Sure I lucked out on the weather, but Tofino would’ve been just as fun in the rain. There’s rubber boots and rain coats in the closet just in case! Only steps from what seemed to be our own private beach, our stay was just what this small town-turned-city girl needed–a taste of Island life. Situated atop 40 acres of oceanfront, Middle Beach Lodge is a peaceful retreat surrounded by wilderness. The rustic decor is complete with antique furnishings and found objects set in wooden cabins that create the perfect backdrop for a cozy getaway. What’s more? Starting the morning off right with a complimentary breakfast of  yummy pastries and fresh fare, which also gave me energy for what was next, surfing.

Being in BC’s very own surf town, I couldn’t pass up the opportuntiy to hit a few waves myself (yes, that’s me getting trampled by an 8 footer). Arden, My instructor at Pacific Surf School was knowledgeable, friendly and made this experience one to remember. Not to mention, those wetsuits are on point with the one-piece trend that’s trés chic for fall.

The ultimate vacation would not have been complete without a little wine-ing and dining. At The Pointe Restaurant in The Wickaninnish Inn, chef Nicholas Nutting serves up fresh, organic and local cuisine – and a Braised Beef Short and Spot Prawn ($36) dish to die for! To complete my meal, I gave my taste buds an unconventional treat of Green English Peas ($12 pictured above),  mascarpone powder, green pea puree bottom, bacon ice cream, and topped with bacon and bourbon balls (little balls that exploded with bourbon in your mouth). Overlooking 240 degrees of the Pacific Ocean with a cozy fireplace as its centrepiece, the restaurant is the quintessential home away from home. What more could a girl ask for?

1 – 10. The ultimate retreat from the city – Middle Beach Lodge in Tofino, BC.

2. Photo courtesy of Middlebeach.com.
11 – 13. “Hangin’ loose”  and surviving the attack of an 8 footer with Pacific Surf School.

14, 15. The sunset view and I at The Pointe Restaurant in The Wickaninnish Inn.

16. Photo courtesy of  The Wickaninnish Inn.

By: Christie Lohr, Vancouver

Want to work in fashion? Visit fashion career website for Canada Style Nine to Five.

Special thanks to MINI Yaletown for this hot red Countryman, Holly Boutique for my outfits, Erin Ireland of It’s to Die 4 banana bread for being my trusty side kick and Road 13 winery for  giving us their wine and this gorgeous setting for the photos above.

As the weather gets warmer, we start thinking about summer weekend getaways. Rowena’s Inn on the River is the perfect escape to unwind and completely relax. Just an hour and a half outside of Vancouver on Harrison Lake, the property has it’s own runway for small planes, an outdoor pool, tennis courts, and one of the Lower Mainland’s best golf courses, Sandpiper Golf Resort.

You can stay in a cozy room at the historic English inspired house adorned with family pictures on the walls and antiques dating back to the early 1900’s, such as the original stair railing from Hotel Vancouver.

You can also stay in your very own private cottage, as I did, with fire place, 2 person jaccuzzi, king size bed and picturesque view.  Even though the sun didn’t shine, there was something about the sound of rain, fire crackling and a glass of wine in my hand that made the experience magical.

I hungrily indulged in one of the most delicious breakfasts, delivered in a picnic basket right to my cottage’s front door. There was fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, blueberry pancakes, eggs benedict, hash browns, sausage, bacon, fresh fruit, and freshly baked scones and muffins.

Rowena’s is located on a gorgeous golf course, but there’s plenty more to do than golf – high-tea in the manor and  fine dining in the Rivers Edge Restaurant. I had the Steamed Qualicum Bay Mussels in a buttery white wine ($12), then moved on to the Herb Seared Halibut (left, $28) and the Rack of Lamb (right, $26). The next night was a Friday where AAA Canadian Prime Rib dinner is on special (from $19). There’s nothing like a giant homemade Yorshire pudding to bring back the feeling of my own family nostalgia.

You can also relax with a massage in your private cottage. I had an hour long massage in front of the crackling fire from Brenda Bailey of Sunset Holistic Therapies (6660 Pioneer Ave. Agassiz, BC, 604-703-3038) . Her services include a 60 minute aromatherapy massage ($82) and a Natural Face Lift and Mask ($105), to name a few.

Possibly one of the most special memories I have of Rowena’s Inn on the River is the stylish owner Betty Anne, who’s turquoise loose fitted top and white pants gave us an instant connection. After living in West Vancouver for 30 years, she moved back to the place she was born. It’s her love and passion for what she does that connects you to her and the resort. “My mom and dad always loved to entertain, and that’s one of the many things I love about Rowena’s Inn on the River”, Betty Anne.

I stayed at brand new Watermark Beach Resort that’s bigger than my own apartment.

My partner in crime for the weekend, Erin Ireland, and I about to step into our go-to transportation, a yellow school bus. We felt like school girls all over again.

Some of the crowd’s most fashionable, including ET Canada’s Erin Cebula (top left) and a fierce woman rockin an umbrella.

Heading to the Nota Bene Release Party at Black Hills Estate Winery, owned by 90210’s hunky star Jason Priestly.

No, this is not Vegas. It’s the Walnut Beach Resort.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Steven Page, ex-frontman of the Barenaked Ladies, played some old favourites to a lucky bunch as we eat dinner and sipped on local wine. I was filming from my table, so please don’t mind the random people that get in the way. He sounded amazing and wanted to share these three great songs that I’m sure are your old faves too. Brings me back to my teens. A weekend highlight for me.

There was no way I was leaving without stopping off at a few wineries, especially Road 13. They have tasty chardonnay that’s perfect for a summer patio.

Summer came early for me  a few weeks ago in desert wine country Osoyoos. At 30 degrees, the Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival was packed with more fun than I’ve had in a long time. Being only 5 hours outside of Vancouver and almost guaranteed to be hot and sunny, it’s the perfect spot for a summer getaway.

You should follow me on Twitter @christie_lohr.

Meet the 2010 Mini 50 Camden Special Edition in white silver metallic, my speedy sidekick for one of the best weekends I’ve had. Thanks to Mini Yaletown, I had the opportunity to test drive the dressed-to-kill set of wheels to the Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival this past weekend that included Jason Priestley, Steven Page from the Barenaked Ladies and Bruce Greenwood and many events featuring BC wine and local chefs. It was a fun and comfortable ride, amazing on gas and surprisingly roomy enough for five bags of luggage (ahem, it’s a girl thing) and my passenger Erin Ireland of itstodie4.com and host of FMA Entertainment Weekly. Packed with many features such as 17-inch silver alloy rims, a top-end audio system, striking modern interior, sleek white leather and black cloth front seats and  a double sunroof, the Mini has all the essentials for any stylish getaway. Watch the video, you’ll see what I mean.

So, if you’re in the market for a new car, my suggestion is a Mini. For more info on this model or any others, visit Mini Yaletown at 1039 Hamilton Street, Vancouver or www.yaletown.mini.ca.

It’s true what they say, nice things do come in small packages.

April is a month I look forward to every year — it’s the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival in Whistler. With free outdoor concerts, such as the nostalgic 90’s group Arrested Development, the hot EXPOSED fashion show, tasty Tuscan treats at Trattoria, thanks to local gals (pictured above) for taking me, a soak in the jacuzzi at the Summit Lodge, apres on a patio at the foot of the mountain after shredding some pow (I’ve learned that lingo recently) and listening to MTVs Peak Season’s Dre Morel spin at the Savage Beagle, there’s an infectious buzz in the village.

This year I did something I’ve never done during the festival or in my life…downed 4 shots of ice cold vodka at the Belvedere Ice Room, Canada’s first permanent vodka ice tasting room at the Bearfoot Bistro (as if you need another reason to love this five star restaurant). Step up to the ice bar in this glowing, blue arctic room and sample a range of 50 vodkas from around the world. Each bottle is displayed in individual ice sculpted boxes and with a chilling temp of -24C, it’s the coldest ice bar in the world. Keep warm, cozy and stylish in Canada goose down parkas and fur trimmed hats.

As the weather warms up, here’s a new way to cool down.

For my recent birthday my beau and I decided to indulge in a little spa getaway at Tigh-Na-Mara Spa Resort. If you’re like me, who had never heard of the place until now, you’re in for a treat. Nestled in a secluded beach just outside Parksville on Vancouver Island, it’s a true diamond in the rough. The resort boasts two restaurants, a lounge, and a first-class spa. Upon checking in we wandered over to our seaside cabin to enjoy panoramic views of the ocean framed by sprawling cedar trees and sandy beaches. The cozy log cabin felt like a home away from home with its stone-built fireplace and Jacuzzi tub, both of which we took full advantage of! After settling in we headed over to the Grotto Spa where we took a dip in their mineral pool, said to contain over seven healing and purifying minerals, before pampering ourselves with a side-by-side couples massage- oh so relaxing. As if that wasn’t enough to put me in a perpetual state of bliss, the luxury continued as we dined in our spa robes at the Treetop Tapas & Grill where we indulged in their endless tapas menu. The gourmet menu tantalized our taste buds with West Coast-inspired cuisine such as steamed local halibut, Peppered Ahi Tuna, and Tamarind marinated lamb. I opted for pure relaxation this time around, but for all you adventure seekers the area also offers Oceanside hiking, mountain biking, and cave spelunking. Sometimes time or money doesn’t always allow for a trip to some exotic locale, but with a gem so close to home, it’s nice to know a heavenly escape is just a ferry ride away!

1155 Resort Drive, Parksville, BC, Reservations: 1-800-663-7373, Info@tigh-na-mara.com

By: Chloe Berge, Vancouver

Escape to Whistler pre and post the Olympics. With the road improvements, the scenic drive only took an hour from Vancouver this weekend. I slept at the Adara Boutique Hotel, a contemporary stay for style lovers with sleek designs such as the red chic couches, wire circle chair and orange antlers in the lobby and a modern plush king size bed and funky chair in the room. Bring your bikini for a late night dip in the hot tub (pool is closed for the winter). And being only a few steps from the heart of the village, it took 30 seconds to get to the liquor store, allowing me to start the weekend with a toast of Liberty School Chardonnay. Rooms from $100.

For mouthwatering Scallop Risotto and Ahi Tuna Poke, a melody of ahi tuna, white truffle oil, sambal oelek, sesame and wasabi (above), I stopped in at The Mix by Ric’s for dinner and sipped on a tasty martini from the extensive and impressive list to wash it all down. Delish.

After a night in Whistler, chances are you’re a bit foggy the next day. I headed to Elements, a brunch hot spot, to spoil my taste buds and fill my grumbling belly. I shared the Carmalized Pecan and Banana Stuffed French Toast (above) and the newly added Healthy Hash Bowl, a mix of mushrooms, butter squash, red peppers, pesto and tomatoes toped with two poached eggs, with my pal. It was the perfect combo of savory and sweet.

Stay tuned for more on my trip to Whistler, including a brand new spa opening this Saturday and me sabering some bubbly!