Girlfriends’ and Guys’ Getaways
We all deserve some time away, but our workloads (and wallets) can’t always manage two weeks in an exotic locale. Luckily, with a few friends by your side, you can enjoy a great getaway close to home. Plan an adventure-filled day, a relaxing weekend or a longer trip with both rest and play. It won’t break the bank, you’ll skip the jetlag, and you’ll have a blast hanging out with your pals.
Getaways for Guys
Experience a high-adrenaline nature getaway or just chill out
with friends (Photo by Tourism Whistler)If you and your entourage are feeling rugged, there’s no shortage of adventures to appeal to the adrenaline junkie. Run to the hills for ziplining, ATV tours or rock climbing. Don’t forget mountain biking, whitewater rafting and fishing excursions. After a day of extreme sport, all of you will have earned your burgers and beers at a local brew pub.
Looking for a more relaxing pace? There’s nothing like early-season golfing to remind you why BC is “the best place on earth.” Lucky guys should check out poker tournaments hosted by area casino-resorts, then catch a rock or comedy show. Beer lovers can tour local breweries and sample the suds on-site.
Men love the open road—and what better way to see it than from behind the wheel of a rented sports car or motorcycle? The truly adventurous can sign up for racing lessons and some glorious laps around the track. You’ll have great stories to tell back at the office on Monday.
Girly Getaways
Engage your inner cowgirl or cowboyLadies who crave R&R can find it at a yoga retreat or a waterfront cabin. Enjoy local kayaking, hiking or bike tours, or just wander the beaches. All that chilling out can make a girl thirsty, so consider a delicious education at a nearby winery.
Always wanted a pony? Horseback riding lessons with your girlfriends is sure to put you in touch with your inner child—or inner cowgirl. If your leanings are more literary, check out the popular Women’s Writing Weekend at the Listel Hotel in Vancouver. Or take your book club on the road to the “Between the Covers” package at Poets Cove Resort on Pender Island.
Culture-cravers can book a downtown hotel, start the day with a leisurely brunch, and then create their own art crawl with stops at galleries, bookshops and craft markets. Round out the night with a popular play or opera performance.
Of course, the classic spa trip is the ultimate girls’ getaway. Whether you choose a chic urban spa or a remote island lodge, you and your ladies will return to the working world looking rested and refreshed.
