Sooke

The municipality of Sooke is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The small city sits roughly 45 km or 28 miles from Victoria and is considered Greater Victoria's westernmost community among all the "Western Communities." The city of Sooke is situated to the north and to the west of the Sooke Basin. It is accessed by a scenic drive along West Coast Highway 14.

The city of Sooke has a vibrant and thriving arts community. The yearly Sooke Fine Arts Festival, which has been around for the past 25 years, helps to bring hundreds of visitors to the region. Famous for its plethora of sculptors, writers, fabric artists, painters, jewelry artisans, crafters and a lot more, the Sooke Harbour House art gallery is a great display opportunity utilized by many of the local artists. The Community Arts Council within the city of Sooke plays a great role in fostering art in the area.

Over the past centuries, the region of Sooke was home to a thriving Coast Salish native establishment. They were referred to as the T'sou-ke people, and resided among a sheltered harbour alongside a salmon river. This place was abundant with roots, seafoods, game and berries and it was effortless to enjoy the abundances that can be harvested from the forests or the ocean.

The name T'sou-ke is said to originate from that of a stickle-back fish that is found at the mouth of the Sooke River. The T'sou-ke First Nation created a lasting and valuable legacy which continues to enrich the community nowadays.

Among the mildest weather in western Canada can be found within the city of Sooke. The wet and mild wintertimes together with the warm and dry summertimes make it a lovely location to visit. The city of Sooke has numerous unspoiled beaches, meandering rainforest trails and marvelous vistas of the Olympic Mountains located within Washington. The rugged West Coast attracts visitors from all-around the world every year.

The big Vancouver Island has a varied coastline which differs depending upon the particular location. The south side for example, has a convoluted shore, while the southwestern side to the west of Sooke has a razor-edged shoreline. There are an extremely few number of protuberances in this location. This area even contains a phantom point referred to as Point No Point due to the fact that it can only be seen from some angles but not others. The shore slowly drifts east from Point No Point until it reaches Juan de Fuca Point. This is a bold point that makes a much more definite impression.

Sooke has been a famous tourist destination for numerous generations. Among the famous places to see in the region include the Sooke Potholes Regional Park that lies adjacent to the Sooke Potholes Provincial Park. Whiffin Spit Park is another famous destination that draws tourists from around the globe along with local inhabitants. The Sooke Region Museum and Visitor centre is a wonderful place to get history about the region and info on the local attractions. Sooke provides a great base for those who would like to go to the following wilderness parks on the southwest of Vancouver Island. The West Coast Trail, the Juan de Fuca Provincial park and the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail are all great and memorable locations to explore.