The Perfect Getaway f/ OPUS Hotel Vancouver

Looking for a quick getaway this Memorial Day weekend? Look no further than our friendly neighbor to the North - Vancouver, B.C.! Today I invite you to follow our perfect Vancouver weekend.

Hey Vancouver! I love rollin' on the bridge into the city.

I was invited by OPUS Hotel up for a weekend stay to experience Yaletown and Vancouver in the best way possible. While boutique hotels can sometimes get lost in the fray, the OPUS is a standout. It's the only boutique hotel in Vancouver to receive Forbes' Four-Star rating from 2013-2015, and was named one of TripAdvisor's "Top 5 Trendiest Hotels in the World." As a Seattle native, I've been to Vancouver dozens of times, but this would be my first stay in what's arguably the coolest part of the city.

Of course I had to bring my boys!

OPUS loves the pups - in fact, your canine BFF can get the VIP treatment with the Pampered Pooch special! Spike came along for the adventure, and the OPUS staff treated him like royalty. Our fellow guests treated him like a celebrity - he gave out a lot of cuddles, slobber kisses and photos!

Each room in the OPUS Hotel has been recently renovated, and boasts its own personality. There are clear retro vibes, plenty of vibrant colors and textures, and complimentary wi-fi throughout! I loved the iPad that came stocked with recommendations in and out of the hotel. Sure beats flipping through in-room TV for restaurant ideas!

After arriving and dropping off our bags, we embarked on a stroll around the 'hood. Yaletown is packed with bars, restaurants, service businesses (so many hair salons) and good-lookin' people to boot. I love the refurbished shipping docks along Mainland and Hamilton - and the OPUS is central to all of the action. Jacob found YYoga two blocks away for a Friday night drop-in yin yoga session. Yin was the perfect way to unwind from the three-hour drive and relax before dinner.

When you stay at the OPUS Vancouver, you have to dine at La Pentola

in the hotel. With a Northern Italian-inspired cuisine and its own impressive accolades, La Pentola is not your everyday hotel restaurant. The alla famiglia tasting menu was recommended to us, so we put our normal superfood/Paleo diets on ice for the night and powered through seven courses of Italian heaven. My favorite was probably the crispy pork belly with veggies and parsley paste - though every bite was delicious!

The next morning, we took Spike out for a walk along Yaletown Dock. For only being a couple of blocks away from the OPUS and all the bars, this part of the 'hood around Roundhouse Community Centre feels so quiet and serene. Not to mention the truly breathtaking waterfront views!

We couldn't spend the weekend in downtown Vancouver without spending some time in Gastown. It'd been a few years since we'd been there last, but I remembered a lot of great indie and streetwear boutiques in the gritty streets juxtaposed against the cruise terminal. This time around, there are a lot more coffee shops and high-end boutiques. After brunch at Catch 122, we stopped through Livestock and Kit & Ace before getting some reading & cappuccinos in at Revolver.

Jacob even found The Juice Truck! The abundance of juice bars helped balance out the Vancouver tummy tour.

Somehow Jacob and I trekked from Gastown over to the Robson Shopping District before walking back home to the OPUS. Needless to say, a nap was in order before our sunset playtime at Stanley Park with Spike. Stanley Park is like an oasis in the city. We had so much fun at Second Beach! Vancouver is lucky to have this 1000+ acre gem so close to downtown. Oh and there's an outdoor pool right by the water!

Before and after dinner at Bao Bei on Saturday night, we stopped through the OPUS Hotel Bar for drinks. Before dinner, the OPUS Bar was super chill and quiet - and there may have been a celebrity who shall remain nameless sitting at the other end of the bar! We wanted to respect her privacy, but dang is she gorgeous in real life. After dinner, the OPUS Bar is just as poppin' as any of the bars and clubs in the area. I fell in love with The Coco cocktail - mezcal, chocolate, coconut, citrusy fun.

Before hitting the road for home, we went for breakfast, reading and one last stroll through Yaletown and grabbed smoothies at Living Produce Aisle. LPA looks like a lab full of microgreens. My smoothie has never been harvested so fresh!

Thank you OPUS for having us! I had the best time exploring downtown Vancouver, and am so grateful for having the most stylish sanctuary to call home for the weekend.