• Home
  • Contact
  • Cookbook
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Basics
    • Breakfast
    • Smoothies
    • Lunch
    • Appies & Snacks
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Drinks
    • Vegan
    • Gluten-Free
  • Meal Plans
  • Living
    • Nutrition
    • Beauty & Style
    • Fitness
    • Kids
    • Entertaining
    • Our Home
    • Travel
    • DIY
  • Shop
    • Holiday
    • Cookbook
    • Digital Prints
    • The ‘Keep it Fraîche’ Snack Box
    • Fraîche x Cara Cotter
    • Meal Plan
    • Kitchen
    • Home
    • Style
    • Beauty

Fraiche Living

Tori Wesszer, Food and Lifestyle Blogger

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Basics
    • Breakfast
    • Smoothies
    • Lunch
    • Appies & Snacks
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Drinks
    • Vegan
    • Gluten-Free
  • Meal Plan
  • Living
    • Nutrition
    • Beauty & Style
    • Fitness
    • Kids
    • Entertaining
    • Our Home
    • Travel
    • DIY
  • Shop
    • Cookbook
    • Digital Prints
    • The ‘Keep it Fraîche’ Snack Box
    • Fraîche x Cara Cotter
    • Meal Plan
    • Kitchen
    • Home
    • Style
    • Beauty
  • Cookbook
Living

Our Nimmo Bay Adventure

October 11, 2020

Nimmo Bay with Jillian Harris and Tori Wesszer

Jillian, Justin, Charles and I snuck away for a kid-free trip to Nimmo Bay a few weeks ago, and it was PURE magic!  From the world-class food to the breathtaking adventures, I wanted to share it all with you here today.

Nimmo Bay Resort is a family owned small resort on the that is nestled in the Haida Gwaii Islands in the heart of Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest in the Gwawenuk Territory. The Murrays have been welcoming guests to this stunning area for nearly 40 years! Fraser (the eldest) and his beautiful wife Becky, have transformed the original fishing lodge that his parents Craig and Deborah established into a world-class wilderness resort that we were blessed to experience.

I stumbled upon the Nimmo Bay Instagram account 3 years ago when Charles sent it to me (haha, hint hint). My jaw dropped – I couldn’t believe such a place existed.  One look and you’ll see what I mean!  I actually got tears in my eyes going back onto their site as a source for this post. The whole trip was simply too incredible for words, but I will do my best.

Nimmo Bay Resort

After 3 years of planning (and plans falling apart for us time after time), we finally were able to coordinate a couples trip with Jillian and Justin with NO KIDS.  From tip to tail, the entire trip was filled with joy, laughter and awe.  They are memories I will forever cherish.

Float Plane to Nimmo Bay

How to Get to Nimmo Bay 

There are a few ways to get to Nimmo Bay. There are a few moving parts, but in all honesty, getting there is a part of the adventure.  Their team is awesome and can help you figure it out based on what works for you!  We chose to drive to Richmond and take a private float plane using Private Sky Aviation. The flight took just under 2 hours and brought us right to the dock at Nimmo Bay.  The flight alone was such a beautiful experience. Flying over the gorgeous coastline gave me a new appreciation for our crazy-awesome province.

Accommodations at Nimmo Bay

There are a variety of accommodations at Nimmo Bay: and none disappoint.  We ended up staying in ocean-front cabins that were too cute for words. The cottage was adorned with velvet curtains, a dreamy soaker tub, rocking chairs to enjoy the morning coffee and the perfect touch of antiques that Fraser has collected.  It was my kind of perfect!

Nimmo Bay cottage Nimmo Bay cottages Nimmo Bay Cabins

Our Nimmo Bay Adventures

We quite literally had the time of our lives at Nimmo Bay. I had no idea that this type of experience existed in truth – it’s one of those things that is hard to explain.  The entire resort has such a warm welcoming feel to it, from the bay it is nestled in to the beyond lovely staff that made our trip beyond special. From sitting on the dock by the fire in their Adirondack chairs to flying high over the mountain tops, here is a summary of my highlights!

Fraiche Living Nimmo Bay

kayaks at Nimmo Bay

Ocean Kayaking, Whale Watching & Beach Picnic

The resort has THE coolest boats I’ve ever seen.  We took off on one of them to explore the ocean, where we saw whales breaching, sea otters playing, beautiful aboriginal markings on the cliffs from the First Nations.  We spent the balance of the day kayaking in a bay followed by a decadent lunch of chilli, homemade cornbread and wine.

Waterfall hot tub at Nimmo Bay

Waterfall Hot Tub

One of the things that I was most looking forward to was the hot tub that was nestled at the foot of a waterfall in the resort.  And it didn’t disappoint.  Sipping morning coffee in that hot tub was absolute goals.  I can’t describe the serenity of that space.  We all took turns freezing our buns off under the VERY COLD waterfall and laughing at our expressions.

Champagne on a glacier  Oyster Bar Jillian Harris & Tori Wesszer

Best buds on top of the world Glacier helicopter picnic

Glacier Helicopter Ride with Champagne & Oysters

This had to be one of the most breathtaking experiences I could ever imagine.  It was Charles’ first time in a helicopter (it was a surprise part of the trip – poor guy was a bit nervous).  All I have to say is that when we landed he was in tears… the good kind.  Seeing the world from the top of that mountain, with our best friends, was one of the highlights of our lives.  We were quite literally on top of the world and my heart is forever grateful for those moments.

The lake that we sat above was the most incredible blue I’ve ever seen, and the fact that they brought a chef up to the top… my mind was blown.

floating sauna at Nimmo Bay

Spa on the Dock

The resort is literally filled with hidden gems that are tucked away from sight. Apparently we didn’t even come close to experiencing them all (how is this possible?).  In any case, we took turns as couples getting dropped off on the dock of a floating sauna where we ate lunch in robes, had a couples massage and soaked up the heat in the cedar sauna.  I had to basically drag Charles off – he had found his happy place!

hiking at Nimmo Bay Resort

Hiking (among the bears!)

On the same day we went to the dock spa we took a small boat to hike into a special place.  When we pulled into the bay we saw a total of NINE bears!  Talk about trust. Our guides were incredible: Irvin is a local resident from Heghmus (Hopetown) who knows the land like the back of his hand and is a wildlife expert.  Between him and Chris, we were in the best hands as we hiked into the forest to explore the nature.  It was magical: I thought that ferries were going to fly out of the forest at any moment!

foraging for food

Foraging for Food

Much of the food that is served at Nimmo Bay is sourced from the region by their talented chefs and the owner Fraser who grew up in the resort and is an experienced diver. We took off one day to forage for food, eating some of it fresh from the ocean, and had the best time.  I was in foodie heaven!

couples picnic lunch at Nimmo Bay

picnic lunch at Nimmo Bay

Picnic in the Woods on the Ocean & Champagne Sabering

On our last day we were whisked away by boat to have lunch.  We pulled up to a rocky nook where we were greeted by our new friend Kyle (best. server. ever) with a bottle of champagne and a saber.  Jillian took the honour of sabering the bottle (bandaids may have been used) and we hiked up to a full-on gourmet picnic in the woods.  What a way to end the trip!

Dining at Nimmo Bay Resort

I can’t even begin to express how incredible the food was at Nimmo Bay Resort.  I was warned to pack my stretchy pants from those who had been there before!  The food is as fresh as it gets and the best kind of gourmet: completely unpretentious and letting the flavours of the ingredients shine.  From fresh lobster, homemade flaky biscuits and crisp flavourful salads, I was blown away!  I will be sharing a couple of recipes from their chefs here soon.

Seafood at Nimmo Bay
Image Credit Jeremy Koreski

What to Pack for Nimmo Bay

I read everything on the website (including what to pack), but was still a bit unsure about some of the things to bring.  How fancy was the restaurant?  How dirty and wet would we be getting? Depending on how you are getting there, you may be limited to a smaller bag so you have to be a bit of a packing ninja here!  I ended up not wearing any of my fancier clothes (the restaurant is gorgeous but super chill, there is no dress code), and a pair of nice sandals and a cool pair of boots like Blundstones are all you need for footwear.  They have all the rain gear and hiking boots etc for you there! Here is what I packed (minus the sparkly outfit and heels that I should have left behind):

  • Jackets (rain coat & light jacket)
  • Shirts (plaid flannel & waffle shirts)
  • Jeans
  • Leggings
  • Warm socks
  • Boots: Blundstone or Hunter or similar
  • Sneakers
  • Swim Suit

dock at Nimmo Bay Resort

 

Thank you Nimmo Bay Resort for hosting us!

Posted By: Tori Wesszer · In: Living, Travel

Join the List

<< 11 Pumpkin Recipes Peanut Butter & Jam Bars >>

You may also like...

  • Our Tofino Family Vacation: Where to Eat, Stay and PlayOur Tofino Family Vacation: Where to Eat, Stay and Play
  • Our Romantic BC Wine Country GetawayOur Romantic BC Wine Country Getaway
  • Another Tofino Family Vacation!Another Tofino Family Vacation!

Comments

  1. HRL says

    October 12, 2020 at 12:05 pm

    Consider removing the reference to the Queen Charlotte Islands, that’s the colonizer name.

    Reply
    • Tori says

      October 13, 2020 at 4:19 pm

      Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Latest from Instagram

Open
Priorities. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’ve been thinking about them a lot these last few days. I’ve been reading the book ‘Untamed’ by @glennondoyle (have you read it? love to hear your thoughts), and it’s made me really think.  It made me think about my childhood, my relationships (including the one with myself) and what I want to put out to the world in the short time I have here. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My last post was sharing our story of my dad’s journey with  Alzheimer’s. We are so lucky to have him at such an early stage of the disease, fully himself.  He is such a gift to us and the world. In sharing this story a floodgate of touching yet heart-wrenching stories poured in.  My heart expanded and broke at the same time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jillian posted something about high functioning anxiety the other day, and I checked most (ok all) of those boxes ... ugh.  The irony is that I live a lot in the future, a little busy body, not really taking the time to enjoy the present - but one day, should I have the same disease as my dad (50% chance), I will truly only have the capacity to live in that moment.  It stopped me dead in my tracks. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As I wade into 2021 I am doing my best to realign my life to match my priorities - perfect balance isn’t what I’m after, that’s nonsense as far as I’m concerned.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
A little deep for a Tuesday but that’s where my brain is at today!  Sending love ... as always. ❤️
Open
Without a doubt the most difficult blog post I have ever written.  My sweet incredible funny kind loving dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, a diagnosis that tore my heart in two. This is our story.  The post is on the blog FraicheLiving.com 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.  Sending you all love, especially those who have been impacted by this disease. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We remain hopeful, and are reminded on the daily to not take life for granted. ❤️ 
#alzheimers #alzheimersawareness #alzheimersawarenessmonth
Open
Let’s make a date (bar). These healthier Date Bars are on the blog (search DATE) and totally snack worthy 🍊
Open
This is one berry good smoothie 🍓And if you listen closely I’m pretty sure you’ll hear your body say THANK YOU!  I hope you are loving the smoothie challenge so far!  No sweat if you missed starting on Monday, we are saving the challenge to our highlights and you can hop on board any day of the year!  All of the recipes are on the blog. #5DaySmoothieChallenge Fraicheliving.com
Open
Travels with this crew... 🤍
My parents & Jillian’s (our moms are sisters) have always travelled together and have had THE MOST incredible adventures (our dads are ridiculously witty - literally the funniest humans). Looking back I can guarantee that those are some of their best memories.
I’m so grateful that we got to do the same last year - I can’t wait for another trip!  And might I say that I wish I was eating my lunch in this spot today!  Thank you again @nimmobayresort

@jillian.harris @justinpasutto @cwpersona
Open
An apple (smoothie) a day... on to day 3 of the 5 day smoothie challenge tomorrow! 🍎 Who’s following along?
Open
I don’t do resolutions but love having a word to guide my year - I’m having a hard time picking just one this year. I think I got this idea from my friend @jenniferwilson.co ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
While being focussed and more organized is always on my list, they don’t really seem to feel right.  With the boys growing so quickly and the reality of aging sinking in, especially with my dad having Alzheimer’s, I feel that time has never been more precious. I’m always finding myself trying to fit one more chore in or sneak in that extra email ... but really, why?  This will be the year of more snuggles for me, more campfires, glasses of wine with my loved ones over good food ... more memories. I worry that one day soon Charlie won’t want to snuggle me and it breaks my heart. 

I took a break from being on IG stories over the holidays and it was such a gift - I love being on the platform but there sure is a balance between being ‘on’ and being present. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I think this year my word will be FAMILY ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What would your ONE word be this year??
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube
         

Copyright © 2021 Fraiche LivingTerms and Conditions Privacy Policy