Deana Lancaster News Reporter deana@usnews.com THE Pacific Ocean comes crashing to a stop on the western edge of Vancouver Island. Out here — on the wind-swept beaches of the Pacitic Rim National Park Reserve —~ city tite seems ridiculous. And it’s out here, perched ona slope of rough-edged rock at the edge of Chesterman Beach, that solace-seckers will tind The Wickaninnish Ino. For nwo and a half years, travellers have been stopping at tae inn year-round: to winter storm-watek, to beachcomb, whale watch, fish, kayak, dive, walk through old-growth forests. Based out ofa cosy room complete with fireplace, soaker tub and an exhilarating view of the waves, and with easy access to the inspired cuisine of chef Rodney Butters in The Pointe Restaurant, it seemed finding comfcrt for the soul couldn't get much better. But it did. After a two-month closure last fall, the inn reopened in December with the new Ancient Cedars Spa tucked in at sea evel. “A lot of thought went into the design of the spa, the menu and the products we use,” spa manager Kelly Rettinger said late last month, relaxing fireside in an almost-finisked spa. “Louk where we are ... we wanted to bring What's out there, in here.” Right down to the details, Vancouver designers BBA Design Group did just that. Step in and relax surrounded by toasted-brown, burgundy and sage walls, simple furnishings, floors of slate tile, and even more unique, of tiles created from cross-cut fir, Every treatment begins with a soothing foot soak beside the fire, using oils from Aveda, blended for the client according to what their sense of smell dictates that day. | The spa’s signature treatments “are a per' fect marriage of ocean and earth,” said Rettinger. In one treatment room, smooth black stones form a precise pattern on the bed. This is where the “best of the carth” is experienced: the Hot Stone Massage. “Take the best massage 3 you *ve ever had and incorporate a deep penetrating heat into it,” said Rettinger in describing i ir. Next door, clients get the “best of the accan” as their stress is washed away in a variety of treatments known as Thelassctherapy, or “Therapy From the Sea.” Esseatial algae products from the French line, Institut Esthederm, are used for scrubbing, wrapping and finally soak- ing in the spa’s already legendary Bouvier Hydro Equinox tb. KELLY Rettinger oversees the relax- ing apa treatments. Four Wheeling with a Puck Adult Roller Hockey Season runs May-july Dry Floor Available ce Hockey $65 mr Saving Adudt Re Roe | kes } Prime Time Ice SPORTS NORTH SHORE 2411 Meunt Soyrrour Parkway 924-0828 NON. MEMBE. s. ENGLISH GARDENS May 21 -- June 3/99 + 14 days/12 nights One hotel stay (unpack just o1 ¢ Private garden visits River Thames Cruise © Hever Castle Sir Winston Churchill's home @ Sissinghurst and more! Photo Adrian Dorat THE Wickaninnish Inn, near Tofino, now features Ancient Cedars Spa — North America's western-most spa. “The tub has 144 jets, we like to say ‘perfectly posi- tioned,’” Rettingcer said with a laugh. Indeed. Slip your feee under the bar at the foot of the tub, to hold you down, and settic back while the jets roll in 20-see- sections from neck to toe. Don’t plan on any strenuous 1, or even mental activity afterwards — this unwinding of tension and stress is best followed by a long rest in an over- stuffed, window-side chaiz, And you can expect to find marine salts falling from your belly-button for days afterward. Also oni the menu at Ancient Cedars is Jie Shin Do, a gen- tle acupressure treatment taken from both Chinese and Japanese traditions; aromatic massage; reflexology; salt glow — a total body exfoliation using mineral-rich salts from the Dead Sea; skin care and other aesthetic treatments. The services are available “a la carte” for guests or for clients no? staying at the Wickaninnish, or as part ofa package. From March 1 until May 31 it's whale’ watching season, and packages include two nights accommodation, wo one-hour spa treatments and an Aveda product gift for $660 per couple. The package rate increases June 1 for the summer season. Getting there: By car, take BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, travel north from Nanaimo on Hwy. 19, take Exit 4 onto the Pacific Rim Hwy., then turn right at the junc- tion between Tofino and Ucluelet. Turn left at Lynn Road and follow the signs. Air trave! options include scheduled and char- tered flights from Vancouver. Shuttle and taxi service is avail- able from the Tofino Long Beach Airport. For more information, call the inn at (250) 725-3100, send e-mail to , or visit che Web site at . 558. NON-MEMBERS. 54,095« Cathay Pacific on the move CATHAY Pacific Airways moved its passenger facilities on Feb. 1 from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. The move comes as a result of the airline’s recent participation in the Oneworld alliance with Canadian Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways and Qantas Airways. Terminal 3 will provide casy flight traasfers and. connections betwen Cathay Pacific and other Oneworld partners. For the third year in a row Cathay Pacific was recognized as one of the top five airlines in Travel and Leisure magazine’s annuai readers’ poll. The airliae ranked fourth in the Best Foreign Airlines section. 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