From Sea to Sky – Experience Sooke’s Outdoor Playground

Banish the winter blues — Sooke-style! Slightly off the beaten track, it’s easy to miss many of the once in a lifetime experiences Sooke has to offer. Just a short drive from Victoria, Sooke truly embodies the spirit of the west coast. The franchises and bumper-to-bumper traffic give way to wide open ocean and endless natural beauty, hidden just far enough away from the city that the sirens are no longer audible and the night sky reveals its majestic array of stars, rather than the foggy mist of smog and lights.

Experience the west coast in all of its natural glory. Vancouver Island has so much to offer, and surfing tops the list for both locals and tourists alike. Skip the treacherous drive to Tofino’s tourist-packed beaches and check out Jordan River, a local favourite for hitting the waves. About a half hour from Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina, Jordan River is suitable to surf year-round, and is situated right on the edge of the popular and picturesque Juan de Fuca Provincial Park. Island locals are secretive about this little surfside gem, but rent a board and hit the beach and you’ll find no shortage of savvy local surfers eager to share a few tips and tricks. Pack a lunch and make sure you bring a wetsuit! The water is chilly year-round and nothing ruins a wave-riding experience faster than blue lips and chattering teeth.

Warm up from your foray into the salty seas by heading inland to Adrena Line Zipline Adventures. Channel your inner child and brace yourself for more than monkey bars! Adrena Line offers treetop zipline tours across a hundred acres of coastal temperate rainforest. Experience the island with a bird’s eye view and take in the beauty of sprawling oceanfront and mountain views while soaring freely through the air soaking in the sights as they fly by. Adrena Line’s zipline tour covers over one hundred acres of temperate rainforest and contains a total of eight ziplines ranging in length and height, perfect for an afternoon of exhilaration. The tour takes approximately two hours and is the perfect way to spend a daredevil afternoon on the coast.

Prefer to stay closer to the ground? Hit the trails on two wheels and explore Sooke on mountain bike. Sooke is home to kilometers of cycling trails beloved by locals and fast-growing in popularity with tourists. The secret is out — our corner of the coast is a cyclist’s dream. Enjoy sprawling ocean views, local wildlife, and fresh island air at your own pace.

Need some alone time with your other half? Grab a bottle of wine and hit the trails with your honey or take a break from the adventures to sit down on a balcony overlooking the waterfront and watch the sun set as you sip some vino; it doesn’t get much more romantic.

After a long winter, nothing rejuvenates faster than fresh air and free time to explore the natural outdoor playground that sprawls across Vancouver Island. Surf the sea, soar the sky, or frolic the forest — or do all three! It’s your island getaway — spend it any way you want.

Book your stay in Sooke today!