family travel Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Visiting Lion’s Head, Bruce Peninsula #findthelionshead

Paula — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 12:20:03 +0000

Recently we were guests of Bruce County while visiting the area and as such we received accommodations and other compensation to share this experience with others. Lion’s Head, just south of Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, is a beautiful and unique spot to visit. This area is laid back, picturesque, and friendly as we discovered recently when we spent the weekend exploring Bruce County. I’ve been to the Bruce Peninsula every year since I was a child, and it is truly one of the best ambassadors for nature’s beauty that anyone could find. However, until this summer I’d never ventured to Lion’s Head. I had always thought that Tobermory and Lion’s Head were way too far north for us to go. But frankly Lion’s Head is not that far past Sauble Beach, and from there Tobermory is only another 45 minutes to an hour. And, it’s worth the drive. The farther you drive up north the more stunning the rock formations along the way. Recently my oldest daughter and I had the chance to take a mother/daughter trip out to Lion’s Head for some quality time together. We were again doing the Bruce Peninsula Adventure passport #explorethebruce opportunity. The 2017 Explore The Bruce Passport covers several well known area destinations and some hidden treasures too. There are 12 passport stops and 17 destinations throughout Bruce County on the passport to explore. More about that in another post this week. From hiking trails to beautiful cottages, beaches and quirky shops and restaurants, Lion’s Head is a great vacation destination. Here’s a bit about the area that I’ve learned from the recent visit with my daughter. Lion’s Head – Unmatched Beauty Lion’s Head, Bruce Peninsula is a port village right off the shores of the Isthmus bay. It gets its name from the limestone cliffs surrounding it. When the area is viewed from Georgian Bay, the cliffs make the area look like a lion head. Fun fact, it’s located exactly half way between the equator and the north pole – right on the 45th parallel. The area is known for its beautiful beaches, majestic cliffs, clear blue water, and an atmosphere that is decidedly slower and more laid back than many other destinations. When we first arrived in Lion’s Head we drove down Main Street and headed to Isthmus Bay to see what we could see. The cottages along the Bay are stunning and couldn’t be closer to the water. SO gorgeous. Another year I would consider looking at a cottage rental here. While we were in Lion’s Head we stayed at The 45th Parallel Bed and Breakfast. Believe it or not, this was also our first time ever staying at a B & B. Not sure what took us so long. Jenny and Willy were friendly and their home is beautiful. When they moved from their previous B and B, they originally had intentions of retiring from that job. But Jenny missed it too much and so they built their new home with a Bed & Breakfast in mind. The layout is perfect for that. And breakfast was better than we might have had at a restaurant. Hiking Hiking is a must-do if you visit Lion’s Head. With miles of trails that lead to sites like Indian Potholes, Lion’s Head Lookout, the local lighthouse, and caves, there’s no end to the natural beauty in his area. Two must do Trails are – Lindsay Tract and the White Bluff Bruce Trail. The Lindsay Tract is Passport Stop Number One. There are numerous trails and several different levels of difficulty. We saw many cyclists on the day we visited. Adorable library on the wetlands portion of the Lindsay Tract Trail. Stop #1 on the Passport. . ……………………………………………………………………….. #explorethebruce #brucecounty #travelislife #travels #travelbloggers #ifwtwa #activity #healthyliving #ontario #family #love #fun A post shared by Paula Schuck (@inkscrblr) on Jul 22, 2017 at 9:11am PDT Beaches It might come as a surprise to non-Canadians, but Ontario residents all know how spectacular our beaches can be. The beaches in Bruce County are gorgeous and clean and always family friendly. Lion’s Head has a pretty beach with shallow entry and here are campgrounds nearby too. Bruce County in general features some excellent beaches with white sand and beautiful blue water for miles. It’s the perfect way to spend the day or the weekend. The night we arrived we had dinner near the beach at Rachel’s Bakery and Diner. I was starving so their meals hit the spot perfectly. My daughter had a cheeseburger that was on what looked like a brioche bun and she told me it was fantastic. Stargazing The beauty of Lion’s Head doesn’t stop with terra firma. It’s also a Dark Sky community. That means that the entire community has limited bright lighting, so you can see the multitude of stars waiting in the sky. For city dwellers or those living in other populated areas, it might actually be surprising to see the number of stars out there. The Arts Lion’s Head has a vibrant artistic community with several art studios in the area. It also hosts a series of free concerts on Friday nights during July and August. You can also find local musicians jamming out on Thursday and Saturday nights. They even have an excellent Farmer’s market held every Saturday morning from Victoria Day weekend through Thanksgiving. Remember to Look For The Lion’s Head My daughter and I had a great trip starting in Lion’s Head, Bruce peninsula. I would love to return and bring the rest of the family with us. Lion’s Head has everything you could want for a natural getaway and it’s the perfect base to explore the Bruce. We were guests of Bruce County while visiting the area and as such we received accommodations and other compensation to share this experience with others. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

The post Visiting Lion’s Head, Bruce Peninsula #findthelionshead appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

London Ontario Lifestyle Bloggers – Local Influencers

Paula — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 12:31:52 +0000

London Ontario Lifestyle Bloggers are actually quite a force of nature. In fact I have seen so many over the years since I began writing on line. As some of you know Thrifty Mommas Tips began in 2009. It was a way to get back into writing after a lengthy absence from my job as a journalist at the London Free Press. Happy to say I am still here and loving what I do. I attended an event in Arva last night and met a new blogger and we got talking. She asked are there many London Ontario Lifestyle bloggers? Well, in fact, yes there are I said. Local London crafty lady Cyn Gagen was also at the Metro Homegrown event held at the historic Arva Flour Mill. The funny thing about London and area bloggers to me is that we end up being invited all over North America and sometimes the globe. But rarely are there local events. So Metro’s event was pretty cool in that regard. So hallelujah I was pretty thrilled when a local event with national scope hosted by Metro Ontario invited London bloggers. Anyways that post is for next week but right now these are my favourites of all the London Ontario Bloggers I know. Obviously I am a London Ontario Blogger at Thrifty Mommas Tips – You can find me here every single day of the week. I write about Travel, Health, Food and Technology. So Lifestyle essentially. You can also find me on Instagram and Twitter as @inkscrblr. Oh and don’t forget to check out my Business Blog. I run a social media consulting and management business called Thrifty Mom Media. Cyn Gagen is over at Creative Cynchronicity CYN writes and posts and shares with her daughter, Samantha @GagenGirls. Check out this post – > 15 Sweet Treats for Canada Day. She’s the lady you need to visit for creative content and crafty ideas for any event or occasion. I can’t keep up with how creative she is. Margarita Ibbott – DownshiftingPro Your Family, Your Home Your Life My good friend Margarita has strong travel content and here’s what you should know – Margarita is a professional home organizer and she is the authority on all organizing topics. She’s the one I talk to and sometimes travel with as well. She taught me this – How To Pack Lightly. This is one of her most recent posts – 150 Links for Canada Day. AND I AM still trying to work on that as a travel blogger. LOL. We also run Linked Moms together. Linked Moms is a local social media consulting and Twitter Party business. Ann Marie Brown – It’s Just My Life She’s definitely more of a Youtuber now but when I met her she was a blogger primarily. Either way you can find great content about budgeting and cooking on her site – It’s Just My Life. Love this lady. She is funny and smart and has a heart of gold. She and I connected many years ago even before we really knew we blogged because she is also an adoptive parent. Catch her on Facebook too. Pam Young – Country Mouse, City Mouse – Pam lives in St Mary’s area just outside London. This lady writes about many different topics and also works with several brands. Also a Mom raising some amazing kids. She’s here on Twitter @CCMouse. Kelly Connor is CityMOM She tends to have a lot of local homes content along with some parenting content too. Check her out also on Twitter @_CityMOM Stephanie Holmes – Sassy Modern Mom as we know her here. Stephanie is a lovely London Mom of two teen girls, who writes a lot of travel content. She was also one of the first London area lifestyle bloggers. She is well connected and has a fun blog with great giveaways too. Her Blog is How To Survive Life in The Suburbs. SHERI McDonald – KIDSUMERS Kidsumers is one that has been live for a long time too. Sheri McDonald is the owner, blogger on this site which has grown wildly since we met years ago. Now she also has a Family Travel site too. St. Mary’s area blogger and Mom of four. She is an honorary member of the London Ontario Lifestyle Bloggers. Shannon Moyer-Szemenyei Sweet Stellas is one that has undergone some changes. When I first started reading Shannon’s story her blog was crafty and also a bit of a personal journal. Now Shannon is a bit of a chameleon and she is very committed to growth and learning. She is a local DOULA who makes me wish that I could have a baby just to use her services. Warning you now she has some incredible resources and stories about becoming a parent, infertility and post part depression too. I love her authenticity. She is a KICKBUTT female and one of my favourite London Ontario Lifestyle Bloggers. Tabitha Pye – Not Quite a Handful Tabitha is a London lifestyle blogger and mother of four. She writes at Not Quite a Handful. She writes a lot of movie reviews right now. Suzanne Toth – Mostly a Mother Mostly a Mother is a new blogger to me. We met just this week and apparently she lives extremely close to me. But I love her Instagram feed. Her style and fashion and parenting blog is lovely. Check it out. Mostly A Mother. I think we will see a lot more of this lady. She has three young children and has a lot of baby information and styles and natural products (she just started a new business selling coconut oil based products like moisturizer.) I am sure there are a few others that are around but I have not met them. Do you know any local London, Ontario Canada bloggers that should be added to this list?

The post London Ontario Lifestyle Bloggers – Local Influencers appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Adaptive Ski Programs for People with Disabilities

Paula — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 06:49:15 +0000

Children with special needs face challenges that other kids don’t. Whether their disability is physical, mental or neurological, children and adults with special needs require extra support with certain activities. Many ski resorts are getting excellent at meeting this need. I have seen some adaptive ski programs at family friendly resorts like Smugglers’ Notch in action. Some are super impressive so I thought I would share a list for families like ours. Adaptive Skiing Shines at These Ski Resorts Children and adults with special needs face barriers too many places still. So when I find a resource with adaptive or inclusive programs sometimes I want to celebrate. Resorts with Adaptive Ski Programs for people with disabilities make my heart happy. Parents of children with unique abilities often feel like their kids are denied experiences that other children have. Finding places with staff that gets it can be a full time job and yet when you find that resort it is invaluable. The following ski resorts are all about family. Resorts with Adaptive Ski Programs for Special Needs Smugglers’ Notch I’ve covered Smugglers’ Notch before, so if you’ve read any of my other posts on ski resorts, you know how I feel about this one. It is absolutely amazing. One of my very favourite parts of this resort is how inclusive it is for children with special needs. The Smugglers’ Notch Adaptive Program is all about providing therapeutic recreation for children of all abilities in a nurturing, supportive environment focusing on fun with what the kids can do and not what they can’t. Because Smuggler’s Notch is both a warm and cold weather resort, the program offers activities which allow kids to socialize in a safe protected way for both warm and cold weather fun. I hope to share more about this program soon because it is truly one of the best I have ever seen. Smuggs is in Vermont and it is easy to access by plane or car. We flew there last January with Porter Airlines from Toronto. Searchmont Resort Searchmont resort in Ontario offers a great program for children with special needs. Their program specializes in helping special needs kids learn how to alpine ski in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment. This program features a variety of equipment types and sizes to meet the needs of almost any disability. They can accommodate and include the visually challenged, hearing impaired, and physically impaired. Their adaptive program focuses on playing to each student’s strengths. Searchmont is in Searchmont, Ontario near Sault Ste. Marie. There are ski and stay packages available here. I have not yet visited this one but was interested to learn they have programs that are appealing to special needs families. Snow Valley The CADS (Canadian Association of Disabled Skiers) program at Snow Valley runs for eight Sundays beginning every January 10th. Snow Valley is in Barrie, Ontario, not too far north of Toronto. There are many accommodations available in the area if you are visiting. The eight week program of lessons is available to children with special needs of all kinds from paraplegia to autism spectrum, CP, polio, MS, Down’s syndrome, and more. All students are screened to determine their individual equipment and instructional needs and then paired with trained volunteer instructors who best match their needs. Adaptive Skiing Helps with Inclusion The adaptive programs offered by these resorts work hard to ensure that all children, youth and adults with special needs can have a good time in an environment that’s both physically and emotionally safe. Some have built extraordinary programs that you simply have to see to believe. As a parent of children who need extra supports I can’t even express how valuable these programs are to me.

The post Adaptive Ski Programs for People with Disabilities appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

How to Enjoy Ontario Beaches When You Totally Dropped the Ball

Paula — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 18:27:26 +0000

Disclosure: This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and Ontario’s Southwest Tourism #BeachInOSW sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors. Ontario’s Southwestern beaches are some of the most beautiful beaches in North America. As a child, we visited the beaches every year. Ontario’s beaches have the most beautiful sunsets, my mom would say, and I played on many of these beaches as a child. At some point as a teen, I began to think she was exaggerating, but now, as an adult I’ve travelled a lot of beaches throughout the continent and I can tell you Ontario’s Southwest beaches are close to home, easy on the budget, and world class. Anyone in Ontario knows, our winters can be truly bone chilling. So when the warm weather hits, we love to flock to parks and beaches. I appreciate that several of our beaches are less than an hour’s drive from our home in London, and many are less than a two hour drive from Toronto. The beaches of southwestern Ontario make summer affordable and memorable. We can easily throw a beach bag in the van and head out spontaneously in the summer. In fact that’s exactly what we did on Victoria Day long weekend. We are committed to seizing every moment of our short summers and shaking them for all they are worth in this area of Canada. I’m especially aware of the fact that summer passes too quickly so it’s important to make the most of our short season. Beaches are a big part of our summer routine, and it’s not just our family that feels that way. In fact, Ontario beaches are so coveted that reservations for Ontario Parks start filling up as early as five months in advance. So what happens if you are a camper, but you let the whole “planning” thing fall through the cracks. Of course, you’re going to have to deal with the wailing and gnashing of teeth of the children and their whining about missing the beach… Or will you? The following list can help save you from cranky, whiny children and a summer devoid of Ontario beaches. How to Enjoy Ontario Beaches When You Totally Dropped the Ball I’ve been there. Things get crazy in the summer. The world zooms by like a speeding train, and before you know it, you’ve lost your booking window. Fear not, overworked parental figure! Below are some great ways to ensure you can still enjoy a getaway complete with Ontario beaches! These alternatives allow you to get to the Ontario beaches you love even if you miss booking well in advance. There are fantastic campgrounds where you can stay nearby the same prized beach camping areas, and every one of these campgrounds have their own private beaches, but even if they don’t, you can get day passes to enjoy access to the nearby provincial park. Easy Alternatives Rock Point Alternative Rock Point is a popular area when the weather gets warm. If you’ve missed the boat, as it were, on that one, consider staying at Knights Beach Resort or Byng Island Conservation Area. Port Burwell Alternative Big Otter Marina & Campground or Sand Hill Park are both excellent alternatives to Port Burwell. Both of them are situated close to the same area, making it easy to enjoy the beaches even if you aren’t staying at the resort proper. Pinery Alternative Great Canadian Hideaway is a perfect substitute if you missed your booking on Pinery. Like the other grounds on this list, it’s nearby and offers easy access to the beach. Rondeau Alternative If Rondeau isn’t an option, you can always head to Clearville Park or C.M. Wilson Conservation Area. Both of these alternatives are beautiful in their own right, offering gorgeous views, beautiful terrain, and, of course, access to Ontario beaches. Turkey Point Alternative If your chances of staying at Turkey Point have taken flight, consider staying at Backus Heritage Conservation Area or Norfolk Conservation Area. Both of these lovely grounds offer the same beautiful terrain as Turkey Point. Ontario Beaches are in Reach Even if You Dropped the Ball Again, no judgement here. I’ve missed my fair share of planning deadlines and the like. Stuff happens, and that’s okay. The choices above will help you salvage summer if you missed your booking window. All of the alternatives above are beautiful, clean, and offer access to gorgeous Ontario beaches. How would you and your family like to have a splashing good time at the beach? Ontario’s Southwest features some of the best beaches in the world and now they want one family to get their beach on in the “Best Beach Adventure” contest. You’ll be able to play all day and night on Lake Huron in this three-day getaway for four, filled with fun-in-the-sun, wakeboarding adventures, and delicious meals. It’s a prize valued at $2,000. Seas the day and enter now. Contest ends September 1st!

The post How to Enjoy Ontario Beaches When You Totally Dropped the Ball appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Road Trip Safety On and Off The Road #travel

Paula — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 14:47:30 +0000

Road trip safety is something that we can all use a refresher course on. It’s so easy to become complacent on the road. Finding a rest stop becomes the paramount objective when exits become sparse, and we tend to forget dangers are literally everywhere. It’s important to remember that road trip safety is as much a part of travel as remembering to be safe abroad. Keys to Road Trip Safety Safety on the road begins with planning, continues with planning, and ends with planning. Seriously, though. Road trip safety requires thought and vigilance, just like any other form of safety or travel. We road trippers too often abandon that because we’re tired and we just need to use a restroom. That’s why I think this refresher course is so important. Car Check I covered this in my last post about general travel safety, but it bears repeating. If you’re about to take a road trip, the car needs to be in good working order. Have a certified mechanic check your car from top to bottom. If you have a mechanic in the family, that works too, and can save you money. But the important thing is to be sure everything works. Headlights, blinkers, fluid levels, brakes, and everything in between should be checked to ensure that they’re all good to go for your extended stay in your car. Buddy System The buddy system isn’t just for theme parks and swimming. It’s a big part of road trip safety. Whether you or a family member is headed into a gas station for snacks or a rest stop bathroom, never go solo. Rest stop bathrooms are perfect places for many more horrors than just a toilet that hasn’t been flushed. Never enter one, or any area for that matter, without a partner. Keep the Cash on the Down Low I covered this in my general safety post as well. Never flash money or credit cards when paying for anything. Be surreptitious about your wallet’s guts when going through it. The less folks know about what’s going on inside your wallet when you’re traveling the better. After all, travelers make excellent targets for crime. People aren’t expecting them to be anywhere for a certain length of time. Less is More When it comes to road trip safety, less conversation is more when you make stops. I know it sounds paranoid, but this can be important. Does that guy at the counter really need to know exactly where you’re going and what car you’re getting there in? No. He doesn’t. And even though the chances that he is some sort of criminal are slim, the chance is still there. Better safe than sorry. If a random stranger thinks you’re rude, so be it. Safety first. Don’t Broadcast Your Trip Last but not least in road trip safety is this: don’t broadcast your trip. There is no need to tell everyone on social media that you’ll be leaving your home all by its lonesome for a solid week. Your friends may not be thieves, but what about their friends or their friends’ friends? Social media is not the place to announce your impeding trip. However if social media is part of your travel arrangement and your trip is sponsored then consider this: you can post to social after you return, or have someone checking your home routinely while you are away. [tweetthis]Road trip safety tips are important to remember before you hit the road #travel [/tweetthis] Road Trip Safety is Easy but Essential Road trip safety is actually really simple to implement, but most of us don’t do it adequately. We get tired. We get a full bladder. We just want the kids to stop fighting. There are tons of distractions on a road trip, and it’s easy to become complacent. That’s when disaster has a chance to happen. Follow the tips above and remain vigilant at all times to ensure that road trip safety is a key part of your next road trip. Don’t forget to check out my other travel posts above.

The post Road Trip Safety On and Off The Road #travel appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Ontario Pioneer Camp Blogger Weekend #PioneerCamp16

Paula — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 14:38:21 +0000

My kids have been campers for years. For the past few years I have heard great things about Ontario Pioneer Camp. But until recently we had no experience with the camp ourselves. That changed last month when we drove to Huntsville in the stunning Muskoka area of Ontario and took part in Ontario Pioneer Camp Blogger’s Weekend. What a fun weekend it was! Camp is a big investment. It’s an investment in your child. It’s also an investment in you as a parent. BUT, before you book any camp you need to know what to expect. Camp is one of those rites of passage that relies on Word of Mom. How do you find a camp that fits your child? You ask your friends and family members and eventually you learn of one that is just perfect. For years I have heard that Ontario Pioneer Camp is one of the best camps in Ontario. Several friends send their kids to OPC. What could be so different about this camp, I wondered? Let’s start with the moment we arrived. We drove in from London on a Friday night and were one of the last families to arrive. A lovely counsellor met us at our van, literally as soon as we opened the doors. We were expected. We were greeted and asked if we needed help with our suitcases or sleeping bags. We were shown to the camper’s quarters in the adventure boy’s camp area. Bunks for the kids and singles for us. There were showers attached to each room and it looked like about 6 kids would fit per room. There were T-shirts, snacks and bottled water in our rooms for each family. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate bottled water when I travel. Then Tangled, all the camp counsellors have quirky nicknames, took us to the building where camp skits are put on. A camp fire was happening after that. [tweetthis]What could be so different about OPC? Here are a few thoughts on that. #pioneercamp16[/tweetthis] The skits were comical and there was some audience participation, then we moved on to camp fire. My kids are city kids and we never do campfires so this is a big treat for them. We made sure to cover our legs and feet and applied bug spray liberally and we followed the path to the fire pit area where we sat, listened, and had some fun. Breakfast started at 7 and our day was going to be packed so straight to bed for my crew and for most of the other families too. Camp is often a big leap for parents and kids. Being able to tour a camp and see what they do and interact with staff makes a gigantic difference as a parent. Booking camps can be a lot harder and a massive leap of faith for anyone with kids who have unique needs. Believe me, I know. It took years to find a camp that suited my youngest daughter, Ainsley. I often write about her unique challenges with sensory processing disorder and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. I remember years of starts and stops with camps. I recall trying a YMCA day camp once when she was four and having to drop it when I realized it was a terrible fit. There were many stabs at day camps. Eventually, we hit something that worked. Now she loves the camps she does. But we typically stick to tried and true, you know, the ones that work. Which is why I was taken aback when she asked to do Ontario Pioneer Camp as soon as our Blogger’s Weekend was over. Ainsley is a super athletic girl. She loves doing anything sporty. So she loved our full agenda on the Saturday that we did camp. We started with a great nutritious breakfast. THIS I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT. We had food – real food. Good food. That made a dramatic impression on me. I did camp when I was a child in Staynor, Guelph and various areas of southern Ontario. I always hated the food I had at camp. I was not a very picky eater. I just didn’t enjoy Franks N Beans and hot dogs and mushy foods. So I was stunned to find bacon and eggs, plenty of fresh salads, and really good food available at Ontario Pioneer Camp. In fact I commented on that and was told that was something camp prided itself on. There are many camp counsellors that are there helping all summer and they need to be kept healthy as well, said the marketing director. I LIKE THAT. A Lot. [tweetthis]OPC Camp had a good menu and a great grip on food allergies as well. #pioneercamp16[/tweetthis] After a hearty breakfast, plenty of water for me and coffee too…we headed out to learn about activities of the morning. The adventure area with Low and High ropes was our starting point. The ropes course has a high and low area and this was a lot of fun. Kids can challenge themselves or warm up on the low ropes. I liked the low ropes course. It’s tucked away in the forest and you only had to peek up when you heard a noise to spy deer hiding behind rocks. My older daughter has anxiety disorder. She has always loved day camps. But overnight camp was more challenging. I’d ask her every year from 6 on if she wanted to do camp and the reply was always: “I’m not ready yet.” As her Mom, I respected that. Then one year she was suddenly ready to do sleepover church camp for one week in July with a classmate. It was just one hour from our home. She loved it and begged to return year after year. When she goes I always make sure someone on staff understands anxiety and also understands medication if she needs any. Going to camp is hard enough when your kids are neuro-typical. But when they have any sort of special needs it becomes an entirely different ball game. As a parent of children with special needs, I need to be able to trust someone else to care for these gals for a week or maybe even two and that is not something that happens often, nor is it something I take lightly. Ontario Pioneer Camp is inclusive and has been inclusive for 35 years now. They have an inclusion director and they have a program and in fact they’ve earned awards for their inclusion program. How does it work? Well…Visit this page for more information. More on that later… The activities staff were awesome and they come from all over the world. I was pretty impressed. Also OPC has an amazing leadership program. Give it some thought if your child is a teen. A new partnership with World Vision Canada is exciting to me as a parent and as a blogger who often writes about my connection to World Vision Canada’s meaningful work. Simply explained to me, many leadership candidates at OPC will show a different range of skills that can be built with an eye towards the future through this new partnership. After lunch we hopped in the war canoe and headed to another part of the expansive 2,500 acres that Ontario Pioneer Camp is on and we navigated and sang some ridiculous camp songs. Eventually we stopped where there’s a lodge. We played a great game of Lodgeball. Dodgeball in the lodge. Parents against kids. Guess who won? Kids of course. The canoe part and Lodge Ball was a lot of fun. My daughter is still talking about that actually. After that we had a beach party. OPC is one of nine Inter-Varsity camps across Canada operating under the names Circle Square and Pioneer. Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship has been providing summer camps and year-round programs for children, youth, young adults, and families since 1929. The kids had a bit of fun soaking the counsellors and cooling off. The weather was scorching. Clearwater Lake is beautiful and big. The girl’s camp area is directly across the lake from the boy’s area. There are shuttles that bring the girls over to do some of the activities on this side of the lake. And somewhere in there during that afternoon we also played a crazy game of flame battlers, a team activity with water balloons and a camp fire that the other team tries to extinguish. Honestly just send your kids to camp so they can see that. It was so much fun! But a little too much fun for a few of the parents who wiped out badly. Boy were we hungry after that busy day. After a great dinner, we heard some more about camp, and their programs. Then later had a cake decorating contest. This was ours. I thought it felt like a cruise ship but the kids were calling it a castle wth a moat and a small tribute to OPC on the top. SO MUCH YUM! What Matters to Me When I Book Camp as a Parent of Kids With Unique Needs: I want to know that the camp offers an inclusive program and that they walk the walk. Too many agencies and camps and schools talk inclusion but don’t practice it. I need to know they can support my child. I need to know they will get her and enjoy spending time with her and try to get to know her. I need to know that this is a camp that understands not all disabilities are visible. I need to know that camp doesn’t cost me twice as much just because my child has special needs. NOBODY can afford that, especially a parent of a child with special needs heading to camp. I need to know where hospitals are. I need to know qualifications of counsellors. Are they extremely young and inexperienced or do they have a great skill set that makes them someone my daughter can look up to? I need to know that there is a nurse and or doctor available if needed. I need to trust them with medications for a week or two and that’s a hard one. I also want to know that camp staff will appreciate and encourage my child to be all that she can be BUT at the same time I want to know they will not be BULLDOZED by my child. She needs routines, limits and she needs to know expectations. I also want to know what is the plan if another camper is behavioural or a bully? (we had that issue one year at a different overnight camp.) Our weekend at Ontario Pioneer Camp gave me insight into all of these important questions. How staff interacts with kids is important to me as a parent booking camp for my kids. Being able to hear their philosophy of inclusion makes a big impact for me as a parent and a blogger. One on one is available if your camper needs it. BUT you have to identify your child’s needs so they receive the support that is available. Medical attention seems readily available and a hospital is not far away (Huntsville) should anyone ever have an emergency. The programs are fantastic and the location in Port Sydney is gorgeous. I am thrilled to be able to offer readers $50 off their camp enrolment costs for the 2016 year. PLEASE USE this code: INKSCRBLR16 at checkout and save! I was a guest of Ontario Pioneer Camp and enjoyed the activities and accommodations there for the weekend with my family. My opinion is all my own and it is 100 % truthful. Our daughter is going to Ontario Pioneer Camp this summer. I am ecstatic that she feels comfortable and supported enough to do this. We, and camp staff, have stacked the deck in favour of her having a successful camp experience. She is registered. Here’s hoping she has a fantastic week! I have a strong feeling she will.

The post Ontario Pioneer Camp Blogger Weekend #PioneerCamp16 appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Surfing School in Stuart, Florida #DiscoverMartin #LOVEFL

Paula — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 14:07:51 +0000

It’s my last day visiting Martin County, Florida. I wake up, throw a swimsuit on and race to the car where Nerissa, tourism manager and host, meets me and drives us both to Stuart Beach. It’s a short drive so there’s no time to stress. Brett from Ohana Surf School meets us on the sunny June morning when I give surfing school a try. One of the things I love most about writing is the sheer ability to learn every single time you write a story or a post. Sometimes that’s a small lesson about a product. Other times it is a big lesson about life and parenting, sparing the environment, or finding new technology that changes your lifestyle. And then there are the epic adventures that come along with travel writing. Taking a turtle nesting walk was one of those big travel experiences. Learning to ski a couple of years ago was a massive travel experience and now so is this. After today, Stuart, Florida will forever be the place where I went to surfing school. My surf instructor. This was amazing. Surfing schools runs all Summer here. Ohana surf school. Loved trying this at Stuart beach More later. #love #Lovefl #travel #familytravel #happy #summer #fun #discovermartin I would return to do more lessons. Tonnes of fun. Kids from age five and up come from all over to try. #healthy living #activity #sports #water #travelblogger #thisis40something A photo posted by Paula Schuck (@inkscrblr) on Jun 10, 2016 at 9:10am PDT This past month I took a trip to Indian River County and Martin County Florida. In Indian River County I tried paddle boarding and kayaking. In Martin County, I am talking swells and popups. Learning the language of surfing. We meet the instructor at the walkway to Stuart Beach. Earlier this week I was here scoping out this pristine little corner of heaven. Stuart Beach was calm then, as it is now, except for a group of children who have traded in school classrooms for the ocean and a surf board. This strip of white, sandy beach is decorated with the most perfect seashells you will ever find, anywhere you travel. A day or two ago I bent to gather some for photos and souvenirs….just a couple of immaculate shells…and one or two tiny ones with a pin prick hole already beneath the lip. I know my teen will make this into jewelry and appreciate it more than anything I could buy. I pocket them, take pictures and then move on throughout the area, exploring for my last two days. I follow the instructor to the beach and he tells me a couple of quick things about what to expect before we wade out. It is gentle here and the waves are not overwhelming. Sometimes paddle boards are used for the surfing school because they work as well as surfboards when you are learning. Ohana surfing school supplies the equipment needed. You bring the bathing suits, lunches, and sunscreen. The only other thing you need is an ability to try, to learn and to have fun. Ohana Surfing School summer camp is about $200 a week and it is recommended for ages five and up. Ohana is not the only surfing school in the county, but it is the one I am talking to today. I think I just stumbled onto a surfing camp in progress. #discovermartin #lovefl #travel #love I’m trying surfing tomorrow. #summer #fun #florida #love #activity #familytravel #happy #healthyliving #trips #travelblogger A photo posted by Paula Schuck (@inkscrblr) on Jun 9, 2016 at 7:16am PDT A few weeks prior to this when I was getting ready to travel and write about Martin County, Florida I was asked would I like to try surfing lessons? YES!! OF COURSE, I said. The I started to think about the idea of surfing lessons and I freaked myself out a bit. Despite having a pool and knowing how to swim, I am not a strong swimmer.. So surfing school? I figured surfing would be a great physical challenge for me. I also figured WHY NOT? In fact, why not is the filter through which I now weigh most of my travel opportunities and adventures. If not now, when and – why not? I was immediately a bit terrified, so of course I said yes. Ohana Surfing School Step 1: Getting on the surfboard in the water, which moves. The waves are not huge but you can see in the photo above that they are there. The water undulates and hits your legs and sometimes almost knocks you over walking so, how on earth? Now imagine that you are putting a surf board down on the water and you need to hop onto it. It took me a few moments to negotiate how to do that one and then I was on the board. Seated. Sep 2: Lay down flat on your stomach. For a person who is still not a massive fan of getting her face wet, that required a small amount of faith and trust. The morning we did our lesson, the campers trickled in. Once they are all present, they have what’s called a family meeting. A pep talk, followed by some of the expectations and newsy announcements of the day. Back on the water, I am resting on this board comfortably. Step 3: Establish dominant foot for stance. Brett asks if I snowboard. I do not. I ski. But skiing doesn’t really help much here, although it has helped my core and leg strength. I stand up, wobbly and we determine which is my dominant foot. He shows me how to space my feet about shoulder width apart, one slightly in front of the other and then he tells me to lay flat again. Step 4: Practice laying on the board and peeling off sort of like cobra pose. I practice this prone on my stomach, to knees, to almost plank position as he holds the board and then up to stand. And again. We do this probably 15 times while he holds the board. That’s the popup. We haven’t even added waves yet. Once I feel confident in the popup without waves, then we wait for the waves in the ocean. This I discovered is something I could do all day. I am resting on my stomach facing the shoreline. Brett holds the end of the board and searches for small waves. It is relaxing, like being on a boat on a sunny day. I could picture falling asleep out here waiting for the waves to come. I can also easily imagine how exhausted the kids are when they leave this camp. For sure my girls would sleep well after this much water activity. When a wave finally comes, he tells me get ready and practice paddling. He gives the board a shove and I paddle my arms as much as possible, before he tells me: Now popup. I wish I could tell you I was a natural. But I was not. I made it to standing eventually that first time about four feet from shore. The movement, and the series of tasks while the board was flying over the waves, was challenging. Then when it stopped, that presented a new issue. How to get off the board? Well I opted for the run and jump off the first time. The second time I flailed and fell in and the third time I just lost my balance and fell off to the side. That final fall was a kicker though as the board hit me gently on the head and went right over top of me. I shoved it out of the way and emerged from the water not so gracefully. Never mind. Grace is overrated. The thing about surfing I think is that it’s a bit like skiing. Practice makes perfect. So, move to a spot where there’s lots of water and great waves and keep trying. Take a lesson or two, go to surfing school and eventually you will improve. Frankly the kids in surfing school summer camp pick it up fast. Brett said even the kids who come to camp indicating they will NEVER try that, typically end up happily chasing waves within a couple of days. The Ohana surfing school summer camp is the coolest summer camp I have ever seen in action. In fact, people fly their families in from out of state so the kids can have a chance to learn this incredibly fun water sport. By the time I am done my lesson, I am mentally adding up the potential costs of getting my kids to Stuart Beach so they could learn to surf with Ohana. The feeling of being able to balance while flying over the water is more than worth the effort involved in learning. I was a guest of Martin County and Indian River County while in Florida and have been working with them to tell these stories. I have received perks, accommodations, tours, flights, meals and other compensation. My opinion is all my own and it is truthful. Many thanks to Nerissa for taking pictures while I tried to surf.

The post Surfing School in Stuart, Florida #DiscoverMartin #LOVEFL appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Sailun Tires Road Trip Stories

Paula — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 12:43:10 +0000

Summer equals road trips. It’s as simple as that. With school over, extracurriculars for the most part on pause, and the luxury of gorgeous summer weather stretched out in front of us, the family van is our ticket to freedom. The Beach? Quebec? Out East? Our West? Where will the road take us this summer? Now that I have the best tires for our vehicle, we are ready to embrace summer road trips. This summer we have numerous road trips planned. There are a couple of big ones, including one to Quebec’s Gatineau area. In fact We’ve already started our road trips. Last weekend we drove to Muskoka area for Bloggers Family Weekend at Ontario Pioneer Camp. That’s a long drive. It’s about 4 1/2 hours one way from where we live. Instead of worrying all the way there, I worked and read and relaxed. My husband did the driving. I might have taken a photo or two. For sure I tweeted and also checked client accounts. What I did not do was stress over every single driver on the road. Indonesia. At the opening ceremonies. #wfct2016 #theatre #arts #summer #fun A photo posted by Paula Schuck (@inkscrblr) on Jun 5, 2016 at 4:16pm PDT A couple of weeks prior to that we were in Stratford for the World Festival of Children’s Theatre, which both of our daughters took part in. Stratford is an hour away from us and because it is such a gorgeous town, filled with creativity we visit most summers. Having a reliable vehicle and good tires means I feel comfortable driving the kid’s friends and cousins in our van if they need or want a ride. Mom’s taxi really is my reality all year round Later this summer we have some longer trips planned. We are driving to Quebec to do some exploring again and to share some of that here. There are several trips to the beach most years. We are cottage loving, beach going swimmers here. I love sharing new destinations with my family, and I enjoy hanging out at familiar beaches too. It’s the best part of the summer months. Thankfully we can enjoy these summer days a bit more because we are prepared. Late this past winter my regular mechanic told me I needed new tires. I waited and did some research before buying and I might have procrastinated a bit. Tires are a big purchase. I wanted to know what is involved when you are buying tires. I needed to know which ones fit. I didn’t want to buy the wrong thing either. After one wintery, slippery, trip up north to a Collingwood ski hill in a snowstorm, my husband declared: I had no idea your tires were this bad. NO more road trips until they are replaced. I did some comparison shopping and research before I made my decision. Tires are a big deal. Your family’s safety literally rides on them. During the summer months, road trips are a big part of the routine around here. I want the best tires for my van so we can rest easy when we are traveling around the province, and up to cottage country and even through Quebec as well. In the spring I decided Sailun Tires were the best tires for the family vehicle. My new Sailun Atrezzo SH402 in size 225/65R16 arrived and I had them put on. I knew Sailun Tires had a great reputation and the price was reasonable. I had no idea they would make a dramatic impact on my driving. My old tires were bald. Can you see the dramatic difference in the tread? That’s amazing. These Sailun tires hug the road. In fact, I drove away from Canadian Tire, where they disposed of my old bare tires and immediately told my husband my brakes were working better. But how? They hadn’t touched the brakes. Well the tires grip the road better and my brakes plus tires help the van stop quickly. EVEN in the rain. There were other things I noticed right away too. I always accepted that my van didn’t stop well in the rain. I thought all vans were like that. Astonishingly they aren’t. I now suspect it was my old tires all along underperforming. Now that I have some of the best tires I’ve ever owned I know what I’ve been missing and I can’t say enough about these award-winning all season Sailun Tires. The Best Tires You Will Ever Own. What I love about my new tires: I can drive wherever I want to and feel safe. They make my vehicle work better. Sailun Atrezzo all-season and Ice Blazer winter lineups earned the PTPA Media™ Seal of Approval for product quality. PTPA’s seal is the most publicized and highly recognized award seals in North America. A performance all-season tire, the SH402 provides exceptional tread life without compromising comfort and ride quality. Excellent handling in all weather conditions. Increased tread life. Triplex Tread Compound delivers high traction and long tread wear. My new Sailun Atrezzo tires help me do one of my favourite things – travel with my family wherever we want to go. Some days that’s a road trip and other days that’s a drive to the airport. Let’s be honest. We’ve got too much going on all summer long to pay much attention to tires or vans. It’s enough to know they are there helping us embrace the 3 F’s of summer: freedom, fun and family. This is the second part of a two part series on buying tires. I received a set of Sailun Tires for consideration in this series. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

The post Sailun Tires Road Trip Stories appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

The Turtle Nesting Walk in Hobe Sound, Florida

Paula — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 14:16:57 +0000

It’s a sunny, humid, June morning. I kickstart my day by exploring Martin County, Florida on my own, at least until an afternoon rainy spell erupts. The highlight of my itinerary today is a turtle nesting walk in Hobe Sound. My ride, Nerissa, from the Martin County Tourism office, picks me up for dinner. I’ve been looking forward to this Turtle Nesting Walk from the moment I landed at Palm Beach International Airport. Hobe Sound, Martin County Florida Turtle Nesting Walk We take a leisurely drive through Jupiter Island, an extremely wealthy area of Martin County where celebrities, an ex-president’s family members, and athletes are known to have palatial homes that are well monitored and hidden behind high walls. It is an immaculate area, manicured and well maintained. We spy a cyclist or two getting some exercise. I can’t help but laugh over a couple of signs at the ends of driveways declaring these otherworldly retreats comical names that don’t match what’s hidden behind the trees and fences. My Shack. Beach Getaway. Summer cottage type names for houses that are mansions. Lining one of these meandering roads on Jupiter Island are Banyan trees that arch over to greet each other in the middle forming a picturesque canopy with a southern feel. They are beautiful but hard to capture in a moving car. We are on our way to Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, where two nights a week trained conservationists run a turtle nesting walk. In Hobe Sound, the nighttime sea turtle nesting walk is done on the public beach Thursday and Friday nights. There are also two other organizations in the area that do similar sea turtle nesting walks: the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Centre and Florida Power and Light. These tours are family friendly and very popular so book one as soon as you get there, or before you leave your home. You can find more details about these at: discovermartin.com [tweetthis]TRAVELER TIP: You should do these walks with conservationists trained to safely do sea turtle walks. #LOVEFL [/tweetthis] In Hobe Sound Turtle Nesting Walk – educational for the entire family We meet our group at 8 p.m. and are told these nights can be quite late. Be prepared to return home around midnight or potentially later. There have been some late nights recently, says the executive director of this non profit organization. Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge also offers day camps throughout the summer for children and the public can explore the trails during the day. There’s a small gift shop inside the main building. A few creatures and fish are inside small aquariums in a clean, well lit, space staffed with volunteers. If you spend much time in the region, you can buy a yearly membership to Hobe Sound and visit at your leisure. We move to a different building for a brief presentation and the executive director gives us a lesson on sea turtles in the Florida area along with some history of the breeds that have been endangered or threatened. Turtles weigh hundreds of pounds depending on what type and how old they are.. The nesting process is perilous and quite an ordeal. When female turtles are ready to nest they travel hundreds of miles, waiting until after dark to drag their huge bodies onto the shore where they dig a two foot deep hole or egg chamber and lay 100 to 150 eggs. They then cover them over, pat the sand down and camouflage their nests, erasing any immediate impressions of where they buried the eggs. Then the female turtles leave. Two months later the eggs hatch and the tiny new sea turtles make their way to the shoreline on their own. Night is the time when most sea turtles do their nesting. That is necessary in order to avoid predators and humans. [tweetthis]Of the 7 types of sea turtles found worldwide 5 can be found nesting on Florida beaches. #discovermartin #LOVEFL[/tweetthis] The five types of sea turtles that are common to these south east Florida beaches are: Loggerhead, Leatherback, Hawksbill, Green and Kemp’s Ridley, which is the smallest of the five. Adult sea turtles travel tens of thousands of miles. Most are migratory and despite having relatively small brains, will return to the precise beach where they were born to lay their eggs when they are old enough to lay. After the presentation ends, we gather near our cars and drive to a pavilion by Jupiter Island Beach where we wait for word from the turtle spotters watching the beach and shoreline for activity. Around 10 pm one of the turtle spotters, a volunteer and conservationist, uses a walkie talkie to indicate she has spied a loggerhead turtle on the beach looking for a nesting spot. About fifteen minutes later she has found the spot she will lay her eggs and started digging a hole. We walk slowly without any lights or phones. Bright lights can cause turtles to become disoriented and drop their eggs or flee to the ocean. Occasionally bright lights left on by homeowners or cottage owners can confuse the turtle’s sense of direction and they can end up on the road. That jeopardizes the species and the entire nesting process. A group of about 30 of us walks by the shoreline so we do not trip over or startle any other sea turtles that might suddenly appear. We range in ages from 5 up to about 75. There are a couple of multi-generational groups traveling together too. The nesting walk is a great activity for grandparents to do with the kids and grandkids. It is educational and affordable. Up ahead there’s a volunteer turtle spotter holding a red flashlight. The red light is allowed on the turtle nesting walk, but it is also not to be aimed anywhere near the turtle’s head. We spy the turtle. She’s a large loggerhead girl with several barnacles on her shell and she’s already laying. At this point she has already dropped about 50 rubbery eggs into the egg chamber in the sand. They drop in twos and threes sometimes and stay put there as she occasionally rests. We learn that when she lifts her back flippers that means eggs will drop again. The turtle spotter tells us that the eggs line her entire body right before she is about to lay them. Some eggs can take great effort to expel if they are up higher in her body. People are reminded to stay back from her head. We stand and crouch along her sides and back watching this incredible process. It is magnificent to watch something so large and prehistoric looking as she nests. Her job is a big one. The many species that lay their eggs here on the beaches off Florida are threatened. Every two weeks of this season the turtles here will lay. Because they are a threatened species these turtles are monitored, and conservationists like these ones report each time they spot a new nest, plus the type and location of the nest. That work will be done in the morning. About 1 in 30 nests are marked. If they marked every nest the beach would be nothing but turtle nest markers with no spots to sit. That’s how many nests there are this time of year. Sea turtle nesting season is March 1 to October 31st on the Atlantic side and May 1st to October 31st on the Gulf Side. This turtle is somewhere between 175 and 350 pounds. She is spectacular. [tweetthis]Never leave holes in sandy Martin County beaches. Sea Turtles can fall in & get hurt. #LOVEFL #discoverMartin[/tweetthis] This particular loggerhead is efficient, at least until we realize she has fallen asleep. The turtle spotter explains that these gals lay all summer every two weeks and she might have already done this several times this summer. The same volunteer gently wakes her back up without touching her. Then the turtle carefully and artfully camouflages her eggs. She spends a good 10 to 15 minutes just doing that, shifting her large shell and body sideways, and forwards and back, dragging herself so that she erases any indication she has been laying eggs here. It’s stunning how much effort she gives the process of hiding that egg chamber from predators. In about two months, these eggs will hatch and the babies will find their way to the ocean. That hatching often happens at night, but it’s possible people could be sitting on their lawn chairs or beach blankets right beside them when they suddenly hatch. Every volunteer has a story about being surprised by sudden sea turtle hatching and some have also seen the occasional turtle nesting in broad daylight. Baby loggerheads live their lives in the ocean and migrate miles and miles around the world. When small, they hang out for a few years in floating seaweed just off shore until old enough to swim in coastal waters. The mother turtles never meet their babies. When the hatchlings are grown up and ready to lay their eggs they will return to this same spot. This area of Martin County Florida has about five of the worlds seven types of sea turtles. About 90 % of them return to nest here. Traveler Tip: Bring Bug spray, wear long pants and long sleeves and bring a poncho if the weather looks like rain. Do not be skimpy with the bug spray. I covered my legs and sprayed a lot of bug spray on and my ankles are still itchy from the bug bites. This sea turtle nesting walk out of Hobe Sound was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had while traveling. I have always wanted to see this process. I once contemplated visiting Mexico to see hatchlings make their way to the sea, but then this trip to Martin County, Florida came about. This turtle nesting walk is an experience I will never forget. I recommend this as a multi-generational and education experience for the entire family. Kids need to be able to be calm during the beach portion of the nesting tour so this might be challenging for some. The night we did this there was a family of children that were captivated and really well behaved watching the process. The youngest looked to be about five. There were teens who needed to be reminded to stay off the beach prior to the walk however. So be sure your kids can handle the lateness, the waiting and the rules involved. My kids are 12 and 14 and they would have LOVED this. I would return another time to take them to see this. Traveler Tip: Do Not Use Flashlights on the beach or Flash photography. The light scares the turtles and sometimes means that the turtle will run back into the ocean or drop the eggs and run off. Also it can cause them to become disoriented. A few of the members of our group disappear right after they snap pictures. The bugs are heavy but we stay because this is a once in a lifetime kind of tour. As we watch the water wash over the massive turtle we start quietly back to our cars walking by the shoreline again. We get about 50 feet down the shoreline when the director warns us to stop. Our eyes are adjusting to the dark and we can just make out the shape of another huge loggerhead turtle creeping slowly out of the ocean and onto the sand. I look around wondering how many more will do this throughout the night. We pause and respect her right of way, making sure we all leap over the tracks or do our best not to trample them. This is a night I will not forget. I am astounded to have seen two of these creatures, known to have lived during the dinosaur age. It is even sweeter to have witnessed this on their terms, in their natural habitat. Sea Turtle Nesting Walk in Hobe Sound: The sea turtle nesting walk in Martin County, Florida is something everyone should experience. These tours are also available in Indian River County near Vero Beach. I was a guest of Martin County and Indian River County while in Florida and have been working with them to tell these stories. I have received perks, accommodations, tours, flights, meals and other compensation. My opinion is all my own and it is truthful.

The post The Turtle Nesting Walk in Hobe Sound, Florida appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Seven Road Trip Necessities This Canada Day #ChurchandDwight

Paula — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 00:11:50 +0000

Road trip season has begun in earnest around here, so I am stocking up on a few road trip necessities. Car and van trips can be equal parts fun and chaos. Stack the deck in favour of fun and be prepared for anything with these popular brands. This past weekend we headed to Muskoka and the Huntsville area for a weekend away at Ontario Pioneer Camp Blogger’s Weekend. We have several more road trips and plane trips in the works this season and I am looking forward to each one. BUT, I am also preparing for each because road trips with kids can sometimes equal chaos and upset stomachs. A couple of years ago we had a road trip that was incredibly unpleasant. One daughter had some sort of upset with her stomach. Not really sure what happened there. But the second we hopped in the van for the drive through Toronto she got car sick. Luckily we eventually met up with a bus full of bloggers and a Mama blogger took one look at my green girl and broke out the children’s chewable Gravol. Gravol is one of our most important summer road trip necessities here. That one trip and endless car sick experience made a Gravol fan out of this Mom. Canada Day kicks cottage season into high gear. That means family gatherings, fireworks and cross-country road trips. There are a lot of things that can leave children feeling sick. Here are my seven road trip necessities (and they are also made in Canada.) Gravol™ Gravol™ is part of our medicine cabinet arsenal. For children who suffer from car sickness (or too many turns on the merry-go-round), this fits the bill: GRAVOL™Kids™ Quick Dissolve Chewables. These great tasting cherry-flavoured tablets offer the best in convenience and portability, eliminating the need to take with water. That makes these ideal for road trips and plane trips too. These are great for treatment of nausea, vomiting and dizziness due to motion sickness. Gravol™ Quick Dissolve Chewables comes in a version for adults too in great-tasting zesty orange-flavour. Prefer organic relief? GRAVOL™ Natural Source™ Ginger Liquid Gel Capsules are a Natural Health Product made with naturally sourced certified organic Ginger (the only medical ingredient) for the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting. GRAVOL™ Natural Source™ Ginger Liquid Gel capsules are taste free, easy to swallow, and non-drowsy. I use these ones myself. I find they are just right for me and they don’t make me drowsy. With a good Canadian Gingerale sometimes that’s all I need to stop churning stomach after food that doesn’t agree with me. Ovol™ – Ovol™ helps to relieve one of the most embarrassing (and painful) stomach problems – gas! Ovol™ Ultra Strength Softgels work quickly to break down trapped gas in the stomach and intestines. It helps gas bubbles fuse together making them easier to get rid of through belching or flatulence. To relieve a baby’s gassy tummy, Ovol™ Drops provide gentle and fast relief of colic, bloating and gas. The pleasant mint-flavoured drops make them easy for parents to administer. If you have a baby you should have some of these on hand. Diovol™ Nothing more predictable for me than heartburn after a big meal. Diovol™ Liquid Plus Mint helps cut the heartburn. Diovol™ Tablets Plus Tropical Fruit work well for those who don’t like the mint taste of Diovol Liquid Plus Mint. Diovol doesn’t stop the body from its naturally producing acid – it reacts to neutralize or buffer excess stomach acid. Road Trip Necessities: Summer Road Trips don’t have to be a pain in the neck. They can be fun for everyone as long as you keep a few road trip necessities on hand for emergencies. What are your tried and true ‘Made in Canada’ products that you rely on in summer? I am part of the Church and Dwight Blog Ambassador team and as such I received compensation and a few other perks. My opinion is all my own and it is also 100% truthful.

The post Seven Road Trip Necessities This Canada Day #ChurchandDwight appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.