Just 38 kilometers north of British Columbia’s capital city, Victoria, the district municipality of Sooke rests quietly in splendor. Offering the perfect blend of relaxation getaway with ocean adventure and rugged vistas, Sooke presents a distinct personality from her larger, more famous neighbor.

Once you’ve been to Sooke, leaving her is just not that simple anymore. And you’re certainly never going to forget her.

As former Torontonian Bob Iles explains, he travelled to Sooke for a fishing vacation and never left. Once he arrived he knew he was home. Bob was captain and tour guide for our wildlife tour but more on that later. From Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay on BC Ferries, to the pristine vistas on the drive, to the gem that is Sooke, this became a labour of love.

BC Ferries

We arrived 30 minutes early for our reservation and were on board the Coastal Celebration at precisely 11:00 AM. The BC Ferries staff was friendly and helpful.

Did you know? BC Ferries is one of the largest ferry operators in the world, providing year-round vehicle and passenger service on 25 routes to 47 terminals, with a fleet of 35.

We were first on board and off and whether you are a local or tourist, the BC Ferries experience is a must.

The Pacific Buffet lunch would not look out of place in a high end restaurant, offering seafood, beef and vegetarian main courses, along with a dessert bar too tempting to pass up. It is not uncommon to spot killer whale pods and other wildlife while eating your meal.

Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina

Once arriving at the Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina, we were greeted warmly by Colleen at the front desk. Indeed, Sherry, Allen and Bob were also knowledgeable and accommodating. We were assigned to the penthouse, overlooking the 114-slip marina.

Featuring two decks, a propane barbecue, a dream kitchen and his and hers bathrooms, our suite was well appointed. From the living room we enjoyed a panoramic view and just steps away at the marina were crabs, a large starfish and a seal.

What a perfect oceanside getaway for fishing, whale watching (we have considered going to San Diego whale watching in the past, so it was great to have this option here too!) or outdoor adventuring. We were treated to a complimentary basket with gourmet cheeses, bread and a good bottle of red wine. We felt right at home on our patio overlooking the boat launch, beaches and the beautiful sunset.

Serious Coffee

We had our morning coffee fix at Serious Coffee in the village before kayaking. Also offering tea and assortment of food, the friendly staff welcomed us with two americanos which tasted great and helped kicked start our day.

Kayaking

There is a first time for everything and for us on this Monday it was kayaking. Considering one of us wasn’t exactly an Olympic swimmer there was a sliver (thick wedge?) of doubt that one of us would not agree to participate in this endeavor. We won’t give away names here but her first initial is Christine.

Before venturing out, Allen, the owner and instructor from West Coast Outdoor Adventure, spoke of people from many countries that never kayaked before, then tried it for the first time and enjoyed it.

Allen provided us with a rental, foot-powered Hobie kayak for two. It was easy to use, allowing John to take photos.

We spotted an eagle perched on a pole, obligingly holding still long enough for a photo.

Shortly after leaving the marina a seal popped its head out and kept doing so at different stages of our self-guided tour of the coastline. We also stopped for geese swimming across our path.

The water was calm and in some areas with low tide we got stuck in long grass once or twice, but used the paddle to get us out.

Allen greeted us later and talked about the marina and the diverse marine life. We enjoyed our first time kayaking and look forward to trying it again soon. Maybe we’ll end up buying our own kayaks at some point, it’s so enjoyable. One of my friends told me about some online reviews of trailers so we would be able to visit different kayaking spots. An example of one was The 6 Best Kayak Trailers for 2020: Review The Easiest Ways to Tow a Kayak. Websites like this one might come in handy in the future if we decide to purchase our own kayaking gear!

Wildlife Boat Tour

As mentioned, Bob was our tour guide, bringing at least 18 years of fishing experience and knowledge of Sooke waters that is crucial for year- round fishing.

Our harbour tour was 90 minutes on Bob’s craft which sported new twin Suzuki engines. Even at good speed the engines were quiet enough you could almost imagine sneaking up on the fish with net in hand.

We toured the harbour from getting up close to the T’Sou-ke Nation oyster farm for some great snapshots, to some beautiful homes that were carved out of the mountain side.

We learned how oysters are farmed on long chains that the oysters attach to. We also spotted sea lions basking in the sun and learned about the salmon and the ecosystem. The marina is a popular place for boaters, sport fishing, kayaking to spotting marine life. Many people bring along marine gps gear to take full advantage of what the seas have to offer, but sometimes the docks themselves are home to amazing events. Bob mentioned a seal recently gave birth right on the marina. Captain Bob will regale you with his stories on Sooke, accumulated over almost two decades.

Sooke Brewing Company

After our boat tour we checked out the local brewery, sampling some of their brews. With plenty of room to enjoy a social evening, Sooke brewing Company owners have lived in Sooke for generations.

Stickleback Eatery

Stickleback Eatery is located on picturesque Cooper’s Cove. With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking an extensive patio built on the water, owner Scott Taylor knew it still wasn’t enough. So he and his wife, Leah hired Justin, the best chef he could find.

They wanted a chef that could think outside the box and create meals on demand and that’s exactly what they got.

The view was stunning. We ordered cauliflower bites and seafood appetizers which were delicious.

For the main course we had fish and chips (Christine) and salmon (John). Scott explained that Stickleback was named after a fish to honour the T’Sou-ke First Nation Territories.

In their native tongue Sooke means Stickleback.

His passion for food was evident.

The atmosphere was memorable, offering a cozy environment and excellent menu at affordable prices.

Sooke Potholes Regional Park

As we began our one-hour hike in Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, the trail carried us high above the rushing waters of the Sooke River.

A man was panning for gold near the river’s edge and it could have been 150 years ago.

The vista was pristine as if to say the promise of riches and prosperity was ours to discover. Waterfalls and enticing pools lull the senses into a time warp, rendering everything else irrelevant. The view from the top was breathtaking.

Hiking and running is popular and accessible to the Galloping Goose trail, popular with visitors and loved by the locals year round.

We are both keen hikers and have been on slot canyon tours in Utah in the past so this massively appealed to us. There is nothing quite like adventuring in the great outdoors after all.

The potholes are unique geological formations – deep pools in the river rock that offer some of the best freshwater swimming in the region.

The Sooke River is the second largest on southern Vancouver Island and is home to a salmon run every fall.

Sooke is a welcoming ocean getaway from your daily grind. Spend it fishing, hiking or boating and you’ll find yourself hooked like us.

By Christine Blanchette and John Moe