We initially planned to go to Maui for a babymoon ahead of welcoming our first baby, but the pandemic changed those plans. Then we found out we were expecting our second in July 2022, so Maui became our babymoon location after all — celebrating both our first baby, then one and a half, and our second one on the way. We chose to travel at the end of August due to our schedule, but Maui is a fabulous choice for travel at any time of year.

Next on our quest to visit all of BC’s Southern Gulf Islands, we travelled to Galiano Island for two nights in October 2021. This was our first overnight trip with our baby girl (she was eight months old at the time). We were so excited, and a little nervous, to travel with a baby. Luckily, the trip was easy enough logistically that we minimized a lot of first-time parent stress, and it helped that our daughter LOVED every minute of it.

We had been meaning to explore more of the Southern Gulf Islands and had heard great things about Mayne Island in particular. Last summer, we looked ahead and saw that Canada Day would fall on a Wednesday in 2020, so we planned to take Monday and Tuesday off and make it a 4 night trip for the holiday.

Oliver, BC is known as “Canada’s Wine Capital” due to more than 40 wineries in the area. We are not big drinkers and don’t know a whole lot about wine, but we were looking for a relaxing summer getaway in the Interior and we love how picturesque vineyards can be. We also picked Oliver for its close proximity to Osoyoos Lake.

If you are like us and want to escape the rush of busy Canadian long weekends in the outdoors then you should seriously consider taking a quick trip over the border to Washington.

Looking for an off-the-beaten-path weekend getaway this summer? Look no further than Hornby Island. Home to beautiful coastal parks, several amazing wineries and countless local artists, Hornby Island is the perfect place to go off the grid and avoid the crowds.

Portland, Oregon is known for being quirky, artsy, open-minded and a little bit weird (okay, maybe more than a little). There’s something for everyone in this city. The downtown core is small and walkable, but there are plenty of surrounding neighborhoods that deserve some time too.

North Cascades National Park is one of Washington state’s (and America’s) most underrated and least frequented national parks. What the park lacks in visitors it more than makes up for in beauty and unique attractions. It is not for the faint of heart as many of the best views, hikes and activities require some significant trekking.

We chose Petit St. Vincent (PSV), a private island in St Vincent and the Grenadines, for our honeymoon in November 2018. We had always wanted a beach vacation for our honeymoon, and after much research and consideration (Mexico, Hawaii, Bora Bora, Cuba, Costa Rica…) we remembered this website that had helped us plan our Peru trip in 2017.

Situated directly between Vancouver Island and Washington State, Orcas Island is the largest island in the San Juans and, in our opinion, one of the most beautiful. With a size of just over 148 square kilometers, the island serves just the right amount of civilization while still providing a remote escape. 

Last May Long Weekend, Maria and I decided to take a road trip up to Wells Gray Provincial Park. The drive is about 1.5 hours north of Kamloops, just north of Clearwater.

If you are looking for the perfect coastal getaway, look no further than Port Renfrew. Located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, this quiet town is a peaceful escape from bustling city life.

Slade and I visited Quebec City for 4 nights as part of a longer trip to Quebec and Ontario in February 2016. We purposely planned a winter trip so we could catch all the winter festivals and enjoy the last moments of one of our favorite seasons.

Christmas time can be pretty magical. The lights, the trees, the snow, the baking, the presents...I get really excited at the start of each December. One of the first trips that Slade and I went on together was to New York in December 2013. I like to reminisce about that trip each year, because if there's one place that knows how to go all out for Christmas, it's New York City!

Since visiting all the hidden gems in our last post, you may be thinking to yourself, "Okay, I have finally seen it all!". Well for those of you still thirsty for adventure, we have great news for you!

Another long weekend had arrived and Maria and I were looking forward to checking out our second National Park in Washington, Olympic National Park.

Maria and I were excited to check out Mount Rainier National Park over BC Day long weekend. We had heard amazing things about it and wanted to see its beauty for ourselves.

So you've seen the local mountains, ventured around downtown, explored Stanley Park, cycled the Seawall and even taken a trip to Whistler. This post is for those of you who crave more, those who wish to venture down the less travelled path. Below is a list of our top 7 lesser known favourites. The first four are easily accessible by bus. The last three, you will likely need a car for.