The Boathouse

Frommer's Review

Vancouver Island has nothing else like it, and I can almost guarantee you'll fall in love with this tiny, secluded cottage -- a former boathouse -- set on pilings over Saanich Inlet on Brentwood Bay. The only passersby you're likely to encounter are seals, bald eagles, otters, herons, and raccoons, plus the occasional floatplane flying in. The converted boathouse is at the end of a very long flight of stairs behind the owner's home (if you have mobility issues, this is not the place for you). Outside is a waterside porch you may never want to leave; inside are a queen-size bed, a dining table, a kitchen area with a small refrigerator and toaster oven, an electric heater, and a reading alcove with a stunning view all the way up Finlayson Arm. Toilet and shower facilities are in a separate bathhouse, 17 steps back uphill. All the makings for a delicious continental breakfast are provided. Just below the boathouse is a floating dock -- which doubles as a great sun deck -- with a small dinghy reserved exclusively for guests' use. What could be more stylish, fun, and ecologically sound than rowing up to the dock at Butchart Gardens? Open March through September.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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