Destination Oak Bay
View from our Balcony at Oak Bay Beach Hotel
We had the most beautiful wellness experience to unwind, rejuvenate, and experience nature. It all happened in Vancouver Island, BC, Canada!
Day 1
We travelled with Westjet from Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Victoria International Airport (YYJ). The best part is it's only a 1.5-hour time (but feels like 30 minutes with the MST/ PST time difference)
Upon arrival, we were greeted by our friendly driver, Rod from LA Limousines, who provided us with ground transportation to our hotel. He was informed about Vancouver Island as he's a long-time local and shared some fun history with us. He even stopped at Mount Tolmie Park, a 120 meter (394 foot) hill. You'll be treated to amazing views from Oak Bay, Saanich, downtown Victoria, and beyond.
Our last stop of the day was our home away from home at Oak Bay Beach Hotel, a luxurious hotel nestled on the shores of the Pacific Ocean overlooking the Salish Sea. The 100-room boutique hotel is known for world-class services such as the award-winning Boathouse Spa, heated seaside mineral pools, fine dining and more.
As you can see from the video, these rooms are well-appointed. We made ourselves comfortable and relaxed before preparing for our 1st dinner at FARO Handcrafted Pizza and Tasting Room inside Oak Bay Beach Hotel. The food pictures speak for themselves, if I do say so myself.
What we ordered from the delicious Faro Menu
Day 2
Sunrise at Oak Bay Beach Hotel
I woke up at 6:00 a.m. to catch the sunrise because WHY NOT? Since the A-team(a term I affectionately use to describe my three children), I knew I could go back to sleep. The view of the Salish Sea from our room was truly breathtaking.
It was a slow start to our morning. I made my way to The Snug Pub, which, fun fact, is an icon dating back to 1954.
We enjoyed breakfast on the outdoor patio with the Salish Sea as our backdrop. We would need the fuel as we headed to an activity we had never done before!
Any guesses?
There are many things to love about Oak Bay; however, by the 2nd day, I immediately appreciated how walkable it was and the charm of each home as we made our way to the Oak Bay Marina to meet with our guide from Ocean River Sports for our guided kayak tour of the Oak Bay Area!
I'm still pinching myself that Leslie can proudly say I overcame my fear of being in a large body of water and kayaked in the Salish Sea! The team at Ocean River Sports really took their time to explain safety to us 1st. This really grounded me, as this was my first time kayaking.
Once we were out at sea, it was stunning. We saw marine life, such as seals and even jellyfish (I've only seen these creatures on National Geographic, so I was geeking hard). It was about a 2-hour tour that left this gal hungry! We thanked our guide, made our way to Estevan Village, and enjoyed lunch at Ruth & Dean, a locally owned and operated bakery and luncheonette.
Post-lunch, we decided to explore more of the quaint boutiques in Estevan Village, then made our way back to Oak Bay Hotel to rest and, of course, have a meet and greet with the Hotel Dog Ella!
FUN FACT!
Oak Bay Beach Hotel has dog-friendly suites! Inquire within when making your reservations!
After some much-needed relaxation from paddling, we got dressed and headed to Vis-à-Vis Oak Bay for a delicious dinner that did not disappoint.
Day 3
We started the morning early; watching the sunrise from your room's balcony will become a favourite experience while staying at Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Then we decided to have some tranquility in the heated Mineral Seaside Pool. The pools are open at 7:00 a.m., which is great if you're a morning person. My belly reminded me after a few hours that we needed to eat, so we made our way to Hide + Seek Coffee for a yummy breakfast before commencing our exploration of downtown Victoria.
Fisherman's Wharf Park
Once we were done being tourists for the day, we returned to Oak Bay Beach Hotel, where we enjoyed a late lunch from Boathouse Kitchen + Bar.
Order the tacos! You will thank me later!
We enjoyed exploring the beautiful hotel grounds and soaking in the calming aura of the property prior to preparing for our evening. We were treated to a Winemaker's Dinner Series featuring Bodega Catena Zapata in the evening. The series features a collection of both local and internationally renowned vineyards, wineries, and estates. Each dinner showcases the best of each winery, paired with a seasonally inspired menu created by Executive Chef Kreg Graham.
It's a bucket-list experience of refined service in the breathtaking oceanside setting of the Grand Lobby, with the elegant accompaniment of a live pianist. Special thanks to Marina for providing an entertaining and educational insight into Catena Zapata wines.
Day 4
This day was a sad one as it was time to check out. You better believe I woke up early to catch another beautiful sunrise. Then, I proceeded to pack my belongings before heading to The Snug Pug for breakfast to meet one of my childhood friends. The french toast had a chokehold on me, and I wanted to savour it one last time before returning home. Once breakfast was done, we packed our belongings and were transported by the Oak Bay Beach Hotel to the Helijet Terminal.
Helijet Pad at Vancouver Harbour
This is the part where I confess I have never flown on a helicopter. However, we are doing a lot of "1st on this trip!" It's as if my nerves calm down once safety is thoroughly explained to me. I'm sure glad they did because the flight from Victoria Harbour to Vancouver Harbour was insanely stunning!
If you've just heard of Oak Bay Beach Hotel, I encourage you to book your stay it's a Canadian gem of a property in a picturesque location and as a special gift to you use code: LESLIE to get 10% off your stay! (valid from October 26th, 2023 to February 29, 2024)
Thank you to Oak Bay Tourism, Oak Bay Beach Hotel and all their vendors for hosting me and sponsoring this blog post. The opinions expressed within the content are solely the author's and do not reflect the website's or its affiliate's views and beliefs.
