With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, you might be thinking about heading out of town with your sweetie for a weekend of adventure, romance and relaxation.

If your relationship and family dynamic is anything like mine, you’re probably short on time — not to mention the funds for an exotic week-long getaway.

Fortunately for us Valleyites, one doesn’t have to venture far to be close to majestic mountains, lush trails and breathtaking beaches. While we are surrounded by beauty, it still is nice to get away to play tourist in another town.

One of our favourite quick getaways with or without our two girls is to Vancouver Island. This is a trek we usually take by ferry.

While the ferry is convenient and more on the ‘affordable’ side, especially for families, it was a truly amazing experience to board the Helijet for our latest getaway — to Cowichan.

As we pulled up to the Vancouver Helijet terminal, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. We had arrived 45 minutes early and were both famished and giddy for our flight.

After the speedy check-in, we were offered complimentary beverages (Jason enjoyed a glass of red wine) and ample snacks, including fresh fruit, yogurt parfait, cheese and cracker snack packs, roasted nuts, etc.

“This is sure a great start to our trip,” I said to Jason, sinking into my chair to utilize the free Wifi before take off.

Soon, it was time to board…

The flight, which only took 18 minutes total, was truly magical. We held hands and took a few cheesy selfies while watching the towering skyscrapers fade into the horizon.

The flight worked out to be faster than it takes to drop my girls off at their school. For us, it meant having more time to explore all that Cowichan has to offer. Let’s face it — when you’re a busy parent, you can’t put a price tag on time!

Helijet Operates Regularly Scheduled Airline Flights Between

• Vancouver Harbour Heliport and Victoria Harbour Heliport
• Vancouver Harbour Heliport and Nanaimo Harbour Heliport
• Vancouver International Airport and Victoria Harbour Heliport (Monday-Friday, limited flights)

VM Tip: Save almost half the cost by optioning for off peak travel times. First child travelling with a paying adult is free. Additional children are $79 including $3.76 GST.

Our trip to Cowichan was filled with ample romance, relaxation and a TON of great stories that I am so excited to share with you guys. Stay tuned for my upcoming Cowichan travel series, which features where we stayed, the incredible eats that destroyed my diet, thrilling entertainment and so much more. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss a beat.

In the meantime, check out www.tourismcowichan.com to plan your next getaway.

For more information on Helijet, visit www.helijet.com. 

Disclaimer: Our flights were complimentary. However, all opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Valley Mom