Exploring Véloroute des Bleuets - Quebec's "Blueberry Bike Route"

12/6/2019

The Véloroute des Bleuets is my favourite of all cycling Quebec adventures - even in the off season!

My trip to Lac Saint Jean was part of a hosted media visit. All research, writing, and opinions are my own.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link we are paid a small commission.

Cycling Quebec véloroute des bleuets Vanessa crossing a bridge

With sunny blue skies and a bracing wind, I bravely mounted my bike to go searching for blueberries in the Quebec countryside. But if you're looking at my jacket and scarf in the photo above and thinking it looks far too cold for blueberry season, you'd be partially right. You see, I wasn't in search of blueberries to eat! I was searching for Quebec's famous blueberry bike route, known as the "véloroute des bleuets".

Made up of over 20 different short to medium length rides through the blueberry-producing countryside, the véloroute des bleuets circles around Lac St Jean, not far from the northern Quebec city of Saguenay. The route includes towns such as Alma (my personal favourite), Saint-Felicien, Roberval, and Sainte-Monique, as well as Pointe-Taillon National Park, and includes terrain suitable for all riders.

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

22/4/2019

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!

Awesome Things To Do in Ellicottville, NY: Griffis Sculpture Park

11/4/2019

Of all the fantastic things to do in Ellicottville, the Griffis Sculpture Park was my favourite. Here's why.

Participation in the press trip that brought me to Ellicottville was part of the Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) conference. This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link, we'll be paid a small commission and we thank you for your support.

Things to do in Ellicottville: Posing with metal mushrooms at the Griffis Sculpture Park

Hugging a trio of giant metallic mushrooms? It's all in a day's work when you're hanging out in Ellicottville, New York. This village of a few hundred people in western New York state is full of surprises! It's a lesson I first learned when I had a wild "anti-adventure" moment while riding on a mountain coaster. And it was reinforced when I visited the Griffis Sculpture Park, an interactive art and nature experience that is unlike anything else in the United States. It didn't take long before it wasy my favourite of all the things to do in Ellicottville and I suspect most visitors would likely agree.

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

24/9/2018

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.

Tales From The Anti-Adventurist: Vanessa Rides A Mountain Coaster

21/9/2018

In Ellicottville, New York, one of the most popular ski destinations in the United States, I faced my own mountain challenge.

Participation in the press trip that brought me to Ellicottville was part of the Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) conference. This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link, we'll be paid a small commission and we thank you for your support.

Getting ready to ride the Ellicottville Mountain Coaster Picture

Deep, DEEP down - I knew I could do it. You can all see the confidence brimming just below the surface here, right?

If you love watching CSI marathons as much as I do, you'll no doubt have picked up on a particular habit of shift supervisor Gil Grissom. When the introverted, cerebral, bookish Grissom needs to unwind, he heads to one of Las Vegas' spectacular roller coasters and lets the breakneck speeds and thrilling loops clear his head.

Like Grissom, I too love bees and books (dead bodies, not so much...) Could I possibly love roller coasters as well?

The answer is a resounding NO! If you follow my Facebook page, you'll know that roller coasters are one of the many "nope" activities for me. Bungee jumping, hang gliding, mountain climbing, roller coasters - they're all "nopes". They terrify me!

But what about a mountain coaster?

The Best Things To Do in Plovdiv, Bulgaria

9/9/2018

Eager to learn more about the best things to do in Plovdiv? You're in luck! You're going to love Europe's 2019 City of Culture.

My Plovdiv travel experience was sponsored by Plovdiv 2019 and I 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 .

Boy at wishing well of Roman Stadium - one of the best things to do in Plovdiv Picture

Plovdiv is the kind of city that gets under your skin, that infects your soul with joy, the sort of place you'll want to return to again and again. The culture, history, art, and architecture draw you in, grab your heart, and won't ever let it go. It is a medium sized city that feels super-sized with options and opportunity.

With Plovdiv being a 2019 European Capital of Culture, I suspect many people will feel the same way I do about this fascinating city. Here are some of my personal picks for the best things to do in Plovdiv, the kinds of stops I'd personally suggest to my friends, all which embody the culture and the beauty that the city is famous for.

Surprises and Serendipity In Ontario's Highlands

31/8/2018

#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.

Next Stop, Poutine! Your In-Depth Quebec City Food Tour Guide

13/8/2018

Where can you find poutine AND fine wine? On a Quebec City food tour, of course! We're reviewing two of the most popular options - as well as giving you the inside scoop on our favourite Quebec City bed and breakfast.

Complimentary participation in these Quebec City food tours was offered to attendees of the Women in Travel Summit. This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link, we'll be paid a small commission and we thank you for your support.

Enjoying poutine on a Quebec City food tour Picture

When you think of Quebecois food, does your mind wander to old fashioned fare with a heavy emphasis on maple syrup and local delicacies? Or maybe you're craving less wholesome treats like a heaping plate of poutine? Perhaps your tastes are a bit more refined, with a eye towards wine and French joie de vivre? If you're like me and want a little bit of everything, your best bet is a Quebec City food tour so that no category is left out. Happily, when I was in Quebec City for the Women in Travel Summit, I participated in not one but two fantastic foodie experiences. Read on to hear about each tour, including what I loved, what I felt could have been improved, and my favourite stop on each. Plus there's a bonus review of my favourite Quebec City bed and breakfast which I know you'll like as much as I do!

Washington DC in 2 Days: A $200 Challenge Budget Travel Guide

9/7/2018

Washington DC sightseeing is budget friendly travel! Here's how we explored Washington DC in 2 days with just $200 on hand.

My Washington DC budget travel trip was was sponsored by Hostelling International USA and I 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 through said link.

Washington DC in 2 days - visiting the Washington Memorial is a classic activity. Picture

If you haven't posed with the Washington Monument in the background, have you even really been to DC?

When I announced my intentions to tackle budget travel in Washington DC in 2 days, people were skeptical. REALLY skeptical. When I further clarified that I was targeting the city for my next $200 Challenge (two people travel for two days and just spend $200), folks were downright incredulous. In fact, one friend warned me that she once had to spend $600 for a "cheap" hotel in the city center! But I wasn't worried. For when it came to Washington DC sightseeing on a budget, I had an ace up my sleeve. After all, I live and work in a capital city. I figured I knew all the secrets to cheap eats and free activities in a political town.

But did I? Planning a 2 day trip to Washington DC was about to test my budgeting chops! With my good friend and fellow blogger Hannah from Eat Sleep Breathe Travel by my side though, I was up for the adventure.

<<Previous

Forward>>

Exploring Véloroute des Bleuets - Quebec's "Blueberry Bike Route"

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

Awesome Things To Do in Ellicottville, NY: Griffis Sculpture Park

Of all the fantastic things to do in Ellicottville, the Griffis Sculpture Park was my favourite. Here's why.

Participation in the press trip that brought me to Ellicottville was part of the Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) conference. This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link, we'll be paid a small commission and we thank you for your support.

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 .

Tales From The Anti-Adventurist: Vanessa Rides A Mountain Coaster

In Ellicottville, New York, one of the most popular ski destinations in the United States, I faced my own mountain challenge.

Participation in the press trip that brought me to Ellicottville was part of the Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) conference. This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link, we'll be paid a small commission and we thank you for your support.

The Best Things To Do in Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Eager to learn more about the best things to do in Plovdiv? You're in luck! You're going to love Europe's 2019 City of Culture.

My Plovdiv travel experience was sponsored by Plovdiv 2019 and I 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

Next Stop, Poutine! Your In-Depth Quebec City Food Tour Guide

Washington DC in 2 Days: A $200 Challenge Budget Travel Guide

Post Categories

Posts by Date

Disclaimers, Privacy, and Cookie Policy

Of all the fantastic things to do in Ellicottville, the Griffis Sculpture Park was my favourite. Here's why.

Participation in the press trip that brought me to Ellicottville was part of the Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) conference. This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link, we'll be paid a small commission and we thank you for your support.

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 .

In Ellicottville, New York, one of the most popular ski destinations in the United States, I faced my own mountain challenge.

Participation in the press trip that brought me to Ellicottville was part of the Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) conference. This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link, we'll be paid a small commission and we thank you for your support.

Eager to learn more about the best things to do in Plovdiv? You're in luck! You're going to love Europe's 2019 City of Culture.

My Plovdiv travel experience was sponsored by Plovdiv 2019 and I 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

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 .

My Plovdiv travel experience was sponsored by Plovdiv 2019 and I 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 .