Do you long for cottage country in Ontario? As we approach the end of summer, it’s not too late to enjoy a weekend in Consecon and all it has to offer. Just under a two hour drive from Toronto heading toward Cobourg and Belleville, this magnificent place has everything you’re looking for. This blog will focus on where to stay, what to do and where to eat on a budget.

My friends and I decided on a beautiful 4 bedroom cottage overlooking Weller’s Bay. At $56 a night per person, you can’t get any better than that. Super host, Christina, advertises her picturesque place on Airbnb “Summer Breeze Cottage Prince Edward County”.

Each morning, I would wake up to the sounds of loons on the bay. With coffee in hand, I was mesmerized by the sights and sounds. I watched as yellow sun fish shimmied out of the water and saw bass breaching like orca whales.

Take advantage of the free activities the county has to offer including a trip to visit the alpacas at SHED Farms. These curious creatures are adorable!

“Our farm is open to the public and there are no admission fees“.

We are located at:
500 Closson Road, Hillier ON K0K 2J0
Canada

Telephone (613) 399-1990

SHED also has a gift shop where all alpaca wool is sold in the form of hats and clothing and so soft to the touch.

If you love the water, like I do, there is North Beach Provincial Park (440 North Beach Road, RR#3, Consecon). With a”walk in” admission price of $2.00 for adults, $1.75 for seniors and just $1.00 for children, it is more affordable than going to a recreation centre or outdoor pool. Cross over the dunes to the bay side and you will find ripply sandy water perfect for swimming with an average temperature of 75 degrees.

Migratory birds are plentiful in this region, so if you’re an avid bird watcher, head to Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, 6056 Long Point Road. Admission is free and you might get lucky and see warblers, owls, grebes and woodpeckers, to name a few.

Now, let’s talk food and drinks. After all, Jamie Kennedy (J.K. Farm) lives here. La Condesa is an authentic Mexican restaurant with food that will fill your tummy and prices that won’t hurt your pocket book. 298 Wellington Main Street.

The perch tacos with cabbage, chipotle, aioli and pico were delicious! A lake fish common to Ontario, packs flavor and priced only at $6.00. Be risky and dare to try the mezcal margarita infused with lime, agave and shaken with a grapefruit zest. After one of these, you’ll be happily dancing to the mariachi band!

Another great place to try is Parsons Brewing Company- 876 County Road 49 in Picton. If you’re a beer aficionado, then here’s the place to try the hops and flutes. The place is also known for their Argentinian empanadas. Priced at $4.50 each, these delicacies are filled with chorizo sausage, chicken, pork or beef.

If you have never traveled to Ontario during the summer season, I say try it as you will truly fall in love with cottage country.

My next blog will focus on wine country in Prince Edward County. There’s lots to savor and drink here….

As I reflect on my 53rd birthday tomorrow, I think of all my travels over the years and have fond memories of Cuba and its people. When growing up in Toronto, our family holidays were always in Cuba through The Last Minute Club. Do any of you remember this affordable travel agency based in Toronto where you could get an all-inclusive to Holguin, Cienfuegos or Varadero for $399-$499 for the week?

Alas, times have changed and so has the cost of travelling to Cuba. However, there is good news! You can still travel to this lovely island renowned for its rum, cigars, baseball players, dancers and musicians at a great price.

Canadians have always had a love and affinity for this country. We even have a company down there in Moa- Sherritt nickel company. This beautiful island in the north of the Caribbean is paradise, to say the least. Since Fulgencio Batista was defeated by Che Cuevara and Fidel Castro, this country is rich in Spanish and Cuban heritage with a wealth of history.

Before we get into exploring this magnificent city, let’s talk about currency in Cuba. There are two official currencies in Cuba: the peso and the CUC (Cuban convertible peso)for travelers. The CUC is commonly accepted by local businesses and to give you an idea about the conversion rate from CAD to CUC, it is 1 CUC to $1.30 Canadian .

This blog focuses on the city of Havana and all it has to offer. Havana was founded in 1519 by the Spaniards and continues to be an attraction for locals and tourists alike. It is a walking city, so do not miss out on visiting El Malecon where the lighthouse is located. This is a lover’s seawall, an esplanade, if you will, stretching out 8 kilometres in length along Cuba’s coast. Steeped in catholicism, a visit to La Catedral de la Virgen Maria de la Concepcion de la Habana is a must see at no cost. If you want to experience sightseeing at your leisure, simply go on the hop-on-hop-off bus. The T1 takes you to old Havana, the T2 to Revolucion Square and the T3 heads east to the beaches. It is an inexpensive way to explore this wonderful city.For day trips from Havana, I would recommend seeing Pino del Rio, an agricultural area where tobacco is grown and you can explore the mountains hiking or rock-climbing. The cheapest and easiest way to get there is by shuttle leaving from Havana.

Now, let’s talk about what Cuba is famous for- el ron. Take an opportunity to visit El Museo del Ron Havana Club at Avenida del Puerto 262, esq. Sol, Habana Vieja Cuba, Havana, Cuba and only $7 CUCS. If you savor rum, like I do, this is a must visit.

If you fancy a mojito, why not walk over to Ernest Hemingway’s old watering hole, La Bodeguita del Medio. Although touristy, it is worth a visit. I, however, would recommend sauntering down to La Casa Bolear where they have 2 for 1 priced drinks and a rum goes for only 1 CUC.

Cuba is famous for its talented musicians, and Ry Cooder and The Buena Vista Social Club gave recognition and fame to all Cuban musicians. Music fills Cuba’s air, night clubs, restaurants, houses and streets and if you want to listen and dance to the Cuban rhythms, go visit Bar Monserrrate, Monserrrate No. 401.

Yes, if you love your stogies, Cuba is the place to sample:

1. Montecristo No.2.
2. Partagas Serie D.
3. Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona.
4. Bolivar Belicoso.
5. Cohiba Behike.

Better yet, visit a cigar-making factory called, La Corona Cigar Factory : Galiano Street 93, Havana, and savor the delights of a Cuban coffee and a cigar at only $13.00 CUCS.

Havana is not only a music lover’s paradise, but also home to the world famous, Club Tropicana. Cuba’s elite ballerina, Alicia Alonso set the stage for electrifying dance and this club has never forgotten her. Visit their website and look for discounted tickets at https://www.cabaret-tropicana.com/en/book/category/espectaculo.

Cuba is a great place to visit and if you have not had the opportunity to do so, I ask you, why not?

My next blog will talk about Cuban food, the weather and where to stay in this tropical paradise, so stay tuned for more…..

I write this as I celebrate Canada Day-152 years young. Of course, I thought about how old Palm Springs is…1853 when the natural hot springs and minerals were discovered. Regardless of age, this hotel is exquisite! Complete with mid-century architecture, this adult only resort is open to non-registered guests! Yes, that’s right, you don’t have to stay there to take advantage of all the stunning amenities it has to offer. Located at 1501 North Palm Canyon Drive, you arrive at Arrive with ID at the front desk and they simply let you in to use their ozonated pool, hot tub and pool floaties for free. In addition, they offer free beach towels and chaise lounges. With a cocktail in hand, these floaties are simply delightful. The floaties range from pineapples, watermelons, palm trees, toucans to flamingos. How could you not love that!

The other highlight is the steamed mist aerating from the neighboring palm trees that cool you down in the heat of PS, and what a relief that is!

Once there, you choose a spot and just take in the vibe!

If you fancy a cocktail and a nibble, simply put on your wrap and saunter down to Wexler’s in the hotel where you can get Dana’s Matzo soup for $10 American or if you crave something more substantial, you can order a grilled cheese sandwich with fries for $9.00 American. By the way, the poolside service is next to none with waiters and waitresses always on the alert for hungry and thirsty guests.

If you want some R and R away from family and children, I highly recommend this hotel whether you stay there or not. It has a lot to offer and guaranteed, you will not want to emerge from the pool unless a cocktail or food beckons you.

Stay tuned for more of my budgeted tropical adventures.

Every time I go to Palm Springs to lap up the sun, I always stay in The Movie Colony area because it is so close to my favorite restaurant, Birba. This delightful place located at 622 N. Palm Canyon Drive has an atmosphere of its own. Once you walk through the open patio area, your senses are heightened in so many ways. There are clusters of hanging lights, the sound of laughter and the smells of pizza that waft through the air. We chose to sit outside on the right, away from the diners to take it all in. Even before looking at the menu, I knew we were in the right place as humming birds flocked to our table as if to peruse the menu as well.

Although Birba does not have a happy hour, you can still dine there on a budget. They are famous for the stone hearth baked pizzas which are so large, that you simply cannot eat all slices and so, staff happily pack it up and there’s your dinner for the next night. The pizzas range in price from $15-$19 American. The margherita pizza is made with fresh basil and cheeses and is at the lower end price wise.

They are also famous for their pastas and offer gluten-free options for those with sensitive stomachs like mine.

As for the cocktails, they can be pricey as there are so many fancy ones on offer. However, if you stick with a lovely house red or white, it is affordable to have a drink, or two:) My personal favorite is the Panamanian chocolate- infused rum named Selva Rey Cacao. At $6 American, it is a steal as this rum is unique in its blend and not easy to find in other places.

As Birba is a popular hang out for locals and tourists alike, a reservation is highly recommended at http://www.birbaps.com. Their hours of operation are from Wednesday through Sunday, 5 pm-midnight.

Travelling on a budget can be tough, yet with some ingenuity and creativity when ordering food and cocktails, you will still get the best bang for your buck while enjoying the savory delights that Birba has to offer.

My next blog is about a great hotel and its amenities. You don’t even have to be a registered guest there to use the facilities! Stay tuned for more about Palm Springs…..

I started visiting Palm Springs, California a few years ago as I was fascinated with the desert and the road runners. Oh, those elusive road runners that hide in bushes and parks in residential neighborhoods of Palm Springs. I always felt like I was Wile. E. Coyote on the hunt for this common bird in Palm Springs , yet, alas, I have yet to stumble upon one. There is always a next trip though…..

You can easily do PS on a budget if you know how and when to book your flight. I usually go with West Jet direct from Victoria or Vancouver for $200-$300 return if you book a few months in advance. For me, leaving from Vancouver, the flight is under two hours. This is less in travel time than riding BC Ferries to get to Vancouver Island!

The city has a lot to offer for those on a budget. First off, PS is a walking city and if your feet get tired, simply hop on The Buzz Bus, operated by SunLine which offers free travel to the downtown core every 20 minutes from 12 pm to 10 pm Thursday through Saturday. This is a great opportunity to see this small city by bus at no cost. You simply ring the bell and hop on and off at your desire.

If you are looking for daily excursions, I would highly recommend visiting The Moorten Botanical Gardens off South Palm Canyon Drive. If you love flowers, succulents and cacti, like I do, you will love this garden. Admission is $5.00 American for adults and only $2.00 for children under 15. Here is my succulent growing on my patio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Another great trip is visiting the old Hollywood homes to relish in the mid-century architecture of PS. To do this, I would suggest renting a car through Enterprise and do a self-guided drive through the Hollywood Hills leaving from Old Las Palmas and driving North to Vista Chino Drive. You will see the likes of all the movie glitter that Hollywood stars had to offer when living here including Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Sonny and Cher, Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and more. If you get a map of these old homes, it is far cheaper than going on a guided bus tour that would set you back $50 American. Why not rent a car and go off the beaten track away from the tourists and explore Palm Springs architecture at its best?

Next, a visit to Palm Springs would not be complete without a visit to Joshua Tree National Park. Easy with a car rental from Enterprise (ask for the free $30.00 parking pass and admission rate, often dropped off by previous car renters and given out to new car renters for free and is good for 7 days to enter the park). Driving from PS to the park takes roughly an hour and a half past all the wind turbines on the interstate , but be careful, make sure you turn right at the turn off or you will be heading West to Los Angeles. As you approach the park, you will drive past Yucca town and then on to Joshua Town where you might want to stop at Crossroads Cafe before you enter the park at https://crossroadscafejtree.com. It is well-known by locals and tourists alike and serves up delicious breakfast and lunch dishes.

When you enter the park, there are various hiking trails for all mobility and you MUST being a bottle of water when walking as there is no reprieve from the shade and temperatures can reach as high as 100 Fahrenheit-37 degrees Celsius. Despite this arid heat, if you are lucky, you will stumble upon an oasis of water where herders used to take their cattle for a drink. Also, there is an abundance of wildlife in the park. Hopefully, you are not afraid of these animals and reptiles and get lucky seeing the following: snakes, big horn sheep, kangaroo rats, coyotes, bats, lynx and black tailed rabbits. We came across this spotted lizard in the heat of the day.

This National Park is truly wondrous, especially, when you visit between April and August when all the flowers and cacti are in bloom, like this:

I love the warmth and heat of Palm Springs as it makes me feel so alive.

My next blog will talk about food and accommodation in Palm Springs and doing it on a budget, so stay tuned for more on California.

As I was watching The Toronto Raptors clinch the NBA title against The Golden State Warriors, I started to think about how players like Lowry and Leonard were skillfully shooting hoops and it occurred to me how whales do the same thing! Let me explain…

Humpback, orcas and other species will exit the water with all their body weight (imagine humans doing that) and with precision, breach backwards or forwards back into the waters with a stupendous splash. The skills and execution of doing this are not easy, and yet, they do it, not to mention other maneuvers including spy-hopping, logging and fluke snapping. Just like basketball players on the court, whales play court in our oceans and seas with just as much competition:)

There is no better place to watch whales than in Maui with Pacific Whale Foundation, 612 Front Street in Lahaina. They have extremely knowledgeable naturalists and skippers on board their unique vessels, including Ocean Discovery. If you are looking for an affordable adventure, go for the Whale Watch Discount tour leaving from Lahaina and Ma’alaea Bay. This 2 hour tour which leaves daily in the mornings and afternoons only costs $38 American for adults and $25 for children. If you book online, you save an additional 10%. Conversely, you can also go online to Groupon to see if PWF has a coupon. Finally, if you become a member of this eco-friendly organization, you have additional perks and savings.

Mick Fleetwood, from Fleetwood Mac, wholeheartedly supports this organization with fundraisers on a regular basis and this organization is so well-known and respected by locals that their volunteer staff never leave!

If you want to be swooned by the beauty of these wondrous leviathans, please book an excursion with Pacific Whale Foundation at http://www.pacificwhale.org

A trip through Whaler’s Village in Kaanapali is a wonderful place for shopping, but with stores like Tommy Bahamas and Pandora, you might not have much money left for the real deal which of course, is the happy hour at Leilani’s. First off, this beach front property overlooks a well-manicured walking trail and has access to the sandy waters where you can bob in the ocean and watch the catamarans come into shore from their excursions. I warn you though, the pristine white sand is hot on your feet, so always wear sandals when walking on the beach to head to the water. Two years ago, when my sisters and I were in Kaanapali, we had an old saying, “hot feet, hot feet, hot feet!”

Leilani’s is a popular and bustling place with live Hawaiian music often performed by the same guys year after year on their guitars and ukuleles. The patio and circular bar both overlook the ocean and seating outside is in abundance. The bartenders remember locals and visitors by name which is a nice touch to such a friendly place. John, an American bartender, remembered me as the ” sun-worshiping Canadian”. He even made mention of living in Kamloops, British Columbia for awhile, but then told me the warmth of Maui lured him back home.

As for the happy hour menu, it is simply delicious and kind to your wallet. Here is a sneak peak at what Leilani’s has to offer:

The Kalua pork is famous in Maui, so do not miss out on this scrumptious taco priced at $8.00 American. Although not advertised on the menu, but always available is Leilani’s famous chocolate haupia pie made from coconut milk and sugar! Who wants to go on a diet in Maui, not me for sure. Just ask the local bartenders about this heavenly pie.

For Mai Tais, they offer the lemonade version or if you want to bar hop, simply cross the walkway to Duke’s Beach House for a drink served in a Tiki glass. If Mai Tais are not your thing, Leihlani’s offers thirst-quenching margaritas.

All in all, Leilani’s serves up reasonably priced pupus in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, so do not miss out on this beach house.

My next blog will focus on an excursion offered by one of the most reputable and eco-friendly companies in Maui….. what is the place you ask? Well, you can see these stunning creatures and a lot more, so stay tuned.

I want to let you in on a little secret……The Napili Kai Resort is owned by Canadians, Margaret, Jack and Dorothy Millar from Vancouver. Being a proud Canadian (and Brit), I had to review The Sea House Restaurant which is housed outside this beautiful resort. The hotel gets its name because of a large crescent of sand which joins the ocean and once you take in the glorious views of the bay, you’ll see why this was the perfect name and such a pristine place to have pupus. I diverge as I remember renting snorkeling gear from ” Boss Frog’s” and catching the Maui bus ($4 day pass) from my rental to Napili Bay. It was only a 15 minute ride as the bus headed north and then made a U-turn at Kapalua Resort, famous for its golf course, and I ended up at this resort.

I found out about this place through an old friend who used to have a condo in the Kahana Beach area. She kept on and on about the wonderful views of the bay and the Hawaiian “happy hour”, so off I went. After snorkeling and watching the leather back turtles sunning themselves on the rocks, I was hungry and thirsty. I took a seat at the bar which has a framed window of the bay with bartenders shaking cocktails like Tom Cruise and I ordered a rum. The pupus menu is typically Hawaiian and very reasonably priced given the type of swanky resort Napili Kai is. The menu was extensive including crispy Kapalua rolls, Kula onion soup, poke nachos, coconut shrimp, seared ahi, and kalua pork tacos. These dishes are only between $7-$8 American and with two appetizers, there is your dinner for the night. Happy hour is from 2-4:30 daily and there is Hawaiian music from 7-9 pm should you not want to leave The Sea House when the famous Maui sunsets occur. Take in the music as you savour the pupus of The delightful Sea House.

My next blog will be on Leilani’s on the beach in Kaanapali, Maui. They are famous for their fish tacos and now I am hungry…..

This blog is about the pupus menus in Maui. What is pupu you ask? It’s the happy hour of Maui!

One of my favorite restaurants in Maui is located in the town of Lahaina, Maui at 505 Front Street. I thoroughly enjoy taking in the beach front views of surf lessons given to tourists and watching the ocean dogs play in the sand and frolic in the water as I sip on Hawaiian rum at Pacific’o Restaurant. This stunning waterfront property boasts a lunch and dinner menu as well as a pupu menu. I often go there for the appetizers and skip lunch and dinner as the price point for happy hour is exceptional and the Maui food is to die for including tostada ceviche and poke, raw diced fish with kukui nuts, on the menu. Pupus range in price from $5-$10 American and the drink menu includes Mai Tais, farm cocktails of the day, craft beer and a variety of wines.

My mahi mahi ginger infused fish with brown rice and upcountry vegetables all for $10 American.

This is a unique restaurant as it is farm to table and you can book a $50 American tour to pick your own vegetables in the cool upcountry climate which the chef cooks onsite with your choice of protein. This takes place in the Haleakala Mountain range and you can bring your own wine, beer and cocktails to the event.

Live music is offered on Friday and Saturday nights from 4:30-6:30 PM which is the perfect pairing with an ice-cold Mai Tai coupled with a wonderful appetizer as you take in the views of the Hawaiian waters and all it has to offer…..

My next blog will highlight The Sea House in Napili- a must for dining and views of Napali Bay.