On the Spectacular South West Coast of Vancouver Island!		Whiffin Spit Lodge Bed and Breakfast 7031 West Coast Road Sooke, British Columbia Canada V0S 1N0 Phone (250) 642-3041 Toll-free 1-800-720-1322 Fax (250) 642-4181 Email: info@whiffinspitlodge.com

Enjoy A Warm British Welcome ...Always!

Your Hosts: Al & Sheila Carter

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As Featured in Kellogg's Müslix Bed & Breakfast Guide
Doctor's Review (Getaways Issue)


Sooke, B.C.
It's only natural!

Lovers of Soft Adventure will be intrigued by the rugged pristine beauty of the Ocean, Mountains, Hiking & Biking Trails, Rain Forests & Natural Harbours.  Explore the spectacular, unspoiled West Coast Beaches, with unforgettable sights and sounds of the Pacific Breakers and Magical Sunsets.

In our coastal waters you can experience some of the world's best year-round Salmon Fishing & huge Halibut in season!  Just a short walk from the B&B to Sooke Harbour Marina, Jocks' Dock & the Government Wharf and carrying on a little further along the one mile distance to the Sooke village you can detour through scenic Ed Macgregor Park (picnic tables here) and hike the coastal trail around to the Rotary Pier crabbing dock!  Here in Sooke three pods of resident whales (Orcas) visit from May until October and occasionally a surprise visit from other whale species.  Over the past few years we are seeing the return of the Grey Whales in late September - exciting as they disappeared from our waters 30 years ago!    You can enjoy the thrill of a Whale Watching adventure, spectacular Hiking, Diving, Sailing Golf, Kayak & Bike Rentals - and new in 2007 "ZipWest" offering eight ziplines (one is 1000 ft in length!) sprawled across 100 acres of ecologically-diverse coastal temperate rainforest in the Sooke Hills.   Sooke is renowned as a haven for our highly talented local artisans - follow a self-guided tour as you discover their galleries, studios and workshops scattered around the region. Gift Shops also display local arts and crafts and interesting local products such as soap, candles, kelp baskets, wood turning etc.  The Sooke Fine Arts Show has established itself as Vancouver Island's premier juried  fine art show  -  in 2008 the dates for this amazing show will be from 26 July up to and including 04 August (usually open from 10am until 9pm daily) at the Leisure Complex.

Sooke boasts Canada's southern most harbour. You will find that from our B&B you are within walking distance to the ocean, harbour and village and only a short drive to the spectacular West Coast beaches, scenic coastal hikes and breathtaking rain forest (don't forget to bring along your camera!)   We are located one mile from Whiffin Spit Beach - from the parking lot  it is a spectacular one mile walk to the end of the Spit with the Sooke Harbour & Basin on one side and the ocean on the other with a view across to the magnificent snow-capped Olympic Mountains in Washington State. (the perfect after dinner walk on a warm summers evening - but always spectacular whatever weather-mood Mother Nature decides for us  - including crashing winter storms and breath-taking sunsets)  Also, for a change in pace,  just a 40 minute drive and you will find the quaintness and world-class tourist attractions of Victoria approx 33 km (20 miles)away.

There are many interesting and educational day-trips within a 1 or 1/1/2 hour drive from the B&B. Spend a day or two exploring the wonderful city of Victoria, strolling the world famous Parks & Gardens, visiting the Museums & Art Galleries and the many, varied visitor attractions. Plan an extra day on your itinerary and along the way to Victoria take the opportunity to spend a few hours visiting Hatley Park (a National Historic Site) - "On the ocean, amidst the forest, by the castle, in the garden" - take a guided tour of Hatley Castle and the wonderful gardens or stroll the property at your leisure. In the same area you will also find Fort Rod Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse - unique examples of Canada's military & maritime heritage. Another great day trip from here would be to take the Southern Vancouver Island Wine Tour and visit the vineyards, orchards and tasting rooms (most re-open after a seasonal close to the public in May) - some with amazing little restaurants, courtyard lunches and their own mix of music, poetry and local festivals. Here in Sooke and part of the Wine Tour you will find Tugwell Creek Meadery & Honey Farm - committed to products made from their own varietal honey and berries - visit their gift shop and tasting room. You will discover most of the vineyards on a self-guided, scenic, one-hour drive up-island - to make sure that you get home safe be sure to take along a designated driver if you plan to sample wine and ciders!! A few wineries on the tour are also on the outskirts of Victoria and the Gulf Islands.

Once our guests have settled into their rooms the most frequently asked question is "Where can we have supper?" ... they are usually surprised to find that Sooke has such a wide variety of great places to dine to suit all tastes and budgets. Including fine dining at world famous Sooke Harbour House, Markus' Wharfside Restaurant (just a short walk from our B&B) or Point No Point.  Also great pub food at 17 Mile House and family dining at Mulligans Bar & Grill, opened recently Stone Pipe Grill, exciting new Fuse Waterfront Grill overlooking Cooper's Cove, Mom's Cafe, Forbidden Pleasures Cafe or the Reading Room Bookstore Cafe also new to Sooke in 2007.  Maybe lunch or afternoon tea at one of our excellent Bakery/Tea Rooms -  Little Vienna Bakery and Otter Point Bakery  - or pick up a prepared picnic and enjoy lunch-on-a-log while overlooking the ocean and mountains. You will find everyone's favourite "Fish & Chips" and for something completely different "Sushi on the Sea" (served at weekends only). Last but not least, Eat-in or Take-out Chinese Food, Pizza, Sub & Burger places and all kinds of neat little cafe's for you to discover as you drive around this spectacular coastal community.

Bird watchers & Naturalists are drawn to Whiffin Spit Beach which shelters Sooke Harbour from the crashing waves of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Here they find an excellent vantage point for observing seabirds, shorebirds, marine mammals & intertidal life. East Sooke Park offers one of the best sites in the Pacific Northwest to observe the fall Raptor migration (starting mid-September). Witty's Lagoon & Esquimalt Lagoon are also excellent Bird-Watching spots. Just started in April 2007 is an amazing opportunity to join internationally experienced expedition travel and expert area marine wildlife guide Captain Jeff Lorton of West Coast Wildlife Adventures on a 2 - 21/2 hour marine birding trip leaving Sooke Harbour Marina (about 500 yards from the B&B) along the magnificent coastline of the wildlife rich Sooke waters, into picturesque little coves and out to Race Rocks protected Marine Protected Area - we saw Golden Eagles and other rare coastal species on a recent trip and the seal haul-out (including Elephant Seals and Steller Sea Lions) at Race Rocks is amazing. You can check out the whlae watching, marine wildlife and birding trips offered by West Coast Wildlife Adventures at www.westcoastwhales.ca 

 

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