So we’ve been having quite the heatwave here on the West Coast. It’s unseasonably hot, dry and humid and temperatures have been getting up past 40 degrees celcius here on Vancouver Island! Now don’t get me wrong, I love warm, sunny days… but this feeling of “I feel like I’m roasting in a convection oven” weather is a bit unbearable! LOL! To keep cool, we’ve been spending evenings down by the water… And one of my favourite places has got to be Cattle Point here in Victoria…

It’s been over a year since we’ve been in this pandemic… and travel is essentially non-existent at the moment. So we’ve been exploring our beautiful island more and more. It’s been years since I last explored Sooke – even though it’s only an hour away from Victoria – but I’m so glad we recently spent a beautiful sunny, warm staycation weekend in East Sooke! East Sooke is a bit farther of a drive, but if you love rugged coastlines, moody rainforests, never-ending sandy beaches and small-town quaint local charm… You won’t regret the scenic drive! You’ll love exploring Sooke and want to keep coming back for more!

If you’re planning to be in Victoria for just a day, a must see is one of my favourite scenic strolls – Dallas Road! Just under 10km, this waterfront walkway is popular for walkers, runners and dog lovers!…

I’ve been thinking about how much Tofino means to me. It was the first place I travelled to after I landed in Vancouver to start my West Coast adventure over 12 years ago. Tofino leaves me speechless. Everytime I go there, I’m in absolute awe of the rugged landscape, the roaring Pacific Ocean, the endless beaches and the incredible hidden trails just waiting to explore…

I thought about starting this blog with all of the memorable places I’ve travelled to prior to the pandemic that left many of us locked down, in quarantine and spending more time living and working from home. But the more I thought about it, I wanted to start with my most favourite place right here on Vancouver Island… Lake Cowichan.

Since the world has changed drastically and we’re all spending more time at home, one thing I love is getting out every day for fresh air and take in the beauty of nature – be it a light jog in my neighbourhood, walking my dog or taking a solo stroll finding new pockets of my hood to explore.

Do you have a special place that you love going to, where you forget about any stress that life throws your way? That place for me is Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse. They grow their own organic apples on a beautiful apple orchard and produce award-winning cider. When you arrive, you are in absolute awe of the rows and rows of apple trees which sit atop of a hill overlooking the Haro Straight of water between Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.