Destination-Worthy Self-Care
Like chicken soup for the soul, self-care offers the opportunity to relax and recharge. It’s the soothing remedy for a fast-paced life where meetings can pile up and deadlines loom.
But the practice of self-care isn’t one-size-fits-all. From ocean-side soaking tubs and rejuvenating facials to farm-to-table cuisine, we all need something a bit different. As the summer season tapers into cool crisp days, take a moment to let yourself relax and replenish. Discover some of the best destination-worthy self-care getaways in the San Juans, Victoria, and beyond!
9 Ways to Rest & Rejuvenate
Inside a Cave: Healing Caves at Kingfisher Pacific Resort and Spa
Kingfisher Pacific Resort & Spa is an oceanside sanctuary located on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island. Honored with the British Columbia’s Hotel of the Year and Top 25 Spas in Canada awards, the resort offers year-round intimate escapes, wellness getaways and coastal retreats.
The independent 65-room resort recently unveiled a sophisticated makeover of all their beachfront suites, including three uniquely designed penthouses. Over the years, the Kingfisher has steadily transformed into a boutique hotel and a sought-after spa destination.
At the heart of the Kingfisher is the Pacific Mist Spa, providing a wide range of spa treatments that truly rejuvenate the body and soul. The spa’s signature offering is the Hydropath, an exclusive hydrotherapy and balneotherapy circuit, which harnesses the benefits of mineral enriched water combined with hot and cold pools and showers.
The pièce de resistance for Kingfisher Pacific Resort and Spa is their new wellness circuit, the Healing Caves. This immersive experience combines cutting-edge technology with six sought-after and clinically proven wellness therapies, unlike anything visitors have experienced before!
Spanning six successive and distinct environments, each cave is engineered to maximize health benefits, with temperatures ranging from -10 to +75 degrees Celsius. The 335 sq. ft. of high-definition screens elevate the experience through augmented reality, enveloping guests into a sensory-rich journey for body and mind. This innovative circuit offers a spectrum of health benefits, from detoxification and immune boosting to enhanced relaxation, improved skin, better sleep, and beyond—all in one extraordinary location.
To tempt the palate, the Kingfisher offers two on-site dining options; the Ocean7 Restaurant and AQUA Bistro & Wine Bar. The resort’s gastronomic offerings pay homage to the Ocean and its West Coast influences through the international flair of the culinary team who work with local producers and the top-rated mixologists who create both classic and creative cocktails.
Clothing Optional: Doe Bay Resort & Spa
The rustic charm of Doe Bay has earned it a reputation for catering to hippie types. The lodging is undeniably bare bones, ranging from campsites and yurts to cabins with running water and without. But don’t let the humble accommodations fool you. The Doe Bay Spa is downright mesmerizing. Set beside a freshwater creek, it offers views of Otter’s Cove from the outdoor soaking tubs and creek side deck. A luxurious cedar sauna is also available to spa guests — who can savor their wellness excursion in as few clothes as they choose. (Spa admission is largely reserved for overnight guests.)
Floating in the Harbour: HAVN
It’s hard to miss the floating sanctuary permanently docked in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. The 148-foot-long marine barge acts like a beacon to those craving the benefits of contrast therapy — an age-old wellness practice that involves immersing yourself in varying temperatures. Built in 1943, the repurposed vessel now features two stories of saunas, cold plunge tubs, hot tubs, and relaxation rooms. Thoughtful design touches include cedar driftwood salvaged from the Northeast coast of Vancouver Island and strategically planted native foliage that offers some semblance of privacy. Leave your cellphone in the all-gender changing room at HAVN. This is a device-free affair. And don’t overlook the complimentary tea on the top deck — a custom blend of spearmint, lemongrass, lemon balm, oat straw, and lavender — it’s a delightful warm touch.
By the Ocean: Oak Bay Beach Hotel’s Boathouse Spa
Nestled beside the ocean and less than 15 minutes from the Victoria Harbour Airport, you’ll find the BC capital’s only oceanfront spa. The eye-catching mineral pools are so close to the water the spray of waves has been known to splash over the glass divide. An array of holistic treatments and restorative therapies are available including Boathouse Spa’s signature Inhale Exhale Body Experience. This whole-body treatment offers balance, renewal, restoration and relaxation for the mind, body and soul. It involves application of full body brushing and moisturizing, a soothing head and scalp massage, and a nourishing back massage.
Dine with Excitement: MATIA
New York Times food columnist J. Kenji López-Alt called dinner at MATIA, “the best, most exciting restaurant I’ve been to in at least a decade of longer. I can’t remember being so blown away by the food and wine program… Local food and casual dining at its finest.” The hyper seasonal menu is created daily based on what local farmers and fishermen have harvested. So while you can’t pre-plan your ordering strategy, you can be ensured that the food will be hyper-fresh, locally sourced, and teeter between familiar and thought-provoking.
At the End of the Road: Ancient Cedars Spa
The last stop on Canada’s transcontinental highway — a storm-battered coastline that’s historically offered refuge to cold water surfers and avid hikers — isn’t where you’d expect to find one of the island’s top wellness retreats. Luckily for those who want their remote getaway without a slice of pampering, the Wickanninish Inn’s Ancient Cedars Spa delivers. Here, wellness-seekers can luxuriate in detoxifying algae wraps, mud treatments, sea salt polishes, and gentle yoga sessions.
Boater’s Paradise: Roche Harbor’s Afterglow Spa
While certainly a boater’s paradise, Roche Harbor Resort offers a bit of something for everyone — including those in need of some pampering. The resort’s newly resorted Afterglow Spa is an intimate sanctuary designed for individuals and small groups. Services range from facials and deep tissue massages to manicures and pedicures.
Farm-to-Table Brunch: Nourish Kitchen & Cafe
Voted Victoria’s 2023 Best Brunch in Yam Magazine, Nourish Kitchen & Cafe dishes up cozy food in a heritage James Bay home. The veggie-loaded menu focuses on farm-to-table fare with a vegetarian twist on eggs benedict that has meat-eaters salivating for the turmeric cashew hollandaise. Equally beloved are the oatmeal pancakes loaded with fruit compote, house whipped cream, and pumpkin seeds. Want to sample both? They offer a Half & Half — a health helping of both the Benny and the pancake!
PRO TIP: Lean Into ‘Island Time’
The Urban Dictionary defines island time as “the time vacuum created by the ocean’s presence.” In practical terms, island time is a practice of being less focused on the clock and more focused on being present in the moment. Vacations can be a tempting time to see it all. But the rush of squeezing in every activity can take away from the beauty of slowing down. Rather than hitting every landmark, pace yourself through activities so that you can be fully present — even if that includes a long nap post-massage.
