weekender View from the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet.
PHOTO BY BARBARA SHCRAMM
flavours of the West Coast Pluviophiles in Ucluelet WORDS SUSAN LUNDY
eat.
see.
do.
sleep.
Pluvio restaurant is a must-do experience for dining in Ucluelet. There is nothing else like it. Another excellent spot to dine is located right next door: Heartwood Kitchen features West Coast flavours served up from an expansive, vegetarian-friendly menu with lots of gluten-free options. For breakfast, try The Blue Room across the street; for waterfront happy hour, drive out to Float Lounge at Black Rock Resort. Be sure to drop by Zoe’s Bakery; it’s another local hot spot.
The Ucluelet Aquarium is a great place to experience local sea life showcased in exhibits designed to inspire respect for ocean habitats. Some of the displays are interactive and the entire experience is both educational and entertaining. The aquarium has a unique catchand-release program, releasing most of the exhibited sea life each year. Another must-see is the Amphitrite Lighthouse — the only active lighthouse in the area that’s accessible by car. It can be reached via the Lighthouse Loop section of the Wild Pacific Trail or via a short walk from the end of Coast Guard Road.
Walk the Wild Pacific Trail — there are lots of trail options and the sights are truly spectacular. Rent e-bikes and take a tour with Mario Chartrand at Pacific Rim Eco Tours (ukeetours.com); Mario is super knowledgeable and e-bikes are the best! Visit the brand new Ucluelet Brewing Company, located in a beautiful former church building right downtown. In the fall, visit the Thornton Creek Hatchery. If you’re lucky, you’ll get an upclose look at foraging bears.
Pluvio’s brand new rooms are located right downtown behind the restaurant and beside a kitchen garden. The four king rooms are sleek and spacious (at 400 square feet) and super comfortable. A lot of thought has gone into details small and large, making these rooms topnotch. Breakfast is delivered early each morning, left outside the door in a chilled cooler. It can be enjoyed inside the room in one of two cosy armchairs, or out on the deck beside the garden. Reserve ahead of time and ask for the pet-friendly room if you’re travelling with a pooch.
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boulevardmagazines.com |
SPRING 2020
