Standing on the wooden boardwalk of Semiahmoo Resort Golf and Spa in Blaine, Wash., it was quickly apparent the damp, grey weather on this August day was no deterrent to the numerous red-throated loons, ducks, blue herons, grebe, gulls, double-crested cormorant, bald eagles and swallows dotting the surrounding land and ocean. Come winter, the resort is also known for the large flocks of all three species of scoters foraging for food. Meanwhile dozens of seals of various sizes had hauled themselves onto a wharf near the Semiahmoo Marina to escape the choppy waves of the ocean.
I was led on my birdwatching tour by the very knowledgeable and friendly Phil Calise, who also works as an engineer at the resort.
Ironically, the day of my birdwatching tour was the only rain the area had seen in months. Following the drought-like conditions of the prior months, the rain was much-needed and welcome. Just the day before it was so hot we enjoyed time at Semiahmoo’s pool swimming and sunbathing.
Besides swimming and birdwatching, Semiahmoo Resort offers indoor and outdoor tennis courts, beach volleyball, a squash/racquetball court, basketball hoops, fitness centre with an indoor track and two challenging public golf courses, including one designed by Arnold Palmer. In the summer, backyard barbecues are held on Fridays and clambakes on Saturdays, providing guests an opportunity to mingle. The Semiahmoo Spit is made up of more than 300 acres of tidal land and about 1.5 miles of level pathways ideal for walking, biking, rollerblading, kayaking, clamming, sand sculpting, kite flying and picnicking. Our ground-floor room, which opened up to the lawn, beach and tidal pools, offered sweeping views of Drayton Harbour and its spectacular sunsets.
Inspiration for the recently completed renovations was taken from the surrounding landscape, including the deep blue carpets and warm sunset-yellow décor.
The lobby and common areas feature Net Effect, an eco-friendly carpet that supports small fishing villages in the Philippines by repurposing discarded fishing nets, collected by locals along the double barrier reef, into carpet tiles. For those arriving in electric cars, the resort has installed Tesla and Sun Country Highway charging stations.
I was provided a tour of the resort to check out some of its new features and improvements and enjoyed my sneak peak of a new private dining space with a wine tasting room and a theatre with plush seating ideal for a family movie night or corporate function. The theatre is open for reservations, as well as complementary movie screenings upon request, on Friday and Saturday nights.
Semiahmoo is built on the former site of the first salmon cannery in Whatcom County, constructed in 1881. The resort’s many architectural details and artwork pay homage to that rich history — the cannery was sold in 1982. So it’s no surprise the resort specializes in fresh seafood, including fish and oysters. We ate at Pierside Kitchen, which has an emphasis on fresh, seasonally-inspired cuisine showcasing the local bounty available in abundance due to its seaside location and proximity to nearby farms and ranches. For a more casual evening, Packers Oyster Bar features up-scale pub food in a “coastal cottage” environment with walnut floors, a sprawling distressed wood bar, leather arm chairs and artisan-inspired bar stools.
We were also invited to try a couple’s massage in the resort’s spa where our seaweed-inspired treatments provided a real Pacific Northwest experience and an opportunity to relax in the midst of an exceedingly busy summer.
Semiahmoo Resort is located about 45 minutes south of Vancouver at 9565 Semiahmoo Parkway. For more information, visit semiahmoo.com.
sthomas@vancourier.com
@sthomas10
