Between the Washington and Canadian border lies the Semiahmoo (pronounced SEM-ee-AH-moo) Spit which houses the recently renovated Semiahmoo Resort, a luxury seaside destination.With an incredible beachfront view overlooking Semiahmoo Bay, White Rock, B.C. and the Peace Arch, this hidden gem boasts breathtaking beauty and warm seaside comfort, making it the ideal location for a destination wedding or a mini vacation. It's far enough away from the big cities to give you a well-traveled, remote feeling, but close enough for any PNW local to make the trip.
Photo courtesy of Semiahmoo Resort
I recently visited Semiahmoo Resort at the invitation of Richmond Public Relations and Semiahmoo Resort. Below I've broken down my quick 2 day, 1 night stop.
How to get there:
A 30 minute drive south of Vancouver, B.C. and a 90 minute drive north of Seattle (not including traffic, of course), Semiahmoo Resort takes no time to reach. For those coming across the border, be sure to leave a bit early since border crossing can take anywhere from 5 minutes to well over an hour between customs and traffic. Weekdays tend to be less crowded. For those a bit further away, a flight into Bellingham International Airport and a 40 minute drive on I-5 will get you get there in no time.
The Room Experience:
When staying at Semiahmoo Resort, a waterfront view is a must. The sites from the Waterview King room is enough to make you not want to leave your room. The views overlooking Semiahmoo Bay and White Rock, B.C. are unbeatable, especially at sunset. The room is fully equipped with the comforts of home, including terry cloth-lined bathrobes, a Keurig, HDTV, WiFi and more.
Photo courtesy of Semiahmoo Resort
What to do:
If you are traveling for leisure, Semiahmoo Resort and the surrounding area offers more than a handful of activities for one to indulge in from golfing and health and wellness activities to outdoor adventure opportunities (not offered by Semiahmoo Resort, but in the area). They also offer fitness classes throughout the week. If you're a morning person (or even if you are not), the Sunrise Yoga at 6:30 am is an excellent and relaxing way to start your day. I definitely felt rejuvenated and ready for the rest of my day. Bonus: Semiahmoo Resort is pet friendly!
Entrance to the spa. Photo by Kirstie Chan
The Spa at Semiahmoo Resort is one thing you can't pass up, whether you indulge in a facial, foot spa, or massage, all are relaxing in their own right. It's a welcoming experience with soothing music and a warm atmosphere. I chose the Restorative Sea Facial with Sea Flora and my skin could not have been happier. SeaFlora is a luxurious organic seaweed skin and body care line that is harvested from the clean Pacific Northwest coastline. Rich in natural nutrients that are beneficial to the skin, SeaFlora is appropriate for all skin types. After the 50 minute session, you'll leave feeling clean, pampered and glowing.
Photo courtesy of Semiahmoo Resort
When hosting a wedding at the resort, The Spa is also the perfect place for the brides and her maids to start the day. If you're not opposed to seeing your fiancé before your walk down the aisle, you might even consider starting your big day with a relaxing couples massage.
If you happen to be visiting over a weekend, they regularly offer special events like beach bonfires, FootGolf and clam bakes. Even if you opt out of the extra activities, simply enjoying the sunset along the patio is an event in itself.
Sunset along Semiahmoo Bay. Photo by Kirstie Chan
For the fellas:
The golf course is a great place for the groomsmen to play a round or two or even a scramble, the morning of the wedding. Not a golfer? Take advantage of the health and wellness facilities and go for a swim or shoot some hoops on the indoor basketball courts.
Photos courtesy of Semiahmoo Resort
The 50 person theater room also offers a place for the gents to relax the morning-of or evening before the wedding. Though, it isn't just for the guys. The theater would be a great gathering place the night before for the whole bridal party to kick back and have fun together.
Photo courtesy of Semiahmoo Resort
Where to eat:
Whether you're looking to dine inside or out, both Pierside Kitchen and Packers Oyster Bar offer a waterfront view. With menus consisting of fresh seafood, local meat, pasta and salad, there's something for everyone. Located within the resort, you're only a couple minutes walk from your room to the restaurants. Semiahmoo Resort is all about sustainability, evident in their food culture. They work to house the best and freshest products from local farms, vendors, artisans, ranchers and fisherman, providing a real farm-to-table experience. Read more about their list of vendors and culinary vision here.
Packer's Oyster Bar and outside dining. Photos by Kirstie Chan
Pierside Kitchen. Photos by Kirstie Chan
You'll want to make time for breakfast at Pierside Kitchen where everyone raves about the PBC Omelette. What does PBC stand for, you might ask? Peanut Butter and Cheese. Yes. No joke, this unique combo surprisingly works! It comes highly recommended by the chef, staff, and other guests. It can be a bit heavy, so I would suggest trying a sample with the Chef's Trio, where it comes alongside a mini Eggs Benedict and mini French toast. It goes great with a latte or cappuccino.
Chef's Trio and a close up of the PBC Omelette. Photos by Kirstie Chan
For dinner, head to either Pierside Kitchen or Packer's Oyster bar. Take advantage of the sustainable food and taste the local flavors of the freshest meats, seafoods and vegetables. While you're there, order a craft cocktail, or two. The Negative Ghostrider is refreshing with the perfect balance of alcohol and sweetness.
Negative Ghostrider and Maverick Cocktails. Photos by Kirstie Chan
Bread & butter, beef tartare w/ scallop ceviche, heirloom tomato & watermelon salad, kumamoto oyster on the half shell. Photos by Kirstie Chan
Halibut with young carrorts, fillet mignon with fingerling potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Photos by Kirstie Chan
And of course, don't skip dessert.
Chocolate s'mores and lemon tart with fresh fruit. Photos by Kirstie Chan
Each course of the meal was excellent in quality with its own uniqueness. You can tell from the presentation that the culinary team at Semiahmoo really care about their food. It was a treat to have the chef choose the dishes for us, showcasing the variety and freshness offered at the restaurants.
For weddings:
With various rooms and event spaces, couples can host intimate weddings in cozy event rooms, larger weddings outside in pavilion tents, or the fanciest of weddings inside the Loomis Golf Course Mansion overlooking the greens. Inclement weather? No worries, the ballrooms are big enough to accommodate up to 500 people. There's something for everyone, and their team, which includes in-house catering, is available to help plan and coordinate your big day.
Outdoor patio/deck. Photo courtesy of Semiahmoo Resort
Pavilion tent and dock. Photo courtesy of Semiahmoo Resort
Loomis Golf Club and Clubhouse. Photo courtesy of Semiahmoo Resort
The sustainable environment experience:
What sets Semiahmoo Resort apart and what grabbed my attention is their commitment to sustainability and the experience they build around it for their guests. Semiahmoo Resort takes "pride in the efforts made to provide a comfortable, local, recycled and sustainable environment for [our] guests to enjoy". They embrace green practices in all aspects of the resort, from the Green Natura bath products, to the blue carpeting made of recycled fishing nets from the rural coast of the Philippines, to their position as a Clean the World Hospitality Partner. Read more about their sustainability efforts here.
Accommodation provided by Richmond Public Relations and Semiahmoo Resort.
Photos provided by Semiahmoo Resort and Kirstie Chan.
