Tofino, B.C.
Wickaninnish Inn
Storm Watcher
What it is
A 75-room wild retreat on a craggy peninsula with an authentically magical sense of place.
What it isn't
Cold. Even when squalls brew out your floor to ceiling windows, your room is as cozy as they come, with a gas fireplace, double soaking tub, heated bathroom floors and Hudson bay blankets.
What we think
Each guest room at Wickaninnish Inn is fitted with bathrobes, sure. But they’re also stocked with something far more telling: Helly Hanson raincoats and rain pants. That’s because folks flock here from all across the globe to do one thing—watch as winter storms come racing in, pounding frothy seas against the rocks beyond the windows. It’s every bit as exciting as, say, the 2000 George Clooney film The Perfect Storm but without any of the stress or heartache, thanks to your downy bed, Bose Wave Radio and iPod docking station (plus treasure trove of Canadian albums), and Stormlight oil candles. Check in, curl up, and remember what pure wonder at the natural world is like.
You're here because
You seriously need a reprieve from modern life. Your room at Wickaninnish has all the modern tech, but you may just sit with your binoculars and watch orcas out in the sound or the wolves roaming along the beach. It’s time to unplug, literally.
The Moment
You’ll happily spend your whole paycheck at Whole Foods, so you’re overjoyed to learn Wickaninnish’s executive chef, Carmen Ingham, sources game and seafood—salmon, side stripe shrimp and spot prawns—from B.C. angler Jeff Mikus; the beer from Tofino Brewing; the homemade sausage from Two Rivers Meats; the list goes on. Settled in before 240-degree views of the Pacific Ocean at The Pointe Restaurant, you take one bite of your confit halibut with clam beignet and pickled samphire, and let out a contented sigh. This is vacation.
Restaurants & Bars
The Pointe Restaurant - Pacific Northwest cuisine is awarded a fresh outlook by Chef Warren Barr
On the Rocks Lounge - Features an excellent selection of Pacific Northwest wines, classic ports and single-malt scotches
Driftwood Cafe - Offering a range of specialty espresso drinks, fruit smoothies and spa-inspired fare
Location
On the tippy tip of Tofino, a peninsula that juts out into British Columbia’s Clayoquot Sound. The soft sands of Chesterman Beach are just beyond your door.