Category - Travel

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Cross-Eyed Cats and Smelly Schnauzers
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Disney Planning for Newbies
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Making Disney With Your Child With Special Needs Even More Special
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Muskoka Woods
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Trippin’

Cross-Eyed Cats and Smelly Schnauzers

If you think staying in a B&B seems slightly odd, you’re right. But always up for an adventure, my husband and I stayed at a B&B in Muskoka a few times. We loved the quaint setting and got to know the owners a little. How can you not? You’re sleeping down the hall from them and sharing their bathroom.   Our first time at “Top House” was memorable. We got engaged that weekend. On one knee in the forest, outside the little cedar church where we would get married, my husband proposed.    We spent the weekend poking around little shops, lounging on a patio over looking Lake Rosseau, exploring nature and enjoy hikes in the woods. One afternoon as we returned to the house after a long hike — punctuated by several periods of hot and heavy, er, nature appreciation — we were greeted by the owners. As one of them commented on our flushed and healthy complexions, their dog bolted toward us from the living room. He made a beeline for my husband, jumped up and started enthusiastically sniffing and licking him. My husband mumbled an explanation which to this day makes me laugh out loud EVERY time[…]

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Disney Planning for Newbies

    Our family just went to Disney World for the first time and it was spectacular. Here are a few planning tips and suggestions that helped make our Disney vacation a trip of a lifetime.   The Disney website is a great place to start. The site has lots of great info like where to stay, attractions, where to eat, park pass options, a Planning Centre, etc. There’s a lot to consider and it can feel overwhelming but don’t panic! Here’s the process broken down for you.   1. Pick your dates: Based on your availability, seat sales (flights) and possibly free dining. We bumped our trip back a few days in order to take advantage of free dining when it was offered. You can read about that option here. Essentially, your dining plan is included if you stay on site and also buy a minimum of a 2-day park pass during “Free Dining” periods.   2. Decide where to stay: If you decide to stay on site you can opt into the meal plan (paid or free depending when you go), your transportation to Downtown Disney and to all of the parks is included as well. The shuttle buses come every few minutes all day/night long and you can[…]

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Making Disney With Your Child With Special Needs Even More Special

   When you wish upon a star, sometimes your wish really does come true and you end up sitting beside a princess in the Orlando airport. When we arrived in Florida and boarded the Magical Express to our hotel, it started–the happy tears. Each seat on the bus had its own T.V. playing images of Disney. I challenge even the coldest heart not to melt during a “Let the memories begin” video. Seriously.   So while her sappy mum indulged in a misty moment, a little girl looked out the window pointing and laughing, bouncing up and down unable to contain her excitement. “I so happy!” she shouted. The lady in front of me turned and smiled warmly saying, “How sweet. She’s so excited.” Then my daughter added, “I on a bus!!!” Sigh. Perhaps we could have just stayed home and ridden around town on the city bus a few times? But then we would have missed the magical moments that followed over the next few days. Avery soon realized that though the bus ride was fun, riding the Tower of Terror, going on safari, and meeting Mickey Mouse IRL were more fun than any bus. Even a double decker. My husband[…]

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Muskoka Woods

  Camp songs and campfires, silly skits and the Tuck Shop. I remember camp fondly and know this is something I want to share with my son. Eventually. The issue is, I’m somewhat over-productive. Fine, just put an “s” in front of mother and that’s me. The thought of sending my baby off into the wild without his mama to check on his well-being every fifteen minutes? The horror. When the two of us were invited to visit Muskoka Woods on a media tour, I was disappointed that we wouldn’t be able to go. It would’ve been the perfect opportunity to let my son get all campy WHILE keeping my eye on him. But, his birthday party was scheduled for the same weekend. Details had been arranged, RSVPs had been returned. Our S’more making hands were tied. A friend suggested that I at least give him the option. So I told my son we could either keep the party plans as is or reschedule and go to camp. Upon hearing the camp itinerary he said,  “We get to go on a bus?! Is it the kind with a bathroom on it??” Oh dear. I had him at bus. The kid[…]

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Trippin’

  I love everything about traveling; the logistics and planning ahead, stumbling upon something new and unexpected, exploring the unknown. I used to travel a lot in my single days. It was carefree and liberating. Those days seem to be over now. At least until our children are older. Taking a trip with kids is a lot different than traveling solo. There’s a whole new set of concerns and elements to consider. As we drove along the highway this summer on our family vacation, I had time to reflect (thank god for dvd players and stacks of Disney movies) about my favourite trip of all. It was an experience that both terrified and thrilled me. It was one of those soul changing, life shaping adventures that you never forget. This post is more of a personal scrapbook page than an actual blog entry, so please excuse the indulgence. I wanted to preserve some of my favourite pictures online…just in case. As I was looking through my old travel albums, I came across a poem I wrote. It’s corny and an amateur effort, but it makes me smile. Here it is….with pictures. Oh What A Long Strange Trip It’s Been ~[…]

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