Whiffin Spit, Angela H. Bailey photo
Victoria 's Inner Harbour. The great outdoors is the focus here for those eager to refresh themselves in nature. The to-do list is topped by sports fishing , surfing , hiking along the remarkable Galloping Goose and Juan de Fuca trails, whale-watching, mountain biking, and birdwatching . Sooke also boasts a strong arts community. Sooke's Location The authentic west coast referred to here is not the part of the coast shaped by the open Pacific and associated with Tofino and Ucluelet , 135 nautical miles to the north. This is the just-as-rugged and tempestuous coastline that faces the Juan de Fuca Strait and the US beyond it. China Beach, where one gets the first real taste of the area's wild side, is smaller than Long Beach, of course, but the sand is soft, the headlands dramatic and the view of the Olympic mountain range is lovely. Neighbouring Communities Nestled on the perimeter of a sheltered harbour basin, the town of Sooke (rhymes with "spook") is close to Vancouver Island 's largest population centre but a world away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Sister communities in the area include East Sooke, Otter Point, Shirley, French Beach, Jordan River and Port Renfrew. All these pockets of life are stretched along Highway 14, which becomes more spectacular and increasingly less populated as one travels west along the Pacific Marine Circle Route . Where to Stay and Relax Accommodations range from the internationally celebrated Sooke Harbour House and luxury units at Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina (host of the Vancouver Island Salmon Classic derby ) to a full compliment of B&Bs. Plenty of all-budget dining options, and a solid array of town shops and services are here. Artisans and numerous home studios can be found throughout the area; the Sooke Fine Arts Show and various studio tours are highlights of the local calendar. For a pampering touch, try an invigorating kelp wrap at one of several spas renowned for their seaweed treatments. Learn more about the Sooke Harbour House in Sooke: Modern Life Incorporated as a municipality in 1999, Sooke is a fast-growing, progressive-minded community of 10,000 people that is rapidly growing into quite the visitor destination. Residents here treasure the friendly, small-town vibe of the place along with the access to the ocean and the peaceful, rural nature of the surrounding countryside. The town centre is being spruced up, with more bike routes and sidewalks being added to ease traffic congestion. Visitor Centre and Regional Museum Visitor Centre (2070 Phillips Road off the Sooke Road). Copies of the Guide to the Sooke Region can be purchased here. The Sooke Story: The History and the Heartbeat . Learn more about Sooke's culture and history , here.