Top 10 Staycation/day trip spots - UK and BC edition
OK so has COVID got you down? Looking for some R&R close to home? J and I have racked our brains to try and suggest some places you can go to clear the cobwebs in your head and get away for a while…
*Kind reminder* Please respect the local lockdown terms and current travel rules. Don’t be a dick AND WEAR A DAMN MASK!
UK
Chester
Located in the North West of England, Chester is D’s absolute favourite place to go. You want to see a Roman amphitheatre? Feel like walking on Roman-made walls built thousands of years ago? Love those medieval buildings with black beams that look like they’re falling over? Well, Chester is the place for you! My favourite thing to do is have a drink in one of the many restaurants overlooking the River Dee and just bask in the ambience of such history and culture. A 1 hour drive from Manchester…bonus!…but 3hr40min drive from London. Yikes.
Lake Windermere, Lake District
Ever wanted to visit the largest lake in the Lake District National Park and view the rolling hills and beauty that is quintessential England? Well J swears by Windermere….from glamping to nature walks, you’re all set. Don’t forget to visit The World of Beatrix Potter (https://www.hop-skip-jump.com/) to bring you back to your childhood and get those feel-good vibes!
Southern UK beaches: Newquay & Botany
Who says the UK has no good beaches? Newquay boasts 12 golden beaches with ‘each one offering a different beach experience for each day of your stay’. Most are dog-friendly and have golden sand; also rock pools to explore! Botany Bay is one of Kent’s most photographed bays - ‘this hidden gem offers stunning views of white cliffs and beautiful chalk stacks.’. On another note, the white cliffs of Dover are indeed a spectacular site, for real. https://www.visitnewquay.org/things-to-do/attractions/beaches) and
Edinburgh
Pronounced ‘Ed-in-berg’ by some (and Ed-in-Bruh to brits), this city is phenomenally gorgeous. The Royal Mile is the place to be for tourists (myself included), and gives you the opportunity to see most of the sights you came for and to try some haggis from the numerous restaurants in the area. D suggests going into one of the many whisky shops (they’ll give you samples!) and recommends a honey whisky; goes down smooth with a lovely aftertaste. A visit to Edinburgh castle is a must. You can visit a local loch by car. This is a trek from London (almost a 7 hour drive!) and a 4 hour car journey from Manchester but well worth 2+ days visiting. Also, don’t forget to visit the Edinburgh Dungeon (https://www.thedungeons.com/edinburgh/en/) to learn all about Sawney Bean and his cannibalistic/murderous family. Fun fact: D was picked to be a part of the immersive experience and was exposed as the nasty witch she is!
London
What can I say about iconic London that hasn’t already been said in history books, tourist mags and travel blogs? Not much but I effing LOVE IT!!! It is ridiculously gorgeous and you’ll never want for things to do. From Buckingham Palace to the Tower of London to the juxtaposition of ancient and modern architecture to the various food options. If you’re in the UK and you haven’t been to London (or just don’t like it) I say to you: WTF IS YOUR PROBLEM??? Don’t drive to London though, there’s no point and you’ll just have to pay exorbitant prices to park your car while you’re sightseeing. There’s also a ‘Congestion Charge’ to sway people from driving in the city centre. Train it, tram it, bus it, walk it…you’ve got options!
BRITISH COLUMBIA (get a ride in style, call Carl! https://enchantedlimousine.ca/)
Harrison Hot Springs
It says it all in the name….who doesn’t like a bit of naturally warm water infused with minerals? It’s been a while since I’ve been but I’m pretty sure you can pay for a swim pass to the Harrison Hot Springs resort (https://www.harrisonresort.com/) in order to swim in a nice, stylised area of the springs but have heard you can find some of the pools in the wild (for free!). Its a fun place to go with a small-town feel…I’ve always enjoyed myself there and there are lots of kid-oriented activities. 1.5 hour drive from Vancouver. *Fun fact* D visited some hot springs in Honduras but the experience was….different. Instead of swimming in them we cooked some chicken and eggs (in a bag placed in the boiling pool) and then ate them (and the place was packed with others doing the same). Uneventful but interesting! Don’t try this at Harrison though.
Whistler
The last time D went to Whistler we were living our best mid-life crisis lives driving a Mustang convertible and being hosted in luxury (thank you friend, what a treat that was!) so my memories are (naturally) painted in a different light. It was during the summer and involved axe throwing, brewery visiting, buying local natural/hippy soaps (my favourite!) and eating. Any world-renowned ski resort (2010 Winter Olympic Games! Holler!) is going to have a huge draw and will have lots of things to do. Bike rentals are fun and the local rental shop kids (literally) can give you great recommendations on routes and trails to follow. As always, be alert! The area is a natural habitat for bears and other wildlife and they don’t come to play, they come to slay (tm Shea Coulee).
Big Splash Water Slide Park (AKA Splashdown)
‘nuff said - also who doesn’t love saying Tsawwassen? (http://www.bigsplashwaterpark.ca/home/)
Hope we haven’t forgotten anywhere! Please let us know your thoughts and favourite places in your area for Staycations.
D & J
