Chill out in South Georgian Bay

 

It had barely snowed all winter, so naturally the morning we set out for the South Georgian Bay area, there was a freezing rain warning first thing in the morning, followed by heavy, blustery snow. Schools were closed and roads soon followed. At least, I thought, the snowshoeing would be decent for the first time all season.

A long weekend away needs the balance of key ingredients such as outdoor activities, fabulous food, and a smattering,, no make that heavy hits of pampering or self- indulgence. With that in mind, our weekend started on a key note with a visit to Scandinave spa, just outside of Collingwood.  Just a mention  that you are going to or just returned from the area, the first question is usually “did you go to the spa”.  It has become synonymous with the lifestyle that Georgian Bay offers .A Nordic spa, the majority of features are naturally outside.  There is a suggested circuit to take, and take it we did.

A perfect day to be here , the wet snow and rain added to the moodiness. The transition from busy-ness to relaxation started almost symbolically walking across the wooden bridge from the parking lot to the spa building.  Nestled in surroundings of tall trees, scents of wood fire mixed with a hint of eucalyptus hinted of what was ahead,  I left my hurried week behind in the parking lot.

One of the staff explained the suggested route to us, so we changed into bathing suits, thick, fluffy white robes continuing the transformation .  We took to the outdoors in our robes and flip flops, slightly apprehensive about spending all afternoon outside as it was -8 degrees.  Our apprehension quickly disappeared once we started the circuit at the Eucalyptus steam room . Wet heat was suggested for the first stop as the eucalyptus has a calming effect, opens the pores of the skin and soothes the mind.   The steam enveloped me, and I couldn’t see if there was anyone else there, but it didn’t matter, as I felt as if I could breathe for the first time ever.   It has been referred to as the “Massarati of steam”. Silence please signs hung everywhere, which helped soothe the mind as well as the body.

We then moved onto more warmth in one of three hot pools (104 degrees), walking past an open fire surrounded by frosty looking Muskoka chairs.

Aaaahhh, easing into the pool was scrumptious and I could have stayed ages, but moving on within the recommended time frame, we scurried reluctantly to the cold plunge pool, nippy at 64 degrees.  A full submerge was recommended.  I don’t think so. As I stood up to my ankles for a full two seconds, I knew that was as far as I was going.

The other option was  a roll in the snow – the cold being the most important component, as the pores you have just opened close and your heart rate  quickens ,and  blood rushes which equals energy and endorphins, translating to heat.

After hastily throwing on my hanging robe , moved on to the Solarium.  Large windows,and rows of Muskoka chairs faced dense woods, and heavily trafficked birdfeeders.

Stacks of magazines, my mind wandered, and I tried to sleep but was fascinated watching white robed people pass the windows making my imagination run wild. Silence beckoned again, so we sat, pretended to read, and chilled  out for the  suggested 15 minutes.  We started the circuit again, this time changing to a different hot pool, and tried the third heat source which is a dry wood sauna, too toasty for me to stay at 180 degrees, visited another relaxing room and cold plunge to shake things up a bit.

After enjoying the luxurious showers in the change rooms, we changed into snow shoe appropriate gear, relaxed, energized and prepared for outdoor activities in a relaxed zone.   A day pass for the total spa experience is only $48.00, and if you want that Saturday feeling on a Wednesday, there are mid-week specials.

Named a “Top 50 Spa” by SpasofAmerica.com, Scandinave Spa is located minutes from Collingwood and  Blue Mountain Village www.scandinave.com

for more ideas on what to see and do in South Georgian Bay …and there are so many options every season, check out their website: www.visitsouthgeorgianbay.ca

photographs:  Jeff Thomason

Heading to St. Maarten for the Heineken Regatta (psst….and the shopping)

I am heading to St. Maarten again, this time for the  32nd Annual Heineken Regatta, being held March 1 – 4, 2012.  I hadn’t been to a regatta before May of last year when I thoroughly enjoyed the regatta in the British Virgin Islands, so I really can’t wait to get into the thick of the sailing action again.

I wish I could bottle the excitement of sitting in a catamaran , watching hundreds of  sailboats loop around the starting buoy, competing against other international teams. I so envied the physical ability, team cooperation and sheer determination that I saw time and time again.

I’m hoping to meet up with some of the sailing teams I met in the B.V.I’s, that will most likely be competing in the Heineken regatta.

I love visiting markets anywhere I go, and Marigot Marketplace (the French side of the island) is a winner for me.  Bartering along way, I picked up gorgeous handmade jewellery, such a good deal that  I ended up Christmas shopping months early.  I bought a beautifully hand-made sun hat but my favourite purchase was a gorgeous white linen tunic that comes with me on every Caribbean trip.

Along Front Street, stores range from Tiffany to Tommy Hilfiger. The Sint Rose Shopping Mall on the boardwalk by Front Street features Cartier, Lalique, and Faconnable. The capital, Philipsburg, is the epicenter for shopping with boutique stores lining Front Street, which stretches for over a mile. Old Street, situated off Front Street, is highlighted by 19th century houses which contain specialty shops. Maho Plaza (located by the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort) is another area for name-brand stores.

St. Maarten offers great buys on jewelry, a perennial favorite among shoppers, with jewelers offering everything from loose stones to original designs. If you are looking for a new watch, or something sparkly for your ears, this is the place to go, but you do have to know your prices ahead of time.

No surprise that the island of St. Maarten recently  received an award from Porthole Cruise Magazine as the ‘Best Caribbean Shopping Experience’.  Prices are as much as 50% less than other countries and are quoted in U.S. dollars saving the confusion of sorting out the exchange rate.

I try to stick to snorkeling, sailing, sunning, and slumping by the pool with a good book, but when you know that items such as Gucci and Ralph Lauren can be found at reasonable rates, as well as fine leather goods, ooooh, and top-of-the line cosmetics, I try to carve out at least one afternoon for a session of controlled power shopping. Having a list in hand of exactly what I am looking for helps keep me in line, or so I tell myself.  Did I mention the shopping is all 100% duty-free?

A bit about the island:  St. Maarten is the smallest island in the world to be shared by two nations, Kingdom of the Netherlands and France, creating a European-influenced vibe with a Caribbean flair. As “the culinary capital of the Caribbean,” St. Maarten offers an incredible diverse array of cuisine for foodies with more than 365 restaurants.  That’s a lot of options for such a small island, suiting every palate and budget.

Located at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, the island’s 37 square miles has 37 breathtaking beaches to catch some sun, or take in some fabulous snorkeling in clear turquoise waters.

Watch for my blogs and articles coming out mid-March reporting on the Heineken Regatta, sailing, snorkeling, dining, and the most difficult part…..searching for the island’s best margaritas.

I’ll be on assignment for Canadian Yachting Magazine, www.canadianyachtingmagazine.ca and Travel and Escape, www.travelandescape.ca.

For more information on St. Maarten visit the official site of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau at www.VacationStMaarten.com.

For additional information on the Regatta, visit www.heinekenregatta.com.

Travel Writing Workshop

 I  never dreamed that I would be working as a travel writer, exploring far flung corners of the world, doing things I never thought about.  I have had to overcome many personal fears in order to go into underground caves, snorkel alongside sharks in the Galapagos in deep, frigid water,  interview famous people, take photos worth publishing, blog, and promote myself.   There is so much more I have yet to do – tweet, vlog, have a television or radio show.

I I need to experience adventures first hand to be able to write about them. I have taken part in a sailing regatta in the British Virgin Islands, snorkeled in Grenada, St. Maarten, and while I explored the Galapagos islands in a small boat. I snow-shoed in Colorado in winter, and hiked the canyons in summer, eaten my way around Wisconsin, experienced cold that I never thought possible during the Quebec Winter Carnival, and learned how to honor the dead at Day of the Dead festival in Mexico.  

I accidentally fell into travel writing, after writing for most of my life.  It has been a wonderfully steep learning curve, flying by the seat of my pants.  A combination of last minute trips, learning how to pack properly, and most importantly learning how to pitch ideas to publishers, and connect with public relations people and tourism boards. All of it is done  while  planning the next trip,  still writing about the last.

If you are interested in finding out how to make the travel writer’s life work for you, join a workshop, July 14 and 15^th , 2012 in Southampton, Ontario where  I will be sharing tips and tricks of being a travel writer.  

Description of course:

Love to travel and dream of being a travel writer?  Good travel writing is more than just describing where you’ve been and what you’ve seen. Travel writers must convey readers to places in their imaginations and beyond, using sensual description, strong narrative, unusual imagery and a clear voice. This course is an opportunity to learn those skills that will transport your writing–and your readers–to faraway places and strange new worlds.   If your head is swimming with travel stories… if you like to try new shops and cafés, find out how to live the travel writer’s life

Through a series of exercises, this workshop encourages people who love to travel to tap into their ability to write creatively.  Discussions will cover how to get started and where to look for publishing opportunities.

 

To register: contact The Southampton Art School,  www. southamptonart.com, 1-800-806-8838 519-797-5068

 

Traveling as a Socially Responsible Tourist

The idea of being a socially responsible tourist is to give something back to the country you’re visiting, similar to making a deposit, as well as a withdrawal.  Often the countries we visit as tourists have become entrenched with the problem of poverty ,a reality that many travelers never see.  Tourism is beneficial for the country, but hard on the individual.

I rarely go on a trip these days without stuffing scores of books, crayons, puzzles and teddy bears into my luggage.  I hand deliver directly to children at group homes, orphanages and schools.  Nearly every island has a handful or more of children’s homes, generally small, locally operated organizations that receive little or no funding.

Before I travelled to Grenada, I checked out a website with a drop down menu, once you click on the country you are travelling to, a list of organizations come up that need your help.  The website has a list of countries, and 187 organizations that need assistance.  It is an interactive website, allowing tourists to add organizations, as well as complete a list of items they have helped with.  After checking out a children’s home in Grenada on the list, I attempted to contact  them beforehand with no luck.  So, I made the decision take a larger suitcase in order to accommodate space for puzzles, story books, colouring books, and crayons, attempting to cover an assortment of ages.

Visiting children’s homes, dancing and singing with the  children has been a  highlight of many for me, and it is one of the many things that has me planning a return trip.

In  St. Maarten, I met an amazing and modest woman who started a group home on her own following a devastating earthquake.  Before that particular trip, I visited a local school where I live and spoke to a class of kindergarten children about what I was doing and where I was going.  I showed them on a map where Grenada is, and they had a torrent of questions about the children I would be visiting.

They donated  large teddy bears for me to take to the children at the group home.  Children’s toothbrushes and miniature tubes of toothpaste donated by my dentist come with me as well as entire suitcase filled with hand-knitted teddy bears donated by a local group of knitters.

Instead of taking just anything, I recommend you contact a local school, orphanage, or group home ahead of time to find out their exact needs.  Why take crayons and pencils if they have no paper or textbooks?

As I write this article, I am preparing for a trip to Ecuador, and have just picked up thirty hand knitted adorable teddy bears, compiling a mountain of small toothpaste tubes , colorful children’s toothbrushes, sleepers, and  infant blankets.  How do I carry it, you may ask?  I usually buy an inexpensive suitcase at a charity shop, garage sale, or somewhere like value village, so I can leave the suitcase behind, and return home lighter , layered  with wonderful memories.

Some of the most memorable moments travelling for me have been spent dancing, playing and chatting to children in group homes and orphanages.  Seeing how little they have, and how happy they are gives me a different perspective on how I live my life.

According to Stats Canada, in one month alone, 690,000 Canadians travel overseas. Imagine if even 1% of Canadian travelers took something with them to benefit children in another country.  We often think we have to make grand gestures, but tiny steps by many add up to a big difference.

Sir Richard Branson and his boat, Necker Belle in the British Virgin Islands

I was in the  British Virgin Islands in  May of this year to cover the sailing regatta, where I was invited to attend a small press conference  on Necker Belle, Sir Richard Branson’s 105’ catamaran.  I introduced myself and chatted to Sir Richard and toured his boat.

the press conference in full swing

The photographers were all trying to get different angles

As I sipped champagne and nibbled on scrumptious appetizers,  I introduced myself to  three of the five  crew.  Even though he was making drinks for all the journalists at the press conference,  Adam is actually the full time Engineer on Necker Belle. The boat has satellite tv, satellite internet and  two sewage treatment plants on board, one in each hull.  Marketed as ‘Piranha powder’,  the sewage is fully treated first, then pumped out into the water.  After studying mining in Perth, Australia, he worked for Caterpillar  which is perfect training for dealing with the two 480 HP Caterpillar engines on Necker Belle.

I went into the kitchen to see who was responsible for the delicious nibbles, and had a chat with Jared, from Perth Australia.  He had only worked for Sir Richard for 3 months at that point, but had worked for him previously in France and worked on boats for many years.  He mentioned that Sir Richard’s favourite foods are chicken wings and lobster.

Bailey, originally from San Diego  is the steward and deck hand, and had also been working for Sir Richard for about 3 months when I met her.  She previously worked as a scuba instructor, teaching people on yachts how to scuba dive.

I went below deck to have a look at the staterooms and instrument panel, and look who showed up to chat to me!  I asked Sir Richard if he ever tried water skiing to put those huge engines to use. He laughed and said he would have to give it a go.

the instrument panel was very complicated looking .

guest suites on board

the man himself on board during the sailing competition (this photo courtesy of Laurie Fullerton)

Melody’s trip was sponsored by the British Virgin Islands Board of Tourism. For more information: www.bvitourism.com

 

Where is Grenada? It is now easier than ever for Canadians to fly to!

Caribbean Airlines has just made it easier for Canadians to travel to Grenada.  As it isn’t overly touristy, I would like it to stay that way, so don’t tell everyone about this.

As a travel writer, I am able to visit beautiful destinations worldwide.  Out of everywhere I have traveled in the last few years, Grenada remains a personal favourite.  I would return to Grenada in a heartbeat for fish Fryday, the beaches, the food, and the incredibly friendly locals.

Did I mention the spice market?  Grenada is known as “Spice island” with spices playing a major role in the bustling, colorful market in Grenada’s capital of St. George’s.  The stalls are crammed together, but the vendors are friendly and will offer cooking suggestions if you ask.

According to Director of tourism for the Grenada Board of Tourism, Simon Stiell, “the Canadian market is the fourth largest worldwide” and added “We are thrilled by the recent announcement of these new flights and hope that many more Canadians have the opportunity to come and spent time with us as a result.”

For Canadians looking for that perfect winter getaway, getting to Grenada is just the ticket. Beginning December 15th, 2011, Caribbean Airlines will have a new direct flight (Thursdays and Sundays) between St. George’s, Grenada and Toronto. This recently announced deal with Caribbean Airlines will run from December 15th, 2011 to March 10th, 2012 and will provide visitors with one more way to get to Grenada.

The Island of Grenada, a part of the Windward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, is an idyllic getaway to a true tropical paradise. White sand beaches, turquoise waters, lush jungle and friendly locals  make this the perfect place to escape to.

For more information on Grenada, contact the Grenada Board of Tourism at 416-595-1339, email at tourism@grenadaconsulate.com or visit www.grenadagrenadines.com.

Tourists flock to Canada

Ever wonder why you seem to notice Australians on every corner, Brazilians sipping lattes at the cafe, and  French buying up baguettes at the local bakery?  September particularly had a huge influx of international tourists, and I  find it fascinating to see the numbers:

There were 202,200 international arrivals in 2010, with Australia as Canada’s fifth-largest inbound market, with 30,504 Australians arriving in September this year alone.  I wouldn’t want to be at the airport when that flight arrives. Many fellow travellers I have spoken to about their next big trip seem to be  heading to Australia – are we all just trading places temporarily?

French travellers obviously love Canada and are encouraged to see our country,  with a whopping 59,505 visitors from France this past fall.  France is Canada’s second largest overseas inbound travel market.  J’adore  France so house exchange anyone?

87, 661 Brits loved us in September, 2011,  and we love them too, sipping their ale, buying their crisps in British shops, and wishing we  had their  posh accents.  With in-laws living in England, I get to visit often, filling my suitcases with goodies from Marks and Spencer’s. What do the Brits stock up on when they visit us,  I wonder?

I just returned from a terrific few days in Mexico, so was surprised to see how that 11,861 Mexicans came in time to see the changing of the leaves.  Or was it our beaches?

No matter where the visitors are from, they are boosting our  economy, and helping us to see our country in a different way.  If it’s obvious that someone is trying to find their way,  with a map or guidebook in hand, take the time to help them.  Tourists rely on the kindness of strangers and  Canadians are known worldwide as being polite, well spoken and helpful, so keep it up!

further information:  Canadian Tourism Commission