Not-so-Obvious Vancouver Weekend Getaways

[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 which 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 gazing toward the pacific ocean on one side and West Coast rain forest on the other, making the mini trek to Tofino is well worth it. Admiring it all 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 dollar 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 lake-side retreat or beach-side 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 Kinda 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:

• Vancouver – take a day trip and discover the amazing wineries right in your own backyard.  Don’t miss Domaine de Chaberton, Lotusland Vinyards, Township 7 as well as others.
• Okanagan – internationally recognized for it’s 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 Washinton’s wine region is situated along the same latitude as France’s. Mervielleux! After Napa, Washinton 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 and the B-52′s, or Harry Connick Jr.

For the Rail-Enthusiasts
Try out Portland’s street food scene or shop ’till you drop {no sales tax} in Oregon’s biggest city. Amtrak Cascades rail service runs from Vancouver to Portland {return} depart 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.}

[photo by @tripstyler]