This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
A great occasion to celebrate with family, friends or lovers? Why not round off this gulf getaway with a stay glamping at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Vancouver Island?
The Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge feels like an upscale summer camp. Twenty-five tents are scattered throughout the 600-acre site acquired by Baillie Lodges in 2021. Each is equipped with a comfortable bed, a bathroom with heated floors and an outdoor shower. The formula also includes meals and several activities. Between the latte, which has nothing to envy to those of third wave coffees, the cup of Cipes sparkling wine from Summerhill Pyramid Winery sipped in front of the sunset and the gourmet dishes concocted from local ingredients, sky is the limit… or almost.
In the invigorating air floats a mixture of petrichor, evergreens and damp earth. Birdsong blends with that of the Bedwell River. Barely a few hours after arrival, the breathing becomes deeper. François Le Mouel and Julie Mathieu-Tremblay come back from a morning of salmon fishing, all smiles. This stay, the couple of Quebecers married for two decades dreamed of it for ten years.
“We are always looking for a different experience,” says the forty-year-old. Amateur of good wines and gastronomy, the duo wishes to take part in unique activities. The torrential rain of the last few days did not prevent him from going boating to observe black bears or go horseback riding in the forest.
During the summer, 81 employees from different backgrounds ensure that visitors’ stays are unforgettable. If, during the high season, about fifty privileged people can live the experience simultaneously, spring and autumn are the opportunity to take advantage of the site and its multiple activities – hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, mountain biking, massage therapy… — in an even more intimate setting. However, expect to have to deal with the changing moods of Mother Nature.
A clientele as discreet as it is eclectic
Since her first contract in 2016, Quebecer Marie-Christine Poulin, manager of the restaurant, has crossed paths with kings, Hollywood celebrities, business people… “There are both new couples on honeymoon and people who come to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary, she says. We also see many elderly people with their families. Recently, an elderly lady whose husband had just passed away invited all her children and grandchildren. Everyone could do the activities that suited them and they met for meals. It’s a good place to be together, without being “caught” together. »
The significant transformation that takes place between the arrival and departure of vacationers, regardless of the length of their stay, continues to amaze the young woman. “The first dinner felt like we were serving in a restaurant in Vancouver. People have their habits, they are more dressed. […] The first lunch, after the first activity, we already perceive a change. It’s even more obvious at dinner. The longer their stay progresses, the more the transformation is visible. In three or four days, it’s impressive. »