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20 GREAT WEEKENDS...
leaving from Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and points in between.

Text: CHANTAL TRANCHEMONTAGNE

It’s time to take back the weekend. You know you deserve it. Perfect the casual dress code. Banish stress. Sleep in. Splurge. In short, live large (and worry about it later). To kick-start the process, enRoute presents 20 tailor-made getaways – from day trips to long weekends. Now what are you waiting for?

CONTACT INFORMATION for the trips mentioned in this article are available by clicking here.

DAY TRIPPERS

ROCK ON
Prospect, N.S. Pick a big flat rock in this small fishing village – as picturesque as Peggy’s Cove minus the throngs of people. Spread out your Mediterranean picnic from Scanway Catering in Halifax. Eat and lounge; repeat as required. If lethargy hasn’t totally set in (though lethargy is good), join Adventures East for a sunset sea kayaking tour.
Departure point: Halifax. Escape route: 45-minute drive.

THE NAKED CHEF
Oka, Que. Pack ultralight: just cash, shades and your appetite. The country drive is lined with farms and markets featuring fresh local products like the famed Oka cheese. Make your way to the Parc d’Oka to literally "hang out." (It’s a nude beach, but for the modest, there’s a regular beach too.)
Departure point: Montreal. Escape route: 45-minute drive.

TEE FOR TWO
Beaverton, Ont. Tee off from the blues at Cedarhurst Golf Club, a historic Stanley Thompson-designed course set amid towering cedars. When you’re done duffing, take a short drive to Jackson’s Point for an elegant meal in The Briars resort’s 160-year-old Regency manor.
Departure point: Toronto. Escape route: 1-hour drive.

LIQUID LAUNCH
Bow River, Alta. Drop down to water level for a fresh take on the city skyline. No raging white water here: Chinook River Sports keeps you dry on this floating tour. Spot wildlife – or wild things of another sort (especially after a few pints of tasty microbrew) at the Wildwood Restaurant & Brew Pub.
Departure point: Calgary. Escape route: Short drive.

THE NATURE OF THINGS
Capilano River Regional Park, B.C. Hike through rain forest and granite canyons to the sounds of the raging river. At the north end, a salmon hatchery provides a lesson in real upward mobility. By then, you’ll appreciate the hickory nut salmon and forest mushroom pizza served at Saltaire Restaurant & Terrace.
Departure point: Vancouver. Escape route: Short drive.

OVERNIGHTERS

FERRY KINGDOM
Tancook Island/Mahone Bay, N.S. Take the ferry from Chester Bay to this pretty island, where wild berries are there for the picking. After your Gilligan’s Island fantasies are exhausted, the Manse Country Inn in Mahone Bay comes to the rescue. The pristine harbour views haven’t changed much since the property was built in the 1870s, and Gourmet loved the inn’s cuisine. You might also fancy the seafood at the Innlet Café.
Departure point: Halifax. Escape route: 1 1/4-hour drive.

IMPRESSIONIST MASTERPIECE
Saint-Paulin, Que. At one of Quebec’s best-kept secrets, Auberge Le Baluchon, first-class spa services, award-winning French food and luxurious rooms are the perfect recipe for de-stressing. With La Mauricie National Park nearby, pedal, hike and paddle away any remaining frustrations. And Shawinigan is hosting an impressive 70-piece exhibition of great artists, including Rodin, Degas, Matisse and Picasso (until October 5).
Departure point: Montreal. Escape route: 1 3/4-hour drive.

BUILDING BLOCKS
Buffalo, N.Y. Buffalo is an architectural hot spot. (Who knew?) See the classics: Henry Hobson Richardson’s Buffalo State Hospital, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin House and Louis Sullivan’s Guaranty Building, among others. At the Friar’s Table, encounter a seriously succulent 20-ounce porterhouse before bedding down at the superbly renovated Mansion on Delaware Avenue, originally a George Allison creation.
Departure point: Toronto. Escape route: 1 1/2-hour drive.

SUMMIT MEETING
Kananaskis Country, Alta. So many options, so little time: golf at the Kananaskis Country Golf Course; guided hikes in the majestic Rockies; horseback riding at Boundary Ranch; truly gnarly mountain biking and climbing. If that’s not enough adrenalin for you, get a rush from the divine handmade truffles at Obsessions Deli and Chocolatier. Then rest your weary bones at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis, K-Country’s best digs.
Departure point: Calgary. Escape route: 1 1/2-hour drive.

SURF AND TURF
Victoria, B.C. Wake up at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel & Marine Resort to majestic views of Mount Baker, the ocean and surrounding islands. Get out on the water to commune with gentle giants on a whale-watching tour, or connect with stars in the night sky on a sea kayak tour through Haro Strait guided by a certified astronomer. Top off the day with Cafe Brio’s vegetarian tasting menu.
Departure point: Vancouver.
Escape route: 1-hour ferry ride + 30-minute drive.

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