North America – Camera & Carry On

This Little Piggy Went for a Swim in the Caribbean

Courtney — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 18:43:52 +0000

When a friend asks you if you'd like to go on a day trip to the Bahamas in her family's plane, you say yes. You then proceed to have an incredible adventure!! When I saw the six-seater plane her uncle would be flying us in my heart dropped. I knew it was small, but I've ridden in cars bigger than this! I buckled my seatbelt, laughing. If something went wrong I just couldn't see this piece of fabric making much of a difference. Where's the aisle? Where's the woman who's supposed to tell me where the emergency exit is? I guess, in a plane this small they aren't hard to find. I realized I'd committed at this point, so with a quick prayer and an "I love you" text to my family, we were off. In such a small plane, we could easily see the town below us--the people, the cars, the houses, the streets and waterways. Then there was nothing but a vast ocean. I couldn't wait to be exploring it in the Bahamas. A paradise of swimming pigs, "pet" nurse sharks, and snorkeling adventures awaited us only an hour and a half plane ride away. When we arrived at the airport a pickup truck was waiting to take us to the place where we would rent a Boston whaler (a small, fast boat). We used it to travel all over Exuma's different cays. Our first stop was Staniel Cay (aka best place ever!!!). As we approached, giant pigs started to swim — yes, swim — toward us from the beach. Apparently they know to expect food, water, and lots of love when boats arrive. We spent about an hour playing with them, feeding them, and taking pictures. We even got to see three little baby piglets! Isn't that a nursery rhyme or something? From there we moved on to Compass Cay where I did the craziest thing I'd do all day —swim with sharks. I willingly got into shark infested water and swam around, diving below them to try to get a good GoPro shot, as people threw chum into the water. Everyone says nurse sharks won't bite unless you mess with them. It was a little scary, but totally worth it!!! Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. After the sharks, we boated around to a few more cays, checking out beautiful and secluded beaches. We had entire beaches to ourselves to explore and relax on. Nothing I have ever seen can compare to the powdery white sand and shocking blue of the water in Exuma. Next up was a surprise destination! When we got there it didn't look like much — just another big mound of rock. As we dove into the water, though, I could see small openings just big enough for someone to swim through. After diving down deep, we found ourselves in a magical cave. I was informed that "magical cave" isn't actually the technical term, though, so if you go you should probably refer to it as "Thunderball Grotto", which is also located in Staniel Cay. Light poured in from the holes at the top, and there were several underwater entrances. Hundreds of fish swam around us and the top of the cave was breathtaking with the light and rocks and plants that grew there. We then found out something even more breathtaking. You can climb on top of the grotto and jump in! (Warning: the rocks you have to climb are very sharp. I highly recommend water shoes, we didn't have any and got a little banged up.) Once at the top, I realized I had learned my lesson from jumping off the cliffs in Amalfi. Don't linger too long, just do it! 1-2-3... JUMP! What a rush! After that we boated around, stopping here and there to see different small beaches and lots of animals. With the crystal blue water, you can see an incredible array of sea life below the surface. While boating we saw some more nurse sharks, sea turtles, tons of fish, sting rays, coral, and of course the piggies. Exuma, Bahamas is an incredible destination that offers everything from adventure to nature and relaxation. Just over an hour plane ride from the continental U.S., you can easily stay for a day or much longer, but don't say I didn't warn you: when you get there you won't want to leave! If you have the time, stay for at least a long weekend. Heck, if you have the time, plan to stay forever! This day reminded me how grateful I am for beautiful places and good friends!

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Video: Enjoying the Snow in Charlevoix

Michael — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:11:50 +0000

I like to think that Charlevoix was first "visited" by an asteroid 15 million years ago. Surprisingly, I couldn't find any concrete facts to back this up, but I think the story goes something like this:

Long before you or I ever set foot on this planet, there was an energetic asteroid named James, floating zillions of miles above the Earth. James was a great traveller, and he had seen many planets, galaxies, and stars, but one day a particular spot on Earth caught his eye. The asteroid thought to itself, "That place looks amazing! I must take a closer look!" James proceeded to fly towards Charlevoix, as quickly as he could. Faster and faster, excitement began to overwhelm him. Before James could stop, he slammed into Canada, creating the Charlevoix Crater.

About 34 miles in diameter, Charlevoix was built on part of this crater (the other part lies under the Saint Lawrence River). This gives the region an amazingly unique topography, perfect for my three, new, favorite winter activities: snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing. For being so close to the New England states, and just about an hour from Québec City, Charlevoix could be a world away.

Snowmobiling

With over 340 miles of trails, Charlevoix is known as one of the best snowmobile destinations in North America. Amateurs and professionals alike flock to the area to cruise through the mountains and along the river. You won't be hard pressed to find a tour that fits your needs. Every January, Charlevoix is home to the Grand Rassemblement des Motoneigistes (Great Gathering of Snowmobile Riders).

Skiing

There are two great mountains in Charlevoix; to the east, Mont Grand-Fonds – also known as the sun mountain, and to the west, Le Massif – the highest vertical drop east of the Canadian Rockies. We took to the west, and enjoyed the better part of a day at Le Massif. The slopes appear to dive into the Saint Lawrence with great perspective. Aside from skiing, there's of course snowboarding, cross country skiing, and an incredible 7½ km long sled run.

Snowshoeing

There's certainly no shortage of fresh powder in Charlevoix, and unless you're in the neighborhood of 8ft tall, you probably can't run around in it for too long. Enter the snowshoe. Shannon and I like to get out and explore our surroundings on foot, so this worked out just great for us! There are literally hundreds of miles of trails in Charlevoix on the mountain sides, around the river, and in the woods. However, two of the places we stayed at had great jaunts right outside our doorstep — Hôtel Le Germain and Our Tiny Cabin.

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Thanks again to Québec Tourism and Tourisme Charlevoix for showing us around, and sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions, text, and images are truthful and our own. See our ethics page for more information.

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From Lemons to Lemonade: One Night in a Tiny House Cabin in Charlevoix

Shannon — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 11:57:07 +0000

I HAVE A BIG OBSESSION WITH TINY HOUSES. On wheels, on stilts, in a tree, or hanging cliffside; you name it, I’m all about it. A handful of TV shows centered on the <400 ft² movement have sprung up, igniting hours of tiny daydreams. It’s a crazy notion to most, but I adore the idea of whittling down to the necessities, finding a scenic spot, and positioning a sweet abode to best take in the view (solar panels, a rain catcher, and hammock preferable add-ons). And when it’s time for something new, just pick up and move on. I like to think the hubs and I were ahead of the curve a few years ago, ~~living within our means~~ making a trendsetting lifestyle choice to go small. From tiny apartments in SF to NY, we fared well and managed not to kill each other, so it’s not much of a stretch to picture ourselves in a similar setup again – just one that’s freestanding and designed to our taste. And we're making it work once again in our nearly tiny, 550 ft², Beantown brownstone, so… YEAH! We could totally go tiny. As for our stuff, I suppose we’d have to pare down, but that’s nothing to be sad about. Just like when we travel with carry ons, sometimes for months on end, you discover what's actually important, and what you can live without. Space is tricky. Too much and you start hoarding the boxes your appliances came in. Too little and the only wardrobe you can accommodate is a swimsuit. I like stuff, but I don’t need it. Long story short, itty bitty spaces continue to inspire me, and the prospect of building our very own pint-sized pad has been on my mind lately more than ever. “Ok, so you like tiny houses. So what does that have to do with anything?” Funny you should ask… We were traveling through the Québec in search of the magic of winter, as one does, and the fine people of Tourisme Charlevoix arranged a special night for us in the Parc national des Grands-Jardins. So imagine my delight when our mountain hideaway for the night turned out to be a simple and sleek, tiny cabin; just in time to escape the snowstorm! Jaw on the floor and giddy as can be, I raced to the door. Honey-colored wood, tons of glass, and the cutest potbelly stove I ever did see invited me in. I couldn’t wait to get cozy and dive into our tiny, one-night-stand. While dusk settled in, the makings of a swell night were underway. Michael unloaded the car, I set the thermostat to sizzle, and we grinned and bubbled with excitement. Beyond expectations, everything was golden. Until it wasn’t. So about those lemons… 27 minutes into tiny house bliss, the power kicked off. “Great,” I thought. No heat, no light, no hot water, no working stove, and no sign of a fuse box; major bummer. So much for the dinner we planned to make. We thought about driving 20km down the icy mountain to chat with the man who gave us the key, but better judgement insisted we inquire with a neighboring cabin to see if they could help. Lo and behold, we were not alone. The sleet-rain-crap storm pummeling the region was the culprit, with power down everywhere. Weather; she’s a fickle fox. If you can’t beat it, squeeze it and sweeten it! We bolted through cold water showers and slipped into fuzzy pjs. We had warmth from the fire and we had each other, but to top it off, we had a pretty, tiny house to hunker down in. Lem-o-naaade. Two hours down, hungry, and a tad tipsy, we contemplated whether or not our steaks would cook atop the potbelly stove. But before we could test the viability of the cookware, a miracle -- the power came on! Overjoyed and on the cusp of gnawing off each other’s limbs, we ignited the cook top and dinner was a-go! Cookies and cider would have filled our bellies just fine, but a hot meal was just what the doctor ordered. Post-feast we migrated back to potbelly warmth t where we snuggled and chatted well into the night. Eventually the patter of sleet coaxed our heavy eyes to sleep until the morning light shone in. The biggest shame, it turned out, was having to leave. Hiccups and all, we were so content in our private, tiny hideaway, we could have easily made several days out of it. Gorgeous mountain views, hiking/snowshoe trails, peace and quiet… such things does a happy traveler make. I was thrilled with our stay in winter, but could picture how lovely the visit would be in the spring, summer, or fall, for a completely unique experience. The takeaway here is that schtuff happens, particularly when Mother Nature has her say, and there’s not often much that can be done about it. We were fortunate to have power to really experience the comforts of the cabin, but we’d have been just peachy if it hadn’t. So take what you’ve got, make the best of it, and if you’re really lucky, things might turn around!

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A grand, "Thank you!" goes out to Québec Tourism and Tourisme Charlevoix for sponsoring this post, hosting our stay, and allowing me to realize my tiny house dreams, if only for a night. As always, all opinions, text, and images are truthful and our own. See our ethics page for more information.

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Video: 8 Must-Do Winter Activities Near Québec City

Michael — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 12:38:52 +0000

Brrrrr, baby its cold outside! What to do? What to do? Well, go outside of course! What does winter really mean to me? It means skiing, hot toddies, and hot tubs. Don't run away from the cold, embrace it! New England has a plethora of winter activities, but to experience something a little more unique, we traveled away from our home in Boston and up to Québec, Canada. Often thought of as the "Europe you can drive to," Québeckers (or Québécoise) don't just get out in the snow and cold, they throw festivals, play, and party in it. Here are eight of my must-do winter activities around Québec City.

1. Ice Canyoning

Just outside of Québec City there's a 135 foot tall water fall that partially freezes during the winter. You might be thinking, "That'd be cool to see," but that's not what ice canyoning is. Ice canyoning means you're actually going to climb down this frozen piece of nature by repelling from a rope and digging into the ice with the cleats on your feet. In this video you can see that just a few feet from us there's still water flowing wildly behind the ice.

2. Nordic Spas

Have you ever heard the expression, "Rinse, wash, repeat?" That's basically the idea behind Nordic Spas, except it's more like, "Hot, cold, relax." In other words, first sit in a hot tub or sauna for a little while, then take a quick dip in a freezing cold bath, and finish by settling into a peaceful and tranquil room. I'm not going to pretend I know all the science behind it, but the Sibéria Station Spa seems to really get it, and I love the environment they create. There are real health benefits to this idea, and I can attest it's quite rejuvenating.

3. Snow Jamboree

For the last several years Québec City has hosted the Snow Jamboree. Part big-air boarding and part big-time partying, this festival is a blast. In between a few overpasses, just outside the Old Town, exists a 130 ft tall, 360 ft long, big air ramp. Here you can see professional snowboarders and skiers at their best. And like I said... crazy after parties, too!

4. Les Voûtes de Napoléon

There are several ways to warm yourself up from a cold, Canadian chill: puffy coat, hand warmers, fire pits, electric heaters, etc. There is only one good way to heat up in Québec City: flowing beer, stiff drinks, singing, and dancing. For this I recommend Les Voûtes de Napoléon. Don't let its discrete exterior fool you; a few steps down into the basement level, this speakeasy-esq bar is one of the most lively scenes you'll find. An acoustic guitar accompanied by energized vocals, an accordion, and spoon man are often joined in song and dance by passionate drunkards, and local heat seekers.

5. Winter Carnaval Parade

Shannon wrote all about the Winter Carnaval festivities here, and even if you're not interested in spending the time at the carnaval itself, the parade is not one to miss. This closing ceremony boasts music, lights, and entertainment unlike any parade I've seen before. You may know that Cirque du Soleil has it's roots in Québec, and here it shows. Acrobats flew, climbed, and juggled there way from float to float.

6. Ice Tobogganing

On the Dufferin Terrace, just behind the Château Frontenac, you'll find a 125+ year old toboggan slide. While cruising down the slide, you could hit speeds of up to 45 mph. There are three lanes, and each toboggan can hold up to four passengers. So grab your friends and make a race of it!

7. Make an Ice Glass

There's a ton to do and see at the Hôtel de Glace, but my must-do activity is making your own "glass," and of course enjoying a tasty beverage out of it. On the Behind the Scene tour, not only will you learn how the hotel is constructed, but you'll also get to make your very own cup from a solid block of ice. Then, fill it with some of the coolest drinks (pun intended) in the great white north.

8. Enjoy the View

If you really do need to get out of the cold (and perhaps you lost your voice at Les Voûtes de Napoléon the night before), consider stepping into the Observatoire de la Capitale. 725 ft above the ground, you'll see 360° views of the city, and can also learn about some of the city's rich history and culture.

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You can find more information about all these activities on the Québec Original website. A big thanks to Quebec Tourism for showing us around and sponsoring this post.

As always, all opinions, text, and images are truthful and our own. See our ethics page for more information.

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“Joyeux Carnaval!” A 400lb Snowman, a Festival, and a Touch of Frostbite

Shannon — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:05:59 +0000

Remember what it was like to be a kid?

Getting up early before your parents to snuggle on the couch with a bowl of junky cereal and Saturday morning cartoons. {Sigh} The good ol' days. Life was simple: school, homework, play. A rough day was when you got paired with your arch nemesis to complete a school project, or your little sister swiped your favorite Barbie. Oh, sisters? We never forget. It's also when we pick favorites and plant the seeds of nostalgia. Like the dream of one day meeting your most beloved character in real life -- say, a certain over sized mouse at Disney World, or coming face-to-face with your ultimate Teen Beat crush (JTT anyone?!). For our friends north of the border, they swoon for a certain M. Bonhomme Carnaval. Essentially Canadian Mickey, you can imagine the wonder and delight when a young sprout from Québec gets to meet this winter celebrity and icon is the ambassador of the Carnaval de Québec. He's the face, voice, and spirit of winter's joie de vivre. "What's that?" you say. It means you best put yer winter wear on, slap on a happy face, and enjoy the coldest season!!! Fun fact: Bonhomme is friends with Santa (and more nifty tid bits here)!

He's a convivial chap, fond of giving hugs, whipping high-kicks, and welcoming visitors to the land of syrup and "ehs."

We humble Americans were only vaguely aware of whom this Bonhomme character was, and found ourselves wholly unprepared for the enthusiasm and vigor a 400lb snowman-come-to-life could possess. A tour of his castle revealed a hint of narcissism (aka life size replicas and photos of said snowman galore), but who can blame the guy? He's a charmer with an entertaining way about him, and can't seem to get enough of the leg kick. Bonhomme was kind enough to say bonjour and - you guessed it - lock me in an embrace (pause at 0:10 for awkward hug and pledge of affection) on video.

Warmup breaks are essential to winter survival - mine, at least.

Mission complete! We'd been properly introduced to the man of the hour, exchanged hugs & kicks, and were free to enjoy the winter festival at our leisure. Which obviously meant taking a romantic, frozen sleigh ride with 12 people after defrosting our insides with hot chocolate & amarula indoors. Because... cold. Freeze your snot, kill movement to your fingers, brain-no-work-no-more cold. Defrosting = good. The Carnaval de Québec is the ideal place to let your inner child off leash, or let your actual children run wild and free if you have one of those. It takes up some serious ground - as seen from the aerial lookout of the Observatoire de la Capitale - and you can easily spend a full day there testing your stamina against the freeze and waiting your turn for the next attraction. Suuure, the lines get a little long, but that's part of the fun; ~~strangers with body heat to steal~~ making friends! PLUS, you get to test if all that fancy North Face/Columbia/Canada Goose gear really works.

You can join a giant sized foosball tournament, ride a zip line, race down a luge, eat maple taffy (always a winner), circle the ferris wheel, mush on a dog sled...

Pretending you're eight years old at the Carnaval is TOTALLY AWESOME, until you remember you're actually 30 years old. The urge to explore the small streets of the Petit Champain and imbibe local drinks won over the will to tumble down a hill in a hamster wheel after a few hours; though that has its own, strange appeal. All good things in moderation. *Cheers* Thanks to some leisure time around Québec-Vieux, a light lunch, a stop at a confectionery or two, the world is winter-bright and merry again! Bread crumbs of Carnaval trailed throughout the city; a reminder that even for those not attending the festival itself, the spirit transcends.

When the sun hides and the lights come out, so begins the procession of artfully designed floats, acrobats, music, and happy souls in the grand parade.

Cirque du Soleil was born here, so rest assured you can count on French Canadians to deliver in the costume and entertainment department. There was the occasional marching band or two, which are always fun, but it's the artists of movement that truly shone. Dynamic color, sound, and dance collided in sheer delight. Granted, I enjoyed most of this with my gloved hands in pockets, so forgive that I can't share all the secrets with you in photos. Best to experience in person, anyway. Note: hand warmers are friends to nearly frostbitten fingers. Pack them. Use them.

I was romanced by Bonhomme, frozen, thawed, played like a kid, and happily watched the parade pass with thermal packets in my boots.

At -30°, I can assure you it was the kind of cold you don't look forward to spend an evening in, let alone a full day. But it really was a good time. By the end of the Carnaval I felt exhausted, beaten, and thoroughly entertained. And did I mention we happened to shake hands with the Prime Minister, M. Justin Trudeau? Ha! Would you believe it? The cherry on top of the snow cone.

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What fun we had exploring Québec City for the Winter Carnaval, and we send many thanks to Québec Tourism and the Québec City & Area for sponsoring this post, hosting our stay, and allowing us to get up close with the big, snowy guy. As always, all opinions, text, and images are truthful and our own. See our ethics page for more information.

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Video: Canada’s Enchanting Ice Hotel

Michael — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 12:57:26 +0000

Recently Shannon wrote about the "REAL LIFE Frozen" (i.e. Québec's Hôtel de Glace), this week I'm trying to bring the experience to life with some of the great video we shot during our visit. From the elaborate sculptures and carvings, to the elegant rooms, arctic spa, and slides that we prove are "fun for kids of all ages," there are a lot of awesome things to see at this Ice Hotel. So what do you think? Would you like to stay a night at this frozen palace? I have to say, the ingenuity, artistry, and wonderment is really something spectacular, but full disclosure here, I don't know about spending the night. I mean it's still pretty cold, and if you have to go potty in the middle of the night, I believe the process goes something like this:

Unzip (your full body sleeping bag, not your pants)
Get your coat on as fast as possible
Get your boots on as fast as possible
Shoot, you probably just got snow in your boots, shake that out
Put boots back on
Run to the bathroom (this is a separate shared room that involves you being outside for a moment)
Unzip (yes, pants this time)
Run back to room
Perform sleeping bag ritual (also known as extreme insulation lock down)

Ya, I don't know. I think it's a "bucket list" kind of thing, or as Shannon refers to it, a "Frozen fantasy." Definitely worth taking a tour though (they offer several types), we've never seen anything like it before, and the drinks are damn good! Let us know if you'd sleep at the Hôtel de Glace by commenting below. And stay tuned! We're really embracing winter this year, and have a lot more great things to come from Québec and beyond!

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Thanks again to the Hôtel de Glace and Quebec Tourism for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions, text, and images are truthful and our own. See our ethics page for more information.

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