You may have been thinking of taking a vacation to some exotic locale such as Chile, New Zealand, Thailand or even closer to home – the UK and Europe. But if you read the newspaper you will have noticed the earthquakes, floods, illness, strikes and civil unrest – so many things that could spoil your hard earned vacation.The good news is there are excellent alternatives to exotic vacations right here in our backyard; our dollar is strong and there are some great deals to be found on both sides of the border.
Within a day’s drive, train ride (Via!) or a short flight (fly Porter!) you can be in one of many great North American cities - Chicago, Boston, New York, Montreal, Quebec City – the list goes on. All you need to do is choose based on your interests, budget, time frame and travel mode.
As in the grand cities of Europe, there is so much to explore and the best way to do this is to walk. This gives you a great sense of a place, plus you discover great little places to stop for a snack, a latte or local speciality; to buy groceries, wine and locally crafted beers. Just remember to pack your walking shoes, sunscreen and hat and don’t worry about looking like a tourist. If you get tired you can grab the subway or a cab. In many cities there are wonderful bike trails or bike lanes which make taking or renting a bike a great option for exercise and sightseeing. The cooler weather is much more comfortable for biking too.
Make sure your hotel has a spa onsite or nearby to work out the aches after your excursions. Plan to get to a favourite gallery or museum when it has an interesting show. Pre-purchase your theatre or concert tickets, so you get decent seats to the performance you want. If you have children - take them. With a little tweaking, the big city is terrific vacation idea for the entire family.
I am doing a lot of this type of travel these days. I joined my husband at the last minute on his business trip to Boston – we drove. I packed up my laptop and files, forwarded my calls to my cell and hit the road. We stayed in the Back Bay area which is just off the freeway and offered easy access to all the city amenities. We stayed in Utica on the way down and Syracuse on the return – so the drive was very manageable. We walked, shopped, visited the sights, took photos, ate seafood and had some wine. We had a great time away from the stress of home and office, but were always connected to both.
We just returned from a three night stay in Prince Edward County which is challenging Niagara on the Lake as the Ontario wine, culinary and arts destination. There are lots of quiet back roads for biking and of course Sandbanks for the beach and dunes. We had not been back since 2002 and we were so pleasantly engaged by what was happening here. I will be going back for sure!
In a few days I am heading up to the Elora, Fergus and St. Jacobs area; another foodie region which I have not been to in a long while. There are lots of restaurants, galleries, farms, etc to visit. Check my blog later for a report on this trip.
These destinations are all great for special interest groups such cycling, hiking, knitting, photography, cooking, book clubs – any interest group suits.
For individual, couples, families or group travel arrangements call or email me.
Please remember when you are planning your travels. We as humans think we can control everything but we can’t control Mother Nature (or human nature) – so be prepared; travel safe and travel smart. Happy trails..... Judi
No comments:
Post a Comment