We’ve had a really long and brutal winter and the first big long weekend of the summer is coming up, May 24 (aka: Victoria Day). The time is now to get out of the house, leave the men at home and do a little local travelling with your friends. Here are four May 24 getaway ideas just for you and your girls.
Cross-Border Shopping to the States
The first weekend idea that tops our list is to jump in the car to visit our American neighbors for some cross-border shopping. Whether you live in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Montreal visiting U.S. border cities, such as Buffalo, Bellingham, Detroit and Minneapolis is just a short car ride away and requires minimum planning – just pack an overnight bag, comfortable walking shoes and hit the road with your BFFs. Once there you’ll be surrounded by a plethora of outlet shopping malls – hello Saks Off 5th and Last Call by Neiman Marcus! Plus, you’ll be dining at restaurants such as the sinful Cheesecake Factory. Travel tip: check out CrossborderShopping.ca for a local directory for U.S. cross-border shopping destinations, deals and live border wait times.
Glamping the Better Form of Camping
Reconnect with Mother Nature on Victoria Day long weekend in the lap of luxury by going glamping! Glamping fuses camping with glamour making your stay in the great Canadian wilderness more comfortable and care free. Forget your sleeping bag and tent at home, locations that offer glamping experiences will put you and your girls up in chic safari-style tents, yurts or treehouses and comes equipped with beds; some even have full ensuite bathrooms with running water! Here a few places to consider: Bingemans Camping Resort (Ontario); Clayoquot Wilderness Resort (Tofino); Long Point Eco Adventures (Ontario) and Sé©paq (Quebec).
Travel tips: 1) check out Glamping.com an online directory of ultra-luxurious glamping destinations in the world and 2) leave your heels at home but don’t forget the bug spray.
Fall for Niagara
The last time you visited Niagara Falls you were likely a kid and don’t remember much beside the roaring sounds of water. Too often we forget that a great natural wonder resides in our country and has an immense history surrounding it which you can explore. The Canadian side of the Falls has a booming tourism industry where you eat, play and stay; get an up close and personal view of the Falls by riding a Hornblower Niagara Cruise ship or visit Niagara-on-the-Lake to tour and sip vino from some of the country’s top wineries.
Travel tip: pack a sense of adventure.
Get Your Spa On Up North
Rest and relaxation are on your mind. Forget shopping in a crowded outlet mall or roughing it in the woods, you want to get you spa on in a major way. We have plenty of places for you to choose from; distress in a Scandinavian-style spa at one of Le Scandinave Spa many locations, retreat to lake-side Muskoka resort such as Windermere House with a full body massage or get a blueberry body wrap from Taboo, Resort, Golf & Spa Resort in Gravenhurst.
Travel tip: bring your bathing suit and a pair of flip-fops for the spa.
