Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/329751
Highway and head straight to Cannon Beach's annual Sand- castle Contest. It's the 50th anniversary of this ephemeral display of epic sand-sculpting abilities, and thousands of day-trippers will head to the popular beach-side town normally known for its more permanent rocky outcrops. cannon-beach.net Oregon Brewfest, July 23-27 WHERE: Tom McCall Waterfront Park COST: Admission is free. $7 for a tasting glass, $4 for a full glass, $1 for a taste bcliving.ca 46 | travel PENTICTON PORTLAND With its freshwater, wineries and famed foodie hot spots, the Okanagan is ripe for a weekend getaway all summer long. These events will make your road trip that much more memorable. Book an extra-long weekend and stay on the I-5 until Portland's in sight, then discover for yourself why Portlandia is more documentary than spoof. Annual Penticton Elvis Festival, June 27-29 WHERE: Okanagan Lake Park and Penticton Trade & Convention Centre, 273 Power Street COST: Fri. $10, Sat. $15, wristband $20 Shake, rattle and roll your way around Okanagan Lake as dozens of Elvis tribute artists emulate the King at the 12th annual Penticton Elvis Festival. pentictonelvisfestival.com Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest, June 21 WHERE: Cannon Beach COST: $5 for kids six and under, $15 for ages 7-18, and $20 for groups over the age of 18 If a coastal escape is more your style, skip the I-5 in favour of the Paci c Coast Penticton Peach Festival, August 6-10 WHERE: Several locations in Penticton COST: Free entry to all of the parks Bringing the fam along for the ride? en plan your visit around Peachfest. is formerly raucous booze-fuelled party is now fully family- friendly and includes a parade, sandcastle competition, square dance festival and a lineup of entertainment that will please both parents and kids. peachfest.com Prospera GranFondo Axel Merckx Okanagan, July 13 WHERE Gyro Park, 100-block Main Street COST $130-$195 until June 16, $150-$225 until July 6 If seeing the Okanagan Valley on two wheels is more your speed, register for the GranFondo Axel Merckx Okanagan, which o ers three options for riders – Cor- tofondo (55 km), Mediofondo (92 km) or Granfondo (160 km). And if the scenic views aren't incentive enough, riding alongside the likes of Olympic gold-medalist Clara Hughes just might be. granfondoaxelmerckx.com Portland's reputation as a destination for some of the best craft beers in the region is encapsulated in Oregon Brewfest's four days of sudsy sipping. is year you'll nd 88 of the nest U.S. craft brews (including gluten-free options) on o er at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. We'll drink to that. oregon brewfest. com ■ The Bite of Oregon, August 8-10 WHERE: Tom McCall Waterfront Park COST: General admission $5 per day If you're heading down to Portland, do yourself a favour and eat – a lot. Noshing is the name of the game at The Bite of Oregon, the region's largest culinary festival. Taste the best of Oregon's vibrant culinary scene with a chef's table, restaurants, food carts as well as beer to wash it all down. biteoforegon.com VANCOUVER VANCOUVER 8 H, 30 MIN 5 H, 50 MIN PORTLAND PORTLAND VANCOUVER 3 H, 35 MIN PENTICTON photoS (GRANFoNDo AXEL MERCKX) JARUShA BRoWN p42-46_Travel-Weekend Getaways.indd 46 2014-05-15 1:36 PM