Local Getaway: Recharge at a Vancouver Island Oceanside Retreat

Location: Victoria, British Columbia 

The details: $1,384 per night plus fees; sleeps ten

The amenities:

Relaxing after a long week at work has never been easier. Explore the Saanich Peninsula near Victoria in this animal-friendly space that boasts 10,000-square-feet of redefined luxury. With a combined indoor-outdoor living space, fully furnished rooms and a private gym room, you’re sure to have a well-rounded living experience in Southern Vancouver Island. 

This large space can house multiple families or a large group of friends. There is enough capacity for everyone to mingle, but also plenty of separate spaces to spend time in small groups (a nod to fellow introverts)! You’ll have the option to access this two-storey home through the ground floor, or through an overhead walkway to enter the upper floor directly.

You’ll find multiple viewpoints around the exterior of the home for you to gather with loved ones and watch the sunset (or sunrise for the early birds!). Along the outskirts of the water, there is a large cushioned bench with multiple beach chairs, giving you an excellent view of the ocean. Enjoy the outdoor hot tub any time of day to relax your mind and body. Want to be even closer to nature? Enjoy dinner on the fully covered outdoor deck dining space, furnished with a sink and barbeque grill. 

If you’d like to enjoy the beauty of nature from the comfort of your home, the large windows facing the inlet ensures you are fully equipped to do so. Bask in mother nature’s glory as you cook in the all star kitchen, or simply while you wander through the halls. This home offers a fully equipped kitchen with a coffee nook, two sinks and even baking equipment! Want to host a bake-off? No problem!

You’ll find two main living spaces in this two-storey home. One by the dining area next to the kitchen, and the other in a separate room. Warm up next to the fireplace in the main living space or enjoy a movie on the large TV in the secondary living room. Want to hang out somewhere smaller and more intimate? This home also offers a smaller, separate den and media room, where you can answer some emails (if you really need to) or hang out with just a few close friends. 

Inside the house, you’ll also find five bedrooms and five full-sized ensuite bathrooms. Three of the five bedrooms are suited with a king-sized bed. The primary suite features a walk-in closet, panoramic windows with a beautiful view of the water and an ensuite bathroom with both a standing shower and bathtub. Most of the bedrooms offer an attached balcony for you to enjoy your morning coffee as birds chirp around you. 

The open floor plan, skylight and large floor-to-ceiling windows in this space ensures natural lighting can be evenly dispersed throughout the home. You’ll also see plenty of greenery outside each window. From evergreen trees to ferns, there are plenty of opportunities to inspire your inner tree-hugger. 

This luxury rental is dressed with different colours of wood throughout, creating a cozy and homey feel. The rugged stone accents also add to the natural feel of the home, and matches well with the surrounding nature. Whether you prefer to spend time outdoors or indoors, this home is sure to meet you and your loved ones’ needs. 

Activities in the area:

If you’d like to spend some time outdoors, this home is situated on beautiful park grounds with a gazebo, walkways through the forest and a large waterfront dock on the cove. Sip your morning coffee on the deck while playful otters and sea lions swim past you! Whale sightings are also a common occurrence, so be prepared for a symphony of sea animals in the vicinity.

This location is also a great home base for exploring around the Vancouver Island. Start your day off with a sunrise stroll along the nearby Henderson Point Beach Access, or a light hike along the Thompson Cove Trail. After a quick shower back at the rental, head over to the famous Butchart Gardens. You can enjoy your afternoon basking in this 55-acre floral display, which is only a 10-minute drive away. Thinking about lunch? No problem–the gardens offer multiple restaurants and cafes on site. After enjoying the sunset amongst fragrant florals, you can drive another 20 minutes (or just under 30 minutes directly from the rental), to downtown Victoria for a delectable dinner in the city.

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