Category Archives: Travel

Travel Guide|| Stay, Eat & Experience Abbotsford, British Columbia

MAGIC

I’m so excited to share our Abbotsford travel experience with you! I’m going to highlight our favourite eateries, experiences and hotels to help you book an amazing getaway. From the peaceful plains of Sumas Prairie and Matsqui Flats, to the rolling hills of Mt. Lehman and the rugged backcountry of Sumas Mountain the views were such a stand out on this adventure. We went on a romantic couples trip this past month, so the theme towards this travel guide will be an adult perspective. We flew with Swoop Airlines from Edmonton to Abbotsford, great staff and you couldn’t beat the price! I highly suggest checking out this airline for the price alone. By request on Instagram stories, I will hopefully have the pleasure of going back with the family next year to shift my tips and travel tricks in that of a more kid friendly direction. Here are my top places to eat, stay, and experience in Abbotsford, BC:

Accommodations: When available I love to book a suite of any kind. Ample room for my husband and myself is usually a priority. And that aspect coupled with a bed/ breakfast is even better. We love the amenities of home, it truly takes the stress of travel off the table and lets us relax together. Brookside Inn is an award-winning three-story Tudor style hotel featuring crown moulding, high ceilings and wonderful views of Mt Baker and Pepin Brook Vineyard. We stayed in the luxury suite Under the Tuscan Sun.” It was so charming, with it’s own patio deck. The owners Chris and Sandi go out of their way to make your stay amazing. The home cooked breakfast is not be be missed, we will would stay with Brookside again in a heart beat.

Experience: Bloom-The Abbotsford Tulip Festival is located at 36737 N Parallel Rd, Abbotsford. This visual experience was a stand out from the entire trip. The blooms are exceptional. For a little background Peter Warmerdam and his family immigrated from the Netherlands and settled in the Fraser Valley in 1950. Peter proudly brought his Dutch heritage, horticultural knowledge and farming experience to the Bradner area – here he would grow a few acres of daffodil flowers. Peter’s passion for all things flowers was one that the entire Warmerdam family shared. So it wasn’t much of a surprise when Alexis, Peter’s granddaughter, came up with the idea for Bloom–The Abbotsford Tulip Festival. One of the most asked questions from my Instagram stories was: how did I take so many photos without anyone else in them? This is a very popular attraction in the area, so we arrived right for opening to have ample time to wander the blooms and capture some moments before the crowds.

Eats & Sips: If you’ve ever read my travel guides before, you already know when/ where I’m getting my next incredible meal is a priority. I have so many restaurants to list, so here are our local favourites:

Bow and Stern: harbours a sense of character. Rustic woods, boat details and tables sandstone floors. This nautical restaurant is an Instagram dream for photos. We had the fresh shucked oysters… and they were perfect.

The Polly Fox: bakery and bistro specializing in 100%
gluten and allergen-free baking. Our favourite treat was the sled cowboy cookie! So YUM!

The HABIT Project: A sister team passionate about wellness, and nourishing your body with locally-sourced ingredients. We make a habit of tracking down a juicery on all our travels, it feels so good to get some greens in your life! Especially with the stress of travel and airport food. Plus, their zero waste mission is amazing! The pulp is returned to partnering farms for composting.

Tracycakes Bakery Cafe: The perfect spot to sit, sip and treat yo self! The High Tea experience is not to be missed! You can even get it with a glass of champagne. While there we noticed so many people getting cakes to go. Why not take one to go and share some amazing decadent cake with friends and family.

Wine Tastings: My husband’s favourite part of the trip was easily our winery tour with Brookside Boutique Tours. They offers intimate wine tours, private group and customized excursions, in their shuttle throughout the Lower Mainland. Our stops included 3 wineries not to be missed:

Singletree Winery: Our favourite, the bubbly 2017 Victory. Rose petal aromas with tropical fruit notes. They also sell local cheese to add to your wine tasting experience.

SeaSide Pearl Farmgate Winery: Estate Petit Milo 2016. If we were going to renew our vows, this charming winery would be an unbelievable venue.

Campbell’s Gold Honey & Meadery: Every bee related, this winery was a unique experience with a general store that sells honeys and wax related products. I even picked up bee propolis healing ointment for my Dad! Such a large selection of products.

Disclaimer: This post was NOT paid but some experiences and accommodations were supplied in part by Tourism Abbotsford.

5 Things You Must Do in Harrison, British Columbia

Book a romantic cabin experience. Although there are plenty of places to stay in Harrison along the lake front, we opted for something different. Rowena’s Inn on the River is infused with European flair. Guests can stay in the historical 1920s inn or in four rustic luxury cottages. From a deep soaker tub, in-room wood-burning fireplaces, and magnificent views of the Harrison River, this resort is not to be missed. All guests also receive a complimentary breakfast and use of the outdoor swimming pool. Currently they are constructing more cabins with different layouts from 1,2, and 3-bedroom The new 1 and 2-bedroom layouts have gas fireplaces, TVs, and larger kitchenettes and are best suited for families and friend getaways, but the 3-bedroom units, combine the best of both worlds, with wood-burning fireplaces, TVs, and kitchenettes. We are so excited to go back with the kids and grandparents next year. Our stay with the Rowena’s team was a highlight of our couples trip. It was pure relaxing bliss.

Experience the Sasquatch legend and local history. Twenty minutes up the road from Harrison Mills, in Harrison Hot Springs, visitors can experience the Sasquatch Trail. Harrison is filled with history, breathtaking views and natural wonders including the world-famous BC hot springs, seasonal salmon runs and eagle nests! Harrison Mills is the world’s capital for the gathering of winter eagles. Stop in at the local Harrison Visitor Centre and explore the Sasquatch Museum. They can direct you to the local hikes, festivals, tours and spas in the area and it’s home to the Sasquatch Museum!

Get out on that water! Between the giant inflatable water park , bumper boats or the beach, Harrison Lake has so much to offer. We booked a boat tour with Shoreline Tours. Our guide Chelsea was so knowledgeable, she filled us in on prehistoric sturgeon, majestic salmon and, of course, the stunning bald eagles along the riverbank. We ordered Pinot Gris and took in the natural sights for two blissful hours of relaxation.

Shoreline Tours on Harrison Lake, British Columbia.

Grab an amazing meal with a view. There are plenty of places to grab a meal along the waterfront. The locals suggested several favourite spots: Morgan’s, Black Forest, Milo’s Greek Taverna and Old Settler’s. We opted for an authentic Eastern European meal of schnitzel and sausage at Black Forest. The breathtaking views of the lake are worth the visit alone. In the winter, the patio is heated and covered, so you can still enjoy the beautiful views.

Treat Yo Self. Along Harrison Lake there are tons of businesses to satisfy any sweet tooth. What’s your craving? Chantilly Ice Cream is sure to hit the spot on a hot summer day. Or stop into our favourite cross Canada Chocolatier, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Almost every where we travel within Canada, we make an effort to bring take the Kid’s speciality chocolate gift sets from Rocky Mountain. This location carries Sasquatch feet!

Disclaimer: This trip was not PAID but some of the experiences and accommodations were in part covered by Tourism Harrison.

My Disneyland Guide 2019 || Tips, Tricks & All That Park Magic #Disneyland

I just want to start this off with the biggest THANK YOU to Disney Parks & Resorts Canada for hosting and partnering with my blog. If you follow along on Instagram, you may have noticed earlier this month I had the absolute pleasure to visit Disneyland, California Adventure and stay at the Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. It was an unreal experience to say the least! I traveled with my little guy and my parents! Incorporating multiple generations into one trip really helped with some travel perceptive for sure. I’m so excited to share some tips, tricks and info on all the magic from this press trip. This wasn’t our first time by any means, some of you may already know although we are Canadians, Disney vacations have been our trip of choice for the past few years. So many of my tips and tricks have been garnered over time in an attempt to save you time, money and help you create the MOST magically Disney experience.

I asked on this Instagram post if you had any burning questions you wanted answered in my trip recap blog post. The response was overwhelming! So I’ve decided to break up my posts to make them far more concise and helpful. I’ll follow up with a Q&A with very specific information requests later this week. And I’ll also do a favourites list of restaurants, photo spots, rides and attractions in the near future. Just hit the “TRAVEL” tab on the right side of this page to look for more travel posts.

Here are my top 4 Disneyland Tips and Tricks to help you and your family have an ideal Disneyland Park experience in 2019:

1) Before buying your park passes please check out the “offers” page on the Disneyland website. As an example, currently the “Canadian Resident Ticket Offer” is giving us a pretty great discount on passes. This offer ends April 11th 2019, you can take advantage of it by visiting www.Disneyland.com/CanadaTicket or calling (866) 285-1422. If you book after that date I strongly encourage you to check the Special Offers page on their website for all available offers and discounts. It always feels great to save a bit of money when planning a trip.

2) A common misconception of many first timers to Disneyland is that the “Fast Pass” line costs money. It is free! Anyone can access the quicker line up and it only costs money to have it conveniently located on your phone. My biggest piece of advice, work that Fast Pass System hard! I’m not only saying that only coming from a mother with a little person that can’t wait in lines too long. As an adult, time is time and if you get great at working this feature you can experience far more attractions in your day. If you are new to Disney, there will be two lines at the front: Standby and Fast Pass holders. You can book fast passes on the app for $15 a day per person in the group by getting a Disney MAXpass. BUT you can still get fast passes without that $15 fee! They are located at “fast pass distributors” at each attraction that has a fast pass line. Basically in short, you can pay a fee to conveniently book them on your phone throughout the day or you can walk to each attraction to manually obtain one. Please note, some rides are more popular compared to others. And there are only a certain amount of fast passes available each day. I find unless you get a fast pass before noon for many of the “popular rides,” there will not be any more fast passes available that day for that attraction and you would have to line up in the standby line. Some of my must have fast passes include: California Adventure: Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Break Out, Toy Story Mania and Radiator Springs Racer. Disneyland: It’s a Small World, Madahorn, Star Tours, Big Thunder Mountain Railway and the Haunted Mansion.

Continue reading →

Travel || Banff, Alberta || Explore, Sip & Stay

[wdi_feed id=”1″] BAD9DADF-80EC-47B1-9D2D-1F919D54BB0A

If you caught this little couples getaway on my Instagram stories last week, you’d probably have seen this blog post coming a mile away. As a born and raised Edmontonian this isn’t my first visit to Banff National Park by any means. We have frequented the area bi-yearly for decades. Luckily enough being an avid mountain air seeker, I’ve had the pleasure of trying many establishments and I wanted to share a few of our favourites in hopes this read will help you plan out your next escape. Here are my current hotels, restaurants and attractions of mention for Banff in 2018.

Stay

We’ve done the full range of accommodation options for Banff over the years: from rented house, cabins to hotels. I will say when booking a couples trip, I highly prefer a main street Banff hotel to any of the other options. Walking access to restaurants and sips being the main reason. And in all honesty, house keeping when I’m away from kids for some romance is a must.

Elk + Avenue Hotel (formerly the Banff International): Location, location, location… located in main street Banff, this modern and renovated hotel is steps away from nightlife, shopping and eats. We love the decor added in the last update to this hotel, it’s a trendy comfortable “après-ski” kind of vibe with so many cozy touches. Definitely check the website when booking, currently there is a promo that includes gondola and seasonal festival tickets with your room booking. Who doesn’t love some added value?

Honourable Mention Mount Royal Hotel: Although I haven’t stayed at it since it’s new renovations, I can definitely speak to the prime time location in the middle of main street. Visit the website and take a look at the gorgeous updated rooms and that roof top hot tub! Our plan is to try out the new rooms sometime this winter.

Sips & Eats

Let me start off by saying this category is so tough for me. There are almost too many places to mention that are incredible to eat. So to save myself from writing a novel I’m only going to share our current 2 favourites for both taste and experience.

Sky Bistro: Dine at the summit of a mountain. Enough said! We enjoyed a relaxed lunch with the most specular views we’ve ever seen from a restaurant. I highly suggest getting a reservation if you are going for a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain.

Chucks: It’s gotta be the Albertan in me but we cannot go to Banff and not get a real Alberta Beef experience. Grass fed, hand picked and aged steaks to choose from this restaurant is a meat lovers dream. You’ll notice we are not the only the ones who think so, you’ll need a reservation during peak dining hours or you will be turned away. We shared the the family style platter, The Cow Boy Trail it had something for everyone.

Experience

A trip to Banff is not complete without taking in some specular views. Between hikes, strolls along the falls or mountain top visits, everything is majestic in the mountains. Here is one experience you don’t want to miss.

Banff Gondola at Sulphur Mountain: For the view along, this gondola ride is definitely worth it. As a little side note, check the website you can save by bundling admission with dining, booking in advance or arriving early currently has free admission for children before a specific time. Approximately 7500 feet above Banff this attraction is a must for a breathtaking experience like no other. At the top experience a state-of-the-art facility offering history, shopping and dining. I suggest bringing layers to take a stroll on the boardwalk. I couldn’t get over the view or the elevation! Continue reading →

Travel || Radium British Columbia || Bighorn Meadows Resort #Sponsor

As you may have seen on my Instagram a week ago, we had the pleasure of staying at The Residences at Bighorn Meadows Resort in Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia. They are a collection of 44 vacation homes for sale, boasting cozy interiors, fantastic views, and an abundance of recreational activities right at your doorstep. We took a family friendly hike, followed by lunch at the cutest Mexican restaurant and finally a swim at the popular Radium Hot springs. Whether you’re looking to own a vacation home for weekend getaways with the family, or purchasing a rental income property, The Residences at Bighorn Meadows are the perfect investment.

Bighorn Meadows Resort is unique in that it offers luxury and comfort while maintaining highly competitive rates in a breathtaking area of the Columbia Valley. Situated on an expansive 9-acre site surrounded by the prestigious Springs Golf Course, Bighorn Meadows is a resort community that provides the comforts of home while setting you worlds apart from the hustle and bustle of city life. Bighorn Meadows has sold out of ten phases, and is a second home to over 1000 families. Phase 1-10 have sold out, and Phase 11 of these incredible duplex vacation homes are now available for sale. Over 80% of their buyers are from Alberta, and I can see why, it’s such a beautiful area of BC with lots of recreational activities right at your doorstep. Another great plus is that these vacation homes are in an area of BC that are speculation tax exempt. If you’re an Albertan looking for a great vacation getaway home, you don’t have to worry about that tax.

Continue reading →