Category Archives: Travel

Prince Edward County Staycation

26 Tuesday Jun 2012

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June 20th was my birthday… I won’t say which one I celebrated though.  My boyfriend surprised me with a trip out to Prince Edward County – he had it all mapped out with stops at wineries and everything.

We hopped in the car and headed east stopping for our packed lunch, along the lake, in Cobourg.  From there we took Loyalist Parkway towards Picton where we were booked at the Claremount Inn.  We planned to stop at a few wineries and Sandbanks Park before checking inn.

Claremount Inn

Beautiful room at the inn

Our first stop Grange of Prince Edward County was beautiful but I have to say the least favourite of our stops for me.  While we left with a couple bottles it was not anything I would go back for and the young man in the wine tasting room acted more like we were a bother to him.

Our second stop was my favourite and that is reflected in the box of wine we left with (actually 3 bottles of port – 2 of those are white port – YUM!). Karlo Estates was beautiful and tasty.

Karlo Estates

Tasting at Karlo Estates

The tasting room and retail is in an old barn staffed with helpful, personable people and the best news is that they deliver to Toronto free of charge for orders of 8 bottles or more. I got a couple bottles of their rose and my boyfriend grab a few of their reds (in addition to the port).

After a dip at Sandbanks we checked in where I napped for a bit before dinner. Dinner was at Portabella where we had the best bruschetta I ever tasted and also some delicious Norm Hardie white.

The day was perfect and so was the evening where the night was lite up with fireflies and we had a swim before bed.  One thing that did disappoint was our breakfast but not enough to comment further.  Day two was more wineries.

Waupoos Estates was our first stop (actually I forgot our stop at the Rose House, a 1800s farm house museum before the winery opened) and it has a beautiful location with decent wine.  We wanted to go and sit by the water but couldn’t get around the ropes they set up at their pavillon.  This place has a petting zoo and they make chocolate on site!

My 2nd favourite after Karlo estates was our last trip – Long Dog Winery where we met the winemaker and discussed his IMAX film that he is shooting about the polar ice caps and the animals that are suffering with the loss of the ice. Fascinating man and great wine.

We plan to go back in September when the crowds die down … Do you have a favourite winery to recommend?

A trip to Ste. Anne’s Spa made extra special…

22 Sunday Apr 2012

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I absolutely love Ste. Anne’s Spa – if you are in to being pampered you have to treat yourself with a visit. (Check out the services and photos) On Saturday I headed east to the spa with my girlfriend and it was as wonderful as I remember it from a visit back in 2010.

Entrance to total relaxation

I had a Caribbean Body Scrub and a Plant Peel Facial – both I would highly recommend. I was scrubbed and massaged and felt great at the end of each service. The Plant Peel was to take off all the dead layers of skin and make me look younger – I think the mission was accomplished.

You spend the entire time in a bathrobe and slippers and make your way from the steam room to the hot tube to the cold pool and also the relaxation room where you can read or nap. The day just flew by!

Lunch was delicious as was tea time but I have to say that the special part of the day was heading down to the stables to help turn in the horses. We led two horses in from the field, fed them, scratched their itchy spots and made sure they were ready for bed. And even more special than that was the 2 day old foal Ciera, daughter of Noche.

Noche and her neborn

It was the perfect way to end the day! Our guide down at the stables was terrific and I am embarrassed that I don’t remember her name.  She has been working with horses her entire life and you can tell she has a genuine love for them.

I am planning a trip back to the spa in October and will visit the horses again. I recommend a day or weekend of pampering for everyone!

(I was not compensated for this post but would not object to a little thank you from Ste. Anne’s)

Blue Mountain Apres Ski in Flip Flops & Shorts

19 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by in Pleasure, Ski, Travel

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The skis are getting prepped to be put away in the attic after an amazing St. Patrick’s day getaway to Blue Mountain.  We left the overcast skies of Toronto to find sunshine and 25 degree weather up in Collingwood!

Posing on the slopes

As we got dressed to ski we debated what layers we needed – apparently most clothing items we did not need! I skied in a long sleeved T and ski pants without gloves.

Skiing in the spring conditions is tiring and the patios were calling to us so we packed it in and headed to a patio.  But before we could enjoy a drink and the sunshine we had to head to the shops.  I think I was the only one in the entire village who did not know about the early arrival of summer… I had to buy shorts and flip flops to fully enjoy the apres!

We spent a couple hours patio hopping, enjoying a few drinks as we moved through the village and of course we didn’t realize we probably should have put on some sunscreen much earlier in the day.

Enjoying a drink at the base of Blue

While I know that this weather is wrong and we shouldn’t be wearing shorts and sunning after a couple hours of skiing in March, I have to say that it was a fabulous weekend where I really did relax and have a great time. I do hope though that the season lasts much longer next year!

 

A unique dining experience in the Tremblant Village

10 Saturday Mar 2012

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This is the third and likely last post on Tremblant as I reminisce about the great weekend. (I sadly don’t have time time ski this weekend and with the temperatures in Ontario I don’t think there will be snow next weekend)

La Savoie

Our one night in the village we decided to try something we haven’t had before and settled on La Savoie – a fondue restaurant.  What is better than a pot of metled cheese! One warning – you must book a reservation and there are two sittings 5:30 and 8:30 (or at least that is all that was available when I called!)

Filet Mignon waiting for a bath in red wine

It is a quaint nordic themed restaurant and great for larger groups since you need two people per fondue type.  We settled on a red wine one with filet mignon but got the melted cheese appetizer to satisfy my need for melted cheese! Some of the tables order the platter that actually gets you a wheel of cheese suspended over a heat source; you shave off soft, warm chunks of cheese.

Our meal was delish! As was the merlot. (sadly we can’t get this Australian bottle of Pfeiffer at the LCBO or even the SAQ) I will likely be back to this restaurant with a larger group to try more of the menu.

Melted cheese!

(I was not compensated for this post, it is just a recount of my wonderful dinner in Tremblant!)

Skiing at Tremblant makes up for a strange ON ski season

06 Tuesday Mar 2012

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If you live in Ontario and are a skier, you are probably like me and feeling like winter ripped you off! I even have a pair of new skis for this season. This past weekend I took my first trip to Tremblant and I fell in love.

Stunning scenery & great skiing

We stayed two nights outside the village and one night in the village and while they were very different experiences, both were wonderful!

Outside the village we stayed at Chateau Beauvallon which was comfortable and elegant. Our room had two bathrooms and a small kitchen.  We took their shuttle to the mountain during the day and sat in the outdoor hot tub apres ski.  I would recommend this place to everyone, even at regular price.  I, of course, had a Team Buy voucher.

In the village we stayed at Homewood Suites which was less elegant but right in the village.  The village is busy so you have to want to be in the middle of things; for us it was a nice contrast from the first two nights. You can literally walk out the door and over to the lift.

This video (that I was asked to watch as part of a survey) Take me to the top, sums up most of my weekend! I definitely plan to return next year for a longer stay.

(I was not subsidized in any way by Mont Tremblant, Homewood Suites or Chateau Beauvallon – although I wouldn’t turn down a free night or lift ticket! – the above post is simply me sharing the details of my weekend!)

A trip to the Scandinave Spa Tremblant – Does this qualify me as a polar bear?

03 Saturday Mar 2012

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First stop on a weekend in Tremblant is the Scandinave Spa! Booked for massages we went early to take some time in the waters. For those of you who haven’t done this type of spa, you alternate between:

  • Heat
  • Cold
  • Relaxation

Winter Oasis

This was my first trip to this type of spa in the winter and at night so it takes some getting used to; walking around in your bathing suit and flip flops in the snow! The landscaping and design is just wonderful. You can hear waterfalls and smell wood burning. It is very tranquil (especially since there is to be no talking – yes, that is hard for me, we had a few whispered conversations while in the hot pools).

Now part of this process, that has tremendous health benefits is the dip in the cold pool and in addition to cold pools this location has the river. You can actually head down for a dip in the river.

It is as cold as it looks!

I will always try something once!  It is cold… everything went numb and tingled… everything! I went in the river twice in the process before heading in for a massage and would encourage anyone at the Tremblant Scandinave to give it a try!

(I should mention that I have not been compensated by the Scandinave Spa Tremblant and that this post is just chronicling my trip to the mountain)

Shocking treatment of rescued animals in Thailand

29 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Advice & Recommendations, Travel

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Feeding time

Several years ago I travelled to Thailand and while there spent a day at the Elephant Nature Park. This park houses several dozen elephants that have been injured in their work in the logging industry in Thailand. Some have broken hips, others are blind – while there we fed the elephants, bathed them and learned their stories. (Check out Elephant Nature Park and the stories of their elephants – especially Jokia) The experience was like nothing I had ever had before.  Despite the horrors happening now I do need to tell you that the Thai people (most of them) are beautiful, loving people.

Last night I learned, through my Twitter feed, that the the ENP had been raided by the Department of Natural Parks (DNP) and Lek, the woman behind this amazing cause, was threatened with jail time. As I followed links throughout several sites I learned that the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) was also raided. While ENP did not loose any animals, WFFT had many confiscated. As the DNP went throughout the park, they did so with disregard for the animals health and safety. This video (let me warn you that it is traumatic for anyone who is an animal lover) upset me to tears and kept me up last night. It is of a poor macaque that was knocked unconscious during his capture being shoved in a cage without any medical care.

I wish I could do more to help the animals over in Thailand but the first thing I know I could do was share their story and ask that you sign the petition that will ultimately go to the King in hopes of stopping the raids by the DNP.  In addition to signing the petition, please share this story in hopes that these animals that had already suffered in their lives are left alone, along with the great people who have worked so hard to save them and keep them happy and healthy.

Falling Water – perfect integration of nature and architecture

03 Friday Feb 2012

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I had been visiting Pennsylvania my entire life, literally from the age of 2 months (maybe less) and never got out to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.

Fall Water

Walking up the drive

I had heard of Wright but had never visited his most famous work that is on Smithsonian‘s Life List of 28 places “to visit before you die.” And I have to admit it is truly stunning to see. We were only able to walk around the grounds but it is the perfect integration of nature and   structure.  We had the entire place to ourselves on a sunny day after a brief snowstorm and it is like going back in time when you walk around taking the self-guided tour.

Fallingwater

From the overlook

It is hard to believe that the home was built in 1935 for the Kaufman family – they owned the department store chain named after them.  The family wanted a weekend home and assumed that Wright would design them a cottage or cabin with a view of the waterfall. Instead he integrated the waterfall in to the design and pushed the engineering boundaries.

If you are ever up for a road trip I highly recommend you stop by Falling Water which is just 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. The drive takes you through the Laurel Highlands and the Allegheny Mountains. I definitely plan to go back in other seasons and especially when I can take a look inside the home.