I was about to take on the "Canadian Everglades" by pedal power!Almost one year ago, I summoned all of my courage and took the plunge into the wild and untamed world of kayaking on a small lake that was as smooth as glass. Battling such elements as, um, the theoretical threat of a rogue loon, I heroically pushed past my fear to conquer the world of water activities for the hammock-inclined. And my performance was so stellar that I even said I wouldn't refuse to try kayaking again. But little did I realize the kind of kayaking that exists in Norfolk County.
Updated in 2022! There's a lot of old stories in the Old Port. Are you ready to go ghost hunting in Montreal? A night out on the town is always a treat when I'm in Montreal, but when faced with a solo visit I had to admit I was a bit stumped on what I should do to pass the time. I decided to bring one of my favourite autumn activities into summer and go ghost hunting in Montreal with Fantomes Montreal.
Our tour guide, Madeline, was certainly in a festive, "spirited" mood. Dressed up in period costume, she brought centuries old decedents back to life with her animated storytelling. Our evening began outside the Museum of Archaeology, on the exact site of where the city of Montreal was founded over 350 years ago. As you can imagine, with so many centuries of history, Montreal has racked up quite a few murders and mishaps and Madeline was keen to share many gruesome details of torture and torment in New France. I wasn't born to snowshoe... Turns out, I LOVE snowshoeing in Ontario!Of all the words used to describe me, “keen outdoorswoman” is rarely employed. While I greatly appreciate nature, it is often in a relatively controlled and hygienic fashion. A stroll through a botanical garden, a gentle nature walk in a National Park, occasional car camping trips punctuated with wheels of Brie and flagons of wine. So when the idea of snow shoeing in the Ontario Highlands was proposed to me, the very idea seemed so athletic, so intrepid, so…. snow-y that my anti-adventurist nerves were tingling. And not in a good way.
The BEST Travel Experience of My Life - My Ultimate Anti-Adventure with Balloons Over Bagan.16/1/2014
There's nothing like seeing the sunrise over the ancient temples of Bagan in a hot air balloon.
I try to never lose track of how fortunate I am to travel and I always remind myself how lucky I am that my work as a travel writer introduces me to extraordinary locations, experiences, and people. Never has this been more in focus than during my hot air balloon ride over the spectacular ancient temples of Bagan, Myanmar. Without a doubt it stands alone as the most incredible, breathtaking travel experience of my life and I'm so happy to share my memories with you here.
Am I ready to tackle wild water sports?
It’s been 30 years since my first swimming lesson, and as I rose through the ranks of lessons, swim team, and lifeguard training, there was no place I loved so much as being in the water. I was so comfortable, in fact, that I never felt the least bit of desire to participate in any kind of watersport. Water polo, water skiing, canoeing – just the thought of it pushed my anti-adventure envelope too far.
Subsequently, it came as a bit of a surprise to hear myself agreeing to go kayaking in the middle of a camping trip to Algonquin Park. Influenced no doubt by the legendary images of paddling on the park’s famous lakes, I felt the pressure of history upon my shoulders, not wanting to miss out on a great Canadian tradition. Tales from the Anti-Adventurist: Vanessa Takes on the World’s Tallest Inclined Tower (and wins!)11/10/2013
The Montreal Tower Observatory is a world record holder...Move over, Leaning Tower of Pisa. Step aside, Towers of Bologna. I tackled the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the tallest inclined tower – and I won!
At 165 meters high, and angled at 45 degrees, the Montreal Tower Observatory is indeed a world record holder, and by quite a bit. Its more famous cousin, in Pisa, is only a paltry 3.99 degrees. Designed as part of the 1967 Olympic Park, the Tower is now at the center of a large recreation and tourism complex whose neighbours include the Montreal Botanical Gardens, the Insectarium, the Biodome, and the Plantarium. Grand Canyon planning starts with the basics. Here's what you need to know to visit this iconic park (no matter if your travel styles are wild and a bit wimpy like me!)Few locations capture the beauty, mystery, and romance of the American Southwest like the Grand Canyon. This extraordinary natural wonder captivates thousands of people each year and for good reason – it really is stunning! While extraordinary adventures are everywhere to be found, the Grand Canyon is still a wonderful destination for anti-adventurists like me! You could spend days admiring the scenic vistas, honing your photography skills, and enjoying informative presentations from the renowned park rangers. But Grand Canyon planning starts with the basics. Here's what you need to know to organize your trip.
I'm not exactly a brave person. Can I handle the rides at Canada's Wonderland? Read on to find out! (Updated 2022). What was I doing at an Amusement Park?Legendary motion-sickness, a well-deserved reputation as a chicken – what on earth was I doing at a theme park? And how is it possible that I enjoyed it? This summer, I was part of a TBEX press trip with Central Counties Tourism that included a stop at Canada’s Wonderland, one of the premier amusement parks in North America. They boast incredible roller coasters and amazing rides – none of which I had the least intention of going on. I’ve neither the stomach nor the nerves for such wild times – but I still had a ton of fun! Read on to find out what I loved.
Updated in 2021! Riding a Segway should be easy, right? This is what it was like to try riding one for the first time during a Toronto Segway Tour. For a girl best known for her love of thrill-seeking, extreme adventure activities such as… book club – or art tours – or writing in a café… it’s hard to find an activity wild enough to really get Vanessa’s adrenalin pumping! Who am I kidding – the readers of Turnipseed Travel know me better than that! It’s time to take a (tentative) walk on the wild side – with Segway! Here's what it was like taking a Toronto Segway Tour in the city's Distillery District with Go Tours.
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