Taking a ‘staycation’ is easy and affordable in qathet region

Travel tourism is back with a vengeance after multiple years of travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the virus in the rearview mirror, but still a concern for some, people are in the mood to get on a plane, ship, train or in a vehicle to go just about anywhere. However, with the surge in demand and systems not functioning at full capacity due to staff shortages, wildfires, heat waves and higher costs incurred by travelling abroad, having a ‘staycation’ might seem enticing.

Living in the qathet region can feel like being on vacation everyday for some residents, especially in the summer. Staying put is an easy choice to make with the abundance of easily accessible and affordable things to do right here in our backyard.

“Given that I never want to leave this beautiful place in the summer, the only difficulty with planning a perfect staycation is trying to cram into a week or two all the wonderful things there are to do here,” said Wildwood resident Liz Blackwood. “I’d start on Sunday by meeting friends for brunch at one of my local favourite spots like Magpies, and then we’d head to the farmers’ market. Then I would start off the week with fresh air to work off some of that brunch by hitting one of our local trails. Since I would have my shaggy four-legged companion in tow, I would head to one of the trails north or south of town.”

On the other hand, many folks in the region take the ‘staycation’ to another level, by hanging out in their backyards, spending many hours tending to and enjoying their never-ending gardening tasks.

“Since I love the garden, it makes the cut for being included in a staycation,” said Blackwood. “Hopefully, after that I would catch live music somewhere, or, end up cutting a lot of fresh flowers from the garden and heading to a friend’s for a barbecue or potluck.”

The region boasts a plethora of outdoor activities. For those who enjoy being close to nature in a tent, there are places nearby.

“Residents can access a wide range of recreational activities here, but for a relaxing time, nothing beats a camping trip,” said Emily Fahey, assistant manager for Tourism Powell River. “Whether it’s by one of our many lakes, by the sea, in the woods, or even up a mountain, our array of municipal, regional and provincial parks, and our numerous backcountry recreation sites, are sure to scratch that itch to get away, without actually getting away.”

For those who are sticking around the downtown Powell River and Willingdon Beach areas, plenty of walking, biking and sporting activities are available.

“Those seeking more fun can check out our local mini-golf course, multiple disc-golf courses, and numerous hiking and cycling trails,” said Fahey. “On the water, we have more paddling destinations than we know what to do with; whether they’d like to canoe, kayak, or paddleboard, there’s something for their level of skill and enthusiasm.”

For those interested in local history, a walking tour can be fun.

“A walking tour is a great way to learn about the heritage of the region,” said Carolyn Smith, visitor services assistant at qathet Museum and Archives. “They take place at 10:30 am on Saturdays on Willingdon Beach; the meeting spot is the forestry museum.”

Smith also recommended that residents visit the museum itself as “it’s a great way to learn about the area” and they have local history books for sale.

A one- or two-day staycation on a bike, by foot, by bus or with a vehicle is fairly easy and straightforward. For example, on a Saturday morning a resident can head down to Willingdon Beach and swim, paddle board or kayak, then get a coffee on Marine Avenue, while also picking up some fresh local produce from a local farm stand (Gathered Farm and Florals sets up beside 32 Lakes Coffee on Saturdays in the summer).

Heading to one of the long sandy beaches south of town (Mahood, Palm, Kent’s) can also be a great day trip. Bring a chair, hat and snacks to spend the whole day exploring the beach or reading a book.

“For those who eschew the outdoors, Powell River and the qathet Regional District are host to all the services they’ll need to feel like a visitor in their hometown, from spa days to crawling our local art galleries and historical attractions,” said Fahey. “Our local dining establishments provide plenty of options for staycationers to treat themselves to everything from artisanal ice cream and sumptuous seafood to the most granola of vegan offerings.”

Venturing a bit further north of town is Lund, which can be a destination or a launching point to Savary Island to take in the warm water and long sandy beaches. Texada Island is qathet’s humble gem of a Gulf Island that has plenty of art studios and beach shores to explore, and is just a short ferry ride away. Travel to Savary and Texada can be done as a day trip. 

“A trip to Lund, including a visit to the Tidal Art Centre, for me offers two-hour ‘micro-staycations’ all year long,” said Blackwood. “That trip would have to include a visit to the Boardwalk or Laughing Oyster, and if we didn’t catch the sunset over dinner, there would be a visit to everyone’s favourite rock to catch the sunset there.”

Visiting local farmers is also an option for locals, with plenty of farms and farm stands north and south of town.

For more ideas, check out the Tourism Powell River app, which is also great for local travel information, at tourism-powellriver.ca/visit.