Vancouver, Whistler & Vancouver Island - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 824

( 250-725-3443, 855-725-3443; www.tofinohostel.com ; 81 West St; dm/r from $37/93; )
Close to the town center but with a secluded waterfront location (you'll spend plenty of
time on the shoreline deck), this excellent HI hostel is a comfy wood-lined retreat. The
dorms are mercifully small and some double-bed private rooms are also available. Facil-
ities include a granite-countered kitchen, a BBQ patio, a games room and a wet sauna.
Reservations essential in summer. Free parking.

Ocean Village Beach Resort CABIN$$$ $$$

( 866-725-3755, 250-725-3755; www.oceanvillageresort.com ; 555 Hellesen Dr; ste from $229;
) Recently renovated and with a Scandinavian look, this immaculate beachside
resort of 53 beehive-shaped cedar cabins (hence the woodsy aroma when you step in the
door) is a family favorite. Each unit faces a shoreline that's just a few steps away and all
have handy kitchens. If your kids tire of the beach, there are surf lessons and a saltwater
pool to keep them occupied. No in-room TVs.

Wickaninnish Inn HOTEL$$$

$$$
( 800-333-4604, 250-725-3100; www.wickinn.com ; Chesterman Beach; d from $399; )
Cornering the market in luxury winter storm-watching packages, 'the Wick' is worth a
stay any time of year. Embodying nature with its recycled wood furnishings, natural
stone tiles and the ambience of a place grown rather than constructed, the sumptuous
guest rooms have push-button gas fireplaces, two-person hot tubs and floor-to-ceiling
windows. The region's most romantic accommodations.

Shelter WEST COAST$$$
( www.shelterrestaurant.com ; 601 Campbell St; mains $12-30; 11am-midnight) This woodsy,
low-ceilinged haunt has kept expanding over the years but has never lost its welcoming
local-hangout feel. The perfect spot to grab a chatty lunch (salmon surf bowls and a patio
seat recommended), Shelter becomes an intimate dinner venue every evening, when the
menu ratchets up to showcase finger-licking BC-sourced treats from seafood to gourmet
burgers.

Sobo WEST COAST$$$
( www.sobo.ca ; 311 Neill St; mains $15-30; 11am-9pm) A local favorite that started out as a
(still-remembered) purple food truck and is now a popular sit-down eatery. The focus at
Sobo - meaning Sophisticated Bohemian - is seasonal West Coast ingredients prepared
with international influences. It's a brilliant place to dive into fresh-catch seafood for din-
ner, but there's also a hearty lunch menu if you need an early fill-up (gourmet pizzas re-
commended).