away.
In Sooke, we stayed at the Prestige Oceanfront Resort. We are grateful to the hotel for inviting us to stay as Prestige Innfluencers as we explored the hidden gems of the area.
The hotel is nothing short of stunning, and it is one of Sooke’s hidden gems.
““The Prestige Oceanfront Resort was the perfect spot to be our home base as we set out on our adventures. The west coast elegance is found throughout the entire building and property from the rooms to the patios to the lobby to the grounds. The hot tub, pool, cabanas, fire pits, dog-friendly patios and more made our stay an absolute delight.”
Kim and John
From the outside, it has a timeless, larger-than-life presence and a special west coast elegance. The palm trees around the hotel and the immaculate courtyard with fire pits evoke a warm, tropical atmosphere. Inside, the rooms are beautiful and spacious, and ours had an expansive balcony with a view overlooking the water. We started our mornings on this balcony, sipping coffees and taking in the spectacular views as we prepared for our day.
Mikki and Merlot were treated like puppy royalty in a dog-friendly atmosphere. The staff even left a dog bed, dog treats, and water bowls out for them.
After checking in, we explored the property, taking in the courtyard, the gazebo, the dock and the stunning view of the marina and harbour.
“We loved that we could go with mom and dad everywhere around the resort. The dog bed and the treats in our room made us feel like very important pups.”
Mikki and Merlot
Then, after a dinner on the dog-friendly patio at The Vault, one of three places to eat at the hotel, we made a list of some of the things we wanted to experience.
Our list included hiking along scenic trails, chasing waterfalls, exploring beaches and waterfront areas and watching for whales, otters, seals and other marine wildlife.
There’s a lot to discover here. One visit is not enough.
Here are some of the hidden gems we recommend from our 72 hours in Sooke.
Sheringham Point Lighthouse
West of Sooke, near Shirley, the Sheringham Point Lighthouse is a must-see.
The lighthouse was constructed in 1912 and it once played a vital role in marine safety. Today, it is designated as a Heritage Lighthouse by the federal government and is lovingly maintained by a society.
The building is closed to the public, but the grounds are stunning.
There are donation boxes set up at the site, and the money collected goes to maintain this special attraction.
To get to the lighthouse, there is a nearby parking lot. From there, it is a short walk up and down on a well-groomed trail to the lighthouse.
Shirley Delicious
After exploring the Sheringham Point Lighthouse, it was time for a break. We stopped at Shirley Delicious. This restaurant, off the highway in Shirley, was recommended to us by numerous people, and it was worth the drive.
It’s a perfect summertime rest spot, with delicious food and plenty of shade around the outdoor picnic tables where Mikki and Merlot were able to join us. From baked goods to breakfast sandwiches and ice cream, Shirley Delicious lives up to its name.
Juan de Fuca Provincial Park
West of Sooke, near Jordan River, Juan de Fuca Provincial Park provides some stunning outdoor experiences.
There are beaches, camping areas and spectacular hiking trails winding through the thick woodland to public beaches.
We explored China Beach Trail, from the parking lot to the beach. This trail is around 800 metres in each direction and is well marked and easy to follow, with plenty of amazing views along the way. This is a hike to be savoured, not rushed.
We had planned to spend a bit of time relaxing on the beach. However, by the time we arrived, the wind had picked up and the beach was a bit chilly and windy.
At this same trailhead, you’ll also find Mystic Beach. We did part of that trail as well, but it’s twice as long as the China Beach Trail, and we didn’t have time to complete both trails.
East Sooke Regional Park
For a lot of coastal hiking options, East Sooke Regional Park can’t be beat. This regional park covers more than 14 square kilometres and has plenty of hiking trails for all abilities. The main entry is at Aylard Farm and most of the trails originate there.
We followed a fairly gentle trail along the water, with plenty of beaches where we could stop and relax.
There are other trails, including some that wind through wooded areas, some steep and challenging courses and a trek out to the petroglyphs.
Sooke Potholes
Sooke Potholes Regional Park features some unique rock formations along the Sooke River.
The park has plenty of riverside trails with picnic areas and campsites. These are well marked and well maintained.
We spent part of an afternoon taking in the views, but we could have been there much longer.
There is a parking area at the entrance to this park, as well as three other parking areas along the way.
Crazy Cookie House
The Crazy Cookie House, in Metchosin, is one of the more quirky attractions we have discovered in southern Vancouver Island.
The small shack, just off the road, looks like something from a fairy tale.
There is an assortment of cookies, baked fresh daily, all reasonably priced.
This shack is not staffed and payment is on the honour system.
Just steps away from the shack, Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park is a great place to enjoy the delicious cookies in a scenic environment, including a hike to the Sitting Lady Falls.
Whiffen Spit Park
Close to the hotel, Whiffen Spit Park is a hike with spectacular views.
The flat hike is a 2.7-kilometre out-and-back excursion, with amazing views of the harbour and the sea at every turn. There are plenty of benches along the way to stop, rest and take in the views.
There is a free parking lot at the entrance to this park, and the gravel path is well maintained. It was very busy when we were there, and also very windy, but it’s a definite must visit location.
While we didn’t see any marine wildlife on this hike, locals told us they almost always see some here.
Wildlife watching
During our time in and around Sooke, one of our hopes was to see some of the marine wildlife.
Although most of our hikes took us to beaches and close to the ocean, our quest was unsuccessful, until our final evening. That was when we found a seal, calmly basking in the sun at the dock outside the hotel.
It seemed this seal had been waiting for us, ready to give us a show of warm island hospitality and a fond farewell.
A few more hidden gems
After a long day of hiking, we enjoyed a visit to Sooke Oceanside Brewery. With great craft beers, a welcoming dog-friendly taproom and a view of the ocean to soak up, it’s a must visit stop.
At home, we have pizza on Friday nights. We maintained that weekly tradition with a local pizza spot called Pizzability.
The Prestige Oceanfront Resort has three onsite restaurants. We checked them out, and we had amazing meals at all of them. The Vault and Island Tarts both offer lovely outdoor dog-friendly patios, and we enjoyed takeout in our room from the West Coast Grill. The unique Chorizo Burger and Chicken Crunch Stack Sando at The Vault were innovative, interesting and delicious. We also recommend the Caesar Salad from West Coast Grill. It was so good we had it twice. The coffee and breakfast sandwiches from Island Tarts were the perfect way to start our daily adventures.
