Travel With Fido

Posted March 29, 2021

It’s been more than a year since travel restrictions were announced, and with vaccinations rising steadily across BC it’s time for eager travellers to start planning a restorative getaway. Luckily, BC boasts plenty of adventures suited for the entire family, including your furriest friend. At True Key Hotels & Resorts, pets are welcome at most of our properties and idyllic surroundings promise a rejuvenating escape amid a soothing natural setting.

At SookePoint Ocean Cottage Resort, near the village of Sooke on Possession Point, Vancouver Island, canine companions are treated to a warm welcome. Pet-friendly rooms are available at a minimal cost of $25 per pet (up to five nights), and activities abound. The luxury resort is perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and surrounded by lush forest filled with enticing trails for your pup to explore. In East Sooke Regional Park, you’ll find a sprawling space where your crew (including Fido) can explore pocket beaches, rocky bays and tide pools, then take a family selfie against a spectacular backdrop of the glittering Strait of Juan de Fuca and the majestic Olympic Mountains. Seeking a pint after a long day of adventuring? Head to 17 Mile House, where dogs can hang out on the grass and patio.

Image Courtesy of mstybz on Instagram

Nearby, at Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina – just 35 minutes from downtown Victoria – the waterfront beckons with whale watching, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and fishing just steps away from your front door. Here, you’ll find a collection of boutique rental units perfect for a self-enclosed stay with seven pet-friendly suites priced at an additional $40 per pet (and $70 for two pets), complete with dog beds and treats. If you’re visiting in summer, you can spend the long sunny days exploring the array of regional and provincial parks – try Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, where you and your furball can splash in polished rock pools. Or, head to Botanical Beach, where crystal tide pools housing colourful sea creatures will keep your dog amused for hours. Also dog-friendly, is Whiffin Spit, a narrow peninsula jutting into the sea that boasts a relatively flat trail particularly popular among dog walkers.

Situated along the sheltered waters of Nootka Sound, Moutcha Bay Resort beckons with a nature-enclosed escape from the everyday. Whether staying in an oceanside chalet, cozy yurt or RV on the rainforest campground, visitors will find pet-friendly accommodations surrounded by plenty of enticing forest trails, well-maintained boardwalks and the walkable villages of Gold River and Tahsis. There are also wildlife and heritage tours, sea kayak excursions, kayaking and stand-up paddleboard rentals, fishing charters, atmospheric cave systems and much more. Note that furry friends must be kept either in a carrier or on a leash.

Finally, at Harrison Beach Hotel in Harrison Hot Springs – situated on the southern end of Harrison Lake in the Fraser Valley – you can introduce your pet to the life of luxury with three mountain view suites and three lake view suites that are designated pet-friendly, at an additional cost of $25 per night (maximum of two pets per room). Upon arrival, your four-legged friend will find food and water bowls, and a thrilled welcome from the pet-loving staff. Head immediately to the beachside promenade, where there’s plenty of room to frolic and play (just remember to keep your dog leashed). You can also head to a nearby park; Sasquatch Provincial Park is filled with charming pocket lakes and a second-growth birch forest, with options to canoe or boat and Bridal Veils Provincial Park is popular among hikers, picnickers and waterfall-chasers. Cap off the day’s adventures with a beer flight and campfire-inspired meal at Old Yale Brewing, which welcomes pups on the patio.