Happy August, dear friends. I don’t know about you, but I’m super glad to be heading into a new month and the hopefully new energy it is going to bring! The other weekend, I was lucky enough to travel to Nelson for a weekend getaway. I had been feeling very overwhelmed with work and there was a fire in the area, so I initially questioned whether or not I was still going to go. I wound up deciding that it would be good for me to get away for a bit and focus on my writing, and I’m SO glad I went! Read more for all of the details about my writing weekend in Nelson.

Downtown Nelson

I set off on my road trip from the Okanagan to Nelson. The drive was quite long as I had to take a different route due to fires, but once I finally arrived in Nelson, I was able to explore more of the city. It had been a few years since I’d been back to Nelson, and the last time I was there, I really enjoyed it. I was looking forward to checking things out again, and my first mission was to explore downtown. Baker Street definitely had the most shops and restaurants in one area. I wandered among the shops and bookstores, scoped out which coffee shops I’d visit tomorrow, and decide on a dinner option: El Taco, a super cute down-to-earth spot featuring delicious tacos and burritos. I had an amazing dinner there, definitely recommend!

Art Walk

That night, I discovered that Nelson was hosting the Art Walk during the weekend, and wanted to check out a few of the featured spots. One was a pop-up art show upstairs in a yoga studio, featuring live music and local artists. Another was an exhibition and artist talk at the local museum and art gallery. These events were so cool and very inspiring for me, leading me to look forward to my day of writing coming up. Afterwards, I headed off to my campsite for the evening. I was staying just north of Nelson at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park, a cute area situated right on Kootenay Lake. It’s about a twenty minute drive from downtown Nelson, which is exactly what I wanted. I hit the hay and slept great, and was up and early for my mission the next day.

Cafe Writing

I had been slacking lately on doing work on my second book (sign up for updates here!) and decided this weekend would be the perfect opportunity to get some real work done. I was essentially treating the weekend as a mini writing retreat. Bright and early, I hit Oso Negro, a super cute coffee shop. Fair warning if you want to visit, it was absolutely packed the whole time I was there, so plan for a wait or swing by as early as you can! With a tasty latte by my side, I powered through many edits for my second book. I spent a number of hours getting some great work done, and I was so pleased with my progress! When I felt I had done all I needed to, I finished up my time at Oso Negro with a delicious sandwich.

Beachside Relaxation

I’m so grateful to have had a great time writing at Oso Negro, which was largely due to the great environment they had! Highly recommend checking them out! Afterwards, I headed straight to one of my favourite spots in the city: Lakeside Park. It’s a gorgeous green space that backs on to a beach with Kootenay Lake, plus views of the famous bridge in Nelson! I’ve been to this park previously and absolutely loved it, and this time back again was no exception. I laid in the grass for awhile and did some journaling and relaxing, then later on moved to the beach and took a quick dip in the lake. It wasn’t super busy as it wasn’t very hot due to the smoke, but typically this park is packed. It’s truly one of my favourite spots in Nelson and I strongly recommend visiting if you’re in the city!

Eats & Drinks

One of the places I wanted to checkout while I was in Nelson was The Black Cauldron, a bar that I had heard great things about. It didn’t dissapoint: their cocktail selection is impressive and all crafted in-house, and their lovely staff made me feel right at home. I had one of their cheese boards that was delicious too. Definitely recommend checking them out for their appies, drinks, and atmosphere! After a great evening, I headed back to my campsite to tuck in for the night. The next day, it was time to head back home. I knew I had a long drive ahead of me and wanted to hit the road earlier rather than later. I grabbed a coffee at John Ward Fine Coffee before heading off, very pleased with my short but super sweet weekend getaway.

Sometimes you really do need to just get away, switch up your environment to change how you see things, and gain your productivity back. I’m grateful for the weekend and highly recommend the artsy vibes of Nelson. It was inspiring for me, as I’m sure it is for many visitors! If you do wind up taking your own trip to Nelson, drop your thoughts in the comments and let me know if I missed anything. I hope you enjoy your own visit!