It's beach and cabin season! When the clock strikes five on Friday, will you be ready to pack light and pack right for your flight or car journey out yonder? With the summer weekend packing list tips and tricks below, you'll become an expert - and fashionable - escape artist.
Reformed Overpacker
In my prior life - ok, 2 years ago - I still was a ridiculous overpacker, but last year I took the packing-light plunge on a 6-day trip to San Fran and Napa, and I've never looked back. In fact, I'm so keen to pare down that I'm attempting to only bring a carry-on for my two-week Eastern Canada trip next month, as well as my four-week Australia jaunt this fall! Back to packing light...let's master it for a summer weekend away, with the help of Lucky Magazine.
Lucky Magazine's Summer Weekend Packing List
Summer Weekend Packing List
[not including what you wear enroute]
Plane-to-Pool Bag: use the same bag for packing & beach/lake tote
Undergarments
1-2 Bathing Suits [check out this season's hottest bathers & accessories on HeatherLovesIt]
Shoes
flip flops
cute sandals
Bottoms
shorts
pants or a skirt
Tops
tank top
t-shirt
flowy top
sweater-y shirt or cardy
Dresses
day-to-night dress
dressier dress
Accessories
belt
scarf
hat
*for a men's packing list, just eliminate the dresses - or substitute them with kilts :)
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I love how a morning can go from serene to stressful in a matter of seconds. My morning started serene with morning yoga, but quickly progressed into stressful as I madly dashed to the Victoria-bound BC Ferry terminal with my family of 2.5 (my husband, my dog @nachoking and me). My early morning downward-dogging was the last bit of calm I'd encounter for the weekend, since we only had 30 hours to blitz BC's gorgeous capital city and our itinerary was already jam-packed with a wedding, an evening on the town with cousins, dinner with friends and a little sleep.
Arrive in Style If I'd only known about this in advance, I could've sailed to Vancouver Island in style--and perhaps a little more 'put together'! BC Ferries is moving up in the world, launching a mani/pedi service on their Spirit ships (Spirit of BC & Spirit of Vancouver Island). The first-come, first-serve 'nail sculpting' is offered Thursday-Monday on the 7am, 9am, 11am and 1pm sailings from Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. The cost? Not as bad as you'd think: manis $30, pedis $40 and combos $65. If someone touching your nails isn't your thing, then opt for a different type of 'touch' with a 15-minute chair massage for $20.
Victoria Bliss Victoria is more than just twinkly parliament buildings, a tourist hub and retirement town; it's a thriving community of eco-minded people of all ages. Some of the nicest people I know live in or hail from Victoria--it must be the temperate climate, ocean breeze and island-living! For just a hint of Victoria bliss, here are few suggestions for your next trip BC's capital.
Eat & Drink
The Tapa Bar - A Victoria institution for the past 10 years. Eat a little or a lot of the globally-inspired tapas.
Bard and Banker - If you're a Scottish beer-drinker, this pub's for you. You may also enjoy it if you're not Scottish, like jazz and appreciate 30 different types of beer.
Thrifty Foods - I know this is a grocery store, but I love the quality and variety of the items offered on the shelf. Some of my faves are trail mix cookies, granola and moose tracks ice cream.
Stay The Fairmont Empress - Location. Location. Location. I recommend this hotel for a multitude of reasons, including it being the recipient of the Condé Nast Gold List 2010. See my recent Trip Advisor review here.
Do
Butchart Gardens - My mom and grandma would be upset if I didn't mention this family-owned floral Mecca. It's also rated #1 of 99 tourist attractions in Victoria.
High Tea - The Fairmont Empress has been serving high tea for over a century, which is a big deal in young Canada! With a scone and spot of tea, indulge in the time-honored tradition in an idyllic, ocean-front setting.
Getting There
By Boat: BC Ferries (if you're traveling during peak summer times, make a reservation)
[trip style = weekend getaway]
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With the incredible scenery surrounding Vancouver and Seattle, a great trip doesn't always mean escaping thousands of miles away. Here are some not-so-obvious weekend getaway options for whatever trip style you're feelin' at the moment:
For the spontaneous
Hotwire has a trip planning feature called go local search that finds travel options within 250 miles of home. Alternatively, why not take advantage of Bellingham's small airport and easy parking, and book a weekend in any of the sunny destinations where Allegiant flies. I recently booked an Allegiant SUPER SALE trip style = weekend getaway to California for $9.99 each way {$56 return with taxes}; you couldn't drive between Vancouver and Seattle for that little!
For the luxists
Once you arrive at the sprawling beaches and gaze toward the pacific ocean on one side and the West Coast rainforest on the other, making the mini trek to Tofino is well worth it. Admiring it from your oceanview room at the Wickaninnish makes it even more magical. {Don't miss their $300 June special, valid for select dates! To Reserve: 1.800.333.4604}
For the 5-star spa seekers
If the idea of being surrounded by millions of Swarovski crystals, bathing in a tub-for-two overlooking Lake Okanagan, or "refreshing yourself" in a -110 degree Celsius sauna appeals to you, then the new $122-million Sparkling Hill Resort in Vernon, BC is right up your alley. Drive or fly to Kelowna and a free shuttle will transport you to the crystal castle. {Don't miss their June Grand Opening Wellness packages from $840 -- includes 2 nights, breakfast for 2, 5-course dinner for 2 and 2 $150 spa vouchers}
For the outdoorsy who don't camp
Something most people don't know is you can rent vacation homes from the Washington State Government. Whether you want a lakeside retreat or beachside bungalow, they've got you covered. Accommodations like the red-roofed Lighthouse Keeper's Residences at Cape Disappointment won't ... disappoint.
For the outdoorsy who kind of camp
In addition to camping and vacation homes, the Washington State Government also offers cabins, yurts and teepees. Yes, you did just read teepees. For an incredible view, a night at Quartz Mountain's "fire lookout" in Spokane will result in weekend zen.
For the wine'ers & dine'ers
Vines from three incredible wine regions thrive close to home. For those who like to "discover" the of-the-moment wine, or eat and drink their way through the Pacific Northwest, this weekend in wine country is for you:
Okanagan - internationally recognized for its perfect mix of mountains, lakes, fresh air and intense sunlight, the Okanagan's wineries give Napa a run for its money.
Washington - I just learned that Washington's wine region is situated along the same latitude as France's. Merveilleux! After Napa, Washington is the US's biggest wine-producing region with 650 wineries and vinyards to enjoy! {Don't miss Chateau St. Michelle's incredible concert series pairing their latest pour with Earth Wind & Fire, Blondie, the B-52's, or Harry Connick Jr.}
For the rail enthusiasts
Try out Portland's street food scene or shop 'til you drop {no sales tax} in Oregon's biggest city. Amtrak Cascades rail service runs from Vancouver to Portland {return} and departs twice daily. Seattle to Portland has more frequent daily departures. I hear Amtrak is rolling out wireless internet on most of their trains, but this roll-out has not yet reached the aforementioned trains. {Update: as of Feb 2011, there is wifi on the Amtrak Cascades}
Good weather; check. Great hotel; check. Weekend with no plans; check. Seeing old friends; check. Meeting new friends; check.
Although I've been to Seattle many times, this time was different. This time I wanted to be a tourist, yet avoid tourist traps. So I did my own kind of sightseeing. The kind that allows you to see a city for what it really is (with hands-on experiences), and who it really is (sharing it with locals).
Stay
Stay at The Fairmont Olympic, the Pacific Northwest's only AAA, 5-Diamond Hotel. Although the Seattle area has other great hotels like The W or Ace, staying at the Olympic immerses you in Seattle's past. Open since 1924, the hotel icon's old-world charm is a stark contrast to the city's West Coast architecture and laid-back vibe. Don't miss having a drink in the hotel's lobby bar Friday or Saturday night. The pianist's sweet sounds make you wish you were crooning in a karaoke bar.
[see my fairmont olympic + other hotel reviews here]
Do/Eat Coffee/Neighborhood Walk/Breakfast
Not sure if it was the coffee culture or the crisp, spring morning, but I was raring to go at 7am. Talk about making the most of the day. First up, I grabbed a coffee at Verite and walked around Madrona, an adorable, yet sophisticated neighborhood 10 mins outside of the city. Enjoying the peace of the morning, the sunrise sparkling over the water, the scent of blooming flowers and the mix of modern and tudor-style homes made my morning picture-perfect, no joke, see pics below. Apres my jolt of caffeinedecaff, I made my way to my fave brunch spot, Hi-Spot Cafe. *Make sure you order something that can be paired with their amazing raspberry jam. It's so good that once I'd eaten my jam-infested english muffin, I hid myself from other restaurant patrons and savored the rest of the jam avec spoon.
Pier/Pike/Starbucks
We all know Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks, the little coffee shop turned worldwide, caffeinated sensation. But, did you know that the first-ever Starbucks is located near Pike Place Market? But first, the pier. Walking along the pier is not only a quintessential Seattle experience, but doing so, you'll also pass shops, restaurants, the Seattle Aquarium and the SAM Olympic Statue park. Once you've had your fill of wind-in-your-hair, ocean-front walking, head up the hill to Pike Place Market. The eclectic and thriving mix of vendors may wow you as much as the famed fish-tossing. Once you've watched the 'fish throwers' launch dead fish like Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks, head to the original Starbucks [1912 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101] to grab a java.
[fish tossing starts 17 secs in]
Lunching and Shopping
One great way to see the downtown core is to lunch and shop. There are multiple restaurants in the shopping district, so stop into any of them to fuel-up. To get your shopping fill, visit the flagship Nordstrom or gaze at the Chihuli [instigator of Pacific Northwest glass movement] installation in Barney's.
Evening Dinner and Drinks
Don't miss Black Bottle, a corner eatery and watering hole where the industrial design and downtown vibe makes the flatbread taste better than it already is. After dinner a dear friend of mine made a reservation for a few people (tourists and locals) at Zig Zag Cafe. When I told the Fairmont driver where I was going, he said "oh, Zig Zag has the best bartender in the city." Perfect! This out-of-the-way resto-lounge has grown by word of mouth and loyal clientele. At 8.30pm it's dead, by 11pm it's so busy I can't hear myself speak. Given my late lunch and early dinner, I didn't order much, but the appetizers and pastas are well known. Either way, I'm more than satisfied with our server's drink suggestion: the French 76---now in my cocktail hall of fame book---which I should really start.
Other than a small lull in tourism in the fall and late spring, Whistler is a 4-season destination where locals love life and live it to the fullest. In the winter and early spring everyone skis/boards, and in the summer and fall they hike and bike. Although Whistler is probably one of the more active communities in Canada, it's hard-bodied, adventuring locals are far from intimidating and down to earth. A steady flow of tourists combined with Whistler's laissez-faire mentality make it an 'anything goes' type of destination.
known as whistler's secret ski season, take advantage of sunny weather, great skiing and no crowds!
attend the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival (apr 16 - 25, 2010) to watch skiing and boarding pros push the limits and take in Canada's largest free outdoor concert series
Fall
sip wine and chat-it-up at Cornucopia, Whistler's internationally recognized celebration of food and wine (nov 11 - 14, 2010)
Stay
Whistler boasts an impressive selection of almost every major hotel brand, so if you have points or free stays, investigate that option. If not, here are a few hotels and booking options:
[trip style = weekend + packing light]
[trip style = weekend getaway]
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[trip style = urban + weekend getaway + sightseeing]
[trip style = ski & adventure]