Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/127001
»»»»»»If You Go floatplanes. Just above them are the oceanside pool and Tyee Lodge, where we conglomerate upon arrival for a quick welcome over wine and cheese and are debriefed on the property: Be aware of bears; don't swim off the docks; do take advantage of the unlimited food, wine, beer and spirits included in your stay price. My luggage beats me to my room, where I have views of sea lions and eagles not only from the pillow-lined window seat, but also from my glorious king-size bed. Desolation Sound has long been a favourite destination among boaters for its jaw-dropping fjords, mountains and wildlife. Although Captain George Vancouver allegedly so named it because "there was not a single prospect that was pleasing to the eye," one must conclude that the poor man was simply over-saturated with our province's beauty, and no longer able to see the forest for the trees, if you will. As serene as it is wild, the area is nothing short of spectacular. My first stop, however, is inside, at Island Currents Spa for a massage, where reality gets quickly kneaded away. After, I sink into one of three mineral pools, replete with cascading waterfall and ocean views. The spa, I note, is conveniently located beside the tennis dome and steps from the big-screen virtual golf course, so you can go straight from your game to the baths. Relaxing, it turns out, leaves you famished, as do day hikes, kayaking — even just reading in the fresh, salty air by an outdoor fire pit. All meals are taken in the Tyee Lodge, where chef Terry Pichor clearly revels in turning locally sourced 88 ⊲ onora Resort's sister company, London Air, offers helicopter transportation to S Sonora Island from the Esso Avitat in Richmond every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 3 p.m. Private charters can also be arranged. Water taxis leave from Campbell River's Discovery Harbour Marina for a 75-minute ride that departs daily at 3 p.m. ⊲ onora Resort is open May to October annually and is a Relais & Chateaux S property. Room rates begin at $575 per night per couple before transfers (includes food and libations). Accommodation options vary, including the two facilities detailed below. sonoraresort.com ⊲ agle Rock Lodge is a four-bedroom oceanfront lodge that enjoys total privacy, E but is just a quick stroll from the resort's main lodge. Here, groups enjoy personalized staff and service complete with private chef. Have a wedding ceremony in the elegant Longhouse then bring your group here for an intimate and unforgettable celebration. From $3,160 per night before transfers. ⊲ or a truly luxurious wedding, check into Sea Lion Pointe, which sits on its own F peninsula overlooking the ocean. Here, artistry, living space and nature come together in a magnificent and intimate setting that includes a great room with sweeping fireplace, large private dining room, decks and hot tubs off each bedroom and one of the largest commissions of B.C. art. From $4,480 per night before transfers. Top: Eagle Rock Lodge's luxury master bedroom. Above: The 12-seat eco-tour boats feature motors that hush to let you hear the sounds of nature. ingredients into celebrations for your taste buds. Nothing — from the fresh halibut at dinner to the delicious chicken wings I snack on at the Tapas Bar — passes my lips without audible appreciation. One day, I spot my American friends heading out for the world-famous fishing that Sonora offers. "We're never leaving," one shouts to me as they cast off. But I've chosen an eco-tour over angling, and my crew takes off in a 28-foot zodiac. Our charismatic guide gives us headphones so he can advise of wildlife sightings without raising his voice and scaring off the creatures. We're barely off the dock when we spot dozens and dozens — perhaps even hundreds — of bald eagles, as well as some incredibly frisky sea lions that our guide swears aren't trained to entertain us as they do. Dolphins, orca, black and grizzly bears are also on the tour, depending what time of year you visit Sonora, as is a stop at a remote village, where we land and trek through old-growth rainforest. Through it all I marvel at why so few Canadians travel within our own country. With just a few days to escape for a mini-moon, why waste time on a long flight when you could experience all this? By the time I'm packing my bags to leave I'm wondering if my fiancé and I should also choose Sonora as our wedding venue, because I know that I have to show the most special person in my life one of the most special places I've ever been. rw PHOTOS All by Darren Bernaerdt, courtesy of Sonora Resort. real weddings SPRing / SUMMER 2013 p86-89_SonoraResort.indd 88 13-04-22 11:42 AM