Travel Deal for July 31, 2013
You’ve heard of luxury fishing trips. Hastings House on Salt Spring Island is delivering a luxury crabbing experience this summer.
Crab traps are set off the docks of the largest of the Gulf Islands that separate Vancouver Island from the mainland of British Columbia. Guests at Hastings House — a fantastic Relais & Chateaux property — will set out on an expedition with fisherman Kurt Irwin. Once anchored, they will pull up traps that are more than likely to be full of dungeness crab. Guests will then learn to clean, prep and cook the crab, while executive chef Marcel Kauer and staff ready an exquisite meal for the next night in this renowned establishment.
Guests will have use of all the gear they need and receive plenty of instruction. The Crab Catch Package is available five days a week, from Thursday to Monday, until the end of September 2013.
The package costs $1,358 per couple ($1,158 during off-peak months) and includes:
- Two-night stay
- Fishing boat outing
- Crabbing experience
- Breakfast and afternoon tea
- Four-course chef’s dinner of crab specialties
- A recipe book filled with crab dishes
- A tool for measuring crab size.
Hastings House suggests guests obtain a fishing licence prior to arrival.
Vacay.ca Drinks Up Vancouver Island
Not far from Salt Spring Island is Tugwell Creek Farm & Meadery, the first commercial meadery on Vancouver Island. Vacay.ca contributor Kathleen Kenna dropped in on this unique establishment and drank up the atmosphere in Sooke, west of Victoria.
Kenna writes: “Mead, traced to China 9,000 years ago, is believed to be the world’s first fermented drink. Once a favourite of European royalty, the honey wine is so popular at Tugwell Creek Honey Farm & Meadery that partners Robert Liptrot and Dana LeComte sell out all their varietals, every year.”
Read the rest of “Vancouver Island Sweetens Up to Mead”
To book this travel deal with Hastings House: Call 1-800-661-9255 (toll free) and its hosts will also include instruction on obtaining the fishing licence.
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