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20 Cozy Things To Do in Charlottetown PEI

4/4/2022

 

These are my favourite cozy micro-adventures and things to do in Charlottetown, PEI's capital city and all round amazing travel destination. 

This post contains affiliate ads and links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase. Note that my most recent trip to Charlottetown was part a press trip. 

Things to do in Charlottetown Harbour front marina shops and buildings and dusk
One of the nicest things to do in Charlottetown is to spend a quiet evening strolling by the seashore. Image from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licensing.
As Canada's smallest provincial capital city, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, is just made for cozy adventures. But it's not just the size of this 40,000 strong city that makes it so snug and inviting. Charlottetown's pretty seaside location, impressive architectural history, and prominent place in Canada's political, cultural, and social fabric make for an irresistible combination for visitors. This is where you want to be if you'd like to celebrate the meetings which led to Canada's confederation in 1867, to honour the artistic legacy of Anne of Green Gables author L.M. Montgomery, or simply feast on homemade ice cream, rich lobster rolls, and damn fine coffee. With no shortage of things to do in Charlottetown, I've focused on the coziest experiences I've enjoyed in more than 30 years of visits and I have a feeling you'll love them just as much as I have.

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Our Ten Most Memorable Travel Moments After Ten Years Of Blogging

23/3/2022

 

From boats to balloons, Hawaii to hotels, these are ten of our most memorable travel experiences in ten years of blogging.

​​This post contains affiliate ads and links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase

Ryan and Vanessa take a selfie while camping in Botswana
"But really... what's your favourite place?" "So where should I go next year?" "Well there must be some place you didn't like."

​After ten years of blogging, I hear questions like this all the time. Alas, dear reader, I am horrible with these queries. If you need someone to weigh in on finding pizza in Bruges or the quality of food tours in Quebec City, I am your girl. But sweeping generalizations are not my strong point. I can tell you about some destinations I didn't like - but I'd also have to get into how I slept funny the night before and skipped breakfast and honestly, that's probably what made me dislike Istanbul on my first visit (for the record, I love it now). The reverse also holds true. I'm convinced that an unexpectedly stellar hotel and accompanying breakfast factor into my long standing enthusiasm for Athens as the spot everyone should visit next.

That leaves the biggest question of all, my favourite place. People seem to think it's a bit of a cop out if I try to explain about how sometimes the most memorable trips aren't the most fun in the moment, or that the things that made me love a trip had less to do with the particular destination and more with other factors in my life. So sometimes I just name Hawaii as my favourite destination but this is what feels like the real cop out to me. Like, a decade spent travelling and writing about the world and my best answer is the one place that has long been established as the most desirable destination? Surely I can do better than that?

And that is exactly what I'm going to attempt here. These are ten of my most memorable travel experiences and destinations after ten years of blogging. I'm not going to go so far as to rank them or even say that they're my definitive top ten travel moments. These are simply the stories that flood my heart with happy remembrances and what they all have in common is that I invariably thought at some point that I truly have the best job in the world. And I do!

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Tales From The Anti-Adventurist: Vanessa Flies With Santa Claus

13/12/2021

 

I thought I was ready to fly with Santa Claus - but was I? The plane was small - and the naughty list loomed large! 

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission. This was a no-cost press activity and we thank Ottawa Tourism for their support.

Vanessa sits in the aircraft behind Santa in the front seat
Preparing to fly with Santa, I had a bit of anticipation
Every writer dreams of an exclusive celebrity scoop and I got one to top them all: Santa Claus! Not only did the head elf himself give me the inside scoop on what he loves about Ottawa but I also got to spend some time with him in his very own plane. That's right - Santa doesn't just fly a sleigh but he also offers 15 minute aerial tours of downtown Ottawa in a vintage Cessna 172 in conjunction with Ottawa Aviation Adventures as part of a program in support of the Ottawa Food Bank.

There was just one tiny complication. The plane is tiny. Santa is all-knowing. And I'm a big ol' scarde-y cat. An Anti-Adventurist, if you will. Would my notorious stomach hold up in a vintage aircraft? Would my nerve hold up if Santa started grilling me about whether I was naughty or nice?

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Holiday Treats And Gifts For Your Pet Sitter

26/11/2021

 

Fun, easy, festive gifts for your pet sitter (and anyone else who deserves a little treat this holiday season).

This post may contained affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, this blog may receive a small commission. This post also contains a sponsored link from one of our partners and we thank them for their support.​

Ollie lounges on the living room floor with plants and a table in the backgroundPicture
Like many pets, Ollie is part adventurer, part home body.
People ask me all the time what’s the hardest part about planning my trips. They probably expect me to say that it’s arranging the visas or searching for cheap flights or maybe even just deciding where to go. But my surprising answer is always the same. My biggest challenge is Ollie!

Ollie is my beloved dog and he often does accompany me on road trips but for most of my travels, figuring out his care is a bit of an adventure. He can’t exactly come along when I’m on safari in Botswana or even when I’m at a conference in New York City. I want Ollie to be happy and relaxed when I’m gone and I want his pet sitters to feel the exact same way. I do everything I can to make sure their job goes smoothly. I set up meet and greets, I leave long lists of emergency information, and I make sure the house is well stocked with everything Ollie needs. And I go the extra mile over the holiday season. You can bet the cupboard is filled with ALL of Oliver’s favourite treats. And you’ll probably find a few gifts from Santa-Paws in there as well. But what about the sitters themselves? What do they need to feel comfy and cozy in my home? And how can I make sure their holidays are special too?

The pet sitter – pet parent relationship is one of immense trust. Nomodor understands how important this is. Their process ensures that you feel comfortable and trusting with who is in your home and the site has built a reputation on providing reliable and trustworthy pet sitters for those that need one.

Afterall,  you are counting on your sitter to take care of someone you deeply love, while they are counting on you to provide a safe, warm, welcoming work environment. You’ll talk about things you might not share with anyone else. But other things are more opaque. You probably know their professional qualifications much more than you actually know them. They’re staying in your home and caring for your beloved pet – but you don’t even know their favourite colour!

No wonder it’s so hard to find the perfect gift for your pet sitter. It’s a quandary! You want something professional but not formal, personal but not presumptive. Most of all, you want something that shows how much you value their work and the relationship they have with your pet. Here are some ideas to help you find that perfect present.​

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Cozy Ottawa Bakeries Everyone Should Visit

26/9/2021

 

Ottawa bakeries showcase a delicious side of the city! These are some of my favorites.

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission. Some of my 2021 bakery visits were sponsored in conjunction with the Ottawa Tourism #Invite2Campaign.

Ottawa bakeries: Vanessa sits in the car wearing a purple sweater, holding a box of colorful donutsPicture
Exploring Ottawa bakeries sometimes means coming home with an amazing box of homemade doughnuts!
I know bakeries. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's tracking down baked goods. And eating them. I am VERY GOOD at eating baked goods.

It's not just the obvious deliciousness I enjoy. Bakeries are a fun, accessible, affordable way to explore a destination. I have vivid memories of my very first backpacking trip in Europe, way back when before the common Euro currency was in play. I was determined to use up all my coins before I crossed borders (rendering them all but useless). As such, I soon became very adapt at buying the exact thing at a bakery that corresponded with the precise amount of coins left in my pocket. I still remember a train station apple pastry procured in France moments before I hoped on a train to Italy! The sweet filling was almost as satisfing as the knowledge that I had used every spare cent.

It's this kind of deep seated bakery love that had me jumping at the chance to investigate Ottawa bakeries. I know first hand that my local favourites make treats every bit as delicious as those fancy French spots that had me carefully counting my pennies all those years ago and I am eager to spread the word about just how much creative baking talent is right here in our hometown. Some of these destinations are long-loved special spots that I can't believe more people haven't heard about yet, while others are new to me, discovered this year as part of the #Invite2 campaign. And some, I must confess, aren't strictly bakeries per se but more like cafes that specialize in their own baked goods. What can I say? The heart wants what it wants. And so does my stomach! I'm sure you will love these sweet destinations as much as I do.

PS: Of course, this is but a tiny sampling of the bakeries the city has to offer, focusing on the places I know well. I hope this is a list that will only grow over time!


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A Day In Paris: What To Do On A Paris Layover of 3 Hours Or More

22/8/2021

 

Updated in 2022! Who says a day in Paris isn't enough time to see the sights? Whether your Paris layover is 3 hours or more, you can still have an incredible trip to the City of Lights.

​This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

A day in Paris: Details of the exterior walls of the Louvre
A day in Paris should always include a glimpse of the architectural details of the Louvre.
Paris, more than any other city, is a destination meant to be savored. This is a haven for the lazy and the lackadasicle, a place where sitting and doing nothing isn't just encouraged but revered as an art form. As such, when I had the opportunity to plan a day in Paris - and just one day - for travelling friends, I was initially stumped. But then I remembered how much readers love my piece on seeing London in just three hours (yes, THREE) and how my last trip to Paris was indeed so short that I actually made notes for a future three hour Paris layover guide - and naturally promptly forgot about them, until someone else was in need.

If you dream of a sleepy Paris sojurn but your reality is a lickity-split layover, I've got you covered. Who says a day in Paris (or even much less) can't be wonderful?

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The Coziest Things To Do In Ogunquit, Maine

21/2/2021

 

My list of the best things to do in Ogunquit, Maine, includes lots of cozy, affordable microadventures - plus plenty of foodie fun.

​This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission. Note that I first visited the Cliff House resort and Ogunquit Playhouse in 2015 as part of a press trip.

Things to do in Ogunquit Maine: Visiting Cape Neddick Lighthouse, situated on a rocky island with a lighthouse keeper's home and small out buildings.
Visiting Cape Neddick Light is one of the essential things to do in Ogunquit, Maine.
There’s nothing like the sound of the waves, the smell of salt spray, and proverbial long walks on the beach to make you realize just how much you love oceanside travel. The tiny town of Ogunquit, home to less than 900 people, stands out as one of my favourite seaside escapes in southern Maine. I promise it will check every box on your cozy wish list, but this is no place to simply be idle. There are plenty of things to do in Ogunquit, Maine to fill a long weekend - or maybe even an entire week.

​These are some of my absolute favourite places to stay, spots to eats, and things to do in the Ogunquit area.

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Carnival- Inspired Brazilian Chocolate Brigadeiro Recipe

18/2/2021

 

If you can't go to Rio for Carnival, this festive Brazilian chocolate brigadeiro recipe is a delicious alternative. 

​This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

Colorful, festive Brazilian chocolate brigadeiro recipe Picture
How pretty are these? With our festive Brazilian chocolate brigadeiro recipe, you can recreate these sweet treats at home.
If there's one thing that travel has taught me, it's that every country seems to have their own special chocolate concoction and Brazil is no exception. Brigadeiros are best described as a Brazilian bon-bon. These soft, truffle-like delights are incredibly easy to make (cocoa and sweetened condensed milk are the star ingredients) and you can easily customize them according to your own tastes. This Brazilian chocolate brigadeiro recipe is the perfect way to inject a little travel coziness into your day, even if you can't exactly fly to Rio!

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Window-Swap Is My Cozy, COVID-Compliant Travel Treat

5/1/2021

 

Window-Swap's virtual travel rooms are the best way to experience travel at home.

 Note that this post might have affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission. 

Instagram screen shot showing a snowy winter street with tall trees in Finland, plus the Instagram caption applicable to it and other shots. Picture
This is how winter should be - snug, snowy, and enjoying indoors!
If winter-haters had the opportunity to soak in the snow-clad streets outside Helpi's house in Hämeenlinna, Finland, they might just find themselves converted to the season. Tall, lacy trees shrug under the weight of ice, each branch individually painted a soft, silvery white. A thick, fluffy layer of snow muffles sounds and erases footprints. Meanwhile, the soft glow of the streetlights provides a timeless quality. Disney itself couldn't come up with a better backdrop if they were imagining their ideal winter wonderland.

Now Helpi, along with thousands of other travel lovers, are welcoming virtual guests into their homes, just to take in the view. It's all thanks to a super-cozy travel site called Window-Swap.com

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