Off The Beaten Track :: Lodges & Cabins

[trip style = beach + glamping + budget + luxury]

This month we're doing a four-part feature on need-to-know Pacific Northwest destinations, resorts and lodges that sit in the shadow of bigger, fancier or legacy destinations.

Last week the spotlight was on Bellevue, the oft-forgotten and woodsy suburb where Microsofters mingle and shoppers spend, as an alternative to Seattle. This week we're escaping busy streets and crowded highways in search of lodges and cabins where sipping steaming coffee in a lakeside Adirondack chair and evening fireside chats are a detox for the soul.

The Alders Running barefoot along the sun-dried grass from beach to cabin {and back again} for a grape popsicle or nacho-flavored chips was my main commute. Roasting marshmallows for a little too long---to the point of incurring a small campfire on the end of my stick---was my big night out. The daily commute and hot smoky evenings took place at the Alders, a family-friendly summer escape near Campbell River on Vancouver Island. I spent close to every summer at this collection of vintage, wood-framed, beach-side cabins growing up. I remember retro stoves, orange and green geographic print curtains and beds with a slight canoe effect. To me, it was perfect. With no TVs or phones---though these days that doesn't mean much with portable e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g---this place is all about the sandbar, campfire songs and cozy cabins. Cost: From $1,160/week in the summer. Prices drop in shoulder season.

Sakinaw Lake Lodge After a 40-minute ferry ride from Vancouver, plus a 50-minute drive through artsy beach-front towns, you've arrived at the part salt, part fresh water lake. From the outside, Sakinaw Lake Lodge resembles any other other renovated cabin on the lake, but upon closer inspection, it's more more catered to and current than most weekend summer-use cabins. After a glass of wine is handed to you at pick-up, you stay in one of two lakefront suites {or rent the whole lodge} that give secluded relaxation a new meaning. There's even a luxury canvas tent for those of you who like to glamp! Cost: From $229/night during summer.

King Pacific Lodge Anywhere that calls Princess Royal Island and The Great Bear Rainforest home must be a remote eco-feast for the eyes. When you glide into this luxury wilderness resort on British Columbia's North Coast via float plane---the only way to arrive---you realize why it's an all-inclusive fit for royalty, pairing fishing and whale watching with epicurean indulgences and fine wines. Beware, this curated, multi-award winning, once-in-a-lifetime---or yearly, depending on how you roll---experience can only be had between June and September. By now, I'm sure you can guess the price. Cost: From $4,750 per person for a 3-night stay.

Bonus Selection: Skoki Lodge Even though this week's Off the Beaten Path feature is focused on lodges and cabins around the Pacific Northwest, I'd be remiss not to mention Skoki Lodge near Lake Louise, Alberta, where Will and Kate spent a night away from the eyes of the world on their royal tour of Canada. Rather than bring their entourage to a swanky lodge, they opted for a removed and understated retreat with no electricity or running water, originally built in 1930. PS. I hear the pair asked for at least one modern world luxury: running water. {Fair enough.} Cost: Summer rates from $169 - $263 per person.

[photos by Geoff & Ana-Maria, Sakinaw Lake Lodge, King Pacific Lodge, Parks Canada]

Spotlight :: Bellevue {Washington}

[trip style = weekending + urban + active & adventure + wine tasting]

Sunday morning did not start off like any other day. With my life jacket firmly fastened and my paddle gently sweeping through the glassy water, I spotted turtles instead of people and herons in place of buildings. On this peaceful morning, my main mode of transportation was a bright yellow kayak. The only reminder of the modern world was the entrance and exit to the Mercer Slough, where I paddled underneath what seemed like a bridge. Later on when I drove over this "bridge", I learned it was actually a series of concrete spaghetti-like structures that happened to be part of the I-90. In one glance I was away from it all, gliding through lilypads, and in the next glance, in the centre of it all, standing in the shadow of tall glass highrises.

This juxtaposition became my ebb and flow when I was invited to explore Bellevue this past weekend. One second I was admiring toy-like metal and mechanical animals dancing in a dim, strobe-lit room at the Bellevue Arts Museum, and the next moment I was in traditional and modern tasting rooms, twirling, sipping and sloshing the season's best in Woodinville Wine Country---only 15 minutes away.

If you spend 48 hours in the former whaling town, you'll discover activities you'd sooner associate with a waterfront metropolis than a quiet suburb. Previously I would just go to shop, eat and sleep. Now my Visa is happy to report that I've taken off the blinders that gave me shopping tunnel vision, to stop and look at what else is out there, counterbalancing the shopping with exercise, culture and upscale dining.

Bellevue's small-town-within-a-metropolis feel is what keeps me coming back. It's a worthy alternative to nearby Seattle, and one I've probably been to a half dozen times over the past year alone. In one weekend, I can shop and walk, eat out and kayak, drink coffee and taste wine, buy at Nordstrom and browse Jimmy Choo. Like the Mercer Slough flowing into Lake Washington, Bellevue is a setting where multiple trip styles converge. It's a place occupied by some of the biggest names in US business---Microsoft, Expedia and T-Mobile to name a few---but it has a lot more to offer than just Windows 7, travel search engines and former Bachelor couple Jason and Molly.

Shop The Bellevue Collection - A fusion of sophisticated shopping, dining, nightlife and upscale hotels. The Bravern - A luxury shopping experience resembling more of a Spanish villa than covered outdoor mall, anchored by Neiman Marcus, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch, Salvatore Ferragamo and Hermès. Don't miss the melt-in-your-mouth gelato at Vovito Caffe & Gelato. Nordstrom Rack - The Seattle-based department store's discount outlet.

Dine Purple Cafe And Wine Bar - A funky restaurant specializing in wine pairings and local seasonal ingredients. Try the Phyllo-baked brie. Bis On Main - Known for its consistent American French cuisine and the owner's art collection. If you were going to spot Bill Gates in Bellevue, it might be here. Monsoon East - Saigon-inspired Vietnamese cuisine in a modern setting. Barking Frog - With an impressive wine list and northwest cuisine to match, only 15 minutes from Bellevue. Must-try: deconstructed movie-theatre popcorn ice cream dessert. Cupcakes Royale - Rich and cakey cupcakes born in Seattle, bred in Bellevue. Try the Salty Caramel! Munchbar - shows MMA by day and cranks turntables by night. This resto-lounge and its cultured sister Piano Bash {dueling piano bar}, are your answer to nightlife in Bellevue. Try the crispy mac n' cheese bites or mini grilled cheeses with a tomato sour cream dipping sauce.

Stay Hyatt Regency Bellevue - $$ - Friendly staff, recently renovated with a serene winter bamboo garden. {See my trip advisor review here} Westin Bellevue - $$ -  Nice rooms, large pool and great weekend packages. {See my trip advisor review here} Sheraton Bellevue - $ - Efficient lower cost option. {See my trip advisor review here}

Do Kayak or Swim - at Enatai Beach Park only a 5-minute drive from downtown Bellevue. Walk - along one of the trails in the 320-acre wetland nature park known as the Mercer Slough. Jog - on the half-mile park loop at the tree-lined Downtown Park---a 2-minute walk from the Hyatt or Westin. Stroll - along Main Street and browse the smaller, boutique shops like Glassybaby, where each famed glass tumbler is handmade by a team of four, and multiple local restaurants feature their votives. PS - I hear locals collect every colour! Sip - drive 15 minutes to access 70+ wineries and tasting rooms in Woodinville Wine Country. Visit - the Bellevue Arts Museum, where the building is an impressive as the three storeys of art it holds dear. Don't miss the museum store---a great place to find unique gifts for people of all ages.

Getting There Bellevue is three hours from Vancouver and 20 minutes from Seattle.

[photo{s} by @tripstyler]

Spotlight :: NYC

[trip style = urban]

{Editor's Note: Check out the Trip Styler Feature in NET A PORTER's online magazine. We are over-the-moon excited to be part of the Blogger's Issue!}

If urban trip styles are your bag, New York's got you covered from head to toe in Marc Jacobs. Most people I know have made the cultural and shopping pilgrimage to NYC at least once, which turns out to be a problem...for their credit cards. There's a pulse that pulls you back, and most one-time visitors become repeat offenders.

From the dirty depths of the subway to the heights of every coveted roof terrace, the Big Apple has a way of charming people like no other city I know. It's a place where everything is taller, bigger, faster and longer, and everything has a system. The systems might not be elegant, but they work.

It's been way too long since I was in NYC last, but the second I got out of my airport shuttle and started walking 49th Avenue in search of my hotel, the city felt familiar. My first time in New York, I took a media class, sat in on two tapings of the Sally Jessy Raphael Show {one of her famous bootcamp episodes and "you've ruined my wedding and now you're going to pay!"}, met media types in a boardroom of the Empire State Building, shopped at Old Navy {the height of my fashion at the time} and saw Les Miserables. Times have changed, and so have my tastes, but New York's centre-of-the-universe, go-getter spirit remains the same.

At the end my trip last month, I made a vow to visit yearly. I hope---fingers crossed---I can keep this vow. Connecting with New York on a once-yearly basis is like getting together with your coolest friend whom you don't see that often, but cherishing every moment you have together.

Stay

• Yotel - $ - New York's newest fancy-schmancy pod hotel. In the heart of Times Square. Wowza.
• The Pod Hotel - $ - Fun, pod-style hotel with well designed interiors and a rooftop terrace. {See my trip advisor review here}
• The Ace Hotel - $$ - A moody and design-savvy locale where the rooms have as much style as the people.
• The Mercer - $$$ - Gritty-Romanesque beauty in the heart of SoHo.
• The Surrey - $$$ - Calm, contemplated and beaux arts.

Do

• Catch a show on Broadway. Despite the cliche, it's an absolute must! Hot right now: Catch Me If You Can, The Book of Mormon, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Sister Act and the ever-popular Wicked. Trip Styler Tip: Avoid the often insane line-up at the TKTS booth in Times Square and instead get your tickets online or at the theatre box office to avoid service charges. Use promo codes from BroadwayBox for a slight discount on your ticket.
• Walk in Central Park or on the High Line
• Explore SoHo
• Shop! {see below}
• Go to a TV show taping like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon {only do this if there's a show you love and it's taped in NYC. It's a fun experience, but takes up an entire afternoon}. Trip Styler Tip: You need to write or call in weeks or months in advance for many shows.

Eat

• Eataly - $-$$$ - Mario Batali's Italian food emporium and restaurants.
• ABC Kitchen - $$ - Jean Georges' latest restaurant opening with an organic menu and local ingredients.
• Bateau Ivre - $$ - Parisan wine bar. Open late.
• Balthazar - $$ - An always-busy, traditional bistro.
• per se - $$$ - NYC's French Laundry---enough said. Reserve in advance. Way in advance.

Shop

• Topshop - $ - Constantly evolving, fast-fashion.
• AllSaints - $$ - Thoughtfully hip and vintage.
• Century21 - $-$$$ - Iconic NYC discount department store.
• Opening Ceremony - $$ - Hipster fashion-forward.
• Reiss - $$ - Stylish, classic apparel.

Getting to/from the Airport

• Train/Subway - $ - with only a few connections: AirTran --> train or subway, this is the cheapest way {ie. under $8} to get to/from the city.
• Bus - $$ - the Super Shuttle and NY Airport Service are easy shuttles to catch at the airport. From $15 one way.
• Cab - $$$ - cabs and black cars from $50 to/from JFK to Manhattan.

What to Know

• Manhattan operates on a grid system. Avenues are long and streets are short.
• Carry a small map in your back pocket, folded into a manageable size. Only bring it out when you're out of the way of commuters around you.
• New Yorkers walk everywhere and so should you---there's a reason why local ladies favour flats over heels {for everyday}.
• New Yorkers are friendly---just ask your question quickly because they're also busy!
• Everything in NYC moves fast; people don't even stand on the sidewalk to wait to cross, they stand in the street.

PS – did you know that we have destination spotlights like this one for 30+ cities in the US, Canada and internationally?

[photos by @tripstyler]

Spotlight :: Sydney :: Surf City Meets Metro Cool

[trip style = urban] {more pictures below}

In Sydney there are two kinds of suits: well tailored pinstripe and tight fitting neoprene. People wear both, and like quick-change artists they transition from one to the other in a matter of seconds. After all there’s only so many daylight hours, so it's surf then work, or vice versa. To dispel any stereotypes, not everyone surfs and has natural bleach-blond hair, but, there are quite a few bombshells and hunks traipsing around in wet suits, bathing suits...and business suits.

Where else in the world can you run down an icing sugar-like beach and surf big swells, then hit up work for a few hours, and finish off your day with a beer and shrimp on the barbie? Speaking of which, when I asked some Australians about Paul Hogan's {aka Crocodile Dundee} iconic "shrimp on the barbie" saying, they laughed and said they cook sausage or chicken on the barbecue, but that it was a popular tourist campaign in the mid-80s.

With the juxtaposition of a splashy cosmopolitan city and the laid-back vibe of a beachy town, Sydney seems to do the impossible: achieve balance, and once you get beyond the city, you're more and more taken by the diverse land mass Australians have the pleasure of calling home. I just wish it wasn't so far away, but maybe that's part of its exotic allure?

Must-Dos

• The Bridge Climb {more on this thursday!}
• Opera House photoshoot
• Manley surf n' brunch
• Bondi beach day and drinky-poo at Icebergs, just bring your most fabutan beach cover-up, it's a fairly swish place...

Where to Stay Expect to pay $250+ for a 4- to 5-star hotel in City's CBD {city centre}, here are a few I suggest:

• Shangri-la Sydney {Stayed here. Great location and aside from Radisson, only hotel to have free wifi}.
• Park Hyatt Sydney is currently undergoing massive renovations, so big they've closed down to redo the whole property. Expect it to be fab when it reopens in November 2011.
• Lots of locals and websites with curated lists and impeccable taste suggest: The Establishment {luxe boutique}.
• Locals like BLUE Sydney A Taj Hotel on the waterfront, and who knows, you might spot Russell Crowe who lives in a penthouse nearby.
• For a budget option, try The Blues Point Hotel just outside the city, with a bar featured in design blogs serving $3 champage on Friday nights}

Where to Eat

• Manly Pavilion
• Bondi Icebergs
• Blue Bar lounge on the 36th floor of the Shangri-la Sydney {the bar and restaurant, also on that floor, are good too.}

What To Know

• Expensive - food prices are like London's and hotel prices are like New York's. I didn't totally expect this. A muffin is between $4-5 and a basic main at a nice-ish restaurant is $50.
• "Internet Included" means internet is included but you'll pay extra for it. As mentioned above, the only two major hotels in Sydney with complimentary wifi are the Shangri-la and the Radisson.
• Getting to and from the Airport - is easy via the train. For $15 each way you can easily and safely connect to Sydney's CBD.
• Tipping - you don't really tip in Australia, but it's common and appreciated  to round up the bill {up to 10%}, for example, for $28 you could give $30, or for $95 you could give $100. We tipped a little extra to people who gave extraordinary service like the skipper and first mate of our Whitsunday Cruise or the pool bartender and server at qualia.

Australia Month Planning a Trip Up Australia's East Coast JetSet Jingles :: Australia Spotlight :: Syndey {today} Travel Trends :: Bridge Climbing {Thursday, May 19th} A Heavenly Hut and Hellish Ride :: Wilson Island {Friday, May 20} Tea, Tim Tams & Turtles :: Whitsunday Islands {Wednesday, May 25} Thirty-two and a Small q :: Hamilton Island {Monday, May 30}

PS - did you know that we have destination spotlights like this one for 30+ cities in the US, Canada and internationally?

{photos taken by @tripstyler and @nate_fri}

Going Up Down Under

[trip style = luxe, beach, sun, urban, sightseeing, glamping, cruise]

Australia is... - a country I've never tasted or experienced - a place I'm going April 19 - a destination I know I'll love and am already conspiring to return - the trip I've been dying to take for years - #2 on my bucket list

As I prepare to fly 15.5 hours from Vancouver to the land of Oz, I've been a busy bee trip styling like a mad woman in preparation for my trip. The irony is, I'll be going up while Down Under---or making my way North in a land that sits down and under the equator.

Having put so much work into planning this trip, I wanted to share some tips and opportunities you may want to explore when you decide to throw a few shrimps on the barbie in Australia.

Getting There From Vancouver, Air Canada is the only airline to fly direct, with Air New Zealand code-sharing the same flight. One- or multi-segment flights, usually connecting through San Francisco or LA, cost about $300 less. I checked prices out of Seattle to see if there was a significant savings, but there wasn't, so YVR is your best bet. Flights from Vancouver to Sydney cost $700 - $2500, with a realistic range between $1000 - $1600.

Choosing What To Do When you only have a short time on the ground---in my case 2 weeks, which I think is pretty typical for a cross-ocean visitor---it's best to choose your trip style first, and where you want to go, second. Australia looks small on a map, but to put it in perspective, a flight from Sydney to Cairns is like flying from Vancouver to Regina, or Vancouver to San Diego. With this in mind, trying to do too much on the ground can feel un-vacation-like, so we've opted to immerse ourselves in part of the East Coast: Sydney - Whitsundays - Great Barrier Reef - Hamilton Island - Sydney. Though I feel like I'm not even scratching the surface, I look forward to returning many times over to do the rest of Oz.

My Itinerary {& Tips} We've decided to divide our trip into 3 major parts.

Sydney {trip style = urban + sightseeing + luxe} STAY We decided on the Sofitel Sydney but I would not recommend it based on my experience. Here are some other hotels for your consideration: - The Establishment {luxe boutique} - The Taj Blue Hotel {waterfront} - Shangri-la {harbour views + free wifi, I also stayed here, highly recommended} - Park Hyatt Sydney {undertaking biggest reno in its history, re-opening November 2011} - The Westin Sydney - The Blues Point Hotel {budget hotel option just outside the city, with a bar featured in design blogs serving $3 champaign on Friday nights} *Note that most upscale 4- and 5-stars in Sydney range from $175-500/night.

HOW TO BOOK The best resources we found for booking Sydney hotels are: - booking.com - lastminute.com.au - hotels direct

Island Time in the Great Barrier Reef {trip style = luxe + glamping} STAY We decided to stay at: - Heron Island {family-friendly, all-inclusive located on one of the world's best dive sites} - Wilson Island {close to Heron, a tiny "shipwrecked in style" island with only 6 tents} - qualia {ultra-luxe retreat on Hamilton island} Other luxe options: Lizard Island, Hayman Island*, Bedarra* & full list of GBR islands + prices ranges here... *Resorts re-opening in summer due to damange from cyclone yasi **Note, staying on islands in the Whitsundays or near the Great Barrier Reef can be expensive. Budget $150-$2000/night. For budget conscious options, companies like Virgin Blue offer great flight and stay packages near Airlie Beach from $600 for three nights.

HOW TO BOOK - Resorts direct

Cruising the Whitsundays [trip style = cruise] BOAT There are hundreds of ships sailing in the blue-sequened waters surrounding the Whitsunday Islands. Most leave from Airlie Beach and last 1- to 5-nights. Some boats are 30-person tall ships and others are small catamarans. We were looking for a boat catering to an active crowd, with a small number of guest rooms and a deck where we could relax. We found On Ice, a 46ft catamaran with room for 8 guests and 2 crew.

HOW TO BOOK Booking a Whitsunday cruise is really confusing, but here's a good place to start.

[photo by dbearth]