The Herald
Rugged Luxury - Resort on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast makes
living in a tent very special
By Christina Harper
March
18, 2007
An ideal getaway is off the beaten track
but not too far away, cozy and with beautiful scenery.
The oasis is Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, a few miles from
the town of Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.
The resort features luxurious tenthouse suites nestled high on
the rocks overlooking Secret Cove.
To get there, take a drive through or around Vancouver to Horseshoe
Bay Terminal, a 40-minute ferry ride to the Sunshine Coast and
then a 45-minute drive.
Don't mind the weather. The rain tapping on the roof of the
tenthouses is a beautiful sound, as is the faint splash of the
sea lapping the shores below.
A treetop boardwalk separates the private tenthouse suite from
the check-in area and first class dining room. At night the boardwalk
is beautifully lit and the wood has a no-slip surface.
Don't worry if you don't feel like venturing out again once
you get inside the cream-colored tenthouses. There is room service
to the suites to allow for privacy and relaxation.
The well-appointed tenthouses are equipped with heated tiled
floors, sumptuous bedding and propane fires. Toilets and closets
are hidden behind paper and wood Shoji screens.
Soak stress away while relaxing in the deluxe Thermo masseur
tub as colors change from red to green to yellow during color
therapy. Be sure to roll up the canvas blind on the full-length
windows to enjoy the view through the tree branches to the water
and islands.
Then wrap up in one of the resort's fluffy bathrobes and step
outside onto the private deck with a cup of coffee. You might
see some boats on the water. Or just listen to the birds in the
trees.
A perfect romantic interlude in a tenthouse is just one way
to experience Rockwater's great service.
The resort's recently renovated poolside rooms and seaside cabins,
on the opposite side of the cove from the tenthouses, appeal
to kayakers, hikers and bikers. An outdoor pool is open in warmer
weather and visitors can play volleyball on a sandy beach.
Spa treatments, such as the "bliss massage" and facials,
are available year round, but during the warmer months, the Spa
Without Walls offers an outdoor spa experience in a secluded
setting at the edge of Secret Cove.
It's a good idea to make dinner reservations when you arrive
so you can sample Chef Steven Ewing's fare. Follow up the superb
salt spring lamb with fresh fruit dipped in dual pots of warm
chocolate, one white and one dark - oh, my.
Return to relax in the tenthouse knowing that this experience
is not just like an upscale hotel. The suite is like your own
private apartment with windows and doors that are somewhat hidden
from view but open to the elements.
Relax on the private deck listening to your favorite music,
sipping a favorite nightcap.
Tenthouse suites look good, feel good and are hard to leave.
The memories of a getaway at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort will
linger far beyond your stay.
Christina Harper is a Snohomish County freelance writer. She
can be reached at harper@heraldnet.com.
If you go ...
What: Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, 5356 Ole's Cove Road, Halfmoon
Bay, B.C., Canada
Accommodations: Tenthouse suites are 325 square feet. Some are
wheelchair accessible. Rates are $170 Sunday through Thursday,
$228 Friday and Saturday; includes continental breakfast for
two.
Bring your dog: Rockwater is pet friendly and charges $22 per
pet per stay.
Information: 877-296-4593; www.rockwatersecretcoveresort.com. |
