The term “stormwatching” can conjure up all sorts of imagery, from rain-slicked beachgoers to salty old mariners staring at the horizon and saying “looks like there’s weather comin’ in.”
And those traditional interpretations of the term still hold fast. But at Long Beach Lodge, our idea of “stormwatching” is just a little bit more glamourous.
Check out our non-exhaustive Survival Kit and you’ll see what we mean.
Dinner Reservations
After a long day of lounging fireside, cocktail in hand, you’re going to need sustenance. And not just any sustenance, but the world-class cuisine for which Tofino is famous. The Great Room, which serves as the beating heart of Long Beach Lodge, has an unobstructed, elevated view of Cox Bay. And you’d be hard-pressed to find a stormier stretch of ocean during Fall and Winter, with massive swells culminating their long march across the cold Pacific right in front of the lodge. Pair that energy with a glass of BC Wine and the best meal you’ve had in recent memory, and you might as well call yourself a professional stormwatcher.
The Great Room’s not the coast’s only spot for inspired local cuisine – both Tofino and Ucluelet have a wide array of amazing restaurants – but nowhere else has a view quite like ours.
Surfboard
One person’s stormwatching season is another one’s stormchasing season. It’s all very subjective. But when the northwesterly flow locks into place over the Pacific, the surf has the potential to be as good as it gets. Now, Cox Bay might not be surfable during the peak of these storms, although it can be really good on either side of the powerful systems. And some of the area’s other breaks – spots that stay dormant throughout the summer – wake up and deliver the goods to the willing.
Not for you? Well then you can just grab a hot beverage and watch from the beach. Or better yet, take in the action from The Great Room and/or your hotel room!
Sunglasses
Oh heck yes, there’s a good chance you’ll need them. The weather moves so quickly out here that there are bound to be breaks between storms. And when that happens, it’s time to don your shades and hit the beach. The sunshine just hits differently during our colder months.
Also, we still get high pressure systems throughout the stormy season. So there’s a chance that your “stormwatching” trip might be all rainbows and sunny beachwalks. Now that’s a good problem to have.
Books
Those books that have been piling up on your bedside table aren’t going to read themselves. Bring’em all, kick your feet up and get serious about plowing through some literature. Doomscrolling’s out, pageturning’s in. Fireside reading sessions are the ultimate form of self-care.
Spa Appointments
Indeed, stormwatching season can be described as a celebration of our luxurious indoor spaces. And there’s no space more luxurious than our Rainforest Spa. So set aside a few hours to tap into a level of relaxation that only the Westcoast can provide. One of our practitioners will tailor a treatment to your body and minds’ specific needs. Then you can wind down in our hot tub and sauna afterwards.
Get amongst it, baby. You’ve earned it.