A Mystical Christmas in Port Renfrew

This year’s holiday was a bit different with just the three of us alone on an island across the country from our families. So we decided to create our own little family holiday tradition and escape somewhere and bring the magic of Christmas with us. It was a enchanting mix of mystical beauty, wonder and joy, and memories we’ll cherish forever.

The goal was simple – we wanted to catch some of those special Christmas moments across the island and in Vancouver, but also take time to actually relax for once.

Balancing nursing shifts with holiday adventures can get a bit chaotic, but we managed to find just the right mix of festive activities and quiet moments. Finding the perfect spot was key – we needed somewhere unique and special, but within budget and less than 3 hours away. No flight bookings or ferry schedules to worry about.

We found this great deal at Handsome Dan’s in Port Renfrew. It had everything we were looking for – a kitchen, living room, bedroom with an ocean view, and this wonderful hot tub. Getting ready was quite the rush though – last-minute shopping for supplies, wrapping gifts, finishing edits before deadlines, and Joanna working overnight shifts. We both only managed an hour or two of sleep before hitting the road.

Once we arrived, everything fell into place. We decorated the space, giving it our own Christmas touch, and settled into this peaceful holiday rhythm – just the three of us. It had been so long since we’d both been able to truly relax and simply enjoy doing nothing. Watching the view, having drinks in the hot tub, playing with Zo’s new toys – it was exactly the change of pace we needed.

But you know how it goes – no trip feels complete without at least a small adventure. On our way home, we took the longer southern route towards Jordan River and hiked out to Mystic Beach. The trail was technically closed due to fallen trees scattered across the path, which wouldn’t normally be too challenging, but carrying a 2-year-old added an interesting element to the journey.

I ended up quite muddy during that 40-minute hike down, but the destination made it worthwhile. The falls at Mystic Beach are incredible – I’ve seen countless photos and videos, but they never quite capture the real thing. Could have spent an entire day on that beach, but we still had a long drive ahead of us. At least we managed to add one more little adventure to our mystical Christmas.

It was the perfect balance of relaxation and exploration – exactly what makes a holiday memorable.