Pacific Coast Storm Watching
Storm Watching A Winter Sport in the West
Curl up beside a fireplace or journey out onto the windswept shores to partake in the glory and fury of storms along the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island.
It was a dark and stormy night. Thank goodness! We had come to Tofino, on the west coast of British Columbia's Vancouver Island, for precisely that purpose. We had journeyed to this remote coastal town to curl up by a cozy fire and watch as the wild surf and winds lashed the beach with gigantic waves. And, of course, to prowl the beach after the storm abated in search of a perfect shell or piece of driftwood that evoked a tale of having been washed ashore from a distant land.
The Pacific Sands Resort (www.pacificsands.com) is an ideal location for this kind of adventure. Lodges and condominium style buildings are built with storm watching in mind -- windows open to the beach and fireplaces and kitchenettes allow you to snuggle inside to your hearts content. The attention to detail at the Pacific Sands is so thoughtful you'll even find rainsuits in each unit to keep you protected from the wind and rain.
The units are so generous in size you'll find it easy to share the space with friends or family and never feel cramped. A few of the suites even have jacuzzi tubs ready to soak away the chill of your beach tramping.
You can partake of a "west coast facial" -- blasts of cool air mixed with ocean spray outside along the sands of the Pacific rim or come inside to the Sacred Stone Spa for a Pacific Sands Polish (warm oils and mineral salts) or deep massage.
Long Beach House (www.longbeachhouseresort.com) on the edge of Cox Bay, also in Tofino, is another great spot for storm watching. And, if you grow weary of watching the waves you can gaze at local artist Mark Hobson's paintings of marine life that add a special touch to this resort.
Either inside our out, storm watching is a special adventure in winter.
