A Birthday Trip to Tofino with Pals & Pups
Mr. Husband’s birthday was at the end of January, and we decided this was cause for a celebratory trip! When we first started dating, we made it an annual tradition to visit Tofino/Ucluelet during my off season in the winter and take advantage of this sleepy, beautiful place. Admittedly, it’s been a few years since our last visit (thanks Covid), so we thought it was about time we came back.
We had told our friends Jenna and Gui about the upcoming trip during a brewery hang-out session a few month prior. Having not been to Tofino in over 10 years, they asked if they could come along for the trip, and of course we said yes! We love love love spending time with these two, and can’t get enough of their furry babies Tuni (Dachshund) and Teddy (Chihuahua).
We first met Jenna and Gui a few years ago when Jenna was referred to us by our mutual friend as a Personal Trainer. We signed up with Jenna for a few years of strength training, and became fast friends. Her and Gui have also hired me for photography, makeup and hair services in the past, and since then our relationship shifted from professional to pals. We hired her, they hired me, and now we just hang out all the time :)
Our first morning together we decided to brunch at the dog-friendly Hotel Zed, a kooky retro hotel and restaurant with shag carpeting, beaded curtains, 70s-inspired wallpaper, and unlimited photoshoot opportunities. The staff was amazing, the food hit the spot, and the decor was unlike any other hotel I’d ever been to.
My personal favourite was the crystal ball room: a moody, dark green alcove complete with a witchy glass ball that was way heavier than it looked. We all took turns having fun in the space, and I decided to show my trusty sidekick, Smudge, how to cast spells and curse your enemies (she was unimpressed.)
After a leisurely morning we decided to hit the beach. Since husband’s birthday was the following day, I had asked Jenna and Gui if they could sneakily try and pick up some sort of sweet treat for Sean en route. Most of Tofino is closed in January, but they were able to find a delicious looking birthday cake at a local bakery. They also managed to find a few cans of our favourite Salted Lime Lager, which we had flippantly mentioned the night before. Such nice buddies :)
We had the most unbelievable weather during our stay. Every day we had nothing but sun and warmer than usual temperatures. We parked our butts in the sand for a few hours while we let the fuzzy kids tire themselves out. I can’t speak for Tuni and Teddy, but the beach is Smudge’s most favourite place on earth (other than Grandma’s house.)
We had a bit of a scare at the end of the day when we thought we were short one wiener dog. We fanned out and searched the beach, parking lot, and surrounding wooded areas. After about 15 minutes we had started to think the worst had happened - she’s so sweet and snatchable. Gui went back to check the car and found Tuni in the back seat, snoot deep in a piece of birthday cake, having the time of her life. She must have jumped into the car without anyone noticing and just decided to make the best of the situation.
The weekend was exactly what I needed. Beautiful nature, sunny days, good food, good wine, and great company. Thank you to our wonderful friends for making this a truly memorable birthday celebration. Core memory unlocked.