• harmony of the seas cruise ship docked in port and a family of three in front of the ship. Mom and two younger teens
    Travel

    The Harmony of the Seas – Epic Fun Cruising

    April 5, 2019 - By 

    Updated with more details in April 2019 This year, we took a family cruise on the Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas. The biggest cruise ship on the water at the time. As most cruisers know the biggest is only the biggest for a season, if that. But we didn’t choose The Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas for its size. We bought in this time for the laundry list of amazing activities on board and the ports of call. Cruising with teens needs to be fun, which means you need to opt for a cruise ship with a lot…

  • Travel

    Vermont Family Resorts – All The Pretty Things At Okemo Mountain Ski Resort

    April 2, 2019 - By 

    With bountiful pristine snow-covered deciduous trees, sprawling Green Mountain views, long, wide, memorable alpine trails and a tiny, quirky, local downtown area, Okemo is one of the prettiest of all Vermont Family resorts we have visited yet. Located in Ludlow, Vermont, Okemo rewards visitors for braving the cold and embracing an outdoor lifestyle. A few weeks ago we set off on an epic family road trip. First stop was Okemo Mountain Ski Resort, in South-Central Vermont, where we stayed at Jackson Gore Inn. Vermont is always a spectacular choice for families, hardcore skiers and snowboarders. There are so many great…

  • paula_ainsley_briars
    Travel

    Lake Simcoe Ice Fishing and So Much More – a 2-Day Itinerary

    March 20, 2019 - By 

    From the moment my youngest daughter burst forth into the world she was a flurry of activity. My sporty child, Ainsley, is also the one that made us realize we needed to embrace active living and sports of all kinds. Until she was about 11 months old, I loathed fitness, or sports, and more than anything I despised the cold. Embracing Winter CUT to 14 years later when I am sitting on frozen Lake Simcoe in northern Ontario peering into a hole, trading jokes, and warming my hands over an open flame while ice fishing. Okay, so it might not…

  • flight_wreckers_text_over_mountains
    Travel

    Flight Wreckers – 7 Things Guarantee a Bad Flight Experience

    February 26, 2019 - By 

    A bad flight experience is something everyone wants to avoid. And yet, we’ve all been there. Let’s face it we are all familiar with endless flight delays, overbooking, long lineups, turbulence, cranky fliers arguing over checked luggage and people who forgot, or lost, their documents. And don’t forget the person who actually boarded the wrong flight. WHO is that guy and why is he always on my plane? I could go on, but I won’t. You get the idea. With all the requirements for security checks, carry-ons, and more, you need to have your ducks in a row when you’re…

  • family_travel_memories
    Giveaways - Travel

    Making Family Memories Through Travel

    February 10, 2019 - By 

    “The days are long, but the years are short,” That quote by Gretchen Rubin haunts me as a parent. You have no idea how relevant that is until you become a parent and you are staring at a sick infant or a pile of laundry through zombie Mom eyes one moment, followed by the realization that your baby is now graduating from high school but a beat later. Time defies all logic when you are a parent. This is a little piece of why I travel with my family. Making family memories is something that’s especially important these days. I…

  • travel_quotes
    Travel

    31 Travel Quotes to Inspire You This Year

    January 30, 2019 - By 

    There are so many remarkable things left to see. Some days, and years, I am not sure I am even making the slightest dent in my lengthy travel bucket list. Days like that I think why do I keep a bucket list at all? Why not just go with the flow, pick a spot on the map and have a spontaneous adventure? I am wholly content just to travel wherever my next trip takes me with no set list, schedule, itinerary, or intention. Right now I have no idea where that will be, but I am guessing it’s a ski…

  • florida rental by owner
    Travel

    Florida Rental By Owners – A Better Vacation Experience

    January 8, 2019 - By 

    This post is sponsored, which means I received compensation.  This time of year I start dreaming up all sorts of ways to get away and travel. Might not be any big shock to all of you that my wanderlust is strong. Like a lot of Canadians, I enjoy planning trips to southern states and Florida is always near the top of that list. Whether you drive or fly it’s typically good value for your family vacation dollar. For a couple of years now I have been plotting a trip to the Keys. It’s never quite worked out, except for the…

  • top_5_travel_posts_2018
    Travel

    My Top 5 Travel Posts of the Year

    December 31, 2018 - By 

    Looking back at my travel stories 2018 helps me with inspiration. I hope it has the same effect on you. Travel Resolutions this time of year are strong with my network of family members and friends. There’s something about that blank slate again. Time to unleash those travel dreams and let them breathe a bit, so they take shape and become travel realities too. This is exactly what I’ve been thinking about this year and I have several ideas rattling around in my head and on my list. Where will I go? What will we do as a family, and…

  • holiday_light_show
    Travel

    Captivated at the Blue Mountain Holiday Light Show

    December 4, 2018 - By 

    Update – Blumination Dream Trail won the Ontario Tourism Event of the Year on October 31st, 2019.  Give me all your jewels and I’ll wear them as rings on my fingers like the winter sky wears its stars. Blue Mountain Resort Collingwood rises up as you greet that final stretch of road driving towards the Niagara Escarpment and this winter sports playground. In summer it is lush with greens and blues that draw you outdoors to hike, climb or simply kick back in the village with a glass of cider or craft beer. But winter is still the best reason…

  • save on skiing
    Travel

    How to Save on Skiing with These Frugal Tips

    October 30, 2018 - By 

    Save on skiing with these frugal ski tips. You might think it’s impossible to hit the slopes of your favourite ski resort on the cheap, but it’s totally doable. In fact, with a bit of planning and budgeting it’s possible to ski your favourite resort and save money. We all know that no trip to a ski resort is cheap, but with these tips, you can save on skiing, allowing you to focus on fun and fitness instead of worrying about your bank account. Save on Skiing – The Little Things Add Up Ski trips are one of my favourite…