Unwind at one of Sechelt's Secrets
By Chris McBeath
When a friend commented, "breakfast is better than mum used to make", I knew we had to check it out. What we discovered was that breakfast at the Four Winds Beach House & Spa was only the beginning to a wonderful getaway experience.
Located five minutes north of Sechelt on BC's Sunshine Coast , Four Winds sits on a rocky promontory surrounded by surf, Arbutus trees and shady Douglas firs. The setting is spectacular and every room has a view.
As soon as we entered, floor to ceiling windows drew us like a magnet towards vistas that stretched across the Georgia Straight. Standing at the glass, the only divide between us and surf below, seagulls flew within an arm's length, eagles swept by casually and sea lions bobbed in and out of the water. All this and we had barely arrived.
Then a wet, cold nose nuzzled at my hand. Pearl , a friendly black Labrador , wanted to join in the welcome .... Since guest areas are 'off limits' to Pearl, and the cat, our hosts David Fedor and Brenda Wilkinson quickly ushered them away so we could settle down in front of the fireplace for tea and David’s homemade scones, the first of several culinary delights he was to create during our stay.
Each of the three, comfortable guest rooms are sanctuaries unto themselves. Cozy window seats or balconies take full advantage of the ever-changing panorama, and views are so private, we slept without lowering the blinds while the sound of surf became a romantic lullaby.
The spa, also surrounded by views, is a haven to enjoy therapeutic massage, Craniosacral Therapy and Reflexology, with expansion plans set to add hydrotherapy and body wrap treatments this fall.
Brenda is an experienced and sought after massage therapist whose fingers certainly know how to work a muscular magic. After only one session, I had only the energy to slip into a terry-cloth robe en route to the hot tub. There, as I soaked away the last vestiges of stress, I watched a distant cruise ship sail into the sunset. What a storybook scene!
Exploring the area is almost as fun: touring artisan studios, mountain biking golfing, scuba diving, beach-combing and much more. This is popular hiking country and walks range from strolls along Sechelt's picturesque waterfront to Skookumchuk Narrows , a relatively easy hike any time of the year. And restaurants proliferate. Wakefield pub - a local favourite - claims to be among the oldest log-house watering holes in the province.
The Old Boot is good for Italian pasta and ribs. You may recognize one of its owners, distinguished both by his handlebar moustache and for his 'Best Man' appearance on the show "Who wants to marry a millionaire?". The Blue Heron, perched on the water's edge across from Porpoise Bay, is more upscale (i.e.: slacks and sweater vs. jeans and tank top) although our favourite was The Sun Fish Cafe, a Santa Fe styled bistro complete with open kitchen, varied menu and great background jazz.
But, of course, nothing can compare to David's home cooking that really did prove to be 'better than mum's'! But then he has rather an unfair advantage.
Just as we had finished one of his delicious creations a bald eagle swooped down from the sky just outside the dining room window. Within seconds the bird was kicking up spray and flapping his wings wildly as its talons sank into a salmon. For a moment, the effort of flight seemed overwhelming. The eagle wavered, his bounty so heavy that it threatened to pull them both back into the water. But gradually his powerful wings took hold and in seemingly slow motion, the eagle rose, flew across the water and away, triumphant. It was a mesmerizing scene ...... one that helps make the Four Winds an unforgettable experience and one that really is no match for mum!
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Unwind On the Sunshine Coast
Taken from an article in Canadian Country Inns.
There is one image that typifies the West Coast – a wood-and-glass modern structure, jutting off the side of a wind swept cliff, with the ocean’s surf breaking on the rocks below. Although British Columbia is far more diverse then that, this particular image will forever be “West Coast” And the image lives, picture perfect, at the Four Winds Beach House & Spa in Sechelt, on the beautiful Sunshine Coast.
Many of us remember the Sunshine Coast mainly as the setting of the CBC series “The Beachcombers”, with Bruno Gerussi. That one was set in Gibsons Landing, a salty dock just down the road from Sechelt, and more like a movie set for the tourists than a real place. The potters and fabric artists still congregate there, and the offbeat mixture of alternative craftspeople and old-time loggers still haunt the local bar.
But if Gibsons Landing is the traditional BC, Sechelt is the New BC, and Sechelt is full of surprises, filled with yuppie cantinas and blessed with spectacular vistas. Sechelt has all the makings of the next Vancouver weekend hideaway.
The true beauty of Four Winds Beach House & Spa, however, is that it is in Sechelt but not of it. This way, you get to enjoy all the glorious splendor and natural wonder of this sunshine coast, meditate by the sea from your very own window seat, be coddled and pampered, and dip into trendy Sechelt only as desired.
Four Winds Beach House & Spa has the West Coast vernacular down pat, with angles jutting out over sea and rock. And the owner-innkeepers – David Fedor and Brenda Wilkinson, who like many of there Sunshine Coast neighbors are refugees from the stresses of Vancouver urban life – have taken full advantage of this west coast paradigm of laid-back pleasures in the midst of natural wonders. Every room has its own window seat looking out over the ocean just 10 feet away; while the waves lap lazily on the rocks below on a hot summer day. Or, the glories of a winter storm at sea can be enjoyed under the cozy warmth of the heavy quilt and sheep’s wool cover provided in winter. Lounge in the guests only spectacular living room surrounded by ocean on three sides, which is a favorite way to unwind and watch the resident seals while sipping a gourmet blended organic tea. And don’t forget the ubiquitous BC hot tub located outdoors with a glorious ocean view.
But the icing on the cake is that Brenda is a registered massage therapist and certified LaStone (hot stone) therapist. Just imagine her trained and soothing hands working all those tired and stress-holding muscles, after you’ve had a soak in the hot-tub-by-the-sea, and just before bed. It doesn’t get any better than this.
No visit to a B&B, no matter how glorious the setting and the accoutrements, is complete without a sumptuous breakfast. And I’m happy to report that David and Brenda meet the highest standards. Breakfast is served to your room, overlooking the days ocean visitors or in the dining room if you wish to visit with your friends. Home baked muffins like Phantom Rhubarb are served every day, fresh fruits and jams from the Okanagan (BC’s fruit basket), and a very different entrée every morning like Four Winds Cheese Soufflé(light, fluffy ,delicate, delicious). This is truly a difficult table to leave.
David and Brenda welcome guests all year, and winters by the sea are in many ways even more spectacular than summers. They also run specialty weekends including women’s weekends featuring body treatments, and aesthetics; getaways for new moms and their tots; couples’ massage weekends (Brenda taught massage therapy at West Coast College of Massage Therapy for years), combining a restful and romantic weekend with training in massage for your loved one.
With an array of beauty, relaxation, and massage training, Four Winds Beach House & Spa offers a glorious getaway for every taste. Enjoy!
Web site www.fourwindsbeachhouse.com
David Fedor and Brenda Wilkinson, RMT Innkeepers.
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From the city of Vancouver BC :
North on Highway # 1 to Upper Levels, to catch the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale. The crossing is approximately 40 minutes.
Follow signs to Gibsons, and then on Hwy. 101 to Sechelt. Hill Road is 5 km west of Sechelt along the Coast Sunshine Hwy. Passing The Wakefields Inn on your left, look for Hill Road on your left shortly thereafter.
Langdale to Hill Road = 36 km.
For our State-side neighbours:
Either through Sumas, taking Highway #1 north to Vancouver , or through Blaine , north on Highway 99. Pass through Vancouver to Upper Levels Highway and follow instructions above.
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