European Style meets West Coast Comfort at Miraloma Cove By Sandy Faust Contributor to Travelink Publishing If I had to pick my favourite type of getaway, I would be hard pressed to choose between a stylish little European hotel and a Westcoast oceanfront hideaway. Fortunately, I can now have both at once! The Miraloma on the Cove in Sidney, BC, blends stunning Westcoast scenery with the style, comfort and sophistication of a European boutique hotel. It's a wonderful discovery which mesmerized us the moment we arrived. The lobby features warm, honey-toned woodwork and the atrium style architecture provides glimpses of the sky and a view of all three floors of rooms, tucked in around the outer walls. First Nations art work, a fireside lounge and a grand staircase with a trellis over its bottom steps makes it a perfect spot for a wedding. Our room, the Eagle's Nest, was a delightful escape, filled with hand picked, locally made furniture and including three gas fireplaces, custom made bedding, an impressive en suite (complete with warmed towel racks) and a gleaming, fully appointed kitchen. All with views of a bustling harbour, surrounded by tangled arbutus trees and towering Douglas-firs. While guests at the inn will always be reluctant to crawl out from under their down duvets, the wide range of activities nearby makes it well worth it. Sidney has come a long way since its early days as a farming community: filled with shops and galleries, this town is a book and art lovers paradise, with pedestrian-friendly streets and an ocean promenade for more serious walkers. World famous Butchart Gardens, only minutes away, offers fifty acres of botanical gardens, along with restaurants, a gift shop and seasonal festivities. Sidney is also home to the Shaw Discovery Centre with its fabulous seabed to seashore displays of the Coast Salish Sea, and to BC Aviation Museum where aircraft buffs can learn about historic aircraft and artifacts, and witness the restoration of planes from days gone by. Athletically-inclined folks can enjoy two golf courses, whale watching, fishing and kayak rentals. A weekend away was only too short and after a delicious breakfast in the waterfront breakfast room, we had to make our way back to the real world. Soulful food, sea air and the Inn's hospitality had made us feel totally cared for and restored to ourselves. Miraloma on the Cove features two suites completely accessible by wheelchair. The Inn offers many packages such as a Gourmet Getaway. Wedding parties are a specialty! Pets are welcome. If You Go: Miraloma on the Cove 2326 Harbour Road Sidney, BC V8L 2P8 Tel: (250) 656-6622 Website: www.miraloma.ca Half an hour from Victoria, in the town of Sidney, BC, Miraloma on the Cove is easily accessible from Vancouver or Washington State. From the lower mainland, BC Ferries will take you from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (which is just minutes from the inn.) The Victoria International Airport is located in nearby Sidney, just minutes away.