Tofino, British Columbia

Tofino, British Columbia
By martin bell - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60549990

A popular resort town in the summer, Tofino is Vancouver Island's favorite outdoorsy retreat. It's not surprising that surf fans, families and nature seeking Vancouverites keep coming: packed with activities and blessed with marvelous local beaches, it sits on Clayoquot Sound, where forested mounds rise from roiling, breathtaking waves

What are 150 of our favourite Canadian things? Read about it here

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Exploring Ontario’s West Coast: Goderich, Ontario

People tend to want to see all that the wide world has to offer. In doing so, however, they can forget about seeing their own country; the surrounding cities, towns and landscapes that make up their own backyard. I live in Ontario, a huge province in Canada that has many different offerings including massive cities, small towns, rugged tundra, vast forests, the Canadian Shield, watersheds and much, much more. I always like to take a bit of time whenever I can to explore all that Ontario has to offer. Each summer, one of my favourite places to visit with a carload of great friends is Goderich, located on Ontario's west coast.

View of the harbour

Located about three hours from Toronto (four hours if there is traffic, which there always seems to be), Goderich is a quaint little town with a lot of history, a booming salt mining industry and a whole lot of beauty. In fact, it was deemed to be one of Canada’s prettiest towns by Queen Elizabeth II which led to the creation of their motto: Canada’s Prettiest Town.

Upon arrival you are greeted into the community with an octagon town square oozing with small town charm.  The courthouse sits proudly in its centre surrounded by local businesses and shops. We recall it looking similar to the 1950’s version of Hill Valley, the town featured in the Back to the Future movies. If you are a fan of architecture and house design, then Goderich will be worth your drive. Every street has incredibly beautiful homes; some of the more prominent ones still featuring original horse rails and ties in front of the properties. There are also a variety of parkettes that feature stories and monuments hearkening back to the town's former life.

Goderich Lighthouse built in 1847

On our last visit, our home for the weekend was located minutes from one of the town's best attractions, the three beaches. Main Beach, St. Christopher’s Beach and Rotary Cove Beach are all in walking distance of each other, but all offer a slightly different experience. Main beach is the closest to the harbour activity, so it is a great spot to chill and watch massive ships load up with salt, tug boats roaming around the waters; or simply catch the waves crashing in. St. Christopher’s beach is definitely the family spot. Playgrounds, pavilions, BBQ pits and more make this area more suitable for families or larger groups. There are also rock piers to sit on and soak up the views. Rotary Cove is the furthest of the three beaches but offers a quieter beach experience; better for smaller groups or couples.

The almighty beach! Just one of the few reasons to visit Goderich

You can explore the town by foot to get some hidden views of Lake Huron and come across some gems like the Goderich Lighthouse. Built in 1847 this lighthouse is not of a typical build. It is short and squared off, but because it is situated on a bluff it does its job just fine. Located by the lighthouse are steps that lead down the bluff to St. Christopher’s beach. Goderich lore says you can watch the sun set twice here; once down at the beach and again after climbing up the stairs to the top of the bluff. I didn’t get to test this claim out, but would gladly go back and try.

Hard to believe this is Ontario! A view of Lake Huron from a park in Goderich

Beauty aside, what is a place without food and drink? The town has your typical fare of McDonalds, Subway, etc., but we have found a few gems along the way. The Park House restaurant is located at the top of the road leading to the beach. Here you will find a killer patio with great views. They serve normal pub fare menu, but also offer fish from the lake.

John in front of one of the beautiful old style homes you can find in Goderich

Preserving history by converting an old rail station into a restaurant is exactly what the Beach Street Station Restaurant did. While offering up a more high-end menu than the other restaurants, it still manages to stay on a budget friendly price point. It also happens to be a focal point of St. Christopher’s Beach and offers great views of the lake.

Situated in the heart of the town square is a little shop called Cravings. Its name is exactly on par with what they offer, the treats you crave. Be sure to stop by and try out one of their 43 ice cream flavours or some homemade treats.

Goderich is just one of many places along Ontario’s west coast that are worthy of a visit, but with its small town charm; beautiful homes and parks; quiet and friendly atmosphere and top notch beaches, you may just want to make it your first.

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Surviving Road Trips: Music

It's summer time which means long drives to the beach, cottage, camping or maybe even cross country! Either way there is always a common factor when driving anywhere with multiple people and that is trying to please each passengers musical taste(s).

Conventional rules say that the front seat passenger is the one who controls the musical flow, but how fair is that when the passenger is the drivers significant other? So to avoid ruining a beautiful drive and possibly some friendships here are some quick tips to please everyone musically.

1. Find a generic station on the radio

Seems easy enough, just work the radio dial and scope out a station that is playing top hits of decades, genres or whatever your group is mostly into. The major drawbacks of this are that stations come and go as you drive, you will need to find a new station once every few hours as you exit cities, towns and cross borders. Oh, and you will have to listen to non-stop commercials! While not ideal, using the radio is still a valid option for some background music.

Sometimes you gotta go old school and just listen to the radio.

2. Share music time

Everyone has music on their devices, why not come up with a schedule so that everyone gets a turn listening to their own? Dedicate an hour or two to each passenger and pony up the auxiliary cord, Bluetooth signal, USB cable, or if you still have it (which is bad ass if you do) the cassette to 3.5mm adapter. The downside here is that you as a single person will have to listen to up to four other passengers musical preferences. And that can go either way depending on your friend’s taste in music. Again this isn’t ideal, but a better option than the radio.

3. Existing Playlists 

As an avid user of Spotify, I have to say that playlists are life savers when you don’t want to over think what to listen to. Simply pick a loose genre (example 80’s-90’s-00’s hits, Nu-Metal, Pop Punk, Country Hits) and search it up on Spotify. Magically, about 30 playlists pop up that you can now enjoy singing all the hits of. This works with many other genres, bands etc and is a pretty good road trip music solution. However you still have to swap playlists to cater to each passengers tastes. But at least it keeps the obscure tracks that no one has heard away. Downsides are streaming services use data, and we all know data is like gold right now! Tip: Consult with your buds beforehand and download a few Spotify playlists for offline play if you are a premium user. 

4. Creating Playlists

You can take this one step further and actually create your own playlist. You can do this on your computer, phone or through apps like Spotify. If you have extended time before your trip you could email all the other passengers and get them to send you the titles of 30 songs they’d love to hear. Compile them all up into a nice playlist, hit shuffle and enjoy musical freedom. This should cover everyone’s tastes and keep the music balanced (unless your shuffle is as stupid as mine and plays the same band 3 times in a row…c’mon shuffle get it together).

Spotify Logo, great streaming service for music.

5. Battle Royale Solution

Lastly you could of course have an epic road trip battle for dominance of the radio. The winner of whatever challenge you create takes full command of the tunes. Last one to need a bathroom break, rock paper scissors, elimination license plate games or pre-drive feats of strength? A true champion of the road deserves the glory of broadcasting the songs of their people, no? This solution isn't for the faint of heart (or ears) but still pretty awesome... if you win.

Regardless of which musical option you choose for your next road trip, just have fun and make the best of whatever may be playing. Remember that the drive and the music is just a means to get to your end destination!

Drive safe folks!

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The 19th Hole: Varadero Golf Club, Cuba

Back in October I was on vacation in Varadero, Cuba (forth time in two years) and on a whim decided to go golfing; and was I ever glad I did. Boasting challenging holes and a beautiful 18^th finish, I had to try out Varadero Golf Club this time around. So off we went early one morning (five of us in total) to the Varadero Golf Club.

Real Man Travels loves to golf!

Today's Fivesome: My friends, Paul, David, Stefano, Mike and myself

The five us on the 18th green

First Impressions:

Pulling up to the golf club, you could see eight foot high chain link fences caging in the maintained palm trees, the rooftops of resorts close by, and of course, an old Spanish colonial clubhouse. As with most things Cuba, the course looked dated. The paths were older concrete and cracked almost everywhere. The clubs to rent were also dated and very hit and miss. But to be honest, it didn’t matter to me, I just shoot for fun. The course looked huge, vibrantly green and well maintained, especially for the hot climate (it was 35 degrees Celcius that day).

One of the holes on the course with a water hazard.

Clubhouse:

This clubhouse was a beauty. Pure old Spanish colonial oozing out of every little detail. Why take the stairs to the rooftop bar when you can take an elevator with iron grates and buttons. It was a bit dicey, but it worked. The rental shop was a closet with shelving and really stood out as an eye sore amongst the beauty of the rest of the clubhouse. The restaurant sits about 40 feet above the beach and looks out to the clear blue ocean, a perfect setting for lunch or dinner.

Panoramic view of 9th hole

Course:

It could’ve been the rental clubs, the 35 degree weather, the eight beers or that that this was actually a hard course to play. Either way, I had an awful showing shooting a 108. I normally shoot in the low to mid 90’s. The course was actually quite challenging. The par fives play very long and some holes require you to be able to drive 225+ yards just to clear the first water hazard. Definitely not beginner friendly. While the course is quite challenging, the views on the 9^th and 18^th holes are to die for. I have never golfed ocean side and now I wish I could all the time! It was absolutely stunning to be on the green looking out at nothing but rich blue water for miles.

18th Hole

Food and Beverage:

I didn't try any food, but definitely had my fair share of beer. Typical offerings of beer here are the Cuban brands Cristal and Bucanero as well as some imports like Corona and Heineken. They also have many liquor and mixed beverage offerings. Lastly, the rooftop bar has a wide variety of cigars for your purchasing pleasure.

View looking down the beach from the clubhouse patio.

View looking down at the beach from the clubhouse patio 2

Value:

Your 18 hole green fee, cart and clubs costs 95CUC, which is approximately $95US dollars. This is pretty steep in terms of Cuba, but when on vacation you can’t complain about spending some money for a good time. You will get a solid four hours out of the day, on a beautiful course that will challenge you, regardless of skill level. And you will have amazing photo opportunities on the 9^th and 18^th hole to get framed up or blast on social media.

Panoramic View of the 18th Hole

Final Thoughts:

The golf club allowed us to play as a fivesome which was a huge game changer. It allowed all of us to be together and share a day of laughs and frustration. The weather was unbelievably hot (35 degrees Celcius + humidity), a temperature I am not used to playing golf in and had me completely drained by the 12^th hole. The course was beautiful, challenging, well maintained and the beer cart guys were always quick to find us. The clubhouse was stunning, with all its Spanish details, and the view from the bar and restaurant were breathtaking. The price seemed a bit high for Cuba, but as stated earlier, for an afternoon out with my friends it was worth every penny. Overall, I give this course a 3.75 out of 5.

Have you ever golfed here? What were your thoughts on it? Let me know either on Twitter, Facebook or in the comment section below. Cheers! 

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6 Things that Make an Exceptional All Inclusive Resort

A post by Scott F

“I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand.

Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand.

Life is good today.”  

- Zac Brown Band, Toes

Well said, Zac Brown Band! 

As Ed stated in a previous post: sometimes you just need to party and relax. For my wife and I, a pair of new parents, working professionals and active volunteers, the statement couldn't have been more true. That's why we picked up a few weeks ago and flew to the Riviera Maya in Mexico to do, well, nothing at all but relax and enjoy.    

While we don’t do the all inclusive thing for every vacation, we do tend to go every couple of years to enjoy a period of relaxation and indulgence. We've come to know what we like in a resort and what we don’t; and yes, we’re a tad on the snobbish side when it comes to this stuff!

Naturally you look for good food, nice surroundings, a well-kept beach and facilities, comfortable rooms, fun activities, name-brand drinks, good entertainment, quality service etc., but the list below features a few special preferences we have that take a resort from great to exceptional, in our eyes. We experienced all these during our most recent stay at the Valentin Imperial Maya, a highly recommended hotel which exemplifies what we look for in an ideal sun holiday.

No reservation à la carte

Dining at diverse restaurants is part of the allure of all inclusive resorts. That said, most resorts require you to make reservations in advance. We've been to resorts that allowed you to reserve three days in advance, and those that require daily reservations. We thoroughly dislike having to take time every day to make our way to the front lobby, stand in line and reserve. At resorts offering no reservation à la carte, such as the Valentin, you just head straight to restaurant. If it’s full, you usually get a beeper to notify you of when there is an open table. This allows you to take a walk, grab a drink or do whatever you like while you wait.

Adequate pool services – chairs and towels

Oh the dreaded towel card. Some resorts require a card to take out a towel which you get back when you return it. Lose your card or towel, and you have to pay for a new one. At one resort we checked out I had a towel taken from a chair while in the pool. Several other guests reported having the same thing happen. I’d rather not stress having this happen and instead search out resorts that offer restriction-free towel exchange. Similarly, finding resorts that have adequate chairs at both the pool and beach is key.

No wrist bands

Resort wrist bands are basically the nicer version of a caste system. “Oh you have a blue wrist band, yeah, sorry you only have access to bottom shelf liquor, certain restaurants and bars, certain areas of the pool/beach...” I don’t mind having certain extravagances available to those who are willing to pay more, but some resorts have restricted so much that it no longer feels truly all inclusive.

Minimal up selling/timeshare pitching

I don’t mind being asked if I’m interested in upgrades or timeshares, but some resorts have come to rely so heavily on the income from these offerings that they inundate guests with pitches. You should, in general, beware of any “30 minute presentations,” “free upgrades” and “free excursions” you are offered, but it’s best to avoid them all together by choosing a resort that keeps them to an absolute minimum.   

No cost perks/extras/bonuses

It’s great to be surprised by something extra. At the Valentin we were continually surprised by little perks. We loved the live music, both daily in the piano bar and the addition of a live cellist one evening. We enjoyed high tea each afternoon complete with quality espresso drinks. Outdoor themed nights which incorporated food and entertainment were a hit with guests. Turn down service with small gifts like gourmet chocolates. Great!

The Mayan-themed night at the Valentin Imperial Maya

What YOU want

Take some time to think about what you would put on a list similar to the one above and search out resorts that meet your needs. Even little things like having canned beer available, drinks served in only non-disposable cups, lots of available of shade, close proximity to the airport (all true of the Valentin, by the way - have we mentioned we love this resort). This is your vacation, so try to mitigate anything that may cause you stress. Take a second to let us know what's on your list in the comments box below.

Many of the items above aren't listed on resort websites. Read reviews on Trip Advisor and use their Question and Answer feature to ask very specific questions and have them answered by the resort and other guests.  

Safe travels!

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Camping with an Infant: Roofed Accommodations at Ontario Parks

My wife and I welcomed our new addition in early January. Our little “child of winter” arrived during one of the most grueling winters on record, which meant a lot of shut-in days in addition to our sleepless nights. As tough as the winter was, those days spent inside allowed us to get to know our little guy very well and adjust comfortably to our new role as parents. That said, when spring did eventually role around our minds quickly turned, as they often do, to travel.

A regular summer for us usually includes three or four camping/canoe trips, either as a couple or with friends, in addition to a variety of cottage excursions and day trips. We enjoy nothing more than spending as much time as possible exploring the outdoors. Naturally, the lingering question for us was: could our outdoor lifestyle continue with a young baby (his name is Wesley, by the way)?

That's him!

That's him again!

Discussions with friends and colleagues painted a grim picture, with even the more outdoorsy types opting to forego travel in their first years as progenitors.

Fellow blogger Mick McNamera from the blog HopGobblin’ expressed his apprehension to a similar trip: “Any kind of outing with an infant is challenging. Being fully aware of the trials and tribulations of even a simple day trip to Toronto Island, we had no intention of camping this summer! However, a good friend of mine was getting married about an hour from North Bay, and he had the bright idea of a camping weekend wedding. Pre-baby me was pumped, post-baby me a little bit wary.”

A couple things were clear; if we were going to attempt an outdoor adventure with our son we would need to consider:

1. Stuff. Anyone with a baby knows they need things… lots of things.
2. Temperature. Very cold or very warm babies are unhappy babies.
3. Distance. One hour away? Sure! Two hours? Okay… Three? Nervous. Four or more? No way.
4. Noise. Baby goes to bed at 7 p.m. while other campers may still be partying.
5. Amenities. Trying to bathe a baby in a group bathroom, ugh.

“Try to keep as much to the routine that you're used to (if you have one!) and the baby will adapt,” explained Mick. “Having said that, enjoy yourself and don't be too anal with it. Bring warm clothes for baby and yourselves just in case, and extra blankets.”

With these in mind, we went hunting for solutions. After a discussion with Ontario Parks, they presented their line of roofed accommodations for our consideration. While we couldn’t consider this “camping,” the accommodations would allow us to experience everything we love about our favourite parks while keeping our little one comfortable, so we jumped at the chance to try one out.

We made our way to Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park just off Hwy 69, 30 minutes north of Parry Sound; a nice little park with a beautiful private beach nestled off Georgian Bay.

We were set up in one of Ontario Parks’ rustic cabins. The two bedroom unit was small but absolutely ideal for our situation. It allowed us and the baby to have separate rooms; provided a fully functional kitchen including fridge and a stove for warming bottles, baby food etc.; and had a private three piece bathroom with shower. The cabin was complete with hot water, a barbeque, one double bed and one set of bunk beds and, to our surprise, air conditioning!

The space inside the cabin was greatly appreciated. We were able to set up a play area for Wes where, for the first time, he actually crawled! He clearly enjoyed the space as much as we did.

Wes slept like a champ in his unfamiliar, but comfortable room. Always a huge plus.

Outside the cabin it felt like a regular campsite. Quiet and tranquil and complete with a fire pit and picnic table, none of the charm of camping was lost.



We spent our first day strolling around the little park and letting Wes play in the sand at the beach (though his version of play meant continually trying to eat the sand). On our second day we made our way up to Grundy Lake Provincial Park, about 30 minutes north of Sturgeon Bay, to do some hiking. One great tip that of which we were unaware, a camping permit at any Ontario Park allows you to access any other provincial park, assuming there are others within driving distance. The hiking at Grundy Lake is excellent and we took the opportunity for more beach time as well.

View from the hiking train at Grundy Lake Provincial Park

After another comfortable night in our cabin we checked out and trekked down Killbear Provincial Park for another hike before heading home. Killbear is one of our absolute favourites; a perfect picture of cottage country and what we describe when telling those from other countries about our province.

Killbear Provincial Park

A quick stop for lunch in the beautiful town of Parry Sound, and our trip was a wrap.

Roofed accommodations at Ontario Parks are an ideal way to experience the outdoors while maintaining the comfort and routine of an infant, and, vis-a-vis, the sanity of parents. Cabins, yurts, cottages, soft-sided shelters and lodges come in various shapes and sizes and with various features; you’ll definitely find something that works for you.

Special thanks to Ontario Parks for hooking us up with the cabin! Check out their Pinterest page for the various options of roofed accommodations available.

As for Mick, who ended up using a trailer for the weekend: “It was an amazing weekend, we stayed three nights and could've stayed a week no problem… we barely missed the comforts of home, but it was certainly more work than usual. Big shout out to the good folks at Fisher's Paradise in Field Ontario for a fantastic weekend, they bent over backwards to make it a camping wedding to remember!"

Watch for part two of my short series on camping with a baby in early October, when we partner with GoRVing to see how using an RV for family travel stacks up. 

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Favourites: The Pinery Provincial Park

A post by Scott F

Summer is almost upon us (just trust me on this); what a perfect time to use up the last drops of those summer memories that have been sustaining us for a long, cold winter before the opportunity presents to refill our reserves. Today's musing are on the Pinery Provincial Park near Grand Bend, Ontario.

The park is of striking contrast to most of what you expect when camping in Ontario. The prescribed thick, maple and pine forests are replaced by one of the world’s rarest ecosystems, an oak savannah. The flat, often soggy and algae covered beaches that stretch only about 50 feet from the shore, often associated with Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe, are replaced with beautiful windblown sand dunes that can tower in excess of 100 feet and stretch up to a kilometer inland. The prairie grasses reaching a meter high that stand in Lake Huron’s strong winds seem backward when compared to the sharp rock outcroppings that dominate the waterways in central and northern Ontario. As rugged and beautiful as much of Ontario is, the Pinery stands as a unique and surprising experience.

The oak savannah ecosystem which covers much of the Pinery’s 6,330 acres is truly astonishing. White and black oak trees dominate much of the park’s sandy soil. This nutrient deficient soil deprives the park of thick underbrush, making the forests sparse and allowing the terrain to be clearly visible. Sadly, the planting of pine trees in the 1960’s along with the suppression of forest fires means that some of the savanna is now overrun by pines. Controlled burns and careful monitoring are now being used to protect the natural balance. The Pinery protects 50 per cent of the remaining oak savanna on the planet!

Hiking the many long and varied trails in the Pinery provides you with an amazing cross section of various environments. The Nippissing trail is nothing short of breathtaking as you carefully climb up steep dunes and well constructed boardwalks eventually leading to a look out with a perfect vista of the entire park. All the trails offer something different. They are usually quite simple and well designed but several offer a better challenge.

The beach area of the Pinery is stunning. 10 km of near perfect sand accepts the often turbulent waves of Lake Huron. There are few better ways to spend a day than splashing around or boogie boarding in the decent sized waves that crash against the beach.

The best campsites in the Pinery are those closest to the water in the Dunes campground. These sunny, sandy sites are certainly not the most private, but being only a dunes-climb (fun in and of itself) away from the surf is amazing. When the waves are strong enough you can hear them turn from your site, perfect white noise for an evening by the fire. Avoid the Riverside campground, as it has even less privacy and none of the charm of Dunes.

The Old Ausable Channel also runs through the campground allowing for calm, picturesque canoe trips. They rent canoes, single and double kayaks, and hydro bikes. The river can be a bit crowded at times so it can be better to bring your own canoe and set off up river.

The store is fully stocked with everything you could possibly have forgotten. There is also a restaurant serving fantastic ice cream.

The Pinery is certainly not for the adventurous back country camper. There is little in the way of “escaping civilization.” But as a destination for visiting with friends and family I can think of few other parks with such a variety of activities; let alone the ability to explore such a unique and beautiful ecosystem. The park is open year-around and offers unique “Yurt” camping in the winter months.

Be sure to visit Grand Bend on your way to the Pinery. A slightly touristy but incredibly fun beach town, Grand Bend has numerous festivals, events and flea markets. It reminds of a cleaner, less busy version of Wasaga Beach (or perhaps Wasaga 10 years ago!).

The Pinery is a perfect place to spend a weekend with friends. The park has a wonderful atmosphere and offers something different than what you would expect from an Ontario campground.

Where are your favourite Ontario outdoor destinations?

This post was modified from an article originally posted on Ontarioisms.Wordpress.com.

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