With cannabis becoming legal in more and more places around the world, cannabis vacations have also become increasingly popular. If you’d like to indulge a bit while experiencing an unforgettable destination, consider heading to one of these great spots.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Starting out with the most obvious destination, Amsterdam is a place that travelers have been visiting for years in order to experience walking into a “coffee shop,” buying marijuana from a rather extensive menu of choices and lighting up right there to enjoy it. While, that’s now been made possible in many other places around the world, it’s still a great spot to consider for a cannabis vacation. After indulging, if you’re there in the spring, you can check out the kaleidoscope of colors at the world’s largest flower garden in Keukenhof, or explore one of the city’s myriad of fascinating museums.
The Algarve, Portugal
Portugal decriminalized all drugs nearly two decades ago, which means you can visit its beautiful destinations and enjoy a little 420 too. The Algarve, the country’s southernmost region, is renowned for its stunning beaches, where the long expanses of soft golden sands are overlooked by green pines and ochre cliffs. Combined with its mild climate which includes 300 days of sunshine a year and the clear waters of the sea that are often warm and calm, this is a place that’s ideal for relaxation as well as outdoor activities. There are about 125 miles of beaches between the southwest coast near Aljezur and the eastern end close to Vila Real de Santo Antonio. All offer a unique experience, some idyllic for romance, others perfect for swimming, and still others that are nearly deserted, where nature is unspoiled and preserved in an almost wild state.
Nederland and the Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Arguably the state’s quirkiest town, Nederland is internationally famous for its “Frozen Dead Guys” festival which celebrates a Norwegian immigrant whose dead body is still frozen in a Tuff Shed. And, not surprisingly, it’s also a town filled with hippies, creative types and marijuana dispensaries. Pop into one and then enjoy the great outdoors and fresh air of the Rockies. Brainard Lake is a great spot for fishing, hiking and camping for the ultimate cannabis-friendly nature retreat – just be sure to enjoy it in your tent or another private spot as it’s only legal in this state when consumed privately.
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Tenerife, the largest Canary Island off the coast of Spain and West Africa, is known for its gorgeous beaches, pleasant year-round climate, tasty cuisine and around 50 cannabis social clubs that showcase locally-grown marijuana, Moroccan hash, and locally-produced concentrates. As they operate in a legal gray area, you may need to hookup with a local ahead of time to help you gain access to “the club.” Once you do, you can toke up and enjoy the ride up to the summit of the highest mountain in Spain, Mount Teide via cable car, take a refreshing swim in lava rock pools or hike ancient forest trails in the Anaga Mountains.
Oregon
Recreational marijuana is now legally available in the state of Oregon, which also happens to be one of the most beautiful areas of the country, with everything from breathtaking coastlines to soaring mountains. Head to Portland and sample some of the brews at top craft breweries, browse the offerings at Powell’s, one of the world’s most famous indie bookstores, and of course, visit one of the many dispensaries before standing in line for a legendary Voodoo Doughnut. While you’ll find lots of picturesque green spaces throughout the city, if you really want to be surrounded by nature, visit the coast. At the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area you can rent a dune buggy and explore the 40 miles of dunes that rise up to 500 feet above sea level, while Ecola State Park on the northern end, is favorite for hiking and picnicking with its dramatic scenery.
Seattle and the Olympic National Park, Washington
While Seattle offers more than enough to keep any vacationer occupied, it’s a great city to use as a jumping-off point for exploring Mother Nature’s abundance of offerings. Dispensaries are plentiful and offer an extensive variety of cannabis products. Once you’ve picked up your favorites, you might want to check out the view from the Space Needle, watch the vendors toss the fresh catch of the day at Pike Place Market, and then venture over to the ferry dock for a trip across the water to the Olympic Peninsula. Olympic National Park is filled with winding trails that lead to magnificent waterfalls, glistening lakes and even hot springs. You can get as high as Hurricane Ridge (referring to elevation, of course), or as low as sea level on the rugged Pacific side of the park, which is known for its driftwood-strewn beaches and fabulous storm watching.
Uruguay
Located along the southeastern Atlantic coast between Argentina to the west and south, and Brazil to the north, Uruguay is known for its wide expanses of beautiful beach, picturesque fishing villages, and wildlife, including sea lions, seals, penguins and whales. There are natural thermal baths to soak in and gaucho culture to experience. Plus, cannabis is very widely used here. It’s long been legal, so you can feel free to smoke as you walk the narrow cobbled streets of charming colonial towns like Colonia del Sacramento, located just a short drive from Buenos Aires. Or, visit Punta del Este to discover a jet-set beach resort filled with beautiful people and the chance to tap your toes to the rhythm of bobbing yachts while dining on delicious fresh seafood washed down with medio y medio, a refreshing sparkling wine, and the country’s national drink. The capital of Montevideo is safe and fun to visit too, with its colonial charms, one of the world’s longest river walks, a bustling market, and picturesque green spaces.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Weed is now legal in Alaska too and marijuana shops have just begun to open up in Alaska’s interior. That means you can experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity viewing the dazzling Northern Lights from the comfort of an invigorating hot spring in the great outdoors…while buzzed. To do so, book a room at Chena Hot Springs Resort in Fairbanks. Far away from the light pollution of the city, it provides a stunning backdrop for watching the colorful display from hot springs. If you can’t stay awake, don’t worry, the resort will send out an alert when the lights appear via an aurora alarm service. You can also catch one of the nightly snow coach tours to search for the aurora, traveling to a higher elevation to increase the odds of viewing the elusive phenomena.
San Francisco Bay Area, California
California recently legalized marijuana, and there is an especially thriving scene in the San Francisco Bay Area. Of course, cities like San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley, were at the forefront of the counterculture movement in the U.S. and have long been sites of heavy legalization activism and some of the best buds you can find. Pick some up and check out Haight Street, the birth of the hippie movement, now more of a trendy place, but worth a visit, especially for its Amoeba Music store. You can also enjoy a stroll through Golden Gate Park, a walk along the Pacific or even a tour of the reportedly haunted, now defunct Alcatraz Prison on Alcatraz Island. If you want to take in one of the amazing views in the Bay Area, it’s hard to beat Berkeley’s Grizzly Peak in Tilden Regional Park. Get here after dark and you’ll be mesmerized by the dazzling city lights that seem to stretch forever.
