All You Need to Know About the Hiking
at Sonora Resort Canada
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Hiking review highlights
... cuisine and very attentive staff! Lots to do including hiking- quite a few trails that are well marked. It's a good form...
... the basic package are relatively limited. There are a few hiking trails, but you will exhaust them in a leisurely 3 day...
... cleaned and filleted and packaged for you to take home) to hiking and more. I chose to venture out hiking on my own, and...
Most popular question about the hiking
... hours south of Chicago, IL near Starved Rock. Is this a place for honeymooners, or do u know of a place that is? To go hiking, site seeing, boat riding, swimming, and so forth?
Answer from Sonora Resort, Canada
Jul 2014 |
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Write a reviewSuch a relaxing spot to just chill and recharge. Excellent cuisine and very attentive staff! Lots to do including hiking- quite a few trails that are well marked. It's a good form of exercise after eating all the delicious food. Save room for dessert! Hands down my favorite part of the meal.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Response from Sophia C, Public Relations Manager at Sonora Resort Canada
Responded May 31, 2017
Thanks for taking the time to write us such a wonderful review. We too agree about dessert! We hope to see you very soon again.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
this resort has a gorgeous location on an inlet in the Discovery Islands, which lie between Vancouver Island and BC mainland. This alone could make it worth the significant splurge, but you should know what you are getting. The activities on site that are included in the basic package are relatively limited. There are a few hiking trails, but you will exhaust them in a leisurely 3 day visit and much earlier if you want to hike for more than 2 hours per day. The tennis court is free, as is the pool, and the game room and movie room, which is fun - it has a bunch of old movies available plus you can watch things like the World Cup. You can use the gym on your own as well. (It isn't large but it is attractive, lots of windows, decent weights, bikes, ellipticals and room for floor exercises.) But fishing, wildlife hikes or tours, use of canoes or kayaks at Florence Lake - all require extra payments and some are substantial. So you need to understand and budget for this upfront, if you want to do these activities.
It is a well maintained property with various buildings each housing a small cluster of rooms where guests stay. The buildings are made of a warm wood, with lots of light and a bit of a luxury ski lodge feel. There is a common room in each building with lovely art, soaring ceilings, sofas and grand views of the water, but it seems most guests do not use these venues much. (these common rooms don't have tables or chairs that make it easy to play cards or do puzzles - more conducive to reading.) On the practical level, you climb up or down stairs to get to your room once in the residential building, and from the buildings, it is a few minute up or downhill walk to the general use buildings (spa, tennis court, main building that houses restaurant/bar/lounge/game and movie rooms.) Cell phone reception seemed good throughout the resort.
The rooms themselves are attractive - some can be smaller without balconies, though, for the same price as the rooms with balconies, so you may want to watch and request the larger rooms. Lovely well appointed bathrooms, good towels, comfortable beds, and fireplaces. Good light blocking curtains for sleeping!
The food is pretty good for a high end facility but not "blow your mind" - the seafood is outstanding, and the pasta is also very good. One lamb dish was also extremely well done. Some of the salads included imaginative and delicious flavor combinations. However, other dishes were hit or miss - pizzas out of their wood fired stove, too thick and doughy in the crust, beef that was not tender even tho cooked medium rare. And some dishes had too many elements in them, so the flavors were muddled and the dish didn't "work." There are 3 different chef menus, apparently, that rotate, in addition to a moderately sized a la carte menu that does not change. The wines that come with the basic package are chosen by the resort - a white, a red, and a bubbly - all from BC. If you want something else, you need to pay.
The breakfast buffet had very good fruit selections (tho juices are out of the box), and good smoked salmon. (It also had boxed cereals, yogurt and a soft granola.) The breakfast pastries are fine - but not super tempting the way they are in the Vancouver top bakeries where, for example, in a pain au chocolat, the quality of the chocolate and the buttery flakiness of the pastry is exquisite. The breakfast also includes the typical hotel bunsen burner heated chafing dishes of eggs, sausage and bacon, plus french toast or pancakes - warmed as opposed to freshly made to order. You can order off the menu too, though, if you are willing to wait a bit, and the wait staff are generally very helpful. Coffee, expresso drinks, tea all available.
Getting there and back - the water taxi the resort arranges from Campbell River takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. This is a great "on the ground" way to see where you are headed, and if you are lucky, you might see wildlife in the water. The helicopter (not available every day) gives you the bird's eye view and is wonderful - so scenic! it takes 45 minutes to get to/from Vancouver South Terminal.
On balance, going to Sonora Resort offers a wonderful opportunity to see some incredible nature with a very high end experience in terms of where you rest your head each night.
It is a well maintained property with various buildings each housing a small cluster of rooms where guests stay. The buildings are made of a warm wood, with lots of light and a bit of a luxury ski lodge feel. There is a common room in each building with lovely art, soaring ceilings, sofas and grand views of the water, but it seems most guests do not use these venues much. (these common rooms don't have tables or chairs that make it easy to play cards or do puzzles - more conducive to reading.) On the practical level, you climb up or down stairs to get to your room once in the residential building, and from the buildings, it is a few minute up or downhill walk to the general use buildings (spa, tennis court, main building that houses restaurant/bar/lounge/game and movie rooms.) Cell phone reception seemed good throughout the resort.
The rooms themselves are attractive - some can be smaller without balconies, though, for the same price as the rooms with balconies, so you may want to watch and request the larger rooms. Lovely well appointed bathrooms, good towels, comfortable beds, and fireplaces. Good light blocking curtains for sleeping!
The food is pretty good for a high end facility but not "blow your mind" - the seafood is outstanding, and the pasta is also very good. One lamb dish was also extremely well done. Some of the salads included imaginative and delicious flavor combinations. However, other dishes were hit or miss - pizzas out of their wood fired stove, too thick and doughy in the crust, beef that was not tender even tho cooked medium rare. And some dishes had too many elements in them, so the flavors were muddled and the dish didn't "work." There are 3 different chef menus, apparently, that rotate, in addition to a moderately sized a la carte menu that does not change. The wines that come with the basic package are chosen by the resort - a white, a red, and a bubbly - all from BC. If you want something else, you need to pay.
The breakfast buffet had very good fruit selections (tho juices are out of the box), and good smoked salmon. (It also had boxed cereals, yogurt and a soft granola.) The breakfast pastries are fine - but not super tempting the way they are in the Vancouver top bakeries where, for example, in a pain au chocolat, the quality of the chocolate and the buttery flakiness of the pastry is exquisite. The breakfast also includes the typical hotel bunsen burner heated chafing dishes of eggs, sausage and bacon, plus french toast or pancakes - warmed as opposed to freshly made to order. You can order off the menu too, though, if you are willing to wait a bit, and the wait staff are generally very helpful. Coffee, expresso drinks, tea all available.
Getting there and back - the water taxi the resort arranges from Campbell River takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. This is a great "on the ground" way to see where you are headed, and if you are lucky, you might see wildlife in the water. The helicopter (not available every day) gives you the bird's eye view and is wonderful - so scenic! it takes 45 minutes to get to/from Vancouver South Terminal.
On balance, going to Sonora Resort offers a wonderful opportunity to see some incredible nature with a very high end experience in terms of where you rest your head each night.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Sophia C, Public Relations Manager at Sonora Resort Canada
Responded Aug 25, 2018
Thank you so much for taking the time to write us such a thorough review. We thank you for your feedback and will be sure to share with our team. We are happy you had a great time and hope to see you again soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Simply wow ... what an amazing place. Truly a slice of heaven on earth, right here in Canada. It goes without saying that the scenery and weather were absolutely edenic - this is BC after all - but what really sets this place apart is the amazing service and attention to detail.
From the moment we arrived on the dock after a boat ride in from Campbell River, everything was taken care of for us with a smile and warm, welcoming manner. Our suitcases were magically whisked away from airport shuttle to charter flight to boat to room without us lifting a finger. Each night upon returning to the room we would find soft music playing, the bed turned down with a gift awaiting us (water bottles, caps, etc.) and the room magically back in order (despite having already been serviced earlier in the day). At dinner service was solicitous without being obsequious - the wait staff was there to cater to every question and need (even returning with seconds of favourite dishes when asked) without making you feel demanding or a burden.
So that was the service ... as for the accommodations themselves, another 5-star rating. I was truly sad to return to my own bed upon arriving home ... I miss the heavenly pillows and luxurious threadcount from my Sonora bed (plus the fireplace at the foot of it!). The views from the room were second-to-none, and we were even provided with complimentary (for the duration of the stay) binoculars to better view the bald eagles, sea lions and other wildlife outside the windows. Each room (yes, each one) has a gorgeous view of the water and mountains - there is no bad room.
In terms of activities, there is a huge range on offer from eco-tours to fishing (your catch will be cleaned and filleted and packaged for you to take home) to hiking and more. I chose to venture out hiking on my own, and spent two very happy afternoons on two very different trails showcasing the best of BC wilderness. Staff is happy to furnish you with a bear bell if desired, and will even "loan out" one of 3 beautiful golden retrievers living at the resort for your walk/hike.
Last but not least ... the food. Oh, the food ... gourmet and spectacular from breakfast to dessert after dinner. The chef made amazing use of local flora and fauna (stinging nettles blanched three times to remove anything 'stinging' and made into a delicious sauce, sea asparagus atop beautifully cured salmon) to accompany each dish. Staff appear at your shoulder to explain the details of each plate, and I'm glad they did - I wouldn't have wanted to miss any details! Staff are ready to accommodate any allergy or dietary concern, and the bar service was spot-on.
I can truly say I am sad to be home ... I will certainly recommend this paradise to everyone I can.
From the moment we arrived on the dock after a boat ride in from Campbell River, everything was taken care of for us with a smile and warm, welcoming manner. Our suitcases were magically whisked away from airport shuttle to charter flight to boat to room without us lifting a finger. Each night upon returning to the room we would find soft music playing, the bed turned down with a gift awaiting us (water bottles, caps, etc.) and the room magically back in order (despite having already been serviced earlier in the day). At dinner service was solicitous without being obsequious - the wait staff was there to cater to every question and need (even returning with seconds of favourite dishes when asked) without making you feel demanding or a burden.
So that was the service ... as for the accommodations themselves, another 5-star rating. I was truly sad to return to my own bed upon arriving home ... I miss the heavenly pillows and luxurious threadcount from my Sonora bed (plus the fireplace at the foot of it!). The views from the room were second-to-none, and we were even provided with complimentary (for the duration of the stay) binoculars to better view the bald eagles, sea lions and other wildlife outside the windows. Each room (yes, each one) has a gorgeous view of the water and mountains - there is no bad room.
In terms of activities, there is a huge range on offer from eco-tours to fishing (your catch will be cleaned and filleted and packaged for you to take home) to hiking and more. I chose to venture out hiking on my own, and spent two very happy afternoons on two very different trails showcasing the best of BC wilderness. Staff is happy to furnish you with a bear bell if desired, and will even "loan out" one of 3 beautiful golden retrievers living at the resort for your walk/hike.
Last but not least ... the food. Oh, the food ... gourmet and spectacular from breakfast to dessert after dinner. The chef made amazing use of local flora and fauna (stinging nettles blanched three times to remove anything 'stinging' and made into a delicious sauce, sea asparagus atop beautifully cured salmon) to accompany each dish. Staff appear at your shoulder to explain the details of each plate, and I'm glad they did - I wouldn't have wanted to miss any details! Staff are ready to accommodate any allergy or dietary concern, and the bar service was spot-on.
I can truly say I am sad to be home ... I will certainly recommend this paradise to everyone I can.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Sophia C, Public Relations Manager at Sonora Resort Canada
Responded Jun 7, 2016
Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to write us such a lovely and detailed review. We really appreciate all your comments and will be sure to pass them on to our staff. We do hope you will decide to visit very us again soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What a wonderful place to spend our 45th anniversary! We were greeted by staff as we stepped off the boat and taken directly to a lounge where we were given a complimentary glass of wine and a couple of Hors d'Oeuvres to enjoy while we filled out the registration form. After a few words from the resort manager we were escorted to our room where our luggage had already been delivered. Here we found a bottle of champagne for our anniversary. Our view from the room was amazing as it overlooked the water.
The dinner menu included a 5 course tasting menu. For dessert we had a special chocolate desert with "Happy 45th Anniversary" inscribed in chocolate on the plate. Complimentary wine was also included.
The next morning we were off on a grizzly bear tour where we were fortunate to see 9 different Grizzlies. That afternoon we hiked a 5 km hike to Florence Lake. The hike was a challenge but they will drive you to it if you wish to spend time at the beach. The resort is home to three golden retriever dogs that led the way to the lake, two of which enjoyed fetching sticks from the lake.
We found the staff to be most accommodating, cheerful, and helpful. This made for a very relaxed atmosphere in this luxury resort. We can see why they have many repeat visitors who return every year.
Although we didn't have time there are lots of other facilities and activities such as shuffleboard and pool tables, golf simulator, putting green, archery, salmon and fly fishing, eco tours, and the Spa. Be sure you visit the conservatory. It is not to be missed.
The dinner menu included a 5 course tasting menu. For dessert we had a special chocolate desert with "Happy 45th Anniversary" inscribed in chocolate on the plate. Complimentary wine was also included.
The next morning we were off on a grizzly bear tour where we were fortunate to see 9 different Grizzlies. That afternoon we hiked a 5 km hike to Florence Lake. The hike was a challenge but they will drive you to it if you wish to spend time at the beach. The resort is home to three golden retriever dogs that led the way to the lake, two of which enjoyed fetching sticks from the lake.
We found the staff to be most accommodating, cheerful, and helpful. This made for a very relaxed atmosphere in this luxury resort. We can see why they have many repeat visitors who return every year.
Although we didn't have time there are lots of other facilities and activities such as shuffleboard and pool tables, golf simulator, putting green, archery, salmon and fly fishing, eco tours, and the Spa. Be sure you visit the conservatory. It is not to be missed.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Response from Sophia C, Public Relations Manager at Sonora Resort Canada
Responded Dec 28, 2015
First off, Happy 45th Anniversary! Thank you so much for selecting Sonora Resort as your celebratory destination of choice. We are so glad you had a fabulous time with us and were able to enjoy the sights and see grizzlies during our Grizzly Tour. We do hope to see you again very soon. Thank you for the lovely review.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The minute we landed in our helicopter to be greeted by the manager and senior staff i knew we had made a good choice... We were led to the bar where we were served drinks and a cheeseboard with an upmarket welcome from the general manager. Our room (The Presidential Suite) was incredible! It had its own hot tub and steam room, 3 drinks fridges full of spirits, soft drinks and loads of snacks which were unlimited and already paid for. It had a very large main bedroom with a gorgeous bathroom and a large twin room with a great bathroom as well. Downstairs had a bar area, a bathroom and a very comfortable living room with a massive flatscreen and loads of channels. Every night at turn down you would get a lovely gift aswell, which was a nice touch. The restaurant was incredible food, amazing ambiance and impecible service. The staff were proffesional, friendly and personal to you. Also i would like to point out that Michael and Alexandra were especially amazing. The activites were great too- we went on the eco tour and saw amazing wildlife and went through some rapids at the end which was fun! Aaron, the guide was great. The mineral pools in the spa were great- a sunbathing hotspot outside! There was amazing facilities too, a great games room, ps3's and xboxs, a golf simulator, an outside putting course and mountain bikes to rent. You could also fish and hike. It was seriously the best hotel i had ever been too and was hard to leave. Best service i had ever encountered, amazing food, incredible facilities and outstanding rooms! Heaven in so many different ways!
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Room Tip: Presidential Suite is much recommended. Expensive- but so worth it!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Questions & answers about the hiking
Answer from Sonora Resort, Canada
Jul 2014 |
Sonora is the perfect place for a honeymoon
While it is surrounded by Canada's unique West Coast wilderness it is also equipped with every comfort imaginable. It has a full spa with a sauna, a steam room and three mineral pools which overlook the ocean. At the spa you can get a couples massage or simply take a self-led water journey. In the evening enjoy a cocktail in front of one of the fireplaces in the lounge before delving into the Chef's Tasting Menu. Following dinner curl up in the mini movie theater or play a game of shuffle board before going for a dip in the pool or one of the many hot tubs scattered across the property. The next day play a game of tennis on the indoor court, try your hand at fly fishing in one of the trout ponds or hike up to the lake for a paddle board with a picnic. Alternatively get out on a zodiak for an eco-adventure tour or one of our 25 ft vessels for salmon fishing. Sonora offers both adventure and relaxation.
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