A nature lover’s nirvana

Today, things start at your own pace. With an action-packed week ahead, there’s no blame assigned for wanting to take a day to relax. However, we do recommend checking out what diverse Vancouver has to offer. Think picking up a new favourite toy from the Kids’ Market or splashing around in the water park on Granville Island; unleashing baby-botanists within the giant trees of the West Coast forest; and testing parents’ nerves on Capilano’s 70m high suspension bridge before watching native carvers hone their craft.

One seaplane and (unexpectedly) a horse and carriage later, and the wild wonderland of Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge comes into view; made up of 25 luxury tents scattered on the fringe of the waterfront, deep in the forest or trailing up the hillside. Today is spent getting to know the surroundings of the lodge either on foot or by bike before dinner looking out through floor-to-ceiling windows at the Clayoquot Sound.

Daylight hours bring the likes of bear and whale watching with a side of otters, seals and (if you’re lucky) wolves. Biking or climbing gears up for a horseback tour of the trails cutting through the forest, and a hike to Penny Falls leads to a dip in the clear water. Back at the lodge, challenge the family to archery or disc golf, while evenings are spent around a campfire with s’mores, swapping stories from the day.

While the kids sleep, parents start the day mindfully with a slice of yoga or meditation river-side (or a run if you’re really a morning person). The daring sorts can then scale the 250-year-old Sitka fir tree to the canopy viewing platform where the view is reward in itself. Water babies grab a paddle for an ocean kayak or canoe trip; while the firm-of-feet prefer to take it slow on a cruise out to the ocean or have a time out in the Healing Grounds Spa.

Take up the morning with a new favourite activity – whether it be canyoning, rock climbing, river paddling or horse riding – before a lunch served by Chef Asher and a horse and carriage to the dock. The rest of the evening is spent in Vancouver back at Rosewood Hotel Georgia.