Summer, in all its beautiful glory, has finally arrived! Back in snowy, cold January, oh how I longed for these long, lazy days of summer. As well as a time for relaxing, summer is also a popular time for vacations. When we travel, be it by car or plane, we rarely fly by the seat of our pants, so to speak. I like to be organized, okay, okay...I can hear you all laughing...I’m a bit over the top with the organization, but at least I know it and I’m willing to admit it, unlike some people I … [Read more...]
How to Efficiently Pack for Vacation
It doesn’t matter if you are going away for a week or a weekend, there is no need to bring so much luggage that you need to employ “the Hulk” to carry it. With a few simple storage techniques and a little bit of planning, you should be able to pack your entire trips worth of stuff into a smaller, more manageable suitcase. If you pack too much you are suddenly paying to check your luggage. Keep in mind there are usual ways of doing laundry at your destination, be it a laundromat or a laundry … [Read more...]
4 Things to Consider When Booking a Vacation
If the time has come for you to book a much-needed vacation, you may find yourself feeling a little overwhelmed with the process. Vacations create long-lasting and amazing memories but can also be expensive. Not only can travelling be costly but planning the trip can be very time-consuming. Here are a few things you need to figure out before you go ahead and start booking: 1. Reviews Talk to friends and family about destinations they have chosen for vacation. Not only will you get a … [Read more...]
Autumn in Southern New Brunswick, Canada
Although I love the summer and I’m already missing warm summer evenings sitting on the deck, there is just something so absolutely beautiful about the autumn of the year. In my part of the world, Atlantic Canada, we have four VERY distinct seasons. Title: Wood’s Farm Photo attribution: Catherine White, Oak Lawn Images Just in time for our Canadian Thanksgiving celebrations, the sky takes on this wonderful deep shade of blue and the deciduous trees put on a magnificent display of the … [Read more...]
Day Tripping at Fundy National Park, N.B., Canada
Earlier last week, my sisters, one brother, and our significant others went on an end of summer day trip to Fundy National Park. It wasn’t our first visit to the park, we only live about an hour away, so we try to make it up at least a couple of times a year. When our kids were young, we were there more often, as we often camped at one of “Fundy’s” campgrounds. Red Adirondack chairs at Bennett Lake. "Looking for that special place where all your worries melt away? At 12 enchanting … [Read more...]
Our Getaway to New River Beach Provincial Park
For the past ten summers, my sisters and I have gone on a camping/glamping trip to New River Beach Provincial Park. We all have grown kids, many of whom are scattered across the country (and come "home" for summer vacations) so coordinating dates for this trip has always been a bit of a challenge. Naturally, if the "kids" are home, none of us want to lose any of the precious time that we have with them. Some years we have gone on our trip as early as mid-June and this year it was the last … [Read more...]
Kings Landing Historical Settlement, New Brunswick, Canada
I have visited Kings Landing a couple of times in the past and for the last several years have talked about going again. But life always seemed to get in the way and for a variety of reasons, the return trip never materialized. Photo attribution: Catherine White, Oak Lawn Images This year I made a pact with myself to make it happen, and it did! My sisters and I got up bright and early last Tuesday morning and after a stop for our prerequisite road trip coffee, we were on our way! If … [Read more...]
New River Beach Provincial Park in New Brunswick, Canada
A couple of weeks ago now, as a bit of a final grasp on summer, my sisters and I took a camping trip to New River Beach Provincial Park in New Brunswick. New River Beach is less than an hours drive from my home and I have visited it many, many, many times in the past. I have to say, that even though I have been there numerous times, New River Beach never fails to impress me with its natural beauty and breathtaking ocean views. Early morning fog drifting over the mud flats (low tide) … [Read more...]
A Visit to Beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick, Canada
A couple of weeks ago I told you about our fun trip to Minister's Island in New Brunswick, Canada. Well, while we were in the area, we decided to stop for a visit and a late lunch in nearby St. Andrews By-the-Sea. Established in 1783 by Loyalists from Castine, Maine, St. Andrews is one of New Brunswick’s oldest and most distinctive settlements. Steeped in history, St. Andrews By-the-Sea offers a wealth of museums, historic sites and marine wonders for you to explore. We spent a … [Read more...]
Our Visit to Minister’s Island, St. Andrews, New Brunswick
Minister's Island ~ Have you ever driven on the ocean floor? No? Well, that is exactly what you'll get to do when you visit the summer residence of railway builder Sir William Van Horne. This magnificent residence is open to the public during the summer months and only accessible by land during low tide. You can see a car driving over the now exposed sandbar toward Minister's Island. At high tide (which happens twice in 24 hours), this entire area will be covered by several feet of … [Read more...]
Our Visit to the Saltscapes East Coast Expo in Halifax N.S.
If you have never been to the Saltscapes East Coast Expo in Halifax N.S., I strongly urge you to mark it on your calendar for next year! A couple of weekends ago I was in the Halifax, N.S. area and by somewhat of a fluke, found out the Saltscapes East Coast Expo was happening that weekend. I am a long time lover and subscriber to Saltscapes magazine and even though I was aware of the Saltscapes Expo, which just finished its 12th year, I had never been in the area when it was scheduled. So, … [Read more...]