We are a family of four including two small (1 and 3 years old) children that stayed at Black Otter Cove in September 2008. For the first year after our second child was born, we didn't do a lot of travelling, just short day trips. We were looking for a getaway that we could all enjoy, easy to get to, and away from the "hotel" scene that doesn't work to well with small kids. Knowing the beauty of Vancouver Island during the fall, our internet search lead us to Black Otter Cove. Like many accommodations that are shown on the internet, the descriptions and pictures looked great. What set Black Otter Cove apart from the others very quickly was the great communication with the on-site owner/operator. Her information was great and all questions were quickly answered. The accommodations consist of two large furnished flats decorated in a great "west-coast" style, each of which has two bedrooms, kitchen, living room, dining room and large attached decks with BBq's and outdoor furniture. There is also a larger communal yard/deck area with more chairs, couch swing, fire pit and a fantastic hot tub. On the beach below is a dock with 3 single and one double kayak to explore Sooke Inlet in. The communal laundry room contained all required lifejackets, paddles, spray skirts and other safety gear as well as a large assortment of books and movies if the weather turned or you just want to sit and relax. In many cases, accommodation descriptions are correct, but leave a lot to be desired in both age and cleanliness when you actually arrive. That is NOT the case here. The suite was very new, immaculate, wonderfully furnished and fully prepared for us including a baby chair, and plastic sheet on the bed in the second bedroom for our 3 year old...not needed but a thoughtful touch. Extra Teddy bears placed in the second bedroom were also a big hit. The attached deck was closed off with a gate so our 1 year old could crawl around without getting into trouble. Blackberries were in season and could be found everywhere. The whole place feels like home with many thoughtful touches that quickly make you feel at ease. Our original plan was to stay for a week and then drive back home to Calgary over the course of the next week. That changed within a couple of hours of arrival, when we decided to stay for and extra three days, then do some sightseeing in the Vancouver area for a couple of days and have one parent fly home with the children while the other drove back. The amenities and feel of the place made us feel lucky that the suite we rented was available for the extra three days we wanted. Needless to say, we had a fantastic time with many hours spent kayaking around the jellyfish and starfish, finding crabs and critters on the beach, watching seabirds and even sneaking in a starlit nighttime dip in the hot tub after the kids were asleep. There are many hiking trails in the East Sooke provincial park a few minutes away that we managed to take some shorter walks in. We took some trips to see the sights in Victoria and area, but were always relieved to arrive "home" again at the end of the day. The town of Sooke is about 15 minutes drive away with Victoria Harbor being about a 30-40 minute drive. I think Black Otter Cove would make a great holiday destination, regardless of age or family status. Young, Old, Single or Married, you can always find something to do (or relax and not do anything). We will be back.…