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Last year, I had the opportunity to attend Wanderlust Whistler, where I yoga piled with complete strangers (thanks Eoin Finn!), danced and jumped evenings away with Michael Franti and MC Yogi, made some new friends and walked away with a new found respect for yoga and what it can bring into my life. I also learned that there were more than a few things I just had to bring along for the ride.

YOGA MAT AND STRAP
This time around I would leave The Mat at home and travel lightly with The Pure Mat 3mm held together with the Loop It Up Mat Strap. Bonus: if I’m in a bind, the mat strap can double as a stretching belt.

NO LIMITS TANK
It has a built in bra for support, flowy circle mesh coverage and the style has major street appeal to pair with my favorite denim cutoffs.

WILL CROP
My go to bottoms for any outdoor yoga moves are crops and the Will Crop flows easily from street to sweat. The convertible waistband allows me to choose the look I want: high-waisted with the Energy Bra, alternatively a loose tee or tank half tucked into the folded down band. Even the length of the crops allows for further customization – roll the hem of the pant once or twice to achieve a true capri look if you’re a shorty like me (5’2”!).

LIP BALM
Mine has been Smith’s Rosebud Salve forever and I’d love to find one that has sunscreen and isn’t drying. If you have a favorite you’d like to recommend, please share it in the comments section below!

WATER BOTTLE
H20 is your friend. Always. Every outdoor event planner in the world should take note: watering stations are genuinely appreciated by attendees and Mother Earth.

BAG
I didn’t need a lot with me as I navigated each day. Some snacks, money, water bottle, iPhone and my hotel key. This year’s aptly named Festival Bag will hold all that and more.

SUNSCREEN
Like H20, this is also your friend.

SUNGLASSES
No-brainer.

ARM PARTY
So fun!

DRY SHAMPOO
This is no longer a dirty little secret. I always stash a travel-sized bottle in my gym bag or purse if I know I might be getting a little sweaty but don’t have time (or the energy) to wash my hair.

HAIR STUFF
High buns and ponytails will always be my go-to but I love finding fresh (and EASY) ways to keep my hair away from my face in downdog. Check it:

Roll it up in the Bang Buster Headband (I LOVE this one. I’ve been able to achieve beach waves every time. Best post yoga hair, ever.)

The Milkmaid: pull hair into two pigtails, braid and wrap the ends up and over the top of your head with bobby pins. Imperfect braiding and fly-aways are welcome (you don’t want to actually look like a milkmaid).

Meet Elizabeth Crisci, an ambassador at our Westport, CT store and our Wanderlust Vermont host. She’ll be sharing her story across our channels and live tweeting at @lululemonlive.

The coolest part of Wanderlust and yoga in general – the journey. You show up at the studio, at a big white tent, on the top of a mountain, on a hotel room floor, in your living room. This summer we’ll be sharing our yoga story with the hashtag #justmymat. 

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Summer is fast approaching and for some, that means barbecues and beach time. For me, it means Wanderlust Vermont - my all-time favorite weekend of the year!

This is my third year attending Wanderlust as a student but my first year as a teacher. I’m so incredibly honoured by this opportunity and I just can’t wait to share this experience with you through @lululemonlive.

With so many teachers, classes, and everyone bringing their very best, how can you possibly choose? Now that I’ve been to a few festivals, I’ve learned the art of scheduling my time but for Wanderlust rookies, creating a weekend schedule can be overwhelming.

Here are some tips for creating the perfect itinerary:

Be careful of overscheduling
You’ll need to put your physical self through multiple classes a day so balance it out with some speakeasy talks, meditation, or a gentle hike to break up your day. This will help you tip your scales more toward bliss than ouch!

Challenge yourself
Are you eyeballing an Inversions workshop thinking, “But I’ve never even tried handstand without a wall!” Well, now is the time. The teachers at Wanderlust are some of the best and the energy of the festival is just the boost you need to try something that scares you.

Get a blend of familiar and new faces
There are so many teachers that I look forward to seeing again, but Wanderlust is all about meeting a new teacher and falling in love. The lineup at Wanderlust was hand-selected to bring a diverse offering of awesome teachers from the local area. Be sure to add a few workshops that catch your eye from someone you’ve never practiced with.

My can’t-miss workshops:

Strength and Compassion, The Practice of Being a Woman
Teacher: Elena Brower with Tiffany Cruikshank and Schuyler Grant.
Each an amazing teacher in their own right, I can’t wait to check out what they create together.

Stalking Your Fear
Teacher: Ana Forrest
This will be my first practice after leading an 8 am hike. Ana is known for her challenging asana practice but this all-level workshop can help anyone let go of the tension caused by fear and start the festival with an open heart and mind.

Becoming a Miracle Magnet
Teacher: Gabrielle Bernstein
A new face at the festival this year but you may have read one of her books (be sure to read Spirit Junkie). Gabrielle believes in miracles and has made it her mission to show you that you can believe in them too. Gabrielle is also giving a Speakeasy Talk, an awesome way to introduce yourself to her work.

Sunset Meditation Hike
Teacher: Garth Stevenson
He is an amazing musician as well as a teacher of meditation. Garth is leading several hikes at the festival, any one of them will be a delight.

Hooping and Slackline
Give yourself a chance to check out something new. Hoop dance and Yoga Slackers’ workshops will challenge you in a totally new way, and may just open up your traditional practice.

These are just some of the things I’m most looking forward to but there’s so much more to explore. What are you most looking forward to?

Until next time! Namaste.

Yoga on top of a mountain (NBD), at Wanderlust Whistler 2012.

Last August, I had a conversation with someone who was nervous about attending her first-ever Wanderlust - the yoga and music festival that has four North American stops in summer 2013.

“I don’t think I’m advanced enough to go,” she said. “Doing that much yoga is scary.”

Seeing as the yoga festival season is now upon us, I thought it was a good time to address her concerns in this blog post in case any of you have similar thoughts when you think about the possibility of attending all-day back-to-back classes at a Wanderlust festival near you.

wanderlust is for everyone

This is what I told my friend. Firstly, you need to know this: Wanderlust, just like all yoga, is for everyone. In any given class there are things you can physically do and things you can’t. Everybody will breathe together, everybody will move together, and if you need to take a time out in Child’s Pose at any time, nobody will judge you. Whether it’s your first class or your 5,000^th, you’ll fit in.

Various stages of handstands, Wanderlust Vermont 2012.

yes, you will be sore

Doing a lot of yoga will make even the most hardcore yogis feel muscles they didn’t know they had. Pro tip: when you build your schedule, balance your classes with meditations & speakeasies. Also, stay hydrated. Rest. Listen to your body, and if it’s telling you to go to the market place for gelato, do it.

like music? they’ve got music

At night, the yoga mats get rolled up and the musicians come out to play. Each festival has a different line up. There is no better way to cap off a day of yoga-ing than under a summer night sky with a community of like-minded folks, many of which will have Total Yoga Hair.

Michael Franti at Wanderlust Whistler 2012.

Don’t go to Wanderlust if you already know everything about yoga you need to know. Don’t go if you’re looking to get uninspired, because that is guaranteed not to happen. Oh, and don’t go if you’re not a little bit nervous about it. Wanderlust can crack you open and teach you whatever you need to learn, but only if you’ll let it.

#justmymat

The coolest part about Wanderlust Festival and yoga in general is that it’s a journey. You show up at the studio, at a big white tent, on the top of a mountain, on a hotel room floor, in your living room. Sometimes you don’t know why but you do it anyways. Join our community this summer and share your yoga journey, whether you’re attending Wanderlust or not. We know your mat has stories to tell.

We’ll be celebrating community with updates from each Wanderlust Festival here on the blog, written by a local host who will share their journey with you. Coming soon: meet our Wanderlust Vermont local host & storyteller, Elizabeth Crisci.

Wanderlust Festival has four festivals in summer 2013:

Vermont, June 20-23.
Colorado, July 4-7.
California, July 18-21.
Whistler, Aug. 1-4.

Learn more at http://wanderlustfestival.com

name: Karen, Email Specialist, Vancouver
studio found: Delight Yoga
class found: vinyasa flow
instructor found: Fleur Van Zonneveld

After almost a week of being in Amsterdam, I was still struggling to differentiate between all the straats and the grachts, and then I decided I wanted to find yoga.– I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t super optimistic that this would happen in such a cycling-dominated city.

I went in fully prepared to yoga in Dutch, hoping ‘downward dog’ is the same in both languages but luckily, when class started, so did the English. The instructor was wearing a floral jumpsuit and the studio was beautiful because the windows let in so much natural light.

I chose to go to Delight Yoga’s vinyasa flow class because it fit into my schedule that day, but I later learned that yoga early in the morning isn’t that popular in Amsterdam, and the class only had four people in it!

Download the om finder app to find yoga wherever you are in the world. Each month in the Found series we’ll be featuring an experience that came to be because of the app. Want to contribute? Tell us what you found at blogcontributors@lululemon.com or share using #omfinder.

Stratton Mountain, Vermont: June 20-23

Copper Mountain, Colorado: July 4-7

Squaw Valley, North Lake Tahoe: July 18-21

Whistler Mountain, British Columbia: August 1-4

Attention early birds: you have until March 26th to take advantage of the advance ticket pricing on 3 and 4-day passes! More info here: http://wanderlustfestival.com

If you want to get an idea of what you'll experience, check out our musical ode to Wanderlust Whistler, filmed at last year's festival in BC!

Are you getting your Wanderlust on this year? Which location are you excited for? See you there!

With a background in adventure tourism, environmental studies and over ten years of experience teaching yoga,  Nadia Bonenfant found the perfect way to join all her passions into one fulfilling business, JUNA.

cross-canada yoga

Yoga to me is about breaking through boundaries. It’s about finding accessibility into places that light us up, move us and connect us to the invigorating power of being part of an incredible landscape and yoga community.

Trained on Vancouver Island and California, I have been blessed to bring forth the oceanic energy of a west coast practice and share it with folks in the Appalachian mountains of Quebec. This Canadian “East meets West” connection as well as my background in adventure tourism, is the corner stone of JUNA, an all-woman yoga and outdoor living business I was lucky enough to create.

JUNA

JUNA is composed of 16 amazing teachers, facilitators and artists that all work together to host amazing retreats that blend yoga with other activities depending on the geographical location. Think yoga+surf for coastal destinations or yoga+ski in fresh powder. It aims to help women break out of the box and empower themselves on the mat, in the ocean and on the mountains.

ocean inspired. forest rooted.

Women come to experience an ocean inspired yoga practice, allowing them to tap deep into the energy of being at the edge of the country near an immense body of water.  We also bring yoga into the forested lands of Quebec and tap into the quiet shifts of the seasons. We discover what it’s like to practice in the middle of a forest full of colour and appreciate how much easier it is to slow down in this space.

Keen to hit the mountains of Tremblant of surf the Canadian coast in Tofino? Check out www.junayoga.ca or their Facebook page for information on upcoming retreats!

There's a reason that people pack their stretchy gear when they travel to a new place. Yoga mats and running shoes unite us, regardless of where we are in the world or what language we speak. To celebrate our growing international family of ecommerce sites which includes Australia, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, I asked local sweat enthusiasts in each location for their recommendations on where and how to experience their hometowns with your mat and/or running shoes in tow.

london

The Chelsea showroom team pigeon-ing in London.

Sweat out your jet lag: Check out Kari McCreath’s sweaty spin class as H2BikeRun just off of Carnaby Street. Between getting sweaty and listening to some pumping music you'll leave feeling energized.
Go for a run: You can’t beat running through the hidden paths in Hyde park or running along the Southbank! If you’re out east hit up Regents Canal and run all the way up to London Fields Market if it’s a Saturday.
Post-flight yoga class: Vinyasa flow with Mercedes at Triyoga Primrose Hill or Elizabeth Reumont at The Life Centre Islington. If you take Lizzie’s class grab a Zinger juice from Planet Organic of Coffee from the Food Lab afterwards!
Enjoy a post-yoga snack: Enjoy a steaming sweet potato with a delicious filling of your choice from Spud in Covent Garden. Also, the raw carrot cake at the Madder Rose café at Triyoga are to die for and they are good for you.
Tip for getting around: Get around town like a true Londoner with an Oyster Card! A Mini London A-Z map book may come in handy and don’t shy away from hopping in a black cab… you never know what conversation you’ll end up having with a cabbie!
Make sure you: Hit up Shoreditch on a Sunday! Start with brunch at The Book Club, then wander along Brick Lane checking out Spitalfields market, the hidden boutiques on cobble streets (grabbing a coffee at Rosa’s café on route) and end at Columbia Road flower market to pick up a fresh bouquet of beautiful flowers (tip: head to the flower market at noon to get ‘two for a fiver!’)

hong kong

Get SMAC'ed with ambassadors Ed and Babs!

Sweat out your jet lag: After sitting on a long flight, you're going to want to move your body, so head to SMAC, an invigorating outdoor workout with Ambassadors Ed Haynes & Babs Mountain.
Grab your runners and go to: Bowen Road and Happy Valley track offer tranquility in the city for running at any time of day.
Best post-flight yoga class: Nora Lim at the beautiful The Yoga Room, or Claudia at Flex Studio – you can vinyasa and then hit up Stanley market which isn’t too far from the studio. Just hop on a bus and off you go to explore a little bit of Hong Kong.
Local lingo: Finish your coffee order by saying 'thank you' in Cantonese – “mmm goy!”
Grab a post-yoga snack: something sweet and something refreshing at Life Café in Soho or a flatbread from Mana on Wellington Street.
A different way to sweat: Buffet at one of the hotels! Buffets are like a sport here. A local favourite is the one at Café Too at Island Shangri-la.

melbourne

Our ambassador Kent Cuthbert runs along Albert Park Lake.

Sweat out your jet lag: Strength and circuit training at the HIT Centre in South Yarra. Workouts are not for the faint of heart, but here technique is priority number one so you can feel like a pro at any level.
Go for a run: Albert Park Lake or Royal Botanic Gardens, lovingly known by locals as 'The Tan'. The garden-hugging track features some serious flora and fauna (50,000 plants to be exact) and a lake (fish, turtles and eels included) so tie up your runners and get ready for a wild jog.
Best post-flight yoga class: Melt your travel stress away and Savasana in style at the beautiful and tranquil Union Yoga in South Melbourne.
How to order coffee: Order a ‘flat white’ (a latté with no foam, or ‘froth’ as Aussies call it) for a shot of espresso and milk. Be warned: if you ask for an ‘iced coffee’, you will get coffee… and ice cream. Try Proud Mary coffee in Collingwood or Dukes Coffee Roasters in Windsor.
Post-yoga snack: Melbourne’s suburbs are diverse and known for different types of cuisine, from Greek food to Vietnamese treats. But anywhere you roam you’ll find cheap and fresh sushi hand rolls, like traditional sushi before they are made bite size, so you can simply grab one and go. After a workout try a brown rice vegetable roll for a healthy and satisfying snack.
Local lingo: Locals greet each other with ‘hey mate’ and ‘how you going?’, and a simple ‘no worries’ will suffice in place of 'you're welcome.'

Taking in a yoga class or going for a run in a different country is one of the best ways to beat jet lag and experience the local community firsthand (or should we say firstfoot?). Which country have you recently unrolled your mat on or gone for a run in? Got any tips for us?

today i'm grateful for...

It’s a question I began asking myself every day, as a way to reflect. I wasn’t surprised after a few days of this practice to find myself noticing things in a whole new way and appreciating them like never before. What I didn’t realize was that by doing this every day, I was becoming, well, happier.

I began this daily habit when a friend of mine introduced me to an app she and her business partner were developing: 1THINGapp.com. It acts as a gratitude journal where you can either keep the things you are grateful for private or share them anonymously with the world. Every day, one of the ‘gratitudes’ that have been shared are illustrated by an artist.

"Sun Saluations" illustrated by Mike Ellis

I was so moved by this project with 1THINGapp.com that I wanted to pose the question with the Wanderlust community in Whistler. After all, yoga is the ultimate celebration of gratitude. I had created a “Before I Die” wall in Vancouver earlier this year and was astounded by the way people engaged with the wall.

Photo Credit: Dana Ramler

Inspired, I created a spinoff for Wanderlust. A giant blackboard with the words “Today I’m grateful for…” was set up in Whistler village. Buckets of chalk were left out and people were invited to share what they were grateful for that day. Each morning of the four-day festival, the wall was cleaned and put out and every day by lunch it was full. The responses were incredible. Grateful for everything from loved ones, sunshine, fresh clean air and new adventures to health, dreams coming true, mountains and freedom. People shared and the wall was bursting with gratitude.

Photo Credit: Dana Ramler

What I find most incredible about these projects is the impact of seeing the gratitude of others and its effect on me. I am continually touched, moved and inspired by what people are appreciative of and further inspired in my own life of things to be grateful for. It’s like gratitude is contagious!

Thanksgiving (a day dedicated to sharing gratitude) is coming up but we can’t help but wonder about the other 364 days of the year. Take a moment, pause and reflect. What are you grateful for today? And maybe try sharing it with the rest of the world, you never know who you’ll inspire!

After 8 hours of yoga and meditation with world-renowned teachers at Wanderlust Tahoe, I experienced one of the weekend’s most valuable lessons after class while trying to put flip flops on.

one foot in

We had just finished Baron Baptiste’s Foundations in Action class and the giant white tent was in transition with sweaty, blissful yogis gathering their belongings from the sidelines as a line of people waited to enter for the next class. I picked up my backpack and put my right foot into my sandal. A woman standing next to me gave me a strange look, and said: “Those are my sandals.” I looked down at the brown sandals that I had owned for about 2 years, that had travelled with me on adventures to Nicaragua and Croatia, that were worn in by my feet and gave me V-shaped tan lines.

“Um, no – these are my sandals.”

“My bag is right here,” she said, indicating to the ground at our feet.

“Well, my bag was right here, too,” I said. But I started to doubt myself. There were hundreds of yogis in our class and just as many pairs of footwear requiring feet.

both feet out

I took my foot out of the sandal, confused, and said, “Okay, I’ll look around for my sandals”. I don’t even know if I looked her in the eyes when I said this.

A few feet away I found an identical pair. I quickly slipped them on and started in the direction of my next class, without looking back. I felt embarrassed about my interaction with the woman and wanted to get away.

Immediately I knew that the sandals weren't mine. I looked down and saw over an inch of extra sandal after the edge of my heel. I kept walking.

foundations in action

One of the most foundational poses in yoga is Tadasana - Mountain Pose. This pose teaches us to stand tall with our feet firmly rooted and our shoulders back so that our hearts can be open. In the brief moment after the woman first spoke and my foot was still in my sandal, I had the choice to react one way or the other, and I chose the most familiar: I listened to that small, doubtful and irritating voice that says maybe I’m wrong. I lost my connection to the teachings of Tadasana that I had just moments before been thoroughly living and breathing on my yoga mat.

I wore those too-big flip flops for the remainder of the weekend: to the rest of my classes, up the mountain tram to High Camp, to the speakeasy called Can Yogis Save the World?, and on the airplane home as snow-tipped peaks loomed out of clouds below us. Their clumsiness were a constant reminder to me on one of my weekend's greatest lessons: speak your truth at all times, even if it’s uncomfortable or potentially embarrassing or makes your heart beat a little faster, and do it from a place of love.

We’re heating things up in Albuquerque! With our new store opening a few weeks ago, we turned to our local team to find out what’s HOT, HOT, HOT in ABQ. Pink skies, hot air balloons and chile that’ll set the roof (of your mouth) on fire, here’s what we suggest you get up to if you want to discover ‘The Land of Enchantment”.

if you happen to be in albuquerque (for 24 hours or less…)

coffee
Satellite Coffee is a locally owned and operated caffeine shop, where you can feed your addiction with a tasty Mexican Latte that has hints of cinnamon and sweet chocolate.

eat
After a hike up the Sandia Mountains, treat yourself with a New Mexican meal in Albuquerque’s North Valley. El Pinto offers a charming hacienda environment in the lush riverbed of the Rio Grande. When asked “red or green” by your server, they’re asking about your preference in chile, not for your favorite color. Be sure to try the Chile Con Queso to start and Flat Blue Corn Green Chile Enchiladas!

yoga
We love Blissful Spirits Hot Yoga studio! If you’re up for a challenge, check out our ambassador James’ hot Hatha classes or Nicole Law’s Yoga Sculpt. In the mood for something spicy? Give Pilates Caliente a try. Our ambassador Kelly, will get you fired up while strengthening and conditioning those long lean muscles.

beer
La Cumbre Brew Company offers award-winning beers in their Euro Style Brew pub where dogs and laughter are welcome company. Order a Green Chile Cheeseburger from the food truck outside and, if you’re a hops fan make sure you try the Elevated IPA!

sleep
Built in 1926 and converted into a hotel in 2010, Hotel Parq Central is a boutique hotel at the gateway to Downtown Albuquerque. It’s a great blend of historic elegance and contemporary comfort. Watching one of our New Mexican sunsets from the hotel’s rooftop lounge will show you why we’re called the Land of Enchantment…

Headed to Albuquerque or playing tourist in your own town? Check out our new store and ask the team for even more recos!

meet tina james

Grew up: in hilly rural England.
First yoga class: It was in 1981 in England with an elderly lady I met whilst getting over major spinal surgery. She was very gifted and put me in touch with master teacher shri K Pattabhi Jois, whom I later went to Mysore to study with year after year.
Favourite place to travel: India, Nepal and Mysore. I also like to travel to climb high altitude mountains so one of my favorite places was Mount McKinley or Denali in Alaska, the highest mountain peak in the United States. I like the Grand Canyon in Arizona and have hiked it many times solo.
Type of yoga you teach: Jivamukti, Ashtanga, Shantiseva, Yoga wall rehab injury recovery Yoga therapy.
Website: http://www.tinajames.ca/

why jivamukti?

Jivamukti is my passion. This amazing Hatha yoga method is a path to enlightenment through compassion for all beings. Jivamuktis are pioneers in teaching yoga as spiritual activism/activation. The method emphasizes vinyasa, scriptural study, devotion, prayer, music, chanting and meditation as well as animal rights, veganism, environmentalism and political activism.

favourite quotes

The mountains have always been here, and in them, the bears. - Rick Bass (from The Lost Grizzlies, page 97)

"It would be fitting, I think, if among the last manmade tracks on earth would be found the huge footprints of the great brown bear."
- Earl Fleming (American naturalist, 1958)

one year goals

• Establish one of the most traditional educational institutes for yoga in the west.
• Create a program to prevent hunting in the Callaghan Valley and all areas in Whistler and Pemberton.
• Create the first vegan cafe attached to my yoga studio.
• Continue working with local First Nations and integrating First Nations teachings in the Shantiseva teacher training.

5 year goals

• I climb Mount Everest for the Bear Asia Foundation, and continue to build on our center and the ethical rights of animals.
• I create a yoga program for school children to become aware of the planet and what they eat, drink, and wear.

Find out where you can practice with Tina on her website, or meet her at Wanderlust Whistler in August!

if you happen to find yourself in tofino (for 24 hours or less)...

coffee
If you’re passionate enough about coffee to see through fancy drink names and a robust website then you’ll appreciate The Tofitian for all it has to offer - a seriously great cup of Joe, some nifty memorabilia and an authentic Tofino experience. This locally run shop is the place to caffeinate pre-island adventure or to warm up (the mocha hot chocolate comes highly recommended) after a cold day riding the Pacific surf.

trail
If you’re up for a hike, check out Schooners Cove. The moderate trail starts off in the rainforest with a series of wooden platforms and steps and then spits you out on the north end of Long Beach. Insider tip: Go at low tide, keep to the right when you hit the beach and uncover some amazing wildlife like bald eagles and starfish.

surf
It wouldn’t be a successful trip to Tofino without getting your feet a little wet. If you’re looking to catch a wave for the first time check out Surf Sister. Their all-female staff brings a unique flare (and extreme passion) to the surf scene, specializing in instructing with the beginner in mind. Dudes – don’t shy away, these classes are for you too!

a cold brew
Tofino Brewing Company is a great place to crack a cold one. The beers satisfy, the ambiance is cool and the dudes who own it are a pleasure to chat with. Purchase their iconic jug and have it refilled over and over again when you’re back in Vancouver. 

eat
When it comes to grabbing a bite of delicious grub, Tacofino has it dialed. From the staff to the outdoor dining experience at long wooden communal tables this taco truck is the epitome of cool. The fish tacos are a must and wash down quite nicely with a Lime-Mint Freshie – oh, and don’t forget to grab a Chocolate Diablo Cookie for dessert.

Ever been? What are some of your favourite pitstops in Tofino?

Contrary to popular belief it is still possible to get lost (even if you have an iPhone). Portland, you seriously tested our bearings and put Siri to work. Despite frustrated “aarghs”, wrong turns and the brief 20 minutes when we COULD NOT FIND VANNA, it was hard to stay mad at you and your strange street system because you are just, oh so charming. With every wrong turn came a new discovery – here’s what we found:

if you happen to find yourself in portland (for 24 hours or less)…

eat
Who thought we’d be passing up a glass of Oregon Pinot and fine dining to sit outside alla picnic bench and woof down a Whiffie Pie? I’m pretty sure that while I was living in Toronto I had strict rules against this. Somehow Portland has managed to master the food cart culture and bring charm where no charm has ever been brought before. We hit up the carts at SE 12th and Hawthorne, ordered an array of grub, including but not limited to PB&J poutine (for serious) and sat under the twinkling lights while watching the crowds gather. It was truly romantic in a ‘summer-loving-Grease kind of way.

sleep
If you’ve got a keen eye for design (or simply just appreciate a good night’s sleep) then Hotel Monaco comes highly recommended. Exuberant patterns and colours are splashed across every surface making each twist and turn down the halls an exciting one. The staff is friendly, the rooms are large (with a sitting area to boot) and the hotel is located in a convenient central location. Added bonus: they welcome your fluffy friends too!

sweat
You may know Alex Cole from the popular 80s dance show, Solid Gold - we know him as our Sunday morning yoga instructor (and YoYo Yogi studio owner) who lead us through a Soul Shakin’ 9am class. If there’s one thing you must do while in Portland, it’s this class.

Coffee
Get your java fix with a hot cup of Portland’s famous Stumptown roast. Hit up the flagship location or score a mugful at Lovejoy Bakers and treat yourself to a post yoga pastry or breakfast sandwich too – that’s what we did!

sweet treat
There are really no words to describe Voodoo Doughnuts it’s just simply something you have to see for yourself. For the real experience put in the time and wait (yes, there will be a line at all hours, every day) and grab a maple bacon doughnut at the original location. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip the wait and score yourself this famous Portland treat in a jiffy at their NE Davis St. location.
Good to know: you can grab a famous pink box to go and fly them internationally with you.
Also good to know: your coworkers may be mad if you don’t deliver. Whoops!

Just one more (brief) stop ahead in Seattle, then we are homeward bound!

Bend (verb): To take on a curved, angled shape or cause something to do this or a very accurate name for a town whose limits curve around the

if you happen to find yourself in bend (for 24 hours or less)…

eat
After our eight hour drive we were more than ready for some good grub, luckily we knew a local that could point us in the right direction (thanks, Emily!) Topping her long list of awesome places to eat was Kanpai Sushi. We Vancouverites consider ourselves to be sushi connoisseurs and Kanpai can definitely kick it. Innovative rolls, intricate nigiri and a cozy patio made for the perfect treat after our tri state trip!

sleep
If we were going to move to Bend, we’d simply move in to the Pine Ridge Inn. Perched on the hill above the Deschutes River, each of our rooms at the inn had a glorious four-poster king sized bed, cozy fireplace and furnished patio.  Add to that the complimentary beverage upon check in, the made to order continental breakfast and the fresh baked ginger cookies and you can understand why we were so sad to leave.

sweat
We weren’t kidding when we said we got bendy in Bend. We hit up Namaspa for Suzie Harris’s Baptiste Style Vinyasa Flow and got bent and stretched in all the right places. The next time you find yourself in a super sweaty yoga class remember what Suzie said, “no one ever drowned in their own sweat.”

Insider note: Keep an eye out for the Om Cycle smoothie cart, parked outside the studio for post perspiration rejuvenation!

sweet treat
Blacksmith’s S’mores Brownie dessert is the stuff dreams are made of. A crunchy graham cracker crust, dense chewy chocolate center, topped with a flame-toasted marshmallow and then drizzled in salted caramel sauce.  Is this real life?

Our timing in Bend couldn’t have been better as we managed to catch the Pole Pedal Paddle in action. Special shout out to our ecommerce manager’s dad who placed first in his age group - Go Jim! Now, onwards to Portland…