Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in Vancouver provides guests with luxurious “tented” accommodations and five-star dining.

Tucked in the middle of nowhere on the west coast of Vancouver Island is an eco-safari retreat called Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, which can only be reached by boat or seaplane. While the accommodations at this resort are comprised of 20 tents, each offers every bit of the luxury you are seeking. This remote Canadian getaway has dining tents that offer five-star cuisine, massage and treatment tents, lounge tents and guest tents with fluffy duvets and antiques, all inspired by late 19th century Great Camps.

But behind the luxury there is a deep and meaningful commitment to restoring the land. Located on the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve Area on the banks of the remote Bedwell River, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is committed to running in an environmentally sustainable manner with as low-impact operations as technology allows.

We love that every evening the Activities Director meets with guests personally to design their adventures for the next day, which depends on weather, tidal charts and animal sightings. The resort offers tons of activities so guests will never have a shortage of things to do in the wilderness.

If you go: While Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is only open May through September and guests are encouraged to make reservations in advance. Rates start at $4,650.00USD for three nights, and include return airfare from Vancouver to the Resort, deluxe tented accommodation, all meals, snacks and beverages (including alcohol), massage treatments and a wide array of guided adventure activities including instruction.

Places & Spaces is a travel guide that will inspire you to carve out a vacation on your calendar. All of the gorgeous locations and accommodations in our guide share our concern for the environment. From tent glamping to lavish built environments, fair warning, you’ll feel compelled to pack your suitcase.

The post Places & Spaces: Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Vancouver, Canada appeared first on EcoSalon.

QuoteIntroducing daily quotes at EcoSalon.

“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.” – Ansel Adams

Image: Jason Wehmhoener

The post Taking a Panorama View appeared first on EcoSalon.

Last weekend I turned off my computer, shut down my BlackBerry and got out of the city for three whole days. That’s right. Three. Whole. Days. That’s three days without internet, email, text messages and a slew of other things on which most of us are dependent, on a regular basis. And it was pure bliss.

President Obama recently proclaimed September National Wilderness Month, stating that, “This month, we renew our pledge to build upon the legacy of our forebears. Together, we must ensure that future generations can experience the tranquility and grandeur of America’s natural places. As we resolve to meet this responsibility, let us also reflect on the ways in which our lives have been enriched by the gift of the American wilderness.”

How often do we take time to reflect on wilderness? In my job I spend a lot of time talking and writing about it, but when it comes right down to it, the time actually spent in wild places is minimal. Which is unfortunate, because spending time in the wilderness is not only good for you, it’s downright necessary, and it’s the one time that really reminds us why it’s important to ensure that these places don’t disappear.

Things that usually matter lose their importance – who cares what time it is! – and you’re given the chance to truly be in the moment, which might just be why Henry David Thoreau once said, “In wilderness is the preservation of the world.” It’s also the place where we find self preservation. That place that’s completely disconnected from the distractions of everyday life that keep us from focusing on what’s important.

There is simplicity in a routine that only requires you to focus on staying hydrated and fueled; a simplicity that is so easy to forget, but essential to our mental sanity.

So take National Wilderness Month as an inspiration to plan some time outdoors. An afternoon trail run, a weekend trip to the lake or a week road-trip exploring some National Parks; just use the time to remind yourself when you’re choosing to live a more balanced and conscious lifestyle. Turn the BlackBerry and internet time and take some time to just think, completely uninterrupted. I promise that it will do some good.

Images: Anna Brones

The post Autumn Travel: Make It Wild appeared first on EcoSalon.