The next time you’re looking for an easy to get to escape from the city, be sure to check out Rowena’s Inn located about 1.5 to 2 hours from Vancouver in Harrison Hills. With 160 acres of sprawling grounds to explore, this historic waterfront bed and breakfast takes you back in time from the moment you approach the English-style manor‘s entrance-way.
We recently had the chance to escape the office ourselves, and headed out to Rowena’s Inn for some serious chill time. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the Inn’s owner, Betty Ann Faulkner, whose parents (Charles and Rowena Pretty) built the estate in the early 1900s. After checking into our own private cabin overlooking the landscape, we headed to the main manor for a tour of the estate.
It’s undeniably apparent how passionate Betty Ann is about Rowena’s Inn (no doubt more-so given she was actually born on the property). She gave us our own private history lesson, sharing tales about the architecture and artifacts collected over the years. Sparing no detail in her storytelling, we had fun learning about the various special events that had taken place at the inn and what life was like during the inn’s early days as a summer home.
Though guests can opt to stay in the inn’s main house (which has a few more modern touches and technology like Wi-Fi and HDTVs), we actually enjoyed the peace and quiet afforded us by our luxury cabin – outfitted with all the comforts you need to get cozy for a weekend.
Whether it be lounging before the huge fireplace with a book, sitting outside overseeing the action, or plunking into the Jacuzzi tub with a glass of local wine in hand, time simply slows down here… in a good way.
Breakfast was found at Rowena Inn’s in-house restaurant, River’s Edge. The menu is packed with traditional and west coast fare made with locally-sourced ingredients. We ordered up a healthy dose of hash browns, sausages, bacon, eggs, the Get Golf’n Sandwich, juice and freshly brewed coffee (to fuel us up for a day of exploring ahead).
We set out to explore a few of the local artisans, stopping off first at The Farm House Natural Cheeses store for a tour and taste test. After loading up on their amazing goat cheese and locally made food products it was on to The Back Porch, located at 6116 Golf Road, for some antique-hunting. (These stops and more can be organized via booking a Circle Farm Tour here.)
Though we were offered the opportunity to golf at the resort’s Sandpiper Golf Course the following day, we opted to lounge around the pool and catch some rays before heading out for a leisurely walk along local trails.
The following day, it was back to reality… but not before stopping in at the Harrison Hot Springs for a dip in the resort’s hot spring pools before cruising our way back to a busy work week ahead.
If you’re in search of a quick getaway this summer, be sure to book in a stay at Rowena’s Inn and let life slow down for some serious recharging. Visit them online for more details.
Photos by Fetching Image Photography.
Will you be taking a trip to Rowena’s Inn soon? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.
