That was filmed on BC’s Sunshine Coast.

When I arrived at my tenthouse suite at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort on B.C.’s Halfmoon Bay, I was in total awe. The settings was just as spectacular as it had looked when I drooled over their website. Meandering along a winding wooden walkway through the trees, I passed through the Forest of Endor only to arrive at my tent suite and discover that I essentially had Gaius Baltar’s Caprica view. A bald eagle sighting within moments of stepping out onto the expansive deck topped it… my Nerd-o-Meter was off the charts.

Exploring my sweet tenthouse suite, the geek-out overload had me scurrying around like a kid amped up on pixie stix. I was so thrilled by my accommodations, I didn’t know what to do first. Fill up the spa tub and take in the view while chromotherapy lights created a feel-good disco party for one? Order up room service to my tent just for the luxury factor? Crank up the heated slate floors and pad around barefoot for a therapeutic foot treatment? The tenthouse suites at Rockwater are so well-outfitted that it’s often difficult to remember that this little world of luxury and comfort is contained within canvas walls and perched on a platform.

I opened the doors to the vast and wonderful waterfront patio wide, listened to the gentle waves lapping up on the rocks below me, and sunk down into the impossibly sublime king-sized bed…and promptly feel asleep under the watch of kindly sci-fi forest dwellers, sure to keep Cyclons, Stormtroopers or any other evil forces at bay.

Oh and what a sweet sleep it was. In fact, deep peaceful relaxation became the absolute modus operandi for my stay. You’ll have to excuse my wild sci-fi imagination, but this is a place that feels otherworldly, and inspires creativity and belief in mythical things. This is just the type of place you’d want to hole up and write the Great American Novel.

I’m a big fan of tents, yurts and the like as an alternate form of lodging. It allows you to get closer, to stay within the natural habitat—the main attraction in a place like the Sunshine Coast. Lulled to sleep by the sound of the surf and awaking to fir branches brushing the canvas walls in a gentle breeze, this is a great way to immerse yourself in a special setting.

Traversing the network of elevated boardwalk paths, nestled in the trees, between the tent suites and the main hotel area adds to the Ewok Village feel. I was consistently late for every meal; I always miscalculated the stroll time along these magic pathways. The sweet vistas and gorgeous trees to ponder along the way force everyone to slow down…and savor.

Staying at Rockwater means drinking in the incredible surroundings in every way possible. At the Spa Without Walls I listened to a chatty ravens cajole each other over in the bay just steps away while experiencing an ancient Ayurvedic massage. When I returned too late from a horseback ride to make lunch, a soft ring on a bell outside my tent announced the arrival of a delightful noodle salad and chilled wine, and I dined al fresco with a killer view from my deck. Room service to a tent? It’s an unknown pleasure I’ll not soon forget.

Speaking of savory things…I have to tell you about the food! But so enamored was I with the fresh, locally-based culinary delights experiences at Rockwater that I’m going to have to devote an upcoming post to the subject. Stay tuned, and don’t come back hungry.

Sadly, a short spate of inclement weather cancelled plans to explore the coastline with Halfmoon Sea Kayaks and I didn’t have a chance to explore any of the dozens of hiking trails running into the surrounding wilds of the Sunshine Coast. But that leaves new adventures to look forward to next time. Oh yes, I will be back.

In addition to the tenthouse suites, Rockwater Secret Cove Resort offers ocean view cabins and lodge rooms. More information is available on their website, along with those drool-inducing photos. My stay was hosted by Tourism BC and Spectacular Ink.

I’d always assumed that the resort experience wasn’t for me. The assumptions I based this around included the following:

they attract primarily party-hungry co-eds
the included meals are akin to cafeteria fare
they tend to be cut-off from the outside world
they were crowded, and
there was no marked effort towards sustainability or environmental considerations

I checked in at the Dreams Riviera Cancun and all those assumptions were challenged and, ultimately, dismissed. Staying at a resort, as it turns out, is far more of an appealing experience than I had ever realized.

I did not hear the whoops and hollers of co-eds doing body shots at the beach bar. (Spring breakers, I learned, actually make up a very small fraction of the tourist traffic in the Riviera Maya.) I did not see an aftermath of sun-burnt crazies passed out along the beach each morning. There was no looping Jimmy Buffet soundtrack. None of that.

What I found instead was a pleasantly calm environment – a place to pamper yourself and enjoy the good life, unfettered by stress and responsibility. Everyone I encountered wore the friendly face of relaxation as I cruised the tastefully landscaped grounds. (This is a very family-friendly resort, after all. In fact, kidlets can play away with the all-day activities at the Explorers Club while parents relax poolside.) The only celebratory hoots I heard came from the near-daily wedding parties happening at the lovely beachside gazebo.

Dreams Resorts are based on the Unlimited Luxury concept, and I have to say I reveled in the decadence. My guest room was lovely, with a super-comfy king-sized bed, soothing color palate, and all the amenities I could hope for. My suite featured a private plunge pool and jetted-tub on the semi-private veranda, allowing me to hang out outdoors and enjoy the tropical breezes at any time. Among my favorite features? 24-hour room service (hello!) and a daily refresh of my mini-bar, all included as part of your stay.

And speaking of the food…aye chihuahua! During my stay, I was able to sample the cuisine from three of the six on-site restaurants. The food was fantastic! Whether elevated takes on classic local dishes or interpretations of different world cuisines, I was very impressed with the caliber and quality of the food at Dreams. The only thing I’d note is that options are a bit limited for vegetarians – as a fish-eater, I was able to find plenty to enjoy.

I also have to mention that the staff was awesome. Everyone I encountered was kind and genuine, and I felt truly cared for without any strange hints of servitude. It’s one thing to offer excellent service, but to me it’s even a greater thing to offer it with an true sense of generosity.

When I started to add up all the benefits of Dreams’ Unlimited Luxury, I can see a real value to a stay here, especially in a region where prices are far higher than in other parts of Mexico. Having all your accommodation, food, and booze covered in the nightly rate, as well as having plenty of activities to do on-site while you are there, translates into a good deal for someone looking for an easy but luxurious getaway that doesn’t break the bank.

The other big takeaway was this: sustainability initiatives are happening at all levels of tourism. Cancun-area developers and hoteliers have recognized the turning tide and are taking active steps to address environmental impacts and integrate local culture into their operations. Dreams Cancun was recently recognized by the Rainforest Alliance for meeting sustainable tourism requirements, and many other chains are taking notice and following suit. There may be more to overcome in an area that’s seen it’s share of less-than-responsible tourism, but the flipside is that the audience they are reaching is far-reaching and an important sect of the population. Just as Michelle Obama has taken up the cause of bringing organic products to Walmart stores in order to reach a far larger swathe of people, so too does the greening of resorts bring awareness and new practices to a large sect of tourists.

Many resorts are doing this behind the scenes. Speaking with staff from several of the Dreams properties in Mexico, I learned of recycling and composting programs that are quietly taking place out of view. I encountered a staff made up largely of local residents, many of whom are promoted within to upper-level management positions. The energy-saving features of my guest room were not heralded on any promotional materials. And a visit to another property owned by AMResorts, Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita, really took this idea up a notch – an amazing resort that has fully integrated sustainability and cultural elements throughout its operations. (I’m looking forward to learning more about Zoetry soon!)

We all travel for different reasons. Not everyone finds a thrill in hovering over a squat toilet in a remote village or rolling the dice sleeping under a ratty mosquito net while malaria-ridden bugs hover menacingly near your face. I primarily seek out travel that is culturally-rich and sustainable, but by all means, I’m not saying that’s the only way to go. As my new blogger friend Stephanie at Travel Designed put it, “I don’t care where you go, I just want you to GO!”

We all have busy lives, and who among us doesn’t want simple relaxation once in awhile? Staying at Dreams Riviera offered me a wonderful chance to unplug, unwind and rejuvenate. And you know what? It worked. I came back rested and have had more energy this past week than I am used to; usually I come home tired out. It’s a small miracle, and now I can say – I get it.

As a sustainable, eco-focused traveler, I’m here to tell you that “resort” is not a dirty word.

They call her Toronto’s “Grande Dame”. Officially opened in 1929, the original buildings on the site of the Royal York date back to 1843. It’s now a sort of modern heritage site, with one foot proudly planted in the historic British Empire from whence it came, and the other stepping confidently into a sustainable future.

When I traveled to Ontario for Northern Edge Algonquin’s Quest for Balance retreat, the kind folks at Tourism Ontario put me up here. Conveniently located across the street from the train station, it seemed like a practical choice for my Ontario Northlander rail voyage to the northern wilds and back.  Checking in, I found a lengthy collection of accolades in the hotel’s promotional materials…and it was well deserved. If I was the Royal York, I’d be shouting it from my bucolic rooftops. Here is a hotel that really walks its talk.

I learned that in 1990 the Fairmont Royal York developed a very comprehensive “green action plan” in response to a survey that revealed over 90% of employees cast their support for more environmentally-friendly practices. Looking around me, I saw a comfortable and unassuming room. Here’s what I didn’t see:

-    Energy efficient lights, used in every guest and meeting room, were illuminating my room

-    Non-toxic cleaning products by EcoLab had been used to shine it up

-    My room’s carpets, wall coverings and paints were made with low volatile organic compound (VOC) materials

-    The hotel’s recycling program goes beyond just the glass, paper, plastics and aluminum recycling found in my room. It’s a comprehensive program that includes food reclamation and recycling of things you wouldn’t even think of, like plates furniture and toiletries.

-    In the bathroom, a water-saving showerhead and low-flush toilets, in addition to a hotel-wide water softening system, have reduced the hotel’s water consumption by an estimated 40,000 gallons per month.

-    A full upgrade of all the hotel’s laundry equipment in 2009 brought the hotel a 22% savings in energy.

Up on the roof above me, a flourishing organic garden and colony of bees was providing fresh produce and honey to the hotel’s restaurants and my excellent room service splurge. (Lucky me! I got to take a tour of the rooftop garden and beehives – stay tuned for an upcoming post about that.) Also, working with FLAP (Fatal Light Awareness Program), the hotel rewired its roof and installed a split circuit lighting system, which they say eliminates the chance that reflected light will cause birds to fly into the hotel or nearby buildings, a sadly frequent occurrence in developed cities when migrating birds become confused by the bright lights of buildings at high altitudes.

The Fairmont Royal York supports the local community through some great community service projects: every day, all leftover food at the hotel goes to local Second Harvest food bank and they donate to supports local non-profits including a women and children’s shelter.

This sustainable philosophy is carried throughout the Fairmont’s operations, and I’m impressed with the thoughtfulness and thoroughness they’ve brought to it. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts owns over 60 properties worldwide, each with cultural and historic significance. It was the first major hotel chain in North America to embrace environmental stewardship in its daily operations and continues to lead by example. This is the kind of large-scale chain that I will consciously seek out in my travels, and I’m looking forward to checking out more of their properties, such as the Vancouver Waterfront Fairmont, which also has an on-site herb garden and honeybee apiary, and the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui, where over 50 environmentally friendly initiatives are in place, such as a state of the art laundry water recycling system.

My one complaint? High-speed internet access is available in all guest rooms, but you have to pay for it (about $15 CDN) and it’s by hard-wire connection only (no wifi). For a hotel that has an active Facebook page and Twitter account, this came as a surprise, and a bit of a disappointment. But this was a very small letdown in an otherwise completely fantastic stay.

Photo credits:
Fairmont Royal York exterior by Julie, Dave & Family
Guest room photo courtesy of The Fairmont Royal York