Naturally Pacific is a beautiful brand new boutique resort that just opened in Campbell River in May 2023. The architecture of this hundred room resort is West Coast inspired and the landscaping is thoughtful and charming. While I love the ghostly atmosphere of a historic hotel, it is a unique experience to enjoy the pristine crispness of one newly opened. The rooms at Naturally Pacific are modern and sleek while still feeling comfortable. In fact, the beds are some of the most cozy I’ve experienced. The plump pillows and luxuriously heavy duvets rival the likes of the Four Seasons. The rooms overlook the river itself, or the eighteen hole Campbell River Golf Course and Velocity Driving Range, as well as Naturally Pacific’s lovely outdoor lounge and pool area.
Enjoying the Outdoors at Naturally Pacific
The pool is indoor with floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto an outdoor pool deck with loungers, as well as games like corn-hole and giant chess. Adjacent is the outdoor lounge area which has couches arranged around outdoor fireplaces. Surrounded by planters filled with flowers, these semi-private spaces give guests room to enjoy the outdoors. You’re also welcome to order drinks and food.
We enjoyed a delicious Phantom Creek red wine as well as Fresh Cut Fries with parmesan and rosemary, and Gruyere Mac & Cheese from the on-site dining Carve Kitchen & Meatery while catching a cotton candy sunset. You can also order off the Velocity Lounge menu, or even pick up items, like pizza, from their to-go window and then enjoy them fireside. The to-go window is designed to provide food and drinks (alcoholic and non) for golfers: the limited menu items are packaged so that they’re easy to enjoy on the course. A bigger more comprehensive menu is offered by Velocity for in-person dining, either in Velocity’s lounge or on their covered patio.
Fore!
The Velocity driving range is a really fun activity for families – or a group of friends who want to hit a few balls while enjoying a few beers. The private bays accommodate up to eight guests and offer an immersive virtual golf experience for anyone from beginners (me) to seasoned golfers. Utilizing Toptracer technology allows guests to play games like Go Fish or compete to see who can hit balls highest or furthest. You can also virtually play famous golf courses from around the world.
While I was not impressed with my own golfing abilities, I was impressed by the food at Velocity. Full table service of food and drinks is part of the driving range experience. To be honest, I was expecting basic bar food. I got much better than that. The chicken wings were fried with a crispy exterior but juicy interior. Your sauce of choice came on the side which preserved the crisp crust while allowing you to sauce your wings as much or as little as you like. The pork tacos came topped with a tasty salsa as well as mindfully picked onions in soft, fresh tortillas.
Dining and Unwinding
One reason that the food at Velocity is so good is because of Executive Chef Ryan Watson who holds the same position at Carve, Naturally Pacific’s modern steakhouse. The team at Carve have cultivated an on-site kitchen garden where they grow their own produce and herbs. On the menu, Carve has classic steakhouse salads like a Caesar and a Wedge. They also serve fresh local oysters, and, of course, steak. Cuts offered range from a tender 6oz bacon wrapped tenderloin to an impressive 50oz tomahawk.
Besides the golf course, driving range, and on-site dining, another amenity at Naturally Pacific is the Immersion Spa. Unwind, unplug, and escape in this soothing oasis. You can use the custom, oversized mineral pool, as well as two Italian-made water therapy showers. One is cold and one is a comfortable temperature somewhere between warm and hot. They cycle through different colours, while the pressure and stream of the water changes in sync. It’s a pleasure to linger and move from the pool to one of the showers and back again. The Immersion spa also provides a range of other treatments like pedicures and massages.
Naturally Pacific provides an impeccable resort atmosphere. The luxurious amenities, and beautiful rooms and suites, make it the perfect base from which to explore Campbell River. A trip this fall offers the chance to see grizzly bears on a day trip to the Great Bear Rainforest, and Naturally Pacific makes a great base from which to explore Campbell River.
