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    Travel

    Essential Guide to Camping Food Safety from Animals

    March 31, 2021 - By 

    How do you keep animals away from food while camping? Let’s face it – having your food decimated by critters when you camp is no fun. It’s not something you want to have to deal with when you are out with your family having a fun time exploring nature. Animals are just as interested in getting an easy meal as you or I. When camping, it can be a challenge to prevent the critters from helping themselves to our dinner. If you are basecamping, metal containers may be provided, or your car is a relatively safe cache. But what should…

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    Aboard a Shrimp Boat in Coastal Mississippi – All About Shrimping

    January 12, 2021 - By 

    I am feeling completely Forrest Gump as we board a shrimp boat on a sparkling sunny day in Romantic Coastal Mississippi. “There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That — that’s about it,” Bubba (Forrest Gump) We were guests of Visit Coastal Mississippi on a media trip while in the state and received food, accommodations and excursions in exchange for story consideration here. Fresh Seafood Shrimp is my favourite fruit of the sea. There’s nothing quite like fresh seafood and the Gulf Coast has some…

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    Travel

    New Orleans Beignets Three Different Ways

    December 7, 2020 - By 

    New Orleans beignets are legendary. They are synonymous with the destination and just one of those things you need to sample when in NOLA. The city of New Orleans is known for its spirited nightlife, raucous bachelorette parties, and an abundance of internationally inspired foods. Perhaps nothing is more synonymous with NOLA though than beignets. Everyone makes them and has their own slightly unique take on the fluffy doughy sweets. New Orleans Beignets Recently, I went in search of New Orleans best beignets and what I found might surprise you. So, what’s all the fuss? And more importantly, what are…

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    Travel

    Iconic Things to See and Do in Southwestern Ontario

    September 22, 2020 - By 

    Not surprisingly, this entire year we have spent more time close to home in Southwestern Ontario. Small adventures in a controlled manner close to home are the name of the game. On a recent day off, my daughter Payton and I drove to Port Stanley after visiting a park in Aylmer. That got us talking about what the iconic tourist attractions are in each city nearby us in Southwestern Ontario. Why Southwestern Ontario? Southwestern Ontario is where I have lived my entire life to date. While I have considered moving to B.C. or the USA, I am so glad we…

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    Travel

    Tent Camping – Sometimes All You Need is a Tent and a Campfire

    September 1, 2020 - By 

    Sometimes all you need is a tent and a campfire. And maybe throw in a bag of marshmallows to boot. We just returned from a weekend in Port Burwell Provincial Park on what was our first ever tent camping trip. I mean if ever there was a year for embracing tent camping, this was the one. Sleeping in a Tent? So, big deal, you might be thinking. Many people the world over go tent camping all the time. But, for us, it is a big deal. I am over 50 and have managed to succeed traveling many different ways. Budget…

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    Do the Brews Cruise – Three Creative Durham Region Breweries

    August 25, 2020 - By 

    In early 2020, I visited Durham Region as a guest. We stayed at The Hive and did the Durham Region Brews Cruise, sampling beers at three stellar Durham Region Breweries. This is all about that stay. Reminder – please drink responsibly. I am not the world’s biggest beer connoisseur by any stretch. In fact, pretty sure my shoulders will never support that title. But, I know what I like and I love adventuresome and creative breweries. Beers that make use of fruit, coffee, earthy flavours of nuts, rich kicks of coffee and sweet notes of peanut butter, rock my tastebuds.…

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    Top Ice Cream Shops to Visit in Southwestern Ontario Right Now!

    August 16, 2020 - By 

    I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream shops. Well, you will ALL be screaming for ice cream and a trip through southwestern Ontario once you read about the delicious ice cream shops we have discovered here while day tripping safely during the Pandemic. Celebrating Ice Cream Parlours Is there anything that goes together better than summer and ice cream? Maybe, peanut butter and jelly might rival that partnership but summer was made for ice cream. Also, nobody screams for peanut butter and jelly, well nobody over the age of 5. This month, I wanted to share the…

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    Travel

    Top Rainy Day Cottage Activities: What to do When Weather is Poor

    August 6, 2020 - By 

    Almost every year of my life I’ve spent at least a week at the cottage. Typically, we visit in the summer, and sometimes in the fall too. It’s a Canadian tradition. Camping and cottages and long summer nights and wildlife.  Bad weather can also be a Canadian tradition. Don’t let your cottage vacation be a rainy disappointment. Plan ahead for some Rainy Day Cottage Activities and keep everyone happy for the week, or weeks ahead. This Rainy Day Cottage Activities Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive s all commission on qualifying purchases. There’s no…

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    Our Six Favourite Trips for Teens and Families

    July 21, 2020 - By 

    This trips for teens post was written by my daughter, Ainsley, 16. Together, we visited many of these destinations while on hosted media trips. Post contains affiliate links to tours and destinations we recommend.   Over the past few months, during the pandemic, I can’t help but dwell upon how much I enjoy travelling. Travelling is one of my favourite things to do, and I know not every individual my age gets that opportunity. I know that I am lucky, because my mom’s job is one of the coolest jobs around. My mom is a travel writer, so her life…

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    Healthy Satisfying Train Ride or Road Trip Snacks

    July 6, 2020 - By 

    When taking long trips, either by road or by train, it can be challenging to keep everyone nourished and rested. Most forms of public transportation, including trains, offer high calorie, heavily processed foods. And as for road trip snacks, even when you take a long ride by car together, you need to plan your stops and road trip snacks or you end up eating poorly and wasting a lot of money. Why Do Healthy Road Trip Snacks Matter? Without a stable arsenal of healthy and hearty options, your family can quickly find themselves tired, hungry, stressed, and lacking money. We…