Recently, my good friend Raj and I were lucky enough to go on a girl’s getaway, to one of the most beautiful places in British Columbia, Cowichan.
Only a ferry ride away from Vancouver, it was my first time visiting and believe me when I say, I was wowed! We stayed in some amazing places, ate the most delicious food and had a lot of fun exploring Cowichan.
Whether you’re going on a family trip, a girl’s vacay or a romantic getaway, Cowichan is perfect for everyone.
Cowichan – Where to Sleep, Eat & Play
Where to stay in Cowichan.
Kiwi Cove Lodge
We stayed at Kiwi Cove Lodge on our first night. It was the most adorable place and really peaceful. Set in the countryside, this 10 acre property is right on the waterfront and it houses an actually kiwi farm!
With 12 rustic rooms, that even have a fire place, every where you look has amazing views. We loved our room which so spacious and it had a lovely view of the kiwi vineyard and the water. Even though we went while there was snow, we took a walk to the water and we weren’t disappointed.
Kiwi cove Lodge provides breakfast every morning and it is driving distance to lots to great restaurants. It’s the perfect place to go if you need a little break from the speed of everyday life and to just enjoy nature.
Villa Eyrie Resort
We also stayed at the Villa Eyrie Resort on our girls trip to Cowichan and it was quite the experience. What stands out the most, is the breathtaking views! Situated on Vancouver Island’s Malahat Summit, 1880 feet above sea level, there is actually no bad view.
Villa Eyrie is called a resort for a reason. The rooms are all so luxurious, we even had a soaker tub in ours. We stayed in the master suite and I’m not going to lie, I didn’t want to leave. The room was so spacious, comfortable, luxurious and of course, that view! They have lots of different room options, including a Penthouse!
At Villa Eyrie, you can dine at their Summit restaurant (which is so delicious), get pampered at the Tuscan Spa, relax in their indoor saltwater pool or hang out in Driver’s Lounge, Canada’s only motorsport themed lounge. It’s definitely a must-stay when you’re in Cowichan.
What to Do and See in Cowichan
Chemainus Theatre Festival
I got to experience my first ever dinner theatre on our girls trip and it was so much fun. We had a cozy dinner at the Playbill dining room and then headed up to the theatre to watch Once.
Having heard great things about the musical Once, I wasn’t disappointed. The acting and singing was top notch. It’s the love story of Guy and Girl, two very different people who are brought together by music…and a vacuum cleaner.
Chemainus Murals
Take the time to walk around and take in all the amazing murals in Chemainus. Each one has a story or history behind it and honestly, you could probably spend half a day just walking around and exploring the murals.
Merridale Cidery
I’d never been to a cidery before and our stop at Merridale was so much fun! We learned about and tried cider flights, had an amazing charcuterie board and had a wonderful time chatting with the husband and wife team who have made Merridale what it is.
Now we want to go back in the summer with the family so we can visit Merridale again and stay over night in their yurts, like my friend Jamie and her family did!
Tea at Westholme Farm
Westholme is the only Tea Farm in Canada, so I was pretty excited to stop in. Even though we only had a short time for this experience, we actually ended up extending out time there, just so we could stay longer.
They have so many wonderful and unique teas. They do a special tea experience that we really loved and we also took a tour of the tea farm and i learn so much! There is such a feeling of calm and zen here, that with didn’t want to leave.
Where to Eat in Cowichan
Oh my gosh, I can’t even begin to tell you all the uh-mazing food we ate in Cowichan. But of course I will. We had the most amazing meals at restaurants all across Cowichan.
Here are a few picture just to tease you a little, but don’t worry, I wrote an entire blog post dedicated to where you should eat in Cowichan and you can read all about it HERE.
Unsworth Vineyard
The Old Fork
Merridale Eatery
If you don’t have Cowichan, BC on your travel bucket list, you need to add it! It’s such a beautiful hidden gem on Vancouver Island and there is so much to do, see and it. Whether you’re looking for an adventure or a place to relax and unwind, Cowichan is a must visit
For more information on visiting Cowichan, visit Tourism Cowichan.
*A big thank you to Tourism Cowichan for setting up this wonderful girls trip.
Sounds like a wonderful girls trip! Perfect balance of relaxation and fun!
Thanks for taking the time to visit my wonderful hometown of Chemainus. We have a dream of a small community here, whether living or just visiting. Theatre, murals, boutique shops, amazing cafes, hiking trails and right on the Salish Sea. Hope you had a great time and come back to visit again in the summer, the ice cream shops will be waiting 🙂
I would love to visit in the summer, it’s so beautiful!
Sounds amazing! I am looking for local getaways for this summer and this sounds amazing!!