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| WAVE Journey |
| Women's Adventures, Vacations, Experiences ~ Your Journey Starts Here! |
Heaven on Vancouver Island has a Name: Eagle Nook Resort & Spa ~
Article by Douglas Booth
Article by Douglas Booth
| Pg 1 of 2 / Next Page |
A Woman's Directory For Travel and Life.
WAVE Journey is your one-stop online resource for women-oriented businesses and
services around the world.
WAVE Journey is for every woman to enjoy. If you love to travel, cook, read or revel in outdoor activities this
website is for you. If you are looking to connect with other like-minded women or if you are interested in
finding businesses or services that cater to women, WAVE Journey is your number one online resource.
WAVE Journey is your one-stop online resource for women-oriented businesses and
services around the world.
WAVE Journey is for every woman to enjoy. If you love to travel, cook, read or revel in outdoor activities this
website is for you. If you are looking to connect with other like-minded women or if you are interested in
finding businesses or services that cater to women, WAVE Journey is your number one online resource.
When I heard we were planning a trip to Eagle Nook Resort and Spa I said "where?" and
immediately Google searched to get some details. When I found it was a 60 minute boat ride
(you can go by private float plane, charter float plane, private boat, etc.) from Ucluelet into
Barkley Sound, through the Broken Islands Group, I was in. I've been to Tofino and Ucluelet
several times (When I was 12 dad took us into Long Beach to camp and drive on the beach. The
road in was still a restricted access logging road) and love the area but I had never been
offshore or into the Broken Islands Group. I know the road in past Kennedy Lake can be
narrow and winding but as I near the Tofino/Ucluelet road I go into vacation mode and all the
"stuff" of the past few days begins to fade away. Tack on a boat ride through some of the most
beautiful scenery in the world and things are looking good. Arrive at the wharf and be greeted
by Patrick Braspenning, General Manager, and his wife, Anouk, and several of the staff and the
feeling moves from good to great.
immediately Google searched to get some details. When I found it was a 60 minute boat ride
(you can go by private float plane, charter float plane, private boat, etc.) from Ucluelet into
Barkley Sound, through the Broken Islands Group, I was in. I've been to Tofino and Ucluelet
several times (When I was 12 dad took us into Long Beach to camp and drive on the beach. The
road in was still a restricted access logging road) and love the area but I had never been
offshore or into the Broken Islands Group. I know the road in past Kennedy Lake can be
narrow and winding but as I near the Tofino/Ucluelet road I go into vacation mode and all the
"stuff" of the past few days begins to fade away. Tack on a boat ride through some of the most
beautiful scenery in the world and things are looking good. Arrive at the wharf and be greeted
by Patrick Braspenning, General Manager, and his wife, Anouk, and several of the staff and the
feeling moves from good to great.
You're never sure when you try a new place be it a city, hotel, restaurant or destination, quite
what to expect and, as we stood on the wharf in Ucluelet waiting for the Eagle Nook Express, I
wondered what the next couple of days would be like. A delivery van pulled up and the driver
started to unload crates of fresh fruits and vegetables. I mentioned that someone was going to
eat well this weekend and he told us all the goods were headed to Eagle Nook and that the
chef only chose the best. Well, that's pretty encouraging. When we told him we were headed
there and had never been before, he told us we were in for a wonderful experience – the
lodge, the people, the location were exceptional. Speaking of location, the lodge sits on an
isthmus connecting two islands with the front of the lodge and the marina facing on Jane Bay
and the back of the lodge, dining room and deck not 100 yards facing Vernon Bay.
what to expect and, as we stood on the wharf in Ucluelet waiting for the Eagle Nook Express, I
wondered what the next couple of days would be like. A delivery van pulled up and the driver
started to unload crates of fresh fruits and vegetables. I mentioned that someone was going to
eat well this weekend and he told us all the goods were headed to Eagle Nook and that the
chef only chose the best. Well, that's pretty encouraging. When we told him we were headed
there and had never been before, he told us we were in for a wonderful experience – the
lodge, the people, the location were exceptional. Speaking of location, the lodge sits on an
isthmus connecting two islands with the front of the lodge and the marina facing on Jane Bay
and the back of the lodge, dining room and deck not 100 yards facing Vernon Bay.
Eagle Nook Resort and Spa was purchased and repositioned in 2000 with the idea that it could
become a world renowned wilderness getaway offering fishing, hiking, whale watching/marine
safaris, kayaking, hiking, spa treatments and beach combing. We had read the reviews (great
amenities, superb hospitality, superb dining) and were anxious to experience it all for
ourselves.
Kayaking
We decided to try kayaking first. Not having been in a kayak since I was 14 (and in much better
condition and with much better balance) I saw the look of concern and trepidation on Patrick's
face as I tried to squeeze my frame (read: posterior) into what I thought was a much too small
of an opening. I'm sure he was wondering how quickly he could get the rescue boat to me
once I capsized in Jane Bay – the exact same thought going through my mind. After several
minutes of refusing to let go of the wharf and wondering at my age why I felt I should do this, I
began to feel more comfortable and, finding some balance, we paddled out into Jane Bay.
Hard to describe this small protected bay with hills and old growth forests rising from the
water's edge– pristine, serene, smooth as glass – they all fit. The only sounds to be heard was
the sound of the paddle breaking the surface of the water or a fish jumping or a bald eagle
lifting fish from the bay. Earlier, a black bear had been seen down at the end of the bay near
the oyster bed. A 15 minute paddle brought us to the oyster bed but, unfortunately, no more
bear sightings.
become a world renowned wilderness getaway offering fishing, hiking, whale watching/marine
safaris, kayaking, hiking, spa treatments and beach combing. We had read the reviews (great
amenities, superb hospitality, superb dining) and were anxious to experience it all for
ourselves.
Kayaking
We decided to try kayaking first. Not having been in a kayak since I was 14 (and in much better
condition and with much better balance) I saw the look of concern and trepidation on Patrick's
face as I tried to squeeze my frame (read: posterior) into what I thought was a much too small
of an opening. I'm sure he was wondering how quickly he could get the rescue boat to me
once I capsized in Jane Bay – the exact same thought going through my mind. After several
minutes of refusing to let go of the wharf and wondering at my age why I felt I should do this, I
began to feel more comfortable and, finding some balance, we paddled out into Jane Bay.
Hard to describe this small protected bay with hills and old growth forests rising from the
water's edge– pristine, serene, smooth as glass – they all fit. The only sounds to be heard was
the sound of the paddle breaking the surface of the water or a fish jumping or a bald eagle
lifting fish from the bay. Earlier, a black bear had been seen down at the end of the bay near
the oyster bed. A 15 minute paddle brought us to the oyster bed but, unfortunately, no more
bear sightings.