Style Bee - Point No Point

Point-No-Point

05.11.18

Earlier this week Dave and I escaped to Vancouver Island for a mini-getaway and a bit of downtime before what’s sure to be a whirlwind conclusion to our time out west. We made our way to Point-No-Point, a secluded cabin resort on the coast of the island, just north of Sooke. Even though our stay was short we still managed to get a much-needed dose of nature and an equally necessary break from cell service. We had great weather for exploring the trails, taking in the sights, savoured the panoramic coastal views from our private hot tub, zoned out in front of crackling fires and fell asleep to the sound of the ocean. So yes, it was pure bliss!

As a special bonus, my friends at Tradlands kindly sent me a couple of comfy pieces to test out on the adventure. Not so surprisingly the Varsity Sweatshirt and Girlfriend Tee make great additions to a closet ready for hiking, beach exploring, road side restaurants, corgi cuddles and everything in between. I took the opportunity to wear test the items and also to shoot a couple of looks inspired by the coastal colours we were surrounded by.

Read on to see our little getaway, the looks I put together and a special Tradlands discount for Style Bee readers!


Style Bee - Point No Point

POINT-NO-POINT


If you were heading up HWY 14 on Vancouver Island you might drive right past this resort as it’s perfectly nestled into the trees and landscape. Point-No-Point was originally established in 1952 by Evelyn Packham, RN, after she retired from nursing and bought the recently clear-cut crown land, determined to nurture it back to its natural state and establish a haven for travellers on the remote West Coast Road. Well, she certainly managed to do just that!

It has since been expanded from 7 to about 20 cabins (some have lofts or a duplex) each with stunning views of the ocean and shoreline along with private balconies and hot tubs to soak in the sunset from. The resort also has access to private winding trails and beaches, lookouts (bring binoculars for whale watching), a spa and a restaurant that was highly recommended but sadly closed during our visit. It’s also close to tons of fabulous hikes, beaches and a few great restaurants like Shirley Delicious, Sooke Harbour House and Wild Mountain.

The promise of wild life sightings is no joke either. During just the two days we were there we saw, bears, bald eagles, sea otters, sea lions, deer and hummingbirds. It’s definitely a great place to check out from stress and check in with nature. My only regret is that we couldn’t stay longer! Here’s a peek at our lovely rustic cabin.


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HIKING


Our first of the two night getaway was about as relaxing as it gets, complete with a charcuterie board, red wine, hot tub time, crackling wood fires, sunsets and nothing but the sound of the ocean. Well-rested and ready for adventure, we started our Tuesday with a hearty breakfast at the most delightful restaurant on our way up the coast called Shirley Delicious. We’d stopped in here once before and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves so we couldn’t wait to go back. The staff are some of the friendliest folks we’ve encountered out here and the food is truly top-notch. Do yourself a favour and get a pesto twist and a fresh muffin for an afternoon snack as well!

Once we were fuelled up and ready for the day we headed towards Port Renfrew to check out the town and see where the West Coast Trail begins for many avid hikers. From there we headed back down to the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail to take in the rainforest sights and visit a few beautiful beaches along the way. It’s a 47 km trail but needless to say we did not take on the whole thing.


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For this leg of the journey I wanted to be comfy, warm (but not too warm!) and ready for lots of different terrain. I layered the super soft 116 Varsity Sweatshirt over the light 103 Girlfriend Tee to start cozy with the option to cool off as needed. I wore my black cropped jeans, hiking boots and filled my backpack with a water bottle, raincoat, snacks and a few extras for the shoot. I felt totally comfortable and ready for the adventure with my boys!

This turned out to be the perfect outfit for the day and I stayed just cool enough that I could keep the sweatshirt on. Aside from one other beat-up old camping sweatshirt this is the only one I have in my closet and I can tell it’s going to come in very handy for the seasons ahead. It’s lightweight but the french terry keeps it feeling cozy, super soft for wearing on its own and perfect for layering over a light t-shirt or base layer. Personally, I love the creamy shell colour, and didn’t find it got dirty (I wore it for two days after this too!) but there are three other colour options. I’m wearing the size S and it fits great but a M would have been good if I’d planned to wear over heavier base layers.


TRADLANDS IS OFFERING STYLE BEE READERS 20% OFF ANY ORDER WITH ‘SPRINGSTYLEBEE

(Valid through May 31st)



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BOTANICAL BEACH

(LOOK 1)


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When we made it down into Botanical Beach I was excited to kick off my hiking boots, feel the sand on my toes and take in the scene in all its glory. Botanical beach is special not just because of the densely foliated trail in but because of how the main tidepools and sculptured formations have been formed out of soft sandstone. Some of the parks tidepools are formed by wave-tossed boulders grinding out pockets in the sandstone. Purple sea urchins (which were everywhere!) further modify these tidepools by grinding out small pockets. Ridges of shale and quartz jut up through black basalt to give the rock face its unique, marbled effect and mix of rough and smooth surfaces.

It’s funny how well the colours in this outfit worked with the palette on this beach. Blacks, creams and rust tones were everywhere from the rocks to the drift wood to the sea life itself! We hung out here for a little while and let Dobby explore but when the park ranger alerted us to a mama black bear and her cub we thought it best to move on. We did manage to catch a glimpse of her in the distance and it was awesome!


TRADLANDS IS OFFERING STYLE BEE READERS 20% OFF ANY ORDER WITH ‘SPRINGSTYLEBEE

(Valid through May 31st)


  • Varsity Sweatshirt | gifted Trandlands | $89 USD (or $71.20 with code ‘SPRINGSTYLEBEE’) | Wearing a size S (could have gone for a M if I wanted to layer over more than a t-shirt) | Made ethically in China (more on that here)
  • Girlfriend Tee | gifted Trandlands | $49 USD (or $39.20 with code ‘SPRINGSTYLEBEE’) | Wearing a size S and I love the relaxed but slim fit) | Made ethically in China (more on that here)
  • Black Boyfriend Jeansgifted Everlane | $68 USD | I had these tailored a fair amount to get this fit but the Cheeky Straight is likely the closest available option. I would probably go for my usual size 26. | Made responsibly in Vietnam
  • Paris Mule | St. Agni | $259 AUD | Wearing a 38 and usually a US 7/7.5 | Made responsibly in Java, Indonesia


Style Bee - Point No Point


SOMBRIO BEACH

(LOOK 2)


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Sombrio beach was our next stop and one that Dave had visited as a kid. It was so beautiful and seemed to go on and on for miles. The sky was soft and cloud covered but still quite warm and the beautiful grey tones in the smooth flat rocks inspired me to swap my jeans for my flax skirt. There were lots of giant old fallen trees, dried out and smooth from seasons of weathering so I hopped up onto one and we caught a few of my favourite shots to date. I ended up wearing this right out of the park (since the hike in was easy) and straight into dinner!

I fell in love with the Sienna colour of the Girlfriend Tee right away and was excited to try out the shape and cut too. I rarely ever wear my t-shirts un-tucked but I love how the curved hem peeks out under the sweatshirt. Of course, it’s just as easy to wear tucked into a skirt or wide-leg pants though because it’s lightweight and feels super smooth on the skin. I wasn’t sure how the Sienna colour would pair with my flax skirt but it turned out to be a great palette, especially for a beachy afternoon and evening. I’m wearing a size S which is just relaxed enough but not too loose.

I should mention that one hike + beach we didn’t do on this trip was Juan de Fuca to China Beach but I would highly recommend that one. We went there on our last visit to the island so we skipped it but it’s probably my favourite out of the three we’ve been to off HWY 14.

BTS secret: Now I know the shots above are all serene and dreamy but I’ll let you in on a little BTS secret, there were a lot of rock spiders. Like an absurd amount. Luckily, I’m not terribly frightened of them and it was clear that they didn’t want to cause trouble, but yeah, nothing gets me moving to higher ground like a lot of eight legged black specks darting around my feet.


TRADLANDS IS OFFERING STYLE BEE READERS 20% OFF ANY ORDER WITH ‘SPRINGSTYLEBEE

(Valid through May 31st)


  • Girlfriend Tee | gifted Trandlands | $49 USD (or $39.20 with code ‘SPRINGSTYLEBEE‘) | Wearing a size S and I love the relaxed but slim fit) | Made ethically in China (more on that here)
  • Bel Skirtgifted Elizabeth Suzann | $205 USD | Wearing a S Regular in Flax Linen | Made responsibly in Nashville, TN.
  • Sunglasses | old Madewell | $55 USD | Made in China


Style Bee - Point No Point

DINNER – SOOKE HARBER HOUSE


We finished a long day of hiking, shooting and exploring with a fabulous dinner at Sooke Harbour House. While we were waiting for dinner we spotted deer, otters and humming birds all right from our table. We had the chef’s tasting menu and it was one of our favourite meals yet! We highly recommend eating here if you go and the B&B looks lovely too!


Style Bee - Point No Point

THE DRIVE HOME


On Wednesday we woke up lazily from another deep sleep and after a morning hot tub session and walk through the Point-No-Point trails with Dobby we reluctantly began to pack up for the ride home. We stopped in at Michell’s Farm in Saanich for a bite at Harvest Road and it was delicious! Their garden centre was looking amazing too and had us dreaming about all the things we’ll plant when we get back to Ontario. As we boarded the ferry back to Vancouver we came to terms with the fact that two days in Point-No-Point was nowhere near long enough!

If you’re ever able to get out there, GO!


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That’s it for our mini-break post but tell me, what are your favourite hidden gem getaway spots?


THANKS FOR READING!

WISHING YOU ALL A WONDERFUL WEEKEND! 


DISCLOSURE: This post was produced partly in partnership with Tradlands. Our trip was not part of the collaboration but a happy coincidence and all opinions are entirely my own, as always! When you shop via the links above or use the Style Bee discount code, I make a commission on the sale. Thanks for supporting the responsible brands that support Style Bee! 

Leave me a comment here!

  1. Hillary says:

    How does the Girlfriend Tee compare with the Catt Tee? Which do you prefer?

    • Lee the Bee says:

      Good question Hillary! I think I’d have to say I prefer the Girlfriend Tee over the Catt Tee at the moment. It’s a softer and thinner cotton and has a more flattering cut. The Catt Tee had a more straight, boxy cut, with a shorter length and the Girlfriend is a more fitted shape with a curved hem. I still love my Catt t-shirts too but I’ve had the Girlfriend in higher rotation lately. Hope that helps! xo

  2. Hi, Just wondering about the Everlane cheeky straight jeans. Do they bag out?

    Thanks, Kimberly

    • Lee the Bee says:

      Hi Kimberly, I think it depends on the wash you choose. I don’t have the cheeky straight personally but the boyfriend jeans stretched out. The bone stretched a lot more than the black. I would opt for the smaller size if you’re in between two. Hope that helps! xo

  3. Cally says:

    Your beautiful photos make my heart long to travel back to Canada – I could never get tired of those dramatic west coast beaches and magical forests, a world away from Australian beaches! Thank you for sharing 🙂

  4. Emily says:

    Hi Lee!

    I’m just wondering, did you tuck the hem of your sweatshirt under?
    I’m waiting on mine in grey to arrive, but it looks way more cropped on you than I was anticipating!

    Thanks 🙂 xx

    • Lee the Bee says:

      Hi Emily, Yes, the hem is tucked under by a few inches. It’s definitely comfortable to wear out (lots of stretch) but I just found it layered better like that and didn’t make the tee shirt underneath look too squished if that makes sense. It’s not a regular length sweatshirt, so no worries! xo

  5. Britt says:

    The black pants in the last shot are fantastic, and no wonder, they are ES! I am glad Katie asked where they came from. Looks like it was an amazing trip. Don’t you love hiking in a skirt? It’s really freeing, actually. I find that I prefer it. Keeps it all so breezy.

    Great post, Lee.
    Thanks,
    Britt

    http://www.radiantearthart.com

    • Lee the Bee says:

      Thanks so much Britt! Haha yes, I know, ES can do no wrong 🙂 Okay, so I LOVED hiking in a skirt! So liberating and comfortable. Have a great week! xo

  6. Catherine says:

    What is your lipstick? It looks so beautiful on you.

  7. Katie says:

    Such beautiful photos, thank you for sharing. I am so inspired to create outfits that allow me to be and move outside but also don’t have to be “outdoor” clothes. I’m wondering what wide legged black pants you were wearing in the last set of photos?

  8. Jane says:

    Vacations that include hiking with stunning views are always my favorite! How did you find the sizing on the st. Agni mules? Sites and people who have them say they run small… some people even go up two sizes?! I’m also a 7/7.5 and thought about ordering a 39 but maybe i should stick with my usual 38?

    • Lee the Bee says:

      Me too Jane! I have found the sizing was not as drastic as anticipated. I got the 38 and it was tight at first but has totally relaxed now and feels very comfortable. They broke in quick and the back side of the woven leather is very soft. I had some hot spots but no blisters yet. I LOVE them so much. xo

  9. Chloé says:

    Looks like a great trip ! 🙂
    Now I know it’s possible to be stylish while hiking ! Great, because I am always wearing technical gear with bright colors like red or blue, which I would never choose for my regular clothes. I’ll take some inspiration from your post.
    Oh and if you wear hats or caps to protect you from the sun this summer I’d be interrested to see which ones, and how do you style them. I am still wearing the same cap from when I was 15 😀

    • Lee the Bee says:

      Thanks so much Chloé! I used to have a mash up of ‘outdoorsy’ items that I would never enjoy wearing (bad fits, bright patterns) but even having just a few options I like has made me feel great about getting onto the trails more. I’m slowly building up my options as I go. Seems each trip I go on I add something, like boots for the Scottish highlands, a raincoat for Amsterdam’s moody forecast and now a few comfy layers for the West Coast. The hat I wear for canoeing and summer camping is an ancient Tilley straw hat but I’ll keep an eye out for similar options! xo

  10. Andrea H says:

    What an amazing trip! It looks so relaxing (gorgeous photos btw). I love how polished you looked, even while hiking! As for getaways, I am planning a few this summer, and very excited. Our first one is Astoria, Oregon. It’s a sleepy little coastal town with an emerging foodie/brewery scene! Will be taking notes on your functional, travel style. xoxo

    • Lee the Bee says:

      Thank so much Andrea! We lucked out with good weather and the trails were pretty easy so that helped to keep things looking under control haha. Oh Astoria sounds so cool! The Oregon coast is absolutely stunning and definitely on my bucket list. I hope you’ll share some of your travels too! xo