As many of you know, my family and I LOVE to travel. Whether it’s a bigger trip abroad or an excursion into our own backyard (hello, BC), we can often be found out and about, and I want to share a few of my favourite locations with you. As we get closer to real spring (no more of this false spring or second winter), we’ll be able to focus in on those warm weather adventures. I can’t wait!
Puerto Vallarta
In March, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to PV with Randelle Lusk of The Rare Method for an amazing women’s entrepreneurship retreat. We have an incredible community of female entrepreneurs here in Calgary, and I feel very lucky to have had many of them on the trip as well. We soaked up the sun by the pool, listened to the waves crash on the beach, indulged in some delicious meals, and moved our bodies in intentional yoga sequences. I’m a big fan of a warm weather vacation, especially when it involves the beach! If you are ready for a retreat-type trip, Randelle has one booked in Portugal soon.
Punta Cana
Another popular warm weather destination from Calgary, Punta Cana is in the Dominican Republic and boasts an abundance of crystal-clear blue water, sunny days and good food. Bavaro Beach is a great example of the “perfect” beach—white sands, palm trees and all. I recommend traveling here when you have a decent amount of vacation days that you want to use up. It takes almost 7 hours in total (direct) to travel to Punta Cana, so you want to make sure that you have enough full days to make the travel worth it. Like any tropical destination, snorkeling, sailing, parasailing, diving and just swimming are amazing ways to experience the area.
South of France
I’ve seen friend after friend jet off to the South of France, and really, do we even have to question why? There were some incredible seat sales to the area not long ago, resulting in many people booking their spring holidays here. Every time I go to the South of France, I feel like I’ve stepped right out of a romcom or romance movie. Nice, Saint-Tropez, Provence and Monaco are popular destinations with quite a variety of things to see and activities to do. Pick up some fresh lavender in Provence, channel your inner Grace Kelly in Monaco or lay by the beach in Saint-Tropez. Again, for this type of trip, I recommend giving yourself lots of time to explore since travel to and from Calgary is a bit more of a long haul.
Palm Springs
Ahh, beloved Palm Springs. A destination that many Calgarians have frequented, due to the quick travel time and relative affordability to get down there. Located just south of us and slightly to the west, this desert-like destination is popular for its food scene, landscape, weather, and mid-century modern architectural influence. Did you know that Palm Springs rose to fame in the 1920s because many Hollywood stars were making weekend trips down to the area? Today, you can see a lot of this history throughout the city, and you can even go on one of the many Hollywood-centric tours that are offered. For me, I love spending some time hiking in Joshua Tree, checking out the local restaurants, seeing the art and lounging by the pool. Palm Springs is the perfect long weekend getaway from Calgary, as it’s only just over 3 hours of travel time.
Tofino
Honestly, island life is the best life. I know that I’ve said that all these destinations are the best, but Tofino is great if you want to stay within Canada but experience somewhere totally different from Calgary. Located on Vancouver Island, Tofino is a beautiful coastal town that has the best of both worlds—stunning forests and remarkable sand beaches. Of course, the water is cold out there, but surfing is lots of fun if you have a wetsuit on! If you haven’t tried it before, this is your chance to do it within Canada.
Part of the beauty of Tofino is the process of getting there. I recommend flying to Vancouver, renting a car, taking the ferry, and driving out to Tofino. Although the drive can sometimes be slow, especially if there’s construction on the main highway, there’s nothing more breathtaking than driving by cascading waterfalls and soaring redwood trees. If you go, you have to stop by the original Tacofino truck and get a truly beautiful dining experience at Wolf in the Fog or The Pionte.
Fernie
Skiiers LOVE Fernie in the winter, but it’s equally fun to visit during a road trip in the summer. Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, this alpine town has a lovely little main drag and beautiful hiking trails nearby. This is a bit more of a “close to home” destination, making it super easy to travel to (and relatively inexpensive). Fernie also has some natural hot springs—if you’ve never tested out the geothermal waters before, it’s a fun experience that’s set amongst the wilderness. You have to go to the iconic Big Bang Bagels for a snack or stop by Fernie Brewing Co. for a beer—the What the Huck is a nice, summery beer.
Now that I’ve summed up some of my favourite places, I want you to send me your recommendations via my Wealth With Julie Instagram page. Before you go, I want to remind you that SkyScanner, Kiwi, Expedia, Kayak and more are always there for your next jet setting adventure. It’s always good to shop around, especially when you’re keeping to a travel budget.
