In July of 2005, we spent a month enjoying the stunning scenery of British Columbia. Our most favorite place to stay was The Wellcome Inn (www.wellcomeinn.com), a unique bed and breakfast in Campbell River, BC. We stayed there for four nights in July 2005 and thoroughly enjoyed our time! Neil and Meg, along with their delightful 6-year old daughter Tekara, welcomed us to their home. Our suite had its own private entrance, and we enjoyed a luxurious stay! Since we arrived on Canada Day, Neil and Meg quickly brought us lawn chairs so that we could watch the fireworks from our private front yard!

The three story home is perched on a bluff overlooking the Strait of Georgia, commonly known as the Inside Passage. From the windows of your kitchen and living room, you can see cruise ships quietly glide by during the daylight hours and parade by with their lighted glory in the evening. You enter into the kitchen, complete with small refrigerator, microwave, sink, and your table already set with place settings of elegant, black dishes ready for your morning feast. To the left of the kitchen is the living room, windows looking out to the Strait, several comfortable leather chairs, and your own gas fireplace. The living room opens into a huge area for the bedroom. You sleep in a king-size bed, have a TV with remote, and Neil’s eclectic CD collection is there for your listening pleasure. If you have more than two people, there is even a second bedroom behind the first.

Now for the one of the most glorious parts of this bed and breakfast – the spa bathroom. The wall behind the kitchen contains translucent cement blocks and French doors which enter into a luxurious, huge bathroom. Directly behind the wall is a sunken tub plenty big for two, which even has bath beads provided! There is a large lighted mirror on one wall. The shower is a large walk-in one with room enough again for two. There are no shower curtains; the water is contained in the shower by a small ledge. The floor is even heated! After a day outdoors exploring the BC area, whether it be hiking in Strathcona Provincial Park, visiting the fishing pier or wonderful local museum in Campbell River, or a day trip south to Qualicum Beach, you will return to your own private spa!

The second extraordinary part is the sumptuous breakfast! Your breakfast is delivered to your fridge each night so you may eat it at your leisure in the morning, perhaps watching a cruise ship pass by! A fruit bowl is always present, but the fruit is never exactly the same. Bananas, mangos, pears, peaches, nectarines, perhaps complemented by a bowl of fresh raspberries or blueberries will be tempting your taste buds. A basket of bread sits on your counter with croissants, various textures of bread, or bagels. In your fridge you will find milk, orange juice, and a plate brimming with various cheeses, meats, and delicious smoked salmon, caught by Neil himself! If you stay for several nights, Meg might ask you if you would like to try a Japanese breakfast, since she is of Japanese heritage. Meg brought a pot of steamed rice on a timer to our room. In the morning we began with miso soup, followed by a small bowl of salad. The rice had various garnishes to accompany it. There were sweet eggs – deliciously wrapped in a phyllo type dough. Our Japanese breakfast was a very unique start to our day!

Meg and Neil will pamper you with everything you need. One day we returned from a hike to find a bouquet of fresh flowers on our table. If we told Meg we liked a particular food, we were sure to receive more of it the next day. They will leave you totally to yourself if you like, or provide you with interesting conversation. Neil is a former trail guide and has a wealth of information on hiking in both British Columbia and Alberta. If you are visiting beautiful British Columbia, we would encourage you to stay at The Wellcome Inn. Plan to stay for several nights to enjoy both the surrounding scenery and the luxury of the Wellcome Inn.