For centuries a village of the Coast Salish Indians, Sooke, 40 kilometers west of Victoria, was settled by Europeans around 1850.

The discovery of gold in the 1860s lead to a boom in the population. A road was built from Victoria in 1872, and a post office and school established.

The area is home to numerous small farms, quaint accommodations, shops and restaurants. The waters off Sooke offer some of the best salmon fishing on Vancouver Island, while nearby lakes and streams are great for trout.

The Sooke River is famous for its potholes, a series of rock pools great for swimming or relaxing. On the east side of Sooke Harbor is East Sooke Regional Park with hiking trails, petroglyphs (ancient Indian rock carvings), and an abandoned copper mine.

Sooke is home to the annual longboat races in August, the same month for the Island's largest juried fine art show. History buffs will want to check out the Sooke Region Museum.

A little west on Hwy. 14 is Wiffen Spit, as is French Beach. There's picnic sites and a campground. A little further west is China Beach and the beginning of the Juan de Fuca trail. Three to four days should be set aside to complete the 47-kilometer trail; however, there are a number of shorter day-hike sections. The trail, from China Beach to Botanical Beach -- sections of the Juan de Fuca Provincial Park south of Port Renfrew -- are fast becoming one of Vancouver Island's favorites. Botanical Beach has some fascinating tidal pools.

Port Renfrew, 70 kilometers northwest of Sooke, is becoming famous for its huge trees, including a red fir over 240 feet tall.

IF YOU GO

BY ROAD: From Victoria, Sooke is a quick 30-minute drive west on Hwy. 14. From Nanaimo, take the Trans Canada Highway south to Victoria, then west on Hwy. 14. The 126-kilometer trip takes about two hours.

BY AIR: Scheduled airline connections are out of Vancouver to Victoria. Check with your travel agent or airline for schedules.