Point-No-Point Resort was originally established in 1952 by Evelyn Packham, RN, affectionately know as Miss P. She retired from nursing and bought the recently clear-cut crown land, determined to nurture it back to its natural state and establish a haven for travellers on the remote West Coast Road.

While working on the construction of the Tea House, she lived alone in the radio tower (a remnant of Canada's west coast defense against Pacific WW2 invasion). The octagonal concrete foundations of the 12' diameter tower are still intact next to the trail to the point.

The unusual name "Point-No-Point" comes from the original survey of this stretch of coast. It refers to a secondary point of land that is apparent, but doesn't extend farther than the two primary points on either side of it, commonly referred to as a "point-no-point".

The Soderberg family began working with the resort in 1973 when it had only 7 cabins, all of which are still in use (albeit renovated to the point that Miss P may not recognize them)! Sharon and Stuart Soderberg continue to maintain and expand the resort - an envious task to those of us who are city-bound and anticipate our return visit!

Pods of Orca or Killer Whales are often seen just off the point year round. You'll also see Gray Whales in the bay in mid-summer. Some individual Gray Whales remain in the waters between Washington and Vancouver Island year round. Humpback whales also cruise through the Juan de Fuca Strait twice each year on their regular migration routes. Watch for them in July and August.

Smaller than the Orca, but with similar black & white markings are the Dall's Porpoise with their white tipped dorsal fins. You'll see these porpoise, Pacific white-sided dolphins and Bottlenose dolphins traveling in pods throughout these waters all year long.

So make good use of the binoculars in the Tea Room and keep a sharp lookout for them breaking the surface and for their telltale spray!

If you're down at the Beach House, you'll frequently see our family of Otters playing or doing the back float while eating shellfish or spiny urchins.

Harbour seals also scour the rocks just off shore looking for rock cod. You can usually tell they have one by the flock of seagulls hovering close by waiting for scraps. The larger California Sea Lion also cruises through these waters. If they are close enough one way to distinguish them is to look for external ears (sea lions have small ear flaps, but seals don't). Also check the way they submerge. In general, seals sink (tail first) and sea lions dive.

In the shallows along the shore, you may spot a Great Blue Heron patiently waiting for an unwary fish.

There are 2 low tides each day, which are a great opportunity to go tidepool exploring. You'll find Green Surf Anemones, Spiny Urchins; limpets; Gooseneck Barnacles; mussels; crabs; sculpins; dozens of snail species; chitons; even the occasional flounder that doddled as the tide went out.

Back at your cabin, you're likely to see Stellar Jays; hummingbirds; Pileated Woodpeckers; Ruffled Grouse; and overhead, Bald Eagles; ducks; and Canada Geese. Those masked bandit, racoons will show up at meal times (don't invite them in!) and when it's wet out, salamanders and giant Banana Slugs — sticky, terrestrial mollusk of the Pacific Northwest.

You're definitely in the wild Canadian outdoors!

Feel like pampering yourself during your stay at Point No Point Resort? You can book an in-cabin spa treatment with one of Le Sooke Spa's team of professional spa practitioners. Call 250.642.7995 or toll-free: 1.866.733.5293 to book an appointment.

In order to receive your preferred time and day for treatments, Le Sooke Spa highly recommends booking your spa treatment prior to check in at the resort.

For more details, please visit their website: www.lesookespa.ca

Southern Vancouver Island - Victoria to Sooke to Port Renfrew - has some of the best attraction and recreation choices on the west coast of British Columbia! Come discover why.

Just 17 kilometers from downtown Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park lies amid the splendour of an old-growth temperate rain forest. West Coast wilderness awaits you at East Sooke Regional Park. Experience it as you hike along the windswept rocky coast, over dry hilltops, through dark rain forest to sheltered coves. French Beach is a 59 hectare park along the spectacular Strait of Juan de Fuca which offers beautiful trails, whale watching, secluded campsites and waterfront picnic areas.

If swimming is your thing, then be sure to visit Sooke Potholes, a swimmers paradise. Just a 30 minute car ride beyond the urban core, the Sooke potholes are one of the more popular swimming spots in the capital region.

Avid bird lovers will discover a feast for the eyes at Esquimalt Lagoon, a saltwater lagoon and migratory bird sanctuary located at the base of the Royal Roads property, next to the Fort Rodd Hill / Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites and offering an excellent view across Esquimalt Harbour. At Fort Rodd Hill, visitors can explore gun batteries and underground magazines built a century ago, as well as searchlight emplacements, command posts...and much more. Families often bring a picnic lunch and stay for a half a day. While the kids investigate our tide pools, parents can enjoy the spectacular sea and mountain views. The first lighthouse on Canada's west coast, Fisgard Lighthouse is still in operation, and is a National Historic Site.

If you're into hiking, you'll love the Juan De Fuca Marine Trail, a 47 kilometer hiking trail stretching along the western shoreline of southern Vancouver Island, Canada, from China Beach, just west of the community of Jordan River and extending to Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew. Another good hiking trail is The West Coast Trail, the third unit of the Pacific Rim National Park, which includes the section of coast southeast of Barkley Sound between the villages of Bamfield and Port Renfrew.

Another great trail for nature lovers is The Galloping Goose Trail, where you can travel for nearly 60 kilometers. You can cycle, walk, or ride a horse along this former rail line past some of B.C.’s finest scenery.

Adjacent to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, in the Bilston Creek Watershed, lies Witty's Lagoon Regional Park, a harmonious blend of protected natural environments.

On the grounds of Hatley Park and Royal Roads University in Victoria, you'll find Hatley Castle and Hatley Gardens, and both are worth a visit! The Castle was completed in 1908. From 1941 until 1943 when Grant Block was completed, the Castle served as dormitory and mess hall for cadets and staff officers at Royal Roads Military College.

Here in the western communities of Victoria you can enjoy the natural beauty and natural history that Victoria and southern Vancouver Island are renowned for. We hope you will discover the diversity and beauty that is Vancouver Island. For more to see and do in this beautiful area, please visit RecreationVictoria.com