Destinations abound for every stage of romance
Wine tours, French cuisine and Pacific views await
Few sensations get your pulse racing — or open your heart to new places or experiences — like amore. And in British Columbia, there are destinations for every stage of romance, from slow-burning flutters to heart-pounding adventures.
Here are five destinations sure to impress a loved one, and maybe even rekindle that spark.
HIDE AWAY AT VILLA EYRIE RESORT
Set on the summit of Malahat Mountain, Villa Eyrie Resort makes the most of its 573-metre (1,880foot) Vancouver Island perch. Here, couple-centric activity abounds with 95 acres of mountain and forest exploration, West Coast-meetsEuropean alpine dining at the Summit Restaurant, pampering at the Tuscan Spa and leisurely laps in the indoor saltwater pool. Should you prefer a more relaxed pace, take a seat — wine in hand — and bask in the 180-degree views of Vancouver Island and the Pacific Ocean.
To Impress: Keep it cosy in a suite for two or up your game with a stay in Villa Eyrie’s ultra-luxe Penthouse Suite.
RECONNECT IN FAR-FLUNG HAIDA GWAII
For some, reconnecting with a loved one means disconnecting from life’s distractions. You can do just that in Haida Gwaii, an archipelago of 150 rocky islands off B.C.’s wild west coast that’s home to raw wilderness and ancient Indigenous culture. Here, enjoy the quiet calm at the Copper Beech House, a heritage home overlooking the harbour in Masset.
With winter’s quieter months, you can comb windswept beaches, hand in hand, and explore vast, old-growth forest. Back at the house, cosy up over in-season menus before calling it a night in one of five antique-filled rooms, each featuring local Haida art.
To Impress: Take shelter from the storm with tea and scones, and when the skies clear, head to the beach to watch whales feeding at sea.
SEARCH FOR CUPID IN KELOWNA
For some, the bustle of a city offers an ideal opportunity to celebrate coupledom. And in vineyard-fringed Kelowna, you can do just that. Sign up for a sommelierguided wine tour? Check. Keep an eye out for Cupid during a hike in Angel Springs? Check. Linger over refined French cuisine along the city’s waterfront? You bet.
You’ll get your fill of urban delights and adventurous play at this Okanagan Valley locale. For a delicious denouement, nibble local delights during a culinary workshop or unwind with vinotherapy (grape leaf wraps) sessions at a local spa. To Impress: Make a reservation at the Hotel Eldorado, on the shore of Okanagan Lake. Built in 1926, this grand dame meshes luxury with spectacular vistas.
ADD A SPRING TO YOUR STEP(S) NEAR 100 MILE HOUSE
Log cabins and acres of snowy, forested trails beckon at Spring Lake Guest Ranch, near 100 Mile House. Take advantage of your pretty surroundings with ice skating on the pond or slip into snowshoes or skinny skis to explore the forested trails that wind through the area’s 3,345 hectares.
Ice fishing ? It’s an outdoorsy way to bond (what you catch as you huddle together over a fishing hole is incidental). And when you start to feel winter’s nip, head back to your cabin, where you can marvel at the winter landscape from your toasty home away from home.
To Impress: Explore your inner child together with a shriek-worthy ride down a toboggan track.
FIND YOUR PEACE IN RADIUM HOT SPRINGS
As you drive into Radium Hot Springs in Kootenay National Park, you’re welcomed by a sign that reads “The mountains shall bring peace to the people.” Good news if you’re eager to leave everyday stresses in the rear-view mirror.
Here, you can ease into clear, odourless mineral pools—and into a new state of mind. It’s a rejuvenating soak that promises a renewed sense of calm and quiet contemplation, together. Your only distraction? Wildlife that comb the tree- and mountain-backdrop, including resident bighorn sheep. To Impress: Overnight in a luxury suite and take your time, together, in the warmth of these rejuvenating waters.