5 Reasons Sooke Is A Year-Round Tourist Destination

Looking out over the water it feels like we’re at the edge of the world.

My phone dings with a text welcoming me to the United States but I haven’t crossed the border. Though, if the clouds weren’t hanging so low in the sky blanketing the horizon with grey, I would be able to see across the water to Olympic National Park in Washington. The invisible border bisecting the Salish Sea between here and there. My friend comes out onto the balcony and hands me a glass of wine and we cheers to our home for the weekend.

When we checked into the SookePoint Ocean Cottage Resort, the woman at reception told us a pod of whales had just been spotted from one of the balconies and we’ve been staring out to see hoping for a glimpse of them ever since.

We never did see whales but on the day we left a family of six massive sea lions treated us to a synchronized dance over the waves to send us off.

Sooke sits at the Southernmost tip of Vancouver Island, roughly 4 hours from Vancouver door-to-door, making it the perfect kind of getaway. The small community (population just over 15,000) was hit by a devastating wildfire this past summer but is ready to welcome visitors back. And there’s plenty of reasons to visit Sooke in Fall.

The destination strikes the perfect balance between remote and tourist destination. Much of the appeal comes from the surrounding area’s access to nature year-round: The Mystic Beach hike is a 4km round-trip that begins at Sheringham lighthouse and ends with sea caves and waterfalls that are just as beautiful in the moody light of autumn and Sooke Potholes offers a beautiful, quintessentially Pacific Northwest, trail and cold plunge if you’re brave enough. The natural pools were formed during the last ice age and are one of the major draws of the area. But any of the beaches and viewpoint pull outs along the side of the road also offer a great spot to sit and watch the surfers (or participate if you’re so inclined).

For SookePoint Ocean Cottage’s part, the rental suites are steps away from panoramic views and wildlife sightings and a 30-minute drive from delicious food stops and breweries to check out on-route.

Shirley Delicious is one of those beloved roadside cafes everyone makes a point of stopping at. If the resident peacock greeting you at the door isn’t enough of a draw, I can tell you that the cafe does exactly what it promises. It’s in Shirley. And it’s delicious. You can sit and enjoy a breakfast burrito in the local art filled covered patio or grab a sweet treat and latte to go. And for a casual dinner, Wild Mountain wood-fired pizza is a great stop, especially for vegetarians. The seasonal menu entirely depends on the harvest and the organic restaurant supports local growers.

For a post-hike drink, the Sooke Oceanside Brewery (S.O.B.) tap room pours a versatile roster of craft beers (nitro stout to session seltzers) alongside incredible views. Plus the Grilled to the Mac food truck in the courtyard dishes up gourmet grilled cheeses and other comfort food items you can bring onto the S.O.B. patio to enjoy with your flight.

And on your way out of town stop by the Sheringham Distillery for a tasting and bottle to take home. The distillery’s gin is award winning and a favourite of many cocktail bars in Vancouver but its recent foray into liqueurs are definitely worth trying. —Alexandra Turner