Thank you to the Fairmont Pacific Rim for having me stay at your beautiful hotel! While this is a sponsored post, all opinions expressed are 100% my own!
Whenever life gets a little crazy, I think it’s important to take a time out and reset – and that’s exactly what we did this past weekend.
Rather than just take a day off to chill, we went to the beautiful Fairmont Pacific Rim.
It’s funny how just one night away can really make all the difference in your attitude.
5 Ways To Have A Great 24-Hour Staycation in Vancouver
Check into a Hotel
Now, to preface – I believe you can have a seriously great staycation regardless of whether you choose to have it at home, or at a hotel, Air B n B, or lodge. But, there’s something so relaxing about getting staying at a hotel. I suppose for me, it’s the concept of getting out of my work space (since I work at home) and out of my usual routine. I love my home, but sometimes when I take “me time” I find myself looking around the house and creating a massive to-do list. Can’t forget to dust, clean the floors, oh and there’s laundry… It kind of ruins the whole “me time” staycation thing I’m trying to go for. The Fairmont Pacific Rim is known for being a beautiful and luxurious hotel. Located in Coal Harbour, the hotel is just a hop and a skip away from the ocean.
We were lucky enough to also get a room that faced the ocean (shocking and amazingly enough – over 70% of the Fairmont Pacific Rim rooms offer this spectacular harbour and mountain views – que shocked emoji face, right?), so we were able to soak up the view all afternoon and night.
I don’t know about you, but there is something about an ocean view that instantly calms me. I swear, anywhere by the water is my “happy place”.
When we first checked into the Signature Ofuro Room, we were immediately blown away by how lovely it was.
The main room had a king size bed, a flat screen TV, and the entire wall had floor to ceiling windows so we could take in the city view.
One thing about the room that was really unique was that you could control the room’s lights, temperature, and curtains all with smart technology on an iPad. It was super neat.
What really took our breath away though was the bathroom. The washroom was complete with stunning floor to ceiling marble, a huge Japanese deep soaker tub that looked out to the ocean, a rain shower head and a large luxurious vanity space.
We began our staycation by relaxing in the room. We indulged in some yummy in-room dining using the Fairmont Stay and Taste Offer, sipped some delicious rosé, and listened to music.
It was the perfect veg-out session before we headed out for dinner at Botanist Dining.
Enjoy a little Spa time
Whether you make an appointment at the hotel spa, or simply pack a couple face masks – take some time to just pamper yourself. I brought a few masks so that Jer and I could binge mask using some of my favourite Fresh Beauty Face Masks. It was a great start to our relaxing 24 hour staycation. Also, if your hotel room has a great soaker tub like ours did then I recommend you put on a mask, pour yourself a glass of wine or champagne, and soak while you spa!
Enjoy a Delicious Meal
If you follow me on Instagram then you likely already know that Jer and I LOVE to dine out. We love trying out new restaurants and so when we want to unwind, having a great meal is at the top of our to-do list. Because we stayed at the Fairmont, we decided to head down from our luxe hotel room to their new restaurant, Botanist Dining.
Dinner at Botanist Dining
About a month or so ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to Botanist’s grand opening – so as soon as I found out we’d be dining there again on our staycation I was super excited. I already knew I loved the food, and couldn’t wait to try out more of their menu. Botanist Dining is a unique and luxurious restaurant in the Fairmont Pacific Rim which is decorated in a way that almost appears to be exotic rain-forest meets elegant 1950’s restaurant. The restaurant houses nearly 400 plants, varying from 50 different plant species which include rare fruit bushes, and edible plants such as camellia, cardamom, and ginger.
To start we tried their Heirloom Tomato Salad.
This was light, refreshing, and the perfect way to start a meal. I love tomatoes (seriously, I often just cut them up and eat them on their own!) so these beautiful heirloom’s balanced with the burrata cheese and lovely hibiscus vinaigrette I found so enjoyable.
The second course was an amazing Charred Octopus dish.
If you like sea food, then let me tell you – you will love this. The octopus was cooked absolutely perfectly. The chorizo in this dish adds a delicious smokiness, while the cauliflower puree adds that little pick up of zest that really completes the entire plate.
For our main, we tried the Herb-Crusted Lamb Saddle.
This was the winning dish. It was perfectly balanced – spice, zest, richness – and the lamb was cooked to perfection.
For dessert, we had the Meyer lemon polenta cake which was plated in a strikingly beautiful way. I am a fan of all things lemon, so this cake was an immediate hit with me. The lemon buttermilk ice cream added an overall silkiness to the dish. This was a dessert I would happily have time and time again!
Take in the City
I love Vancouver. There’s so much to see and do. It’s a beautiful city. But, because I live and work here – sometimes I forget just how much I love it. That’s why whenever I take a little staycation, I like to make some time just to walk around and actually enjoy the city that we’re so lucky to live in. My favourite thing to do is just walk the sea wall. It’s such a gorgeous way to soak up the city.
Do What You Want
There are so many lists sharing places to see, and things to do, but at the end of the day – do what you want. If you don’t feel like walking the city, or having dinner out and instead you want to order room service and soak in the tub all night – DO IT! This is your chance to just do whatever you like so that the next day you wake up feeling refreshed and renewed.
Let’s be honest – we can’t always just jet off for a holiday. We all have responsibilities – jobs, family, etc – and sometimes leaving for a week or two just isn’t an option.
But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t schedule in some “you” time. In fact, you definitely should – but rather than going away, head somewhere local.
The fact is, you don’t need to get on a plane to “get away”.
Like I mentioned, Jeremy and I had been feeling a bit burnt out after a few things went awry in our life, and we decided we were in dire need of some R&R.
We knew we couldn’t go far, or for very long, so we planned a stay at the Fairmont Pacific Rim.
While 24 hours may not seem like a long time to “get away” from life’s responsibilities, we both agreed that it was exactly what we needed to get back on track. 24 hours of relaxation in a beautiful room, completed with a lovely meal and some yummy wine really made all the difference.
Book in your staycation at the Fairmont Pacific Rim
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