Strapped for time? Want a holiday with your loved one? Steven Lake shows how less can be more with a micro-vacation.
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You have probably heard about staycations, but have you heard of micro-vacations? I came up with this term to describe a new process that my wife and I are engaging in.
After doing a Google search I discovered I am not the first to use this term. Darn! Wiktionary defines a micro-vacation as “A very brief vacation; a momentary respite from the cares of everyday life.”
Nice definition, but it does not encapsulate the value or essence of the micro-vacation. I will try to expound on this concept with a recent story of my first micro-vacation.
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In the last year I have shared with you how my wife and I felt the need to connect more and, more consciously. We formalized first, date night, and then date day. On date day we usually go for a drive out of the city and into the country.
We discovered that driving was something we both enjoyed and we had uninterrupted time to be together free of phones, computers, and housework. It was a get-away.
This week, we were not able to get away on our date day. We still had date day and it was good, but the weather sucked and I felt that something was missing.
When I woke up the next morning I felt the urge to get out of town. I quietly got out of bed, drew the curtains back, and saw some blue sky mixed in with the clouds. Good enough, I thought. Let’s hit the road.
I woke up my wife and presented her with the idea of going to Whistler, not just for the day as we have done in the past, but staying overnight. Typically, if we stayed at Whistler it was for a vacation of between three days to a week – not for an evening.
We were being spontaneous and as soon as we hit the highway knew we had made the right decision. The weather thought so too as the clouds began to dissipate.
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We opened the computer and found one of our favorite hotels had a screaming good deal (less than $100) and we booked it. It was still early in the morning and we were able to get up, pack, eat, and leave by 10:30 am. This was amazing considering my partner often doesn’t get up until ten (she works evenings).
We were being spontaneous and as soon as we hit the highway knew we had made the right decision. The weather thought so too as the clouds began to dissipate.
This was going to be a quick and dirty time off. Would 24 hours be a rush to get things done or a respite and revitalizing time? Time would tell.
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Driving from the big city to clean mountain air and a picturesque European-style village took us one and a half hours. So little time to travel to another world.
Check in at the hotel was four o’clock but we thought we would stop by and park the car and see if we could get in earlier. Luck was with us.
We arrived at 12:30 and they said our room was ready. Alright! We took our gear (which was minimal on a 24 hour trip) up to the room and then slid down to the outdoor hot tub and pool. Sweet!
We are now in the hot tub and looking up at the mountains that have fresh snow on them. I am surveying the ski runs imagining every bump and turn and what is the best line down the hill. My wife has a smile on her face and is looking relaxed and happy.
After we have had our fill of hot water and scenic views, we go up to our room, change and hit the village for lunch, window shopping, and just hanging out. We eventually make our way over to our favorite oyster bar and lady luck is still shining upon us.
It is now five o’clock and there is a wine tasting festival going on and the oyster bar is closed. BUT, they decide to open an hour early. PLUS it is happy hour and the oysters are half-price. YES!
After supper we walk all of one block to our hotel and hop onto a king-size bed. Love those big beds.
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Then, over to the main dining-room and guess what? It is the shoulder season and they have a three course meal for $28. We are almost laughing because this is one of the best restaurants in Whistler and we would normally pay 2-3 times that for a meal.
We are entertained by a wonderful piano player as we eat and drink. After supper we walk all of one block to our hotel and hop onto a king-size bed. Love those big beds. I will leave the rest of the evening up to your imagination.
The next morning we woke to crystal clear skies. Not a cloud to be seen. After breakfast we visited an incredible bakery, shopped, and picked up the local gossip as to when the ski season would start (there was talk that it would open a week earlier than scheduled).
Then a drive home through some truly spectacular mountain scenery (remember, not a cloud in the sky). Twenty-seven hours after leaving Vancouver we were back home safe and sound.
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Not once did we feel rushed. We left with the anticipation and excitement of taking advantage of a spontaneous moment and were rewarded with a bevy of fortuitous incidents including pricing of accommodation and food, timing, and glorious weather.
We were relaxed and felt that we had indeed been on a vacation with all the benefits of such an experience. We also felt more connected and appreciated the time we had spent together in a novel experience.
Yet, it had only been just over 24 hours. Amazing that such a short time could bring so many benefits.
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Did it “spice up” our life? Most definitely. I think my wife liked me taking the lead on creating a fun experience for the both of us. I felt good being proactive and having her appreciate my ideas. And, without going into details, there is something to be said about sex in a hotel (especially with your wife).
Getting away from it all, even for such a short time, was like a multi-day vacation. The one day micro-vacation felt as if I had been on a three or four day holiday.
We will be instituting the micro-vacation as a regular feature in our lives from now on. I highly recommend it.
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Note: I mentioned the prices to show it is not necessary to be wealthy to take a micro-vacation. We are not wealthy. In the summertime, I expect to do a micro-vacation while camping which would cost even less. Money does not have to be an issue when micro-vacationing.
Photo: Canstockphoto
Hi Steven, thank you for a wonderful reminder that it takes so little to mean so much.
Didn’t realize you are from the Vancouver area.. As I am as well, will be more attuned to your posts.
Cheers.
Thanks. Glad to meet a fellow Vancouverite.