View from the road
I needed a break so I came to Alert Bay – “The Home of the Killer Whale,” to visit family and get away from it all for awhile. While here I thought I would do a totally biased but totally true and real review of the place I’m staying, which is with my dad and step-mom who are the owners of Alert Bay Accommodations and Seasmoke Whale Watching. A daughter with a blog can do these sorts of things you see.
Anyway, I’m staying in the sweetest place. It’s called On The Beach. Click the links for fabulous photos! It used to be a Sears depot many many years ago before my dad bought it. And it has seen many many renovations over the years as it served as everything from their home to their office, and today it is a rental unit. It’s a lovely open-concept one bedroom suite with two beds and a full kitchen. What really makes it special though is that it was built, not really “on” the beach, but over the beach. It’s on pilings, along with the main house in front of it, which is rented out in the summer months only. It’s called Over The Ocean and guests have an ocean view from every room. It’s also very cool to watch the tide come up and go under the house. If you look through the secret door in the wood box you can literally see the waves crashing underneath. Despite these natural perks, my dad and step-mom have gone to great lengths to make this spot really special. My dad built the main house from scratch and does all of his own renos. Both places were built in that west coast style, where everything is accentuated with wood and the natural elements are taken into consideration in the design. “Found” treasures dot the tiny property whose front yard is the Broughton Strait, like buoys and floats, a little wooden boat and other mariner items.
My step-mom is the gardener and has created a private oasis of solitude for her guests who can sit on one of the high-back, slanting wooden chairs with a cup of tea and look out over the water, surrounded by flowers and sweet smelling herbs. Everything is securely fenced too so there is no worry of a toddler suddenly falling onto the rocky beach below. And you would never be able to guess that this property is a mere few feet from the main road, which in Alert Bay doesn’t mean too much anyway. There is a tall fence between the road and yard, lushly covered with foliage which cuts down on the noise level significantly; however, with a year round population of approximately 1500 people this quiet town isn’t screaming with traffic.
My dad and step-mom have the second longest running whale watching business in British Columbia, called Seasmoke Whale Watching. They take guests out on their 44 ft sailboat to “Sail with the whales.” Trips can last 5 or 8 hours. They also have a second motor vessel that does 4 hour trips up to twice a day. Their love for the environment and animals is evident in their philosophy and in the way they run their business, and were the whales in the area right now I would have gone out with them. The northern resident orcas that drive their business usually arrive in June and stay until October, but there are also Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea lions and many sea birds as well as bald eagles that can be observed and enjoyed from the ocean vessels. It is probably from working for them as a teenager and being so exposed to wildlife, forests and ocean that I have acquired my own love and respect for the environment.
Anyway, my favorite thing is just getting away from my life for a bit, having a bit of help with the girls, enjoying the sun, taking time to smell the flowers, visiting with family, and taking in the view I am so lucky to be able to enjoy here. And if you’re ever in the mood to watch whales on the beautiful west coast of British Columbia or to visit a unique coastal town rich with First Nations history and cultural significance (World’s tallest totem pole anyone?) I urge you to come and visit and stay awhile. It will do you some good. I know it’s doing me some good.
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