Metro Vancouverites hoping to escape the local madness during Taylor Swift's Eras tour may wish to get away from the city for the weekend.
While trips heading into Vancouver across the border will be busy, most traffic will be heading into the city, meaning locals won't be fighting the congestion, depending on their departure day. Similarly, more people will be arriving at Vancouver's YVR Airport when weekend travellers leaving the city are headed outbound.
- Related: Everything you need to know if you are travelling to Vancouver for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour
Have a look at some of the best options for getaways out of Vancouver during Swift's shows at BC Place on Dec. 6, 7, and 8.
Trips across the Canada-U.S. border
Travellers can enjoy some fun south of the border while the "Anti-Hero" singer is in Vancouver. Grab your passport and a travel companion's hand - no one needs to be a bad guy for a good weekend. Several options in Washington only require driving a couple of hours while others include a ferry. However, people looking to escape crowds may appreciate secluded waterfront views.
Leavenworth
Located a four-and-a-half hour drive from Vancouver and in the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth is the spitting image of a picturesque German town. With alpine rooftops, adorable shuttered windows, latticework features, horse-drawn carriages, beer gardens, and more, the destination offers an experience you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in North America.
The Washington town offers specialty shops, "eclectic dining," and a range of accommodations to suit every budget. For example, Airbnb has options starting at $127 a night. It also has an impressive Nutcracker Museum that holds thousands of Christmas favourites.
Seattle
Seattle often draws parallels to Vancouver - think loads of coffee shops, craft breweries, and a vibrant art scene - but it has many unique attractions and a rich history. It's also a relatively short drive from Vancouver (roughly three hours if traffic isn't backed up at the border. Hotel prices start at just over $100 and go up from there. For example, the three-star Hotel Max starts at roughly $111 a night while the four-star Hilton Garden Inn Seattle starts at $142.
The city's annual Winterfest celebration also kicks off on Nov. 29, offering a winter train and village, as well as weekend entertainment on the Armory Stage.
The Seattle Christmas Market will also transform the Fisher Pavilion and South Fountain Lawn at Seattle Center into a "European-inspired outdoor Christmas village and community marketplace" with daily entertainment, decorations, sweet and savoury eats, mulled wine, and over 60 local and international vendors. It is similar to Vancouver's German-style Christmas Market but visitors may see different vendors and will enjoy a different set-up.
While the city will be busy, it won't have the Swift-fuelled madness of Vancouver, allowing visitors to enjoy its attractions without the added influx of concertgoers.
Orcas Island
Orcas Island is approximately a four-hour trek from Vancouver, B.C. via car and ferry, offering several activities for local travellers looking to explore somewhere new (but not too far away). Recognized by its horseshoe shoe shape, it is also the largest of the San Juan Islands and home to the 5,200-acre Moran State Park. Hikers can enjoy over 38 miles of trails through the breathtaking old-growth forest and dips in Mountain Lake.
After crossing the Canada-U.S. border, travellers continue down the I-5 Highway in Washington past Bellingham. When you get near Burlington, prepare to take Exit 230 toward 20/Burlington/Anacortes and turn left onto Skate Road. From here, you will need to follow directions via Google Maps or GPS to get down to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal which will take you to Orcas Island. You can check sailing times and availability for the Washington State Ferries with the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The ferry ride takes approximately an hour, but if you aren't a fan of ferries or want to avoid the drive down, you may also fly into Orcas Island via Kenmore Air.
Stays at the Rosario Village, a luxury hotel and resort, start at $150 nightly and boast spellbinding views of Cascade Bay. Similarly, nightly stays at the three-star WorldMark Deer Harbor start at $161 on the island's Deer Harbour.
Trips from Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Here are some options for last-minute trips by air to get you out of town for the first full weekend of December.
Los Angeles
Flights from Vancouver to the City of Angels are the cheapest options available for locals looking for a sunny escape.
Round-trip flight options departing on Dec. 6 and returning on Dec. 8 start at $270. The outbound, direct flight option is with Flair Airlines and the return is with Air Canada and United Airlines and has one stop in Denver (see slide two for details). Trips on these dates with direct flights in both directions cost roughly $60 more.
Flights leaving a day earlier or returning a day later cost more, with round-trip flight prices starting at over $333.
Depending on where travellers stay in Los Angeles, they can have a laid-back beach getaway or enjoy strolling in less busy areas.
Las Vegas
Trips to Sin City also offer great value for folks hoping for a fun weekend getaway to a warmer climate.
Round-trip options departing on Dec. 5 and returning on Dec. 8 start at $296. The outbound, direct option is with Flair Airlines and the return is with WestJet and has one stop in Kelowna. (see slide three).
While the Las Vegas strip is busy, travellers can visit the Grand Canyon, and Ghost Towns, or enjoy spa days. It's also different to experience the hustle and bustle of Vega's towering resorts and casinos than an influx of Swifties (pick your poison?).
Montreal
The City of Saints offers a Canadian respite from swarming crowds in Raincouver during Swift's shows for a bargain.
While last-minute trips to Quebec's largest city often cost over $425 to over $1,000, some tickets over the Eras Tour weekend cost just over $300.
For example, a flight departing Vancouver on Dec. 6 and returning from Montreal on Dec. 8 costs $317. The outbound flight is with WestJet and includes one stop in Edmonton and the return trip is with WestJet and Flair Airlines and has a stop in Toronto (see slide four).
Trips from Abbotsford International Airport (YXX)
Travellers wanting to avoid the rush at YVR may prefer to catch a flight out of Abbotsford. Also, some flights are cheaper out of the smaller airport.
Edmonton
Flights from Edmonton are a jaw-dropping steal from Abbotsford, with direct, round-trip flights from Dec. 6 to Dec. 8 through WestJet for $65 through Kiwi or just over $101 booked directly through the airline (see slide five).
Toronto
Flights from Abbotsford to Toronto are also a steal over the busy weekend, with round-trip, direct service starting at under $250 with Flair Airlines (See slide six).
B.C. road trips
There's virtually no shortage of places to explore on a road trip in B.C. from Vancouver. If you're someone who truly doesn't appreciate crowds - in Vancouver or beyond - numerous towns, villages, and provincial parks offer scenic reprieves from fast-paced city living. Be sure to check the latest road conditions and have the right tires on your vehicle for December driving.
Helmcken Falls
Helmcken Falls looks like it was transported out of a whimsical fairy tale, cascading 141 metres down into a breathtaking canyon. It is Canada's fourth-largest waterfall and is located in Wells Gray Provincial Park on the Murtle River. Lush forests coat the surrounding area, and the pristine waterway continues down through the canyon. Visitors can hike to the rapids and enjoy other outdoor activities.
Wells Gray Provincial Park is roughly a five- to six-hour drive from Vancouver depending on traffic and the route. Located 35 kilometres from Clearwater town, Hemcken Falls Lodge is a rustic, family-run accommodation away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The 20-acre property offers 22 rooms in eight buildings as well as a campsite.
Clearwater Springs Ranch and Spa offers an alternative accommodation that is surrounded by pristine wilderness. Considered a luxury accommodation, Helmcken Falls is just ten minutes away and the ranch offers rustic, cozy rooms as well as a hot tub, gym, sitting room with a large open fire, comfy sofas and telescopes.
Penticton
Penticton is located between Skaha Lake and Okanagan Lake, providing opportunities for folks who enjoy kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, or canoeing. It is also a great destination for folks who enjoy visiting several vineyards or cideries in a day or enjoying restaurants with lakeside views.
The region offers a variety of responsibly maintained road cycling routes and bike trails that transport visitors to numerous attractions as well as breathtaking vantage points. You'll never have to travel very far to find the next awe-inspiring lookout that allows you to see for miles across sparkling lakes and soaring mountain ranges.
- Related: This B.C. gem is one of only two cities in the world located between two lakes (PHOTOS & VIDEO)
Stays at the Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre start at $153 a night over Swift's show weekend, while the Sandman Hotel Penticton's start at $113.
The drive from Vancouver to Penticton takes roughly four-and-a-half hours with favourable conditions (meaning no snowstorms on the Coquihalla or other issues).
Harrison Mills
Metro Vancouverites who want to sneak out of town without committing to a lengthy drive can find a serene escape to Harrison Mills. The peaceful
While WorkSafe BC recently fined Harrison Hot Springs Resort for workplace violations, the area boasts several other places to stay for a weekend getaway.
Rowen's Inn on the River is a 1920s historical accommodation located in Harrison Hot Springs just west of Agassiz. While the 160-acre waterfront estate will feel like a secluded oasis, it is only about a two-hour drive from the city. Guests can stay in a "Gatsby-esque manor that was converted into a boutique inn" or in the luxury cabins that come in one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts. Some of the cabins are pet-friendly, too.
- Related: At this cozy cabin getaway spot near Vancouver you can watch eagles soar and search for Sasquatch
The largest eagle gathering in the world also takes place in Harrison Mills. It kicks off in November and will continue through the beginning of December. Eagles are beautiful, regal birds with an astonishing wingspan of up to 8 feet. While seeing one on its own is a remarkable sight to behold, seeing a convocation of the soaring raptors is truly spectacular.
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