All articlesA Promise of Reconnection
A Romantic Weekend on the Malahat
Sometimes the best anniversary celebration isn’t a far-flung destination — it’s rediscovering the remarkable beauty right in your own backyard. When my spouse and I were planning our 11th anniversary we decided to keep it close to home and explore the Malahat and Shawnigan Lake portions of the Spirit Loop and what followed was one of the most romantic and memorable weekends we’ve had.
Here’s the itinerary, in case you’d like to steal it.
Villa Eyrie Resort — The Malahat
We based ourselves at Villa Eyrie, a European-styled alpine resort perched on the Malahat, about an hour from downtown Victoria. The resort offers sweeping views of both the Olympic Mountains and the Saanich Inlet — the kind of scenery that stops you mid-sentence.
I’d surprised Charlie with a whirlpool tub upgrade, which took considerable willpower not to spend the entire day in. We saved it for the evening with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, which I’ll count as one of my better planning decisions.
Dinner at the Alpina Restaurant was exquisite. The setting — crisp linens, that extraordinary view — somehow manages to feel both classic and unhurried. The menu strikes a beautiful balance of European comfort and west coast elegance. Charlie went straight for the Jagerschnitzel and didn’t look back; I had the Gnocchi with wild and cultivated mushrooms, pecorino, truffle, and parsley — pillowy, rich, and deeply satisfying. We finished with a crème brûlée and two spoons.
The Tuscan Spa deserves its own mention. Three relaxation treatment rooms, a mani-pedi lounge, and outdoor loungers with mountain views. We booked a couples massage, and the experience was — there’s no other word for it — restorative. The spa uses 100% organic, locally sourced ingredients, and even the water is drawn from the Malahat itself. We had to pour ourselves back into the room afterward. The terrace, by the way, accommodates up to 40 guests beside a stunning koi pond — it’s now very much on our radar for a vow renewal.
Malahat SkyWalk
Heights are not Charlie’s natural comfort zone — we drove when we moved rather than fly — so this was genuinely a bucket list moment. To ease in, we made the drive up Highway 1 a bit of an event in itself, learning that the Trans-Canada originated as a cattle trail in 1861 before being upgraded to a wagon road in 1884. Charlie had their tablet out the whole way.
The Malahat SkyWalk sits 250 metres above sea level and delivers a full 360-degree panorama — Mt. Baker, Finlayson Arm, the Saanich Peninsula, and the islands stretching out in every direction. Elevated walkways wind through stands of fragrant arbutus and towering Douglas fir, and the whole experience feels genuinely immersed in the coastal forest. Charlie made it to the top with a grin. Bucket list: checked.
And there’s even more to look forward to: the SkyWalk is set to launch The Overhang in Spring 2026 — a first-of-its-kind experience in Canada. An enclosed glass cube extending beyond the edge of the structure, designed to give you the sensation of floating mid-air above Vancouver Island’s rugged landscape. Bold, a little terrifying, and absolutely share-worthy. Watch this space.
Shawnigan Lake
With full hearts and slightly wobbly legs from the SkyWalk, we made our way to Shawnigan Lake for a proper slow afternoon. This is the kind of place that makes you briefly consider whether you could just… move here. The lake is beloved for swimming, fishing, and sunbathing, and the surrounding village offers galleries, gift shops, and great eateries if you feel like wandering.
We stayed true to our plan: hammock from the trunk, lakeside, and a picnic basket Charlie had assembled from Owl’s Nest Bakery Bistro — vegetarian bistro items, fresh bakery goods, and two exceptional iced lattes. We spent the afternoon with magazines, a gentle breeze, and the occasional powerboat careening by with water skiers in tow. It felt like a proper summer escape, no passport required.
Unsworth Vineyards — Cobble Hill
The weekend wrapped up beautifully at Unsworth Vineyards, often described as “Canada’s Provence” — and once you’ve seen the rolling hills, the restored early-1900s farmhouse, and the vineyard stretching out around you, it’s not hard to see why.
The restaurant is seasonal, thoughtful, and delicious. We indulged in a full three-course meal: I went with the polenta fries, a decadent beetroot falafel, and a chocolate tart; Charlie had the smoky seafood chowder, pan-seared chicken, and seasonal fruit crumble. We swapped dessert bites shamelessly and finished with a glass of their dessert wine, Ovation — made from their oldest block of Marechal Foch grapes, planted in 2007, and absolutely worth savouring.
Family-owned and committed to sustainable, local farming practices, Unsworth crafts wines that genuinely reflect the unique soil and growing conditions of the Cowichan Valley. Lead winemaker Daniel Cosman and his team farm 12 acres of grape varieties on site, and it shows in every glass. Whether you’re a serious wine enthusiast or just someone who enjoys a beautiful glass in a beautiful place, Unsworth is an experience worth making time for.
Check out more wineries in Cowichan: www.tourismcowichan.com/eat-drink/wineries
Between Villa Eyrie, the Malahat SkyWalk, a lazy afternoon hammocking at Shawnigan Lake, and an unhurried dinner at Unsworth, our 11th anniversary turned out to be one of our best yet. The Spirit Loop has a way of doing that — offering something genuinely special without requiring you to go very far at all.
