Desolation Sound Wilderness Resort

Set along the shoreline of Okeover Inlet, Desolation Sound Resort sits at the edge of a 2,400 km² marine park on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast. Eagles nest above the water. Orcas pass through on the tide. The resort's 12 chalets, ranging from one-bedroom retreats to three-bedroom family units sleeping up to eight, all sit along the same stretch of private shoreline, each with its own kitchen and balcony. Chalet 2 is the largest, spanning three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms for up to eight guests, while Chalet 6 pairs two king rooms and a loft with a private hot tub at the water's edge. A private dock lets guests arrive by boat and tie up directly; those without one can launch a trailered vessel a short walk away at Okeover Landing. An oceanfront barrel sauna sits right on the shore, and zodiac tours run out to petroglyphs and waterfalls nearby. You can kayak the inlet at dawn, when the water lies flat and the mist has not yet lifted off the strait. Parking sits a short walk from several chalets rather than at the door. Pets are permitted in most units, generally on the ground floor only, and a handful of upper-level suites are adults-only. Full kitchens throughout mean self-catering is standard here, not an add-on.