|
Home | British Columbia | Idaho | Montana | Oregon | Washington |
|
|
||
The Islands
|
|
You are here: Go Northwest HOME/... British Columbia/... The Islands/... Vancouver Island/... Sooke |
|
Click Button for More
Where to stay and
|
Near southern tip of Vancouver Island, 21 miles (34 km) west of Victoria on Highway 14. Population 4,114. Sooke, British Columbia is located some 40 minutes by car from the city of Victoria on Vancouver Island. With a population of only 4,114, Sooke is a world away from the bustling tempo of B.C.’s provincial capital. A small port town on the southern tip of the island, it commands a spectacular view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the adjacent Olympic Peninsula. The town’s close proximity to Victoria and the ferry terminal makes it an easy getaway for visitors who want to experience the quieter side of Vancouver Island living, with its seaside ports and rural surroundings. Sooke, which borrows its name from one of B.C.’s oldest Aboriginal peoples, the T’sou-ke First Nation, is rich in historical legacies. Pioneers established logging and lumbering communities in this area in the early-to-mid-19th century, but the area remained fairly rural until late into the 20th century. Development along Vancouver Island’s rugged southwest coast in the last 30 years has infused newcomers with an appreciation for its mild climate, dry summers and rich ecological bounty. Summer festivals are a tradition in Sooke, which has of late become known for its seasonal music events, attractions and numerous outside activities. Dining and lodging are a specialty of southern Vancouver Island communities, where the Old World traditions of Western Canada’s British past are still evident. Sooke lies at the intersection of Highway 1A and Highway 17 and is easily reached by car from Sidney and the Swartz Bay ferry terminal. A picturesque drive northwest on Highway 14 affords the visitor numerous stops along some of the West Coast’s most spectacular shoreline.
Sponsored Listing
|
Go Northwest! Bookstore Best selection of books on the Northwest. Click here!
Vancouver:
The Ultimate Guide: Including Whistler & the Gulf Islands
British Columbia Handbook:
Including Vancouver, Victoria, and the Canadian Rockies We appreciate your orders. They help keep Go Northwest! online. |
This
28-room seaside inn features rooms with a local theme such as the “The
Sea Lion”, or the “ Thunder Bird Room”. The restaurant serves regional,
seasonal, Canadian cuisine, and specializes in wild seafood, mushrooms,
herbs and edible flowers from its organic gardens. The wine list is one
of the two best in Canada, according to the Wine Spectator. Personalized
sea spa treatments are available, and a gift shop near the main entrance
features the work of local artists and artisans.