TRANQUILLITY OF TOFINO
Discovering wellness on the west coast
Carving out some me-time in Tofino
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better way — or location — to unwind and feel energized than Tofino, on the western edge of Vancouver Island. Tofino’s Long Beach Lodge Resort is base camp for the Beauty and the Beach weekend retreat, Nov. 4 to 6. Bring along sisters or friends — or go solo — for a weekend with a health and wellness focus in one of the most serene settings on the west coast. The weekend is filled with fun physical pursuits including boot camp sessions, Pilates and yoga. You can add activities such as hiking Ucluelet’s West Coast trail, and since you’re in Canada’s surf capital, there are surf and standup paddle board lessons. Well-known fitness leader Michelle Shorter guides the weekend’s wellness activities, which are suitable for all fitness levels. The package, which costs $575 per person, includes:
Two nights’ shared accommodation in a Rainforest Cottage (three guests to a cottage) Friday night welcome tapas Saturday and Sunday morning group breakfasts in the Great Room
Saturday night dinner in the Great Room
Boot camp workout on the beach
Yoga and Pilates mat class Guided nature hike/run Wellness action planning sessions
Full use of Surf Club spa facilities in the Surf Club Options are available to add on extra days. For more information, visit longbeachlodgeresort.com or call 1-877-844-7873.
Animal lounge opens near Calgary airport
Have a dog, cat — or a stallion — you need to house while you jet off somewhere for work or pleasure? The recently opened International Animal Lounge near Calgary International Airport bills itself as a full-service facility. Calgary-based Stonehaven Kennels provides the boarding, daycare and overnight stays for animals at the 10,000-squarefoot facility. Located within a five-minute drive from the airport’s main terminal, services include extended check-in and drop-off hours, round-the-clock supervision and care, a security patrolled facility and dog runs for breeds of all sizes. Travel containers, bedding and pet cleaning services are also available. The facility also has space to board horses coming or go- ing from competitions with, 10x10x10-foot stalls outfitted with rubber floors. The lounge is equipped to provide hay and water until the animals are cleared to carry on with their travels. The animal lounge also offers daycare from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Rates for daycare are $35 excluding food and overnight stays are $50. Separate rates apply for five, 15- or 30-day stays. More details at ialyyc.com
River cruising in exotic Myanmar
If you’ve had exotic Myanmar — formerly Burma — on your travel wish list, this might be the year to do it in style and save a bit of cash. Avalon Waterways is offering a $2,750 discount per person if the trip is booked by Nov. 8. Here’s how it works. If you book your flight through Avalon, there’s a $1,000 discount and you’re then eligible for $1,750 “select cruises” offered by Avalon in 2017.
The small-ship cruise company, which specializes in Europe, now sets sail on the Irrawaddy with the newly launched Avalon Myanmar. The 10-night cruise launches from Yangon (formerly Rangoon), once a bustling colonial city now speckled with remnants of grand buildings from days of yore.
From there, the cruise sails into resplendent palm-treed rural areas with shore excursions to fascinating villages with beautiful spired temples and artisans specializing in lacquerware, where horse and cart are the main mode of transportation.
Want to stay a bit longer? There are add-on trips to Inle Lake, Myanmar and Bangkok. For details go to avalonwaterways.ca/