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Love To Read? Join The Thursday Murder (Book) Club

20/1/2023

 

If you love a good old-fashioned murder mystery, the Thursday Murder (Book) Club is the free online book club for you! Everyone is welcome.

A stack of books sits arranged with a candle on top and mini twinkle lights cascading down.
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
Welcome to the Thursday Murder (Book) Club! 

For years I've been talking about how much I love to read and I'm excited to take my love of books to the next level - and I'm inviting you to all come along. I’m launching a free monthly online book club devoted to British-style murder mysteries.

​Now, there’ll be a bit of flexibility here. Not all the mysteries will involve murder (I mean, there’s gotta be a few art heists here and there), nor will they all necessarily be set in Great Britain. But they’ll all be faithful to the genre of the British “cozy” - - a complex mystery, a compelling read, plenty of rich details about everyday life (oh, you better believe I’ll be suggesting complimentary teas and biscuits for each book) and not a whole lot of implicit gore and scariness.
​ 

I’m inspired by a couple of things. First is Richard Osman’s book, The Thursday Murder Club. Yep, I stole his title for our bookclub name and I figured if gangs of fictional friends can get together to solve mysteries, my gang of online friends can get together to discus them!

I was also inspired by my visit to Winnipeg’s legendary mystery bookstore, Whodunit. They have an in-person mystery book club, which reminded me just how popular this genre is.

Read on for more details!

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Tropical Magic at the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

19/1/2023

 

When you visit the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, winter blues melt away.

This post contains affiliate ads and links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase. My time in Key West was in conjunction with a press trip.

A black butterfly with white and red spots sits on a red piece of ornamental glass
There's magic in the air in Key West.

In the United State's southernmost city, you'll find a tropical paradise at the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Inside this tropical greenhouse beautiful little birds, two sassy flamingos, gorgeous jungle plants, and butterflies - hundreds and hundreds of them, representing about 50 to 60 species from around the world - are just waiting to say hello. Once you step inside, I feel confident that you'll agree with my assessment. It's pure magic. 

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Personal Paris: My Best Advice After 20 Years Of Travel

21/11/2022

 

So you want to go to Paris.... May I suggest some travel advice, recommendations, hints, tips, and unbreakable rules from someone with a life-long love affair with the City of Lights?

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

Tray of purple flower bulbs with green tops, sitting in a tray on a rustic table.
Gorgeous purple and green bulbs at the flower market, which I only discovered on my very last day in Paris. You can find it at 37 Place Louis Lépine on Ile de la Cite.
I've spent one month and half a lifetime in the City of Lights.

The part about one month is very true. From mid-October to mid-November, 2022, I lived in Paris. I found a wee apartment with sloped walls and wooden beams and made the city my home.

The reference to half a lifetime is a bit of hyperbole but, in its own way, equally true. I first visited the French capital in 2001 and I've made at least half a dozen visits in the years since. I'm never not wanting to be there.

I believe you could live in Paris your entire life and not discover all of its secrets. As such, I am far from an expert. On the other hand, I know Paris better than just about any travel destination and I've learned quite a lot in 20+ years of adventures. And that brings me here, in an effort to wrap up my very best Paris travel advice, suggestions, recommendations, tips, and tricks. For everyone who has said that they absolutely have to get my advice before planning their own big trip - here it is. This post is for you. I'll accept macarons in lieu of thanks.

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Cycling Versailles: A Day Of Travel Redemption

5/11/2022

 

France's Palace of Versailles is beloved by everyone - except me, it seems. Would a day of cycling Versailles bring redemption?

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

Cycling Versailles: Vanessa stands in front of a green lawn, the palace way in the background, surrounded by autumn trees.
Taking a break from cycling Versailles. Can you see the palace in the background?
Every great story needs a villain and, for 21 years, the French Palace of Versailles was mine. 

I visited Versailles on my very first trip to Paris in 2001 as an international student. The excursion was an optional class trip but one I had eagerly agreed to. After all, it was one of the most popular attractions in France. What wasn't to love?

Turns out: Plenty. I had a miserable visit, so bad that I've long described Versailles as my least-favourite travel destination. It was a damp, cold, drizzling April day. I was hungry. I had a headache. Versailles' pricing structure was confusing and costlier than expected. Pushy touts made for a jarring welcoming committee. I recognize now that, in retrospect, Versailles didn't even stand a chance. It was never going to be a good travel day and it (mostly) wasn't the Palace's fault. But it took me the better part of two decades to come to that conclusion. It was time to revisit Versailles and give it another shot. Could a day spent cycling Versailles provide the redemption I was looking for?

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The Joys Of Visiting Claude Monet's Giverny Gardens In Autumn

31/10/2022

 

In Giverny, France, Claude Monet's home and gardens are an absolute delight in autumn. Gorgeous colours and smaller crowds create a special seasonal magic.

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

Bright red Japanese maple tree next to the water lily pond with people walking in the background.
Claude Monet's home, studio, and gardens in Giverny, just outside Paris, are one of the city's most popular attractions in summer and for good reason. The famous water lily pond, the Japanese-style bridge covered with lavender wisteria, and the flower beds studded with vibrant pastel blooms are the stuff of travel legend, the subjects of a million photos. But those who are truly lucky will bypass Giverny's famous summer scenes (and crowds) and discover a different kind of magic altogether if they visit in late October.

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Fun, Funky, Frugal: The Best Things To Do In Zürich West

19/9/2022

 

The best things to do in Zürich West: All the fun, funky, and frugal things to do in Zürich's trendiest neighbourhood.

This post contains affiliate ads and links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase. Note that my time in Zurich was in conjunction with a press trip.

Things to do in Zurich: A blue and green badminton hall at dusk
Checking out this awesome Badminton hall is one of the coolest things to do in Zurich.
The Yonex Badminton Halle in Zürich West is home to cheap beer, fierce gameplay, and a FABULOUS Dolly Parton cardboard cutout mascot. In many ways, it’s a most unusual site to stumble across in the heart of Europe’s financial capital. But it’s also emblematic of Zürich West’s remarkable transformation from what was once primarily an industrial site to the fun, funky neighbourhood it is today. I’ve had the chance to explore the neighbourhood with a private guide who lives there and I can attest to what an amazing travel destination it is. 

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My Favourite Cozy Things To Do In Yarmouth Nova Scotia

12/9/2022

 

My favourite cozy things to do in Yarmouth include watching artists work by the seashore, visiting a lovely cafe, and shivering over ghost stories.

Some of my experiences in Yarmouth were provided at no cost as part of a conference. This post might contain affiliate links, which means that we may receive a small commission if you make a purchase.

Best things to do in Yarmouth: Four weather beaten grey wood chairs rest in front of a red painted wood wall.
One of the best things to do in Yarmouth is simply admired the area's connection with the sea, like with these old, weather-beaten chairs at a lobster pound.
The small town of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, seems purpose-built for coziness. Between the delightful views of the harbour, the fresh seafood served in local restaurants, and the area's strong cultural connections, you have a recipe for a snug visit and amazing travel memories. I had visited the area before as many people do, during a short stop after taking the ferry over from Maine. I had never spent significant time in the region until this summer when I attended a conference in Yarmouth. It was the perfect way to check out the community's homiest spots and I'm happy to share my favourite cozy things to do in Yarmouth so your visit can be equally as nice.

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How To Explore Georges Island National Historic Site, Halifax, Nova Scotia

8/8/2022

 

If you want to explore Georges Island National Historic Site, here's how you can do it on your own, with a tour, and even with a picnic! Plus: What to expect on the ferry.

My visit to Georges Island was provided at no cost as part of a conference. This post might contain affiliate links, which means that we may receive a small commission if you make a purchase.

Woman dressed in olive green World War II era uniform and helmut explaining history to a group while standing in front of grassy fortifications.
When you explore Georges Island National Historic Site, it feels like you're stepping back in time.
Once upon a time, Halifax, Nova Scotia, wasn't just known as a lively city for music, travel, and seaside fun. It was first and foremost a military port. Halifax was on the frontlines of defending Canada from foreign attack. It's a role that thankfully never had to be enforced but for centuries the city has been soaked in military preparations. Now one of Halifax's oldest fortifications, Georges Island National Historic Site is open to the public and I was fortunate to explore it myself.

Georges Island sits in the middle of Halifax Harbour. You can see it from almost any point in the city - I had superb views from my room at the Westin Nova Scotian- but visitors were prohibited until 2020. My friends and family jumped at the chance to visit when the Parks Canada site opened during the pandemic and their reviews were GLOWING. Locals absolutely love this destination and they're extremely proud of their city's history. As they should be! 

The main attraction on Georges Island is Fort Charlotte. Fortifications here date to 1750 and include an underground tunnel system. While Georges Island has never been attacked, Fort Charlotte and the surrounding area has been used for important military operations over the centuries. Two thousand French soldiers were imprisoned here during the Seven Years War and an estimated 1,660 Acadian civilians were detained during the Expulsion. During the American Revolution, privateers were held prisoner in Fort Charlotte and, during World War II, an anti-aircraft was stationed there. 

Visiting today is decidedly peaceful experience and a wonderful way to get to know Halifax better. Here's what to expect and how you can explore Georges Island National Historic Site.

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Frugal and Free Things To Do In Waikiki, Hawaii, for $5 or Less

13/7/2022

 

Planning a budget trip to Hawaii? These are our favourite frugal and free things to do in Waikiki for $5 or less.

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

Free things to do in Waikiki: A stand of surfboards at sunset with a pink sky and beach.
The best free thing to do in Waikiki? Stroll along the beach! Photo by Ariana Kaminski on Unsplash
When Ryan and I took our first international trip together as a married couple, we went to Hawaii. While we had long dreamed of warm weather getaway, we hadn't exactly spent much time planning and saving for the trip. A combination of fortuitous factors meant that we snagged a last minute departure and a great hotel deal at the final hour - but we didn't have a lot of money to splurge on Hawaii's biggest temptations, like submarine rides, helicopter tours, and famous luaus. Instead, we put together a list of extremely frugal and free things to do in Waikiki, our main base. The result was an incredible week in a tropical paradise and a very affordable one as well. 

My goal for this list was to limit costs at $5.00 per person or less and to concentrate primarily on the Honolulu neighbourhood of Waikiki but you will find great value at many price points across the state. Whether budget travel is a necessity for you or simply a preference, I think you'll love this affordable take on Hawaiian travel.

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