Great minds see things simply. "We are, or become, those things which we repeatedly do." said Albert Einstein. "therefore, excellence can become not just and event, but a habit." The statement perfectly describes the philosophy at the Sonora Resort & Conference Centre, dedicated first and foremost to providing the ultimate destination for world-class salmon sprtfishing.

The resort claims a waterfront perch on the island of Sonora, a wooded refuge within British Columbia's inside passage, 125 miles northwest of Vancouver. Buests fly in by seaplane, coasting to a gentle stop at the dock outside the main lodge. Greeted immediately by resort staff, they say good-bye to the cares of the everyday world. The all-inclusive approach covers everything: the flight from Vancouver to Sonora and return, all meals, drinks, activities, and fully guided fishing excursions.

Every two guests also enjoys an experienced fishing guide to take care of all the particulars while they simply soak up the scenery and reel in one salmon after another. For a bird's-eye view of the wilderness, helicopter tours-available by the day or by the hour-provide breathtaking vistas of the coastal mountains, glaciers, pristine rivers, and magnificent lakes.

The resort itself, however, offers plenty of incentive to stay close. A spacious, completely modernized boardroom makes small meetings a pleasure. For larger groups of up to 120, the brand new 2,000-square-foot Longhouse Convention Facility comes with state-of-the-art multimedia capabilities within a handsome rough-hewn setting.

The resort owes its cozy communal feel to six comfy lodges, each with guest rooms opening onto a large central living room. For couples, this means a vacation with equal amounts of romantic privacy and social interaction. For corporate groups, it means a chance to forgenew strategies in a warm family setting.

Within the lodges, guests discover whirlpools, saunas, entertainment centers, a lap pool, a fitness center, and a game room with billiards, darts, and snooker. Outside, the grounds buzz throughout the day with guests splashing in the pool, batting volleyballs, or playing tennis.

At mealtimes, everyone gathers around large tables in the main lodge's dining room. Here they swap stories of the day's activities-the grizzly bear glimpsed from a distance, the orcas that breached in front of the resort, the prize salmon that didn't get away. But whenther they've just caught a salmon or a gorgeous sunset, guests find themselves thinking more clearly than they have in years. As the staff likes to say, "Welcome to the Sonora experience."