Boutiques along Main St. showcase up-and-coming Canadian designers
In case you haven’t heard… the 21st Winter Olympics have come to Vancouver; curling, bobsledding and luging their way into our hearts, from Feb 12-28.
While the sports junkies are glued to the TV, rooting for the world’s best athletes, why not convince the girls who aren’t obsessed with Quatchi the sasquatch mascot to indulge in a little Vancouver inspired getaway?
For a quality time with your best girl friends, sisters and moms, visit Vancouver, a 2010 hot spot destination, for a good ol’ fashioned girl retreat.
Here are a few fun ways to explore vancouver with the girls:
Where to Play:
Perfect Day offers hundreds of experiential activities for the adventurous at heart
Before you get your nails polished, get them nice and dirty. Why not spend the morning rock climbing, parasailing or speeding a NASCAR racecar around the track? Perfect Day, a Vancouver-based company that operates activities all across North America, offers hundreds of experiential activities for the adventurous at heart. Take flying lessons, try European sword fighting or strut your stuff at a pole dancing lesson. From martini cocktail mastering, to kite boarding classes, Perfect Day has something for everyone. www.perfectday.ca
Where to Get Pampered:
A trip to pHresh Spa + Wellness Club is a great way to spend an afternoon. Body treatments include Thai massage, detoxifying fruit wraps, lymphatic drainage and, my personal favorite, the customized martini facial. The chocolate-scented mud mask, followed by the apricot wisp moisturizer, is gently massaged into the face and neck. The facial ends with a complimentary eyebrow pluck and makeup application. But the pampering doesn’t end here. You can spend the day chilling out in the Eucalyptus steam room, taking a dip in the outdoor pool or tanning in the roof top garden terrace. www.phreshspa.com
Travel To Wellness, a Canadian-based online resource for all things spa, recommends Vida Spas in the Wall Centre Hotel for their Ayurveda treatment called the Nidra Sleep Treatment (means “deep sleep” in Sanscrit) www.traveltowellness.com
Where to Power Lunch:
Join a mix of fashion forward femmes and film execs for a power-lunch at Glowbal. This trendy grill and satay bar in Yaletown, serves up some unusual dishes: sablefish salad with avocado and black tiger prawns or lamb with a Tequila lime mint glaze. Wash it all down with a “You Glow Girl Martini,” a lethal combo of gin, Sour Puss apple and white grape. www.glowbalgrill.com
Where to Shop:
For local, independent designers and vintage shops, explore the Main St strip between King Edward and Broadway.
Check out Twigg & Hottie (www.twiggandhottie.com) for funky fashions and one-of-a-kind jewelry. Lazy Susan’s (3647 Main St.) has Jesus lunchboxes and Wonder Woman kitsch, while Lark (www.lark8thave.com) displays classic designs in a minimalist loft-style setting. My ultimate favorite is The Barefoot Contessa (3715 Main St.) a frilly, feminine shop at fair prices.
Where to Eat Chocolate:
Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France (198 E. 21st Avenue off the Main Street strip) serves up French Canadian creations using milk chocolate from around the world. Handmade truffles are infused with fruits, teas, spices, and flowers.
Where to Sleep:
Opus has hosted such divas as J.Lo, Gwen Stefani, Cher and Shakira. Located in the trendy area of Yaletown, the 96 room boutique hotel is minimalist chic. Penthouse suites are pimp, with eclectic designer furniture: red lipstick couches, leopard print chairs and purple four-poster beds. Voted one of the world’s top hotels by readers of Conde Nast travel magazine, a night’s accommodation at the Opus doesn’t come cheap, but staff do offer a few freebies like bicycle rentals, yoga dvds and, when booked in advance, a personal driver. For more visit www.opushotel.com
Where to Party:
Circa, on the Granville strip, is a huge Supperclub space with 25-foot ceilings and Romanesque columns. Pretty people sip over-priced cocktails and pose as the DJ spins the latest tracks.
Any other ideas for hot spots in Vancouver? Post a comment below!
