Planning The Perfect Cozy Ottawa Staycation

17/8/2020

Memorable meals and cozy adventures top our list of the best Ottawa staycation activities for couples.

Some of the activities in this post were compensated by a sponsor. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

Ottawa staycation: A small table at North and Navy is covered with wine glasses, water glasses, and mismatched plates containing bread, olive oil, and meatballs with tomato sauce.

It's Ottawa staycation time! Is there anything cozier than a crowded table of wine, bread, olive oil, and meatballs?

If you were going to celebrate a special wedding anniversary, where would you go?

If you answered that you'd stay at home, you're exactly on our wavelength! We knew that an Ottawa staycation was the perfect way to celebrate our August wedding anniversary - and not just because international travel opportunities are limited at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Planning a cozy couple's staycation meant that we could spend more time exploring, less time driving, and we could easily work all activities around our existing schedule. It would also allow us to tackle our neglected summer adventure bucket list, soak in the last of the August sunshine before autumn rolls in, and brush up on our local knowledge (which always seems to be lacking when we host out-of-town visitors).

Despite a nearly endless list of things we could possibly see and do in Ottawa, it didn't take long to decide on a plan that was very "us". We'd be exploring all things cozy, mixing and matching some old favourites with some very new experiences. This is what made our romantic Ottawa staycation itinerary perfect for us.

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Savoring Our Staycation With #MyOttawaPass

12/7/2020

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With Ottawa's newest savings passport, there's never been a better time to discover local businesses.

Some of the activities in this post were compensated by a sponsor. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

Using the MyOttawaPass; Ryan stands outside the International Cheese Inc shop in the Byward Market

Ryan cases the joint before we hit our first "target" - a local cheese shop!

Ottawa's newest local savings passport is turning things around for travel-crazy locals eager to get a taste of summer vacation fun - as well as for small businesses eager to rebound from COVID-19.

We're definitely among those who are craving travel like never before but we know that, undoubtedly, the best thing for us, our community, and the destinations we hope to visit one day, is to stay close to home. That means it's staycation time! We've been trying to support different local businesses every week and, as long term readers can probably guess, food takes a starring role for us. #MyOttawaPass is helping us discover new spots, reconnect with old favourites, and save a bit along the way.

Anyone can access #MyOttawaPass for FREE. You can find the simple sign up form here, as well as a list of all the participating businesses. Hotels, spas, retail stores, tour operators, cafes, restaurants, and specialty food shops are all participating in this virtual program.

With the pass ready on our phones, we headed out to explore two special spots.

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21 Cozy Microadventures For Ottawa Travellers

25/8/2019

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We have 21 suggestions for Ottawa travellers to discover the city's cozy side, one microadventure at a time.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

Cozy microadventures for Ottawa travellers by TurnipseedTravel.comPicture

I am not adventurous. Nope, not one bit. Sure, I talk a good game and occasionally do things which other people might consider a bit daunting, like walking across Victoria Falls Bridge or kayaking in the Saguenay Fjord, but I think we all know the truth. Deep down, I'll always be the girl who caused a commotion in the Athens Meat Market and braced for an attack from non-existent wild pigs in Hawaii. I'm scared of adventure and (...I like to think...) adventure is a bit scared of me. However, a conversation with a friend has completely re-framed things for me. I've been introduced to the world of microadventures!

The phrase microadventure has been popularized by Alastair Humphreys in his book Microadventures: Local Discoveries for Great Escapes. The book describes a microadventure as something "close to home, cheap, simple, short and 100% guaranteed to refresh your life. A microadventure takes the spirit of a big adventure and squeezes it into a day or even a few hours."

Hang on a second. That sounds like what I do. That sounds like what I do ALL. THE. TIME. I like things that are cheap, simple, short, and refreshing (aka COZY things!). Could it be that I've been an adventurer - and a trendy adventurer at that! - all along? Since the spirit of Humphrey's microadventures focus on this close to home, here are my favourite microadventures to recommend to Ottawa travellers.

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The Best Family Campgrounds Ontario Wide

1/7/2019

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These are the best family campgrounds Ontario has to offer - and we've
"tested" A LOT of them!

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

Family campgrounds Ontario by TurnipseedTravel.com

Here, we hiked to the site of where Tom Thompson painted the Jack Pine in Algonquin Provincial Park.

If you close your eyes and imagine a vision of Canada, what do you see? If the first thing that comes to mind is ‘nature’, you’re not alone. Canada is filled with cosmopolitan cities and charming towns but its real claim to fame is the pristine, unspoiled wilderness. Happily, you don’t have to go on a massive expedition to the wilderness to get a taste of the true Canadian spirit. Here are 4 breathtaking family campgrounds Ontario wide, all offering a taste of the true north.

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Fun Things To Do in Kingston: Events With Makers and Creators

22/4/2019

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Kingston events don't get much more memorable than a meet up with the city's best makers and creators.

Our Kingston, Ontario, Canada travel experience was sponsored by Tourism Kingston and we thank them for their support. Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase .

Kingston Events: Meeting with makers and creators

Nick Allinson isn’t just a woodworker. I suspect he may just be a bit of a room worker as well. Within a minute of meeting him, he was drilling me not on the other makers and creators I was interviewing later that day in Kingston, Ontario, but rather what I’d be eating and where. I had barely mentioned a popular breakfast place that was on my list when he interrupted. "No! Not that one! You need to go here" before insisting I write down the name of what he says is the city’s finest breakfast joint (Northside Espresso) and telling me the story of the owners (Katie and Jess), who are from Australia.

In the same breath, Nick insisted we also visit Stone City Ales, arguing that they’re the finest brewery in the city and utterly unlike some suspected imposter brewers (say it ain’t so!) After a few minutes, he was waxing poetic about the city’s best florist, LSP Designs, and heaping praise upon his fellow makers and creators, who he credits for launching an amazingly innovative program to bring travelers and makers together at the most unlikely of venues - hotels. Yes, hotels!

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Discovering Perth, Ontario, Restaurants, Where Pie Is Perfection

13/3/2019

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In Perth, Ontario, restaurants don't just take the cake. They also make the pie!

Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

Discovering Perth Ontario Restaurants: This Way For Pie sign

The community of Perth, Ontario is just a short, one hour drive from my home in Ottawa but it's in a class all of its own when it comes to food. The handsome, historic town of 6,000 boasts a long list of restaurants, bakeries, pubs, and cafes tucked into the fetching limestone buildings of its downtown core. Always one to eagerly form neighborly bonds, I set out to Perth with two friends, a pair of stretchy pants, and a cooler in the trunk of the car to keep any perishable purchases preserved. While many foodie quests begin with savory appetizers and conclude with dessert, this trip would be happening in reverse. At the very top of my list was a visit to the Perth Pie Co's new headquarters, a delicious pilgrimage I'll be making again and again. If you're in search of Perth, Ontario, restaurants, I hope you'll follow in my footsteps for at least part of your quest, as my experience was absolutely delicious!

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I Heart Lake Simcoe Resorts: Inside Briars Resort and Spa at Jacksons Point, Ontario

1/2/2019

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A review of Briars Resort and Spa at Jacksons Point, Ontario - my favourite of all the Lake Simcoe Resorts.

My visit to the Briars was sponsored the Central Counties Tourism and I thank them for their support. Note some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I am paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

Lake Simcoe Resorts at Jacksons Point Ontario - Briars resort review. Picture

It sometimes takes a lot to bust out of a Canadian winter rut but a weekend at the Briars Resort and Spa on Lake Simcoe, in Jacksons Point, Ontario (just an hour north of Toronto) was just the thing to make winter exciting again! The beauty of all the Lake Simcoe resorts is something I had long heard about but never had the chance to explore - but I knew just the people to take along on my adventure. Arriving on a Friday night with three of my best blogging friends in tow, I was excited to dive into the first offering of their “Blah Busters” package – local wine and a delicious selection of cheeses. It was the perfect way to kick off a girls’ weekend and get into the outdoors spirit.

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The Best Places To Eat In Kingston, Canada's Foodie Capital

24/9/2018

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Once upon a time, Kingston was Canada's capital city. Now it's Canada's undisputed foodie capital!

Our Kingston, Ontario, Canada travel experience was sponsored by Tourism Kingston and we thank them for their support.
Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase .

Gnocchi and braised beef cheek from Olivea, one of the best places to eat in Kingston Ontario

Do you remember the first time you tried pesto? I do. I had just turned 19 years old and I was living in Kingston, Ontario. I walked into a tiny, narrow, downtown restaurant on Princess Street called "Lukes!" In a few years, the titular Luke himself would turn 15, take over as the restaurant's executive chef, pivot the brand to "Luke's Gastronomy", and become Canada's foodie wunderkind. But in 1999 it was just Lukes! and I was just a student (likely with a coupon in hand...) who ordered the cheapest meal on the menu. Pesto pasta. It cost $9. Or maybe it was $12? In any case, there were long noodles and there was pesto, a deep muddy green mix of silky oils and granular cheese, nuts, and herb stalks. It was like being punched in the face with the most incredible mix of salty earthiness, the pungent herbaciousness of the basil wrestling with its own undertones of licorice and pepper.

I was a goner. It was love at first bite.

Living in Kingston was like attending a culinary finishing school and I was a rough and tumble debutante who had never once moved past mashed potatoes. It introduced me to flavors, ingredients, and textures that were actually rather commonplace but had never crossed my path before. Things like hummus (smooth, but not too smooth, spread over triangles of firm pita bread and topped with red onion and cucumber), sky high cheesecake with ingredients like blackberry with peaches or Oreo crumble with swirls of Irish cream, scalding hot cafe au lait -too bitter for me to properly enjoy (don't worry - I evolved!) - and large, squishy cubes of tofu, flash fried, coated in a spicy sweet black bean sauce, served with bell peppers that were barely al dente.

Amazing.

Little did I know when I was indulging on pesto pasta for the first time that I was sitting in the middle of what would soon be Canada's food capital. Today, Kingston, the first capital city of Canada, boasts the highest number of restaurants per capita in the country. It's second only to New Orleans in all of North America. When I had the opportunity to return, this time with student life long behind me, I knew I had to dive into Kingston's food scene once more.

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Surprises and Serendipity In Ontario's Highlands

31/8/2018

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#ComeWander with us in one of Ontario's most delightful travel destinations - Ontario's Highlands.

Our Serenity Seeker's travel experience was sponsored by Ontario's Highlands Tourism Organization and we thank them for their support.
Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase .

Almonte Ontario waterfall Ontario's Highlands Picture

If you're searching for serenity, this is a fine place to start!

Travel enthusiasts have probably heard of the highlands of Scotland, Iceland, Ireland, and Guatemala - but have they discovered Ontario's Highlands? The Ontario's Highlands Tourism Organization encompasses a large geographic territory in the south-eastern part of Ontario, Canada, including the Haliburton Highlands, Hastings County, Lanark County, Frontenac County, Lennox and Addington, and the Ottawa Valley. The vast landscape of Ontario's Highlands is famous for its natural wonders and its bragging rights include the title of Canada's geocaching capital and Canada's whitewater capital. When Ryan and I visited the Highlands though, we had a different approach to discovering its outdoor treasures.

Thanks to Ontario's Highlands website, we discovered we were "Serenity Seekers", travelers who like to explore with purpose but also with leisure. People who soak in the beauty of nature in a relaxed way. Serenity Seekers are in pursuit of peace, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Sometimes that comes through a vigorous hike to see a waterfall, but it's just as likely to be found in a beautiful spa, enjoying a lovely view, or indulging at local restaurants.

If you suspect you're a Serenity Seeker like me, there's an enticing three day itinerary to help you make the most of your time in Ontario's Highands. We did as much of it as we could, spending a lot of our time around the towns of Almonte and Carleton Place, and we added a few surprise stops of our own! Here are some of our most memorable and serene moments of discovery along the Serenity Seeker's route.

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Planning The Perfect Cozy Ottawa Staycation

Memorable meals and cozy adventures top our list of the best Ottawa staycation activities for couples.

Some of the activities in this post were compensated by a sponsor. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

Savoring Our Staycation With #MyOttawaPass

With Ottawa's newest savings passport, there's never been a better time to discover local businesses.

Some of the activities in this post were compensated by a sponsor. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

21 Cozy Microadventures For Ottawa Travellers

We have 21 suggestions for Ottawa travellers to discover the city's cozy side, one microadventure at a time.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

The Best Family Campgrounds Ontario Wide

These are the best family campgrounds Ontario has to offer - and we've
"tested" A LOT of them!

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

Fun Things To Do in Kingston: Events With Makers and Creators

Discovering Perth, Ontario, Restaurants, Where Pie Is Perfection

In Perth, Ontario, restaurants don't just take the cake. They also make the pie!

Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

I Heart Lake Simcoe Resorts: Inside Briars Resort and Spa at Jacksons Point, Ontario

The Best Places To Eat In Kingston, Canada's Foodie Capital

Once upon a time, Kingston was Canada's capital city. Now it's Canada's undisputed foodie capital!

Our Kingston, Ontario, Canada travel experience was sponsored by Tourism Kingston and we thank them for their support.
Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase .

Surprises and Serendipity In Ontario's Highlands

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Memorable meals and cozy adventures top our list of the best Ottawa staycation activities for couples.Some of the activities in this post were compensated by a sponsor. ​This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

With Ottawa's newest savings passport, there's never been a better time to discover local businesses. ​Some of the activities in this post were compensated by a sponsor. ​This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

We have 21 suggestions for Ottawa travellers to discover the city's cozy side, one microadventure at a time. ​Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

These are the best family campgrounds Ontario has to offer - and we've ​"tested" A LOT of them! ​Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

In Perth, Ontario, restaurants don't just take the cake. They also make the pie! ​Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

Once upon a time, Kingston was Canada's capital city. Now it's Canada's undisputed foodie capital!

Our Kingston, Ontario, Canada travel experience was sponsored by Tourism Kingston and we thank them for their support. Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase .

Post Categories

Posts by Date

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Memorable meals and cozy adventures top our list of the best Ottawa staycation activities for couples.

Some of the activities in this post were compensated by a sponsor. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

With Ottawa's newest savings passport, there's never been a better time to discover local businesses.

Some of the activities in this post were compensated by a sponsor. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

We have 21 suggestions for Ottawa travellers to discover the city's cozy side, one microadventure at a time.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

These are the best family campgrounds Ontario has to offer - and we've
"tested" A LOT of them!

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

In Perth, Ontario, restaurants don't just take the cake. They also make the pie!

Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

Our Kingston, Ontario, Canada travel experience was sponsored by Tourism Kingston and we thank them for their support.
Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase .