POST-WEDDING HOLIDAY NEEDN’T BREAK YOU Mini-honeymoons hold special appeal THE DAYS of the ‘‘traditional’’ honeymoon are gone. No longer does the blushing couple stand on the CPR platform in “going-away’’ outfits while their family and friends toss con- fetti. The idea of sharing an upper berth enroute to the Banff Springs Hotel has little appeal, even if an upper berth were available in that direction. Naturally, honeymoons (if in- dulged in at all) vary considerably based on time and money. lf Mummy can casually toss you the keys of the Brittania or your new name is Trump, neither time nor money has any bearing. Other newlyweds, however, might want to consider the mini-honeymoon. One of the major advantages of a short, economical wedding journey is that you can repeat it for sentimental reasons. Long after, when kids are eating big holes in your budget and babysit- ters are hard to find, it’s entirely possible to repeat a weekend at a resort or in a city such as Victoria or San Francisco. For further information on gen- eral locations, two sources are Tourism B.C. (phone: 683-2000) and U.S.T.T.A. (phone: 669-1446). Both have accommodation booklets available that are free and very detailed. They are extremely useful if you wish to make your own plans and drive to your des- tination. The other excelient source is any airline. They can give you a run- down on time-limited packages they are offering during your travel times. Be sure to check all the car- riers servicing Vancouver — some of the American airlines such as Delta, Continental, United and American have some marvellous deals including air and_ hotel. Cathay Pacific has a package to San Francisco just now that is hard to beat. . Consider, too, off-season ackages to resorts such as Whistler. During the ski season, the costs are quite high, but they Wedding horror THE WORST wedding tale | can tell is of my own bashfulness. Dressed in a negligee ensemble after my wedding, | hid in a clothes closet while my husband raged about the house looking for me. | had hoped to slip into bed before he showed up, but he, coming in later, looked for me first and got very angry. | Waited Yate Treard him in the bathroom, then scurried into bed unseen. . — From a North Vancouver bride who has been married 30 years, and wishes to remain anony- mous. like to keep their rooms filled in the summer, too. In general, | consider honey- moon suites highly over-rated. You may get a room big enough to hold a square dance, but that’s hardly mecessary on a_honey- moon. So what if they throw in a bottle of champagne? travel wise Barbara McCreadie ee More important are a fireplace and a pool or Jacuzzi if you enjoy a swim. Good food counts — does the hotel or resort have meals in- cluded, or are you on your own? If so, what's cooking nearby? | also enjoy morning coffee — in my room with a complimentary newspaper, and a refrigerator is great too. It’s darned nice to be able to keep a can of juice, a few snacks or YOUR OWN bottle of champagne chilled for an evening in front of that fire. . I tike places to walk. Any hotel that is beach front or waterfront has my vote. A hotel on the open ocean has the advantage of noise — listen to the roaring of surf. Sunsets are often memorable. Sterile hotel decor is hardly the stuff dreams are made of. Consider some of the old homes and estates that have been turned into B&Bs. They are often filled with antiques and presided over by motherly ladies dishing out tea and home- made bread. Caution — if you're a smoker you may find yourself out of luck. A large percentage of these are non-smoking. So, you're searching for the great little getaway. This list is simply “off the top of my head” and includes places I’ve visited and enjoyed in the past. Please check before booking anything (*) as my experience is dated. Ocean Shores, WA: About a five-hour drive, south of Seattle — cut west towards Hoquiam when you reach the turnoff at Olympia. We have fond memories of the Polynesian (") with fireplaces, in- door poo! and miles of ocean right out the back door. Seaside, OR: On the coast, about 15 miles south of Astoria. It’s a nice little town with ocean beach all over the place. When we were there, accommodation was limited but OK if you made a res- ervation — check with the U.S.T.T.A. for listings. Lincoln City, OR: Check on a hotel called the D Sands. Some friends recently repeated their honeymoon there and raved! It has all the essentials, including pool, fireplace and roaring surf ~ and excellent off-season prices. La Connor, WA: After a recent visit, | published a list of B&Bs and have had nothing but raves from readers. Reno, NV: Packages available through tour companies such as Silverwing are excellent value. You'll have to exchange the roar of the surf for the clatter of the slots, but | can‘t think of a more active and exciting getaway for gamers. There’s also good food, ex- cellent prices and lots of side-trips for those who don’t care for larksvtle Duy HONEYMOON for your first, second or ninety-ninth! What a way to start your life together or rekindle those speciai moments. Includes 2 nights accommodation, a romantic dinner in “Herons" overlooking beautiful Parksville Bay, 2 breakfasts served in your room if you wish, Y2-hour massage each, plus a picnic basket filled with goodies and mementos stroll along the beach or to one of the many attractions in our area. $345 per couple to May 1/90 $420 per couple to Sept. 15/90 Paception Facilities 5 rooms for up to 120 people. ney %. v7 n PO. Box 3000, 240 Dogwood St., Parksville, B.C. (604) 248-8333 Reservations 1-800-663-4232 31 - Sunday, Feb gambling. Lake Tahoe, NV: Same as above, but with a lovely lake add- ed. Closer to home, consider: Victoria: Accommodation is ex- tremely varied — the re-furbished Empress might make a memorable destination. Since the city is such a mecca for Americans during the summer, you'd probably enjoy it more in the spring or fall, when it’s cheaper too. Victoria is a great walking city. Vancouver thought to Your Island: Give a trying one of the ruary 25, 199%) - North Shore News multitude ot small inns and B&Bs’ — get a list from Tourism B.C. Guest ranches: There are many to choose from; again get a list. Just think ~ a few years down the road you can take your kids with you when you make that sen- timental journey. And don’t forget all our charm- ing islands — ali those cosy little inns, just waiting to welcome honeymooners! As for the rest of us, the honey- moon may be over, but isn’t it time we just got away for a weekend? Designs — Gold or Ours Engagement & Wedding Rings Diamond Engagement Ring 60 ct. save *1500 Solitaire Diamond Rings Appraisals — Interest Free layaways. Mail orders Welcome. THE MOST FROM 5299 Anniversary Ring 14K Gord wath row of diamonds FROM *159 n MEMORABLE WEDDING EVER! unaway to Inn of sai 4 the Sea Resort on beautiful Vancouver Island and enjoy three days of relaxation. 2. ——-; nights accommodation, ay 1 dinner, 2 breakfasts, 3 a bottle of champagne, fruit basket, tennis, tub. RESORT -_—. . ~ 7 ——— SS IN VANCOUVER CALL 266-2213 1-800-663-7327 3600 YELLOW POINT RD, LADYSMITH, BC. 604 245-22i1