He shot to fame playing heart-throb Brandon Walsh, hanging out with the rich kids in Beverly Hills 90210.
But when it came to creating his own personal haven, actor Jason Priestley chose something as far removed from the clubs, boutiques and exclusive high schools of California as he could get.
Terrace Beach Resort, in Canada’s British Columbia, is a retreat offering back to nature experiences in one of the world’s top beauty spots. Perched near a sheltered harbour on Vancouver Island’s remote southwestern coast, it nestles between the two main sections of the Pacific Rim National Park. Surrounded by wind-swept beaches, it lures guests from around the world with outdoor attractions such as salmon fishing, kayaking, whale and storm watching and cycling. The only hint of the star’s California days comes in the shape of surfing classes and in-cabin spa treatments.
Vancouver-born Jason’s hotel, carved out from an earlier resort and managed by his father Lorne, is an unusual property in that it features a collection of cabins and lofts connected by a wooden boardwalk. It offers five different types of cosy accommodation: beach front cabins, boardwalk lofts, two- and one-bedroom suites and bachelor suites. The larger buildings come complete with fabulous hot tubs from which guests can enjoy views over the dense forest.
The hotel encourages more active visitors to pull on their hiking boots or slip into cycling gear and follow the nature trails close to the resort, where they may even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the indigenous Golden Eagle. After a hard day exploring the national park, they can reward themselves with a little pampering in the form of a candlelit massage, facial, pedicure or, for the more adventurous, a stone therapy.
And as for star-watching – celebrities that is – you may even catch a glimpse of homeboy Jason himself. Once voted one of the most beautiful people in the world, the ex-teen pin-up has apparently spent a lot of time in the area in recent months, filming two TV movies in Victoria.
If you want to check in to Jason’s haven, visit www.terracebeachresort.ca. Oh, and you can take your pooch, too, because the actor’s resort is dog-friendly.
