In January of 2024, I visited Martinique with my parents for two-weeks. The beautiful French island of the Caribbean, although popular with French tourists, is really a hidden gem and still has an authentic Creole culture and wild jungles. It offers white sand beaches as well as black beaches, plenty of hikes for all levels, museums and cultural visits, waterfalls and so much more... I absolutely loved this trip and can't wait to share with you the activities that made it so special. 1. Hike to Cascade CouleuvreCascade Couleuvre might not be the mightiest waterfall in the world, or even on the island. It is barely a trickle of water, but its height is impressive and it is located in a beautiful lush jungle. The hike is 1,6 kilometer (1 mile) of steady incline. I wouldn't say it is easy per se as the heat and uneven terrain both offer a certain level of difficulty, but with good walking shoes, any person of a regular fitness level would be able to make it without any issue. The best part of this waterfall is the shower that it offers once you reach it. The water is cool and there is a ledge where you can stand for the perfect water pressure. Once your hike is over, you can also walk an extra minute to the beach at Anse Couleuvre. It is one of the best beaches in Martinique in my opinion and a perfect end to your day. The only thing that is unfortunate at Anse and Cascade Couleuvre is the road to get there and parking situation. Be aware that the road is very narrow and consists of switchbacks up and back down a mountain. The parking lot is for about 6 cars, so anyone else is parked on the side of this very narrow road where you consistently can't see if a car is coming in the opposite direction. It is totally worth the challenge, but drive slowly, be aware that you might have to back up in the switchbacks to let an other car pass you, and be careful! I promise the hike and the beach are worth it! 2. Visit Jardin BalataThe Jardin Balata is a private garden that reminded me a lot of Butchard Gardens in Victoria. It offers a beautiful view on the surrounding mountains and the jungle, it contains a wide variety of plants from all around the world and an impressive collection of palm trees. You can also walk on the canopy trail (included in the visit) where rope bridges will guide you through the bamboo forest and over parts of the garden. We spent almost three hours exploring and it was a delightful morning. 3. Go snorkeling or transparent kayaking in Grande Anse to see the turtlesThose who know me are well aware that I am terrified of swimming in deep water or somewhere that some kind of sea creature can touch me, so I was really excited to see that O fil de l'eau offered transparent kayak rentals in Grande Anse. The bays of Anse Dufour, Anse Noire and Grande Anse are known as the best places to observe sea turtles in Martinique. While Anse Dufour and Anse Noire were really busy when we visited, so much that we had to turn around, Grande Anse was fairly quiet. We were also told that the turtles have mostly relocated to Grande Anse because of the amount of visitors in Anse Dufour. We rented the kayaks for an hour, and although the conditions were very windy and not ideal for the observation of turtles, we saw a good number of them! We even saw a few come to the surface to breathe right next to us. It was a wonderful experience that I would love to do again sometime. You can also snorkel to them from the beach. Although seeing the turtles up close is an activity I would recommend to everyone, it is important to remember that they are endangered. Please do not approach them or chase after them, and do not swim directly above sea turtles as it can scare them into not coming up for air. Also, please remember that feeding wildlife is always a bad idea ;) For more information on swimming with turtles sustainably, check out this article. 4. Hike Presqu'île de la caravellePresqu'île de la Caravelle is a national park on the Atlantic side of Martinique. It takes about three to four hours to hike around the whole presqu'île, but there are smaller portions you can do if you prefer. The full trail will take you to a lighthouse, where you will have a good view of the whole Atlantic Coast, and through mangroves and up and down sea cliffs to some gorgeous views. The hike isn't particularly difficult or technical, but still worth being well prepared. Most of the trail offers no sun protection and the heat is intense. Honestly, after ten minutes, I had sweated off my sunscreen and my cheeks were already starting to get irritated from how often I had wiped them off. And I visited in January... I recommend bringing plenty of water, in insulated bottles if you can as I was more hot then I was dehydrated and the cool water really helped. 5. visit habitation clémentHabitation Clément is one of the many distilleries you can visit in Martinique, but it is the most beautiful in my opinion. The original plantation house has been kept intact and is open for visits, just like the old distillery. The gardens are beautiful and showcase multiples sculptures of local artists. There are also museums on the grounds and you will end the visit with a rhum tasting. The JM Distillery, in Northern Martinique was also beautiful and had the upside of being free, but it was missing the cultural and historic elements that made Habitation Clement really stand out in my opinion. If you have time, I would definitely recommend visiting both as they offer very different experiences. 6. go for a swim at cascades de didierCascades de Didier are probably the two most popular waterfalls in all of Martinique, and they deserve the honour. The problem is that they are located on a private property and are a drinkable water source. Therefore, the visit is technically forbidden. But, ask any Martiniquais what to visit while on the island and they will recommend Cascades de Didier. The waterfalls are so popular with locals and visitors alike that a path has been built to the first waterfall and you definitely won't be alone when you get there. I am planning a full article on these waterfalls in a few weeks so you can check back for a detailed guide, but know that you would be missing out if you decided not to go. The waterfalls are absolutely beautiful, there is plenty of space to swim and the water is the exact right temperature to cool you down after the short hike. The first waterfall is just a 15 minute walk from the street and the path is well indicated. The second waterfall was more of a challenge as you had to walk in the water in multiple places and over boulders and under fallen trees. You would need good hiking shoes to make it safely to the second one, but it is the most beautiful of the two. Of course, every reward comes after a little work! 7. visit the museum Franck PerretThe Museum Frank Perret, in Saint-Pierre, was built to commemorate the tragedy of the city being completely destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1902. It is a small museum, but it is so well done. There is a section on life before the tragedy, one about the week of the incident, there is a full section where the names of every person killed that they had a record of was written on the walls, and a section full of artefacts that were collected after the eruption. The visit is autonomous, but every exhibit is explained by an audio guide. They also have audio recordings of people telling their point of view, or articles of the time being read. We spent over an hour walking through the whole exhibit and it was so interesting! Once your visit is over, you are also a short walk away from the ruins of the theater of old Saint-Pierre and Cyparis' prison. 8. Hike the Savane des pétrificationsWhere the North side of Martinique is all mountains and lush jungles and greenery, the South is more windswept coastline, especially on the Atlantic coast. The Savane des Pétrifications is a park on the South-East coast and definitely more desert than jungle. The hike to Anse Trabaud is a short 4 km walk, with some incline, but mostly flat, where you can see cacti, the beautiful coastline, weird rock formations and beautiful beaches. The only difficulties on this hike would be the heat and crossing the bridge at the entrance where the rocks are very slippery and too far apart and I recommend just taking off your shoes and walking in the water. But if you want a longer hike, you can walk what is called "La trace des caps", which the Savane des Pétrifications is a part of, from Anse Caritan to Petit Macabou for a total of over 30 km. 9. visit the banana plantation of habitation chalvetBeing from Canada, where we can only grow so much of our fruits and vegetables because of our harsh weather, it's always fascinating to me to visit destinations where so many different plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables can grow, wether they are local or imported. Martinique was one of those places where you would find plantations all around you and every house seemed to have its own garden. At Habitation Chalvet, you can take a guided tour of the banana plantation where they will tell you all about it, but they will also take you through the ruins of the old habitation, to the medicinal garden and the little kiosk at the entrance is surrounded by so many species of flowers and fruits and your guide can tell you all about them. We definitely learned a lot about plants and what they can be used for, but also about the history of Martinique which was great. 10. enjoy the sun and sea at anse salines beachAnse Salines is the favorite beach of Martinique, and for good reasons. There is fine white sand, blue water, plenty of palm trees to put up your hamac, cute restaurants and shops, and although it is popular, it never seems crowded. There is also a lady going around with homemade ice cream! This beach is also easily accessible, free, and has parking that isn't on a hill or on a road side where you can't see if there are cars coming, a definite win in Martinique! And the one you could pass on...If you have read other articles on Martinique or done some research about what to do there, you are probably wondering when I'm going to talk about the Baignoire de Joséphine. Well, here we are! The Baignoire de Josephine is a shallow piece of land in the middle of the sea in between a bunch of islands on the Atlantic side of Martinique. It looks really pretty, as the bottom is white so the water looks really blue, and the fact that you can stand up in the middle of the sea is nice, but although it looks like a sand bar on pictures, it is not. This is the most popular attraction of the area so there are multiple companies selling boat tours out of Le François and Le Robert that will take you to "iguana" island, la Baignoire de Joséphine and an island with a beach where they will also serve you lunch. One of the problems with these tours is that they all have the exact same itinerary, not just the same stops, but the same timing as well. So you get to each of these spots, and there are ten, fifteen other boats there with you at the same time. While these are all fun stops, although pretty underwhelming considering what we expected from what we had heard, there is never any space to enjoy these locations as there are so many people there at the same time on tiny islands. On "iguana" island (Chancel island), there were 30 of us trying to get a look at an iguana on a branch, at the Baignoire de Joséphine, there were about 50 of us trying to stand on corrals while they passed around drinks and accras (those were delicious though!) and each boat had its own music on as loud as possible, and then we stopped on an island for lunch and a relaxing afternoon on a beach, but the beach was about the size of my living room (I live in a tiny apartment) and there was barely enough space to walk in the water, as once the water reached your knees, you had to either stop or walk on corrals and sea weed. We did enjoy ourselves on this excursion, but we definitely had big expectations that weren't met, and I think the tours could be arranged in a much more convenient way for everyone to enjoy their experience. If every company went to the three stop at different times, I think it would already be a better experience. If you still want to visit the islands of the region, which weren't spectacular in my opinion, but still worth a visit, I would recommend renting kayaks and going by yourself, at your own pace. You might not be able to go everywhere, but there are many islands that are easily reachable with a kayak and you would be able to avoid the crowded time slots of the tours. All in all, Martinique is an amazing destination where you will find plenty of activities in nature, but also historic and cultural activities for the whole family. It is truly a destination that deserves to be discovered and that you should enjoy before it becomes popular. other articles you might enjoy
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In June 2023, two of my friends and I had tickets to see Ed Sheeran in Toronto. Since Toronto isn't exactly close to Quebec City, we decided to make a weekend out of it and visit Toronto. I hadn't been since my 5th grade school trip so I was excited to see the city again since I had almost no memory of it. We flew to Toronto on the Friday morning and had a flight back to Quebec on Sunday afternoon, so it was just a short trip and just enough time to see the main sights. How to get thereToronto has two airports: Pearson, the main international airport which is about an hour outside of the city, and Billy Bishop, which is right on the water, next to the city center. If you can land in Billy Bishop, you will be able to walk right out of the airport and into the city, otherwise you can take the train from Pearson airport to Union Station, downtown, which takes about an hour. You can also take the train or bus from any major Canadian or American city. Driving into Toronto is possible, but will be a hassle. The city is known for major traffic and there isn't a lot of parking available in the city center or close to major attractions. If you are planning on driving to Toronto, I would recommend finding accommodation that has free or cheap parking and to leave your car there. how to get aroundSince we flew to Toronto, we didn't have a car with us and it would have been complicated to rent one just to pay for parking everywhere we went, so we ended up walking almost everywhere. A lot of the main attractions are really close to each other, like the CN Tower, Rogers Center, Dundas Square and Toronto sign. The distillery district is about a 30 minute walk from the CN tower, so is the History Museum, and Casa Loma is an extra 20 minutes from the Museum. When we didn't feel like walking back, we just used Uber. With the three of us and the distances being so short, it ended up being really cheap, and probably cheaper than paying three bus tickets. We did look up the buses' schedules and itineraries, but found it wasn't worth it for the places we were going. The bus sometimes took longer than walking... There is also a subway in Toronto, but just like the buses, we barely saved a minute taking it instead of walking, and would still end up having to walk an extra 15 minutes form the subway station to the attraction we were trying to get to. I would say the buses and subways are useful for people who have difficulty walking long distances or being on their feet for a long time and would benefit from sitting down for 10 minutes on the bus or subway, but otherwise, they're not exactly worth the 4$ ticket. The one train that was worth it was the Pearson Express out of Union Station which was 12$ one-way, but saved us from an hour-long taxi fare. where to stayHotels in Toronto are expensive, and I mean it in capital letters, I just don't like yelling. There was nothing under 400$ that was a walkable distance from the city center and we didn't feel like a hotel outside the city would be worth it as we would need to lose time and money on transportation everyday. We were also there on a busy weekend so I expect the prices were probably especially high. We decided on renting a small room on Airbnb and we were a ten minute walk from the CN Tower without paying an arm and a leg for accommodation. Where you decide to stay will ultimately be up to you, your budget, the reason for your trip and your comfort levels, but I found it worth it to be a walkable distance from the city center. Wether you decide on a hotel, airbnb, hostel or long term rental, you might have to look for a while before finding something in your price range and I would recommend not waiting to make your reservation. what to doJust like every major city, there is a lot to do in Toronto! We ended up purchasing a city pass which was really worth it as we went on 4 out of the 5 included activities and saved about 80$ per person. You can check out the pass here. You need to make a time reservation on the app for the CN Tower and cruises, but otherwise, you have 9 days to use your pass to enter each activity once, and you just need to scan it at the door. Easy-peasy! The first activity we did was the Royal Ontario Museum, which is a lot like the Natural History Museum in New York City (the one where they filmed Night at the Museum). We spent over two hours looking at the dinosaur bones, gem stones and artefact collections from distant civilisations. It was so much fun! There were also free guided tours every hour that took you to the main attraction of every collection or explained in depth a specific collection. Honestly, we could have stayed there a full day as we didn't even have time to see half of it.
The distillery district is an old industrial area of Toronto that was pronounced as a historic district to preserve the Victorian architecture and is now a creative neighborhood filled with eclectic art pieces, cool patio area where you can taste different cocktails and little one-of-a-kind shops and art galleries. It also hosts events like the annual Christmas market. We had a lot of fun walking around, checking out the boutiques and looking at the art. I have to say, I enjoyed Toronto a lot more than I thought I would. I'm not usually a big city kind of person and, although I do enjoy visiting cities, I usually prefer being in nature, but I found Toronto to be surprisingly approachable and didn't feel overwhelmed by decisions or by the amount of people. It was relatively easy to understand the layout of the city and to walk around which I enjoyed. other articles that might interest you
In April 2023, I decided I was bored at home and that getting a part-time job would give me something to do and increase my income, which meant more money to travel later on. A few days later, I saw an add that a tour company was looking for tour guides for bus trips from Quebec to popular USA cities and I figured, if there was one job that I would love to do in my free time, that would be it. So I applied, interviewed, and got the job! I have now been a tour guide, exclusively in New York City, for almost a year, and I couldn't love this job more! Once a month, I get to visit one of my favorite cities, I get to see everyone be excited to see the sights they have seen in so many movies, I get to discover the little hidden gems that you don't get to see if you are only visiting for a short time, and most of all, I get to see the city change over the year which is always interesting. tips on how to get aroundDriving in New York City is basically hell, but fortunately for us, there are multiple other ways to get around to city and they are very easy to master. The first is walking. Especially if most of your visits are located in Manhattan, most places are easy to reach by foot. More than half of the island follows a grid pattern that is easy to navigate with avenues going North-South and streets going West-East. Just remember that going from one street to the other takes 1-2 minutes, and going from one avenue to the next takes 3-4 minutes, depending on your pace and traffic of course, but it gives you a general idea. So basically, if you are on the corner of 6th Avenue and 43th Street and want to go to the corner of 5th Avenue and 52th Street, it will take you between 11 and 20 minutes. That way you can decide if you are willing to walk that distance or would rather take an other type of transportation. The subway is one of my favorite ways to get around, and with Google Maps, is it so easy for newbies. You just enter the place you want to go in the app and select the subway as the transportation method and it will tell you which corner to walk to, where on that corner the subway station entrance is, which line to take, the name of your stop and how many stops the subway will make before it is time for you to exit. Honestly, there is no way to mess up except one and now that you know, you won't make the mistake : the lines run mostly North-South on Manhattan with South (towards the financial district and Brooklyn) being called Downtown, and North (towards Harlem) being called Uptown. Just make sure you are taking the subway in the right direction and voila! You can also pay directly at the entrance with PayPass or even your phone so there is no need to buy tickets ahead of time. The yellow taxis are such New York City icons that we just have to talk about them here. Honestly, they can be pricey and take a lot of time since traffic in NYC is almost as iconic as the taxis, but they are reliable and available everywhere. If you want to save some money, since New York streets are mostly one-ways, I would make sure that the street or avenue that I am on is going the right direction or I would walk one street over to take the taxi in the right direction and avoid paying for the extra loop of it turning around. Uber is also available and can be less expensive than a taxi. tips on getting broadway ticketsGoing to a Broadway show is one of the activities you cannot miss while visiting New York City. I had the chance to see The Lion King and Aladdin and they were both incredible! The shows can be pretty expensive though, especially on popular weekends like Thanksgiving and New Years. The cheapest way to buy tickets is also the most risky... waiting the day of for last minute tickets. If seeing the show is not something you are willing to miss and spending a few more bucks is not an issue, you should purchase the tickets online as soon as possible. Otherwise, tickets can be bought at the TKTS booth, behind the red stairs in Times Square, or if you want to see a specific show, the theatre will have the best prices. The closer you are to the time of the show, the better the prices, but the higher the risk that there won't be tickets left. tips on which observatory to chooseYou have probably seen pictures of the Manhattan skyline from above. All of them are always beautiful, but there are multiple observatories in New York, all with pros and cons, and most people only have the time and budget to visit one of them so here's my two-cents:
tips on when to visit and for how longI am preparing a full article on the best times to visit New York City, so keep an eye out for it in the next few weeks, because it really depends what you are looking for. Popular weekends like New Years and Thanksgiving can be very crowded, but allow you to see Christmas decorations. The summer can be very hot, but there are lots of activities and you will have a guaranty of good views. I recommend spending at least three days for a nice overview of the city. Three days will allow you to see most of the sights, do some shopping, and understand the vibe of the city. If you want to see it properly, go to museums, have time to take a stroll in Central Park, or walk the Highline, a full week would not be too much. It really depends on the time that you have and how much you are willing to spend on your vacation. tips on where to stayThis also depends greatly on your budget! In my opinion, the midtown part of Manhattan is the most central and the closest to all the main attractions, meaning you could walk to most places, but it is also the most expensive part of the city to stay in. Most hotel rooms will start at 300$ a night in low season. For cheaper options (and I mean cheaper, not cheap. New York is expensive) Brooklyn is well connected to Manhattan by subway and most attractions would be a short subway ride away. I have also stayed at an AirBnb in Staten Island which was convenient as we were traveling by car for that trip and could park on the street for free and take the free ferry to Manhattan. The parts of New Jersey that are close to New York are also a cheaper option, but unless you are traveling with a tour company, I would not recommend. The bus to Manhattan will take a while and driving to Manhattan every day would end up costing you more in toll and parking than just staying in Manhattan in the first place. tips on which museum to chooseThere are so many museums in New York City that there is no other choice than to make a choice. You can't possibly visit them all. There is even part of 5th avenue called Museum Lane because there are so many. Th classics are the Museum of Natural History (the one with the dinosaurs that you saw in the first Night at the Museum), the Met (art museum where they have the Met Gala every year) and the Guggenheim (modern art museum that looks like a white spiral from the outside). There is also a Jewish Museum, the Frick Collection (mostly European masters), the MOMA (museum of modern art), the museum of New York City, the Neue Gallerie (German art) and many others. If you are looking for something a little outside the box, you will find the Madame Tussaud wax museum, the ballon museum, the ice cream museum, the sex museum, the USS Intrepid (an old aircraft carrier converted into a museum of sea, air and space) and many others. There is also a museum about the September 11 attacks located by the memorial in the World Trade Center. Basically, if you are interested in a certain subject, there is probably a museum about it in New York City. tips on the stores not to missNew York used to be very big for shopping since there were a lot of shops that didn't exist anywhere else. Nowadays, with online shopping, everything is more available so shopping is not as big a reason for people to visit the city, but there are still some stores that are worth a visit. You don't even have to buy anything, these are worth it just for the fun of visiting:
tips for restaurantsThey say you could eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at a different restaurant everyday for a year and you wouldn't have tried every restaurant in New York City, and honestly, I can believe it! There are so many! Not counting all the foodtrucks... The first thing to know before choosing a restaurant is that NYC restaurants are inspected and receive a letter grade from the inspector. A is perfect, B is ok, any lower than that and I wouldn't bother. There are so many options that it's not worth getting food poisoning on vacation. The second thing to know is that the tip (or gratuity) is included in most tabs, and definitely for groups. Before paying your bill, you should always check if the tip is already on there. It will be written on a separate line next to the taxes. Tables of 6 or more (some restaurants it's 4) will have a mandatory 20% tip that is already on the bill at almost every restaurant. If you want to be more generous, good for you, but always make sure you aren't paying the tip twice if it's not what you intended to do. The food is already expensive enough. It is always possible to show up and eat without a reservation somewhere, but not everywhere. Most popular restaurants (think restaurants in Time Square, Michelin stars, rooftops, themed restaurants, etc.) will require a reservation or might have availability, but you would have to wait a few hours. If you are visiting for New Year's Eve, restaurants in midtown will definitely require a reservation for the evening of the 31st and most restaurants will have en entrance price, but an open bar policy. It allows them to charge a flat rate and not have to worry about creating a different tab for every table or people moving around and it being difficult to follow whose tab is whose. New York City is definitely one of those destinations that requires some preparation and advance planning, but it is so iconic and such a must for anyone who likes to travel. It's important to keep in mind that NYC has something for everybody and there's no way to do it wrong. I hope you will love the city as much as I do! other articles you might enjoy
It is a known fact the the region of New England in the North East of the United States is one of the best for fall foliage. I have also seen Gilmore Girls so I had hopes of small-town cafés and fall festivals, so when I had the opportunity to take a long weekend in September 2023 to go camping, I jumped at the occasion to visit New Hampshire. I had done very little research, we were leaving Canada with no reservation whatsoever and only a couple of tagged locations on my Google Maps account and it was a perfectly slow weekend, where everything went beyond any expectations! Here are a few of my favorite things that we saw and did, some by plan, others by accident. Sabbaday FallsSabbaday Falls is one of the things we stumbled onto by accident. We were driving through White Mountain National Forest and there was a small parking lot by the side of the road and a sign with the name of the fall. The number one rule on a roadtrip is "if there is a view point or an attraction on the side of the road, you have to stop to check it out". It ended up being a 1,5 km trail along the river to the bottom of the fall, and then a loop to see the fall from above and back down to meet again with the original trail. It's an easy trail with a small incline, but nothing major, and the view at the end is so worth it. There are multiple view points by the waterfall and the water is really clear and beautiful. I wish we could have seen it at the peak of fall colors, but we were a little early on September 25th and the leaves were just starting to change in that area. You do need a pass to go on the hike, but they can be purchased on the day of and are pretty cheap. If you have an annual National Park pass, that works too. Lost river gorgeThe Lost River Gorge was one of the places I had pinned on Google Maps, but just because I had seen a picture on an add and I had done zero research. We just showed up one morning and decided to go. I thought it was pretty expensive at 26$ for a mile-long boardwalk through the forest (you get a small discount if you buy the ticket online), but after visiting, I think it is 100% worth the price and I understand why it is pricey. Not only do you get the boardwalk that allows you to walk through the Gorge and admire the river and the view, but you also get to walk or crawl through multiple caves illuminated by old fashioned gas lamps (one even has a waterfall inside), there are wood sculptures, a huge bird's nest where you can stand and so many viewpoints on the surrounding mountains. We spent about three hours exploring the whole site and we loved the visit! drive kancamagus highwayKancamagus Highway crosses part of White Mountain National Forest, but it also brings you in the heights of the mountains where you get a beautiful view on the surrounding mountains. There are plenty of rest areas and viewpoints where you can stop along the way and every turn seems more beautiful than the last. There were waterfalls and beautiful fall foliage. I will definitely drive that road again when I go back to New Hampshire. go horseback ridingThe last time I had been horseback riding was in 2017 in the Rockies at Waterton Park in Alberta, but I remembered it being a great experience that allows you to slowly take in the scenery. We had the idea very last minute and they had available spots at Bretton Woods Stables so we were really lucky. I wish we could have gone in the mountains on a longer ride, but I'm not an experienced rider so a one-hour tour along the valley was all I could realistically ask for, but it was still a great view and a very relaxing experience. I rarely get this feeling of being completely relaxed because there is nothing else I have to do than be present in the moment so this felt amazing to me. The horses were also very well treated and we were able to visit the stables and see that they were well cared for. camp in white mountain national forestThere were so many different campgrounds to choose from and all of them were spacious and offered some intimacy from neighboring campsites so we had a great experience. We also had no trouble finding available sites on arrival at the end of September, even on the weekend. The weather was perfectly comfortable to sleep in moderate sleeping bags, so anyone used to camping in the summer would have had no trouble. I will definitely camp again on my next visit to New Hampshire. It was so easy and convenient! Honestly, I loved my visit to New Hampshire and wish I could have extended it to a full week because there are so many things we didn't get to see. I plan on going back next year if I have the opportunity! other articles you might enjoy
My friend and I decided to visit Greece in the summer of 2023, and the only period that we were both available was the middle of July. Let's just say we were aware the heat would be unbearable and there would be more swimming than visiting, so we planned our trip accordingly and visited a lot of beaches. We all have that idea of Greek beaches, of gorgeous turquoise water, infinite horizons, fine sands and cliff jumping, and honestly, they did not disappoint, but some beaches ranked higher in my opinion than others. If you are short on time, here is a list of beaches I visited, and which ones I would visit again in a heartbeat and which ones I would pass on. love : Agios prokopios, NaxosWhen we got to the island of Naxos, we were pretty tired because of the intense beginning of our trip and all we wanted were a few days of R&R, which ended up to be an easy plan as we were staying in an Airbnb 200 meters away from the beach of Agios Prokopios, one of the best beaches of the whole island. Pros :
Cons :
Pass : red beach, santoriniSantorini is really not the best island for beaches in my opinion. It is definitely a must visit, but the options for swimming are limited. Although this beach looks cool because of its colour, it's not the best place to spend time. Pros :
Cons:
love : Logaras, ParosLogaras beach was one of my favorite beaches of the whole trip and was part of what made Paros such a dream to me. It was out of the really touristy areas and just beautiful. We were lucky to have made a reservation at a hotel nearby and didn't regret being away from the main towns. Pros :
Cons :
pass : pollonia, milosDuring our stay in Milos, we were sleeping in a small B&B in Pollonia. It was one of the cheapest areas, but it still had plenty of little restaurants and shops and it was a great place to stay in my opinion, but the beach wasn't anything special. The marina was too close and the water too shallow so we were basically standing by the boats. It was a great beach for small kids, but for adults it was kind of disappointing. Pros :
love for the view : papafragas cavesPapafragas caves was an area with multiple narrow canyons with a small beach at the end. It was an incredible visit, but not the best beaches. I still recommend going if you can. Pros:
Cons:
Love but inaccessible : kalogries, milosThere is something you need to understand before going to Milos. If you hire a boat, the island has some of the best beaches in all of Greece. It has fine sand, gorgeous clear water and wonderful views. If you don't plan on hiring a boat, you will only have access to some of the most disappointing beaches in all of Greece. This one was a good exemple. It isn't reachable by land, or at least not easily, but it was so beautiful. Pros :
pass : perissa, santoriniJust one more disappointing Santorini beach. Perissa is one of the black beaches of the island. Pros :
loooove but inaccessible : kleftiko, milosKleftiko still lives rent free in my dreams even months after this trip. Seriously, how gorgeous is it?! I don't know if you can really consider it a beach as there is barely a little sliver of sand, but it still deserves a mention on this list. Pros :
love but no place to hangout : ammoudi bay, santoriniAmmoudi bay is just one of those places that make you feel like you are in a movie. Unfortunately, it is really crowded, but still deserves a visit. Pros :
pass but also love : sarakiniko, milosBefore going to Milos, I had seen everywhere that Sarakiniko beach was a must visit on Milos Island. Personally, I don't know if we were in the wrong season to visit or if we had just loved Kleftiko too much the day before, but I was really disappointed. I thing it depends what you are looking for: a photo op or a swimming spot. It was also really hot the day we visited so I might have just been done with everything. Pros:
Looove but inaccessible : blue bay, poliegosThis is the spot to visit if you are looking for blue water. And I mean the electric blue Crayola marker of your childhood. The water was completely clear and we could see the rocks 30 meters below our feet. The only downside is the fact that it is completely inaccessible except by boat. Pros:
So I guess what you have to remember from this article is: charter a boat in Milos and you will not regret it, and don't expect to be doing a lot of swimming in Santorini. Other than that, Greece has some of the bluest water I have seen in my life, often bluer than the Bahamas, and the beaches are pretty great. I mean, even the ones I would pass would look great compared to most beaches in Quebec soooo... other articles you might enjoy
I'm going to be very honest here: I made a lot of mistakes on my trip to Acadia National Park. Unfortunately for me, all of those mistakes were due to me not having a lot of time to research and going in unprepared, it had very little to do with the destination. Lucky for you, I listed all the things I wish I had known, so you don't have to do the same mistakes I did. you can and will drive into the park without seeing the visitor centerThere are multiple entrances into Acadia National Park and none of them drive by the Visitor Center. It is very out of the way, and you have to actually aim for it, otherwise, you might go through your whole visit without seeing it. Usually, when visiting national park, visitor centers are my first stop. I love them! There is always a fun museum sort of gallery with information about the area and the animals that live there, or the history of the park. You can find all sorts of information and you can talk to a park ranger and find out the best way to make the most of your visit according to your interests. Since the visitor center is nowhere near any of the attractions, it made no sense to do a detour for it and the only reason we even went was because I was done looking for parking spaces. If only we had gone there at the beginning of our stay! parking spaces are limited in the parkWether you are getting ready for a hike or looking forward to a lazy day at the beach, finding a parking spot might be a bit of a hassle. We spent the first few days of our visit really struggling to find parking spots before giving up and heading toward the visitor center and discovering there are actually buses that you can take for free that will take you to any spot you want around the park! We visited during the first weekend of summer and, I guess the signs weren't up yet, but we had no idea there was a shuttle service at the park. It wasn't on any of the park documentation we were given at the campground. If we had known, we wouldn't have bothered trying to find parking and would just have taken the bus everywhere! hiking maps are for sale or available onlineThis one really bothered me, not because it was a huge problem, but for the principle of it. So basically, you could get a map of the park for free, but that map shows mostly the attractions, main roads and some trails, but it doesn't say the distance or altitude or the difficulty level... If you want the actual "hiking map", it is available for purchase for 5$. Don't get me wrong, 5$ is nothing, but it felt cheap. Also, not knowing the distances or difficulty level can be an actual problem. People can get stuck on trails that are way too advanced for them because they had no idea it was technical in the first place. So, since the hiking map is available on the Acadia website, I recommend printing it out before heading there. That way you can make better decision on what trail to hike depending on your fitness level or you can prepare snacks, water and the right footwear according to the difficulty of the trail you want to hike. short hike doesn't mean easy hikeWe found out the hard way (because we did not buy the hiking map and had no wifi) that the shorter the hike, the steepest it will be. From what we saw, most hikes head up and down mountains, so a shorter hike means it is not zigzaging up the mountain, but heading straight up. Just thought you should know ;) you absolutely need a reservation to go to cadillac mountainIf you have seen pictures or articles about Acadia National Park before, they were probably about Cadillac mountain. It is the highest peak in the park and has a 360 degree view which makes it a great sunrise and sunset spot. It apparently also makes it a very popular spot at every hour of the day and night. We made our way there very early in the morning to find out you absolutely need a reservation and it was booked out for the whole week... We had no idea we needed a reservation, let alone a reservation far in advance. Luckily, there are other mountains, and the sunrises and sunsets are beautiful from any view point, but if going to the top is on your list of must-dos, make sure to reserve in advance. it can be very crowded even in shoulder seasonWe visited during St-Jean Baptiste which is a holiday in the province of Quebec, but isn't in the United States, so it wasn't a long weekend. It's also at the very beginning of summer, as school had just ended that week so I expected the park to be busy, but never even thought it could be crowded already. There were people everywhere. At the beach, at trail ends, in every street in Bar Harbor, on the rocks at random lookouts, everywhere! Even hiking in the rain we met some people! I don't think it would have bothered me so much if I had known, but I was expecting a quiet, tranquil weekend in nature and got... a theme park. Not what I had in mind! In the end, I did end up liking the destination. The park has beautiful scenery and the hikes were fun, but I feel like my own ignorance prevented me from fully appreciating the experience. I really hope I get the chance to go back one day and do it right! Luckily, it is only a short drive from my home in Quebec City. other articles that might interest you
25/8/2023 0 Comments the best food to try in greeceThere are destinations where you eat to sustain yourself and fuel your activities and there are destinations where eating is one of the main activities. Italy was like that to me, I would go back any day just for a meal. And although food was not my main reason to visit Greece, it was an important component of discovering the culture and we had such a great time trying out different dishes. Here are some of my favorites! greek saladI don't thing you can visit Greece without trying, at least once, a greek salad. The vegetables are so fresh and it's always perfectly seasoned and, in the middle of a hot summer day, it is exactly what you need. We ended up eating greek salads multiple times during our 2-week trip as it was a cheap lunch option (between 7 and 14 euros) and the heat made us perpetually dehydrated, so eating veggies felt amazing. spanakopitaTalking about cheap lunch options, here is another one! Spanakopitas are puff pastries with spinach and feta cheese. You can find them in most bakeries, but also in snack bars or food trucks. The pastry is usually really flakey and they are served warm. They are around 4 euros so they make a good snack if you're not hungry enough for a big lunch or you are planning on an early dinner. There are also other types of pies like cheese pies or meat pies, but I think the spinach pies are the most popular. gyrosSince we are in the cheap lunch options, let's keep it going! Gyros are available pretty much everywhere and are a nice full meal option for 4 euros. They are made of pita bread with meat (usually pork or chicken), tomatoes, seasoned fries, red onions and tzatziki sauce. They are really filling and I was barely able to eat the whole thing, but they are delicious! The best part is they are always made fresh in front of you. italian style pizzaI missed italian style pizza so much and Greece is close enough so I had no choice, but try a few of the pizzas (I didn't eat both of them by myself, I had help). We did see a lot of italian restaurants during our trip and pizzas were on the menu at all of them, so it counts as a must try in Greece. It wasn't exactly like in Italy where the toppings are basically all sauce and there is barely any cheese, but the crusts where really similar and there were lots of options. Let's just say no piece was thrown away. The mediterranean pizza was my favorite, with olives, feta and red onion. gelatoI know gelato, like pizza, is more italian than it is greek, but it was so hot out and the gelato was so good, we had to have some at least once a day. In this heat, I preferred more fruity flavors like lemoncello and berries, but my friend tried sweeter flavors like nutella and cookies and cream or stracciatella and apparently they were really good too. The portions were also pretty generous as these are the "small" portions. SeafoodYou can't go to Greece and not try seafood at least once. Many restaurants offer assorted seafood plates or shareable seafood platters where you can try different options without comiting to a full plate of octopus. I love seafood so it was also a great way to get to try it all, and the octopus was actually really good. We also tried shrimp saganaki at another restaurant which was also delicious. They served the shrimp with some kind of tomato paste with feta cheese and herbs, yum! island wineThe wine made in the greek islands is known for being very sweet and full bodied due to the low rainfall, and production is usually very small which means your best chance to taste it is while visiting Greece. We had the chance to visit a winery during our stay in Santorini and it was so worth it. We toured the grounds and factory and learned about the particular difficulties of growing grapes on wind swept islands and then got to taste four wines with their food pairing which was so good. We also tasted the local wines at many restaurants we visited which was often cheap and tasty. sandwich with olive pasteOne of the things that I bought as a souvenir is olive paste. I love olives and we tried a mediterranean sandwich one day for lunch which had the olive paste in it and it just made the whole meal even better. Seriously, just try it! It adds a little bit of spice and brings all the flavors together. white fishThe fish dishes were often way more expensive than everything else on the menu so we didn't have a lot, but I had to try sea bass at least once since it is a signature dish at so many tavernas. On our last day in Greece, it was now on never, so I ordered it and, let's just say, it was a whole event! They served the fish whole, and then the server started opening it and taking out the bones in front of us. He then masterfully poured out some lemon and garlic sauce and presented me the plate looking absolutely incredible. We also got to talk to the server and ask about living in Greece and his life while he was preparing the fish which was fun. It was really good! The fish was perfectly cooked and the sauce made it even better! You can bet I jumped on Pinterest to find some of those recipes as soon as I got home! As for your next trip, if I had any tip, it would be to look at multiple menus before deciding on a restaurant. Even it the same town, the prices can vary a lot and the offers can vary too, so it's a good idea to compare the menus before making a choice. We never had any trouble finding a table at any restaurant even in the middle of high season so that shouldn't be a problem. I also recommend, for at least one meal, ordering a bunch of appetizers and sharing them. We did that a few times and it allowed us to try multiple greek specialties without over eating or spending a lot of money. Is there anything in this list you can't wait to try on your trip to Greece? other articles you might enjoy
Tadoussac is one of my favorite, if not my favorite town in the whole province of Quebec. Unfortunately, or fortunately for me, it is often overlooked by visitors, but the small harbor town has so much charm and so much to offer that I don't think it will take much convincing before you add it to your list of future destinations. How to get thereFrom Quebec City, it takes about 3 hours to reach the town by following highway 138 and hopping on board the free, 15-minute ferry. There are also ferries from the Gaspe peninsula that will take you to nearby towns. I would recommend having a car, but there are also busses from Quebec or Montreal to the town center, where you can easily walk to wherever you need to go. Why i love it so muchI think part of it is that my extended family lives in Port-Cartier, 8 hours North of Quebec, and Tadoussac was the place we used to stop at for lunch on the way to visit them. We would bring food from home and have a picnic on the rocks while looking out for whales. But I think most of it comes from the fact that it is the closest place from Quebec where the St-Laurence river feels like the ocean. So whenever I'm in need of some vitamin sea, this is the closest place where I can go. There is also a lot of places where you can sit and look out at the water and just relax without being disturbed by people every two minutes. I guess it's my happy place. what to doOne of my favorite things to do in Tadoussac is sit on the rocks of Pointe de l'Islet and wait for the whales to come out and play. I bring a book and relax in the sunshine. I could easily spend hours there. But for people hoping for activities, there is plenty to do and see. Like I said, Tadoussac is one of the best places for whale observation, so there are cruises going out multiple times a day where you can see these huge animals from up close. You can also go kayaking or visit the Whale Interpretation Center. For those looking for a hike, the Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park is pretty close by and offers many different trails ranging from 1 or 2 hours to multiple-day expeditions. You can also hike to Baie Ste-Marguerite where the beluga whales come in to rest. Another place to see on your visit is the Dunes. When you turn into the village from the highway, just keep driving on the main road until you find a parking lot. That's where you'll find the Tadoussac Dunes, huge sand dunes where you can have fun on dirt bikes. For those not equipped with bikes, it is still a good view on the St-Laurence and if you go down the dunes to the beach, you'll find a small bay where you can go swimming, kayaking or paddle boarding. Just make sure you are able to come back up the dune with everything you brought down. I'm in pretty good shape and just with my backpack it was a workout! where to eatIn the village, you will find plenty of small restaurants, pubs and breweries, all of them good. Honestly, the hardest part is choosing which one to go to. There is also an ice cream shop by the Whale Interpretation Center and a chocolate shop right by the beach. If you are looking for a fancier meal, Hotel Tadoussac has a restaurant called Le Coverdale that I haven't tried yet, but is definitely on my list. when to goThe whole summer is a good time to visit Tadoussac, but it really depends what you are looking for. In June, you'll practically have the village to yourself, but most everything will already be open for the season, especially on weekends. But if you really want to see whales, try to wait a little later in the season as you'll have a better chance to see them starting in mid-July. By then, the village will be pretty crowded, but you'll still be able to find a spot on the beach or at Pointe de l'Islet. Parking spaces are hard to come by in the village though and I recommend parking at the parking lot on your right when you exist the ferry before even coming in the village. what if i want to stay longer than a day?Although you might have to make reservations way in advance, there are plenty of options to spend a night in Tadoussac. There are multiple campgrounds and bed and breakfasts and there is always Hotel Tadoussac if you want to stay in a historic building. Like I said though, the sumer months get pretty crowded, and don't expect to find a room or a campground on the day of. If you find one, you'll want to thank your lucky star! Tadoussac is slowly getting more recognition outside of the province, but it is still a hidden gem known mostly by local Quebec (province) residents. I'm happy more people are discovering it's beauty and appreciating its rugged nature. I'm just hopping locals and tourists alike keep being respectful to its residents and make an effort for it to stay the clean and beautiful town that it is. other articles you might enjoy
Reykjavik might be small for a capital city, but it doesn't mean it's not worth exploring. It has art and culture, good restaurants, pretty views and some sights that you absolutely need to see before leaving Iceland. Although I wouldn't spend more than a day or two and would keep most of my time to discover the beauty of the rest of the country, I really enjoyed our time in Reykjavik walking around the rainbow street and trying to pronounce the name of every sight we were seeing. what to seeOne of the most popular things to see in Reykjavik is the Hallgrimskirkja church. The view from the bell tower is incredible and its organ is the largest musical instrument in all of Iceland. You should also check out the Sun Voyager statue and it's view over the mountains. Personally, my favorite thing to see in Reykjavik was the Harpa concert hall. The building is an immense work of art that has received multiple awards for its architecture. I absolutely loved to see the sunlight hit the colored window panes and mirrors on the walls. how to get thereI'm guessing, since you are reading an article about Iceland on a travel blog, that you are not from Iceland. Therefore, I'm going to assume that you will either be arriving to the island by ferry and then drive along highway 1 to Reykjavik or, in most cases, arriving by plane. Most people visiting Iceland will be flying into the international airport in Keflavik, which is about a 30-minute drive out of Reykjavik. There are buses from the airport to Reykjavik, but if you are planning to visit more of Iceland, your best bet will be to rent a car or camper van in Keflavik and drive into the city. It is a very easy drive as you just follow the main road all the way to the city. what to eatThere are plenty of restaurants of all nationalities and all types in Iceland so you are sure to find something that is to your liking. If you are brave, you can also try fermented shark, but for a nice meal, you'll want to visit the area between the Sun Voyager statue and Hallgrimskirkja which is booming with multiple terrasse restaurants and bars. The food is pretty expensive in Iceland, but nothing outrageous, especially considering tip is included in the price. I found that food options in Iceland were very similar to what you would find in Canadian restaurants: lots of different kinds of burgers, fish and chips, meat and fries, etc. The lamb was maybe more popular. Honestly, everything that we ate was good, but nothing was particularly worth mentioning. You don't visit Iceland for its restaurants, in my opinion. Making your own food is a very good option in Iceland that we took advantage of as often as possible as it reduces costs. I found that food prices were similar as what you would find in Canada, but the grocery stores are very small and there are definitely less options. You won't find 2000 brands of cereals like you would in the USA, there are maybe 3 or 4 types, for example. Our main difficulty when grocery shopping was the language. Everything is written in Icelandic so finding the right kind of milk was a struggle, but we made it work. The language is similar to English enough that you can find similarities enough to understand, you just hope they're not faux-amis. Tip : if you plan on getting groceries, think about bringing at least one reusable grocery bag in your luggage. You have to pay for grocery bags in Iceland (as you should) and they aren't very sturdy. where to stayReykjavik is probably the only place in Iceland where there are multiple types of accommodation options. You will find hotels of more than 10 levels, small bed and breakfasts, hostels, luxurious boutique hotels, and of course plenty of airbnbs, but just like everywhere else, accommodation is ridiculously expensive! Since we had a car, we opted for a small room in an airbnb on the Seltjarnes peninsula, about 10 minutes from the main touristic area. We were close to the grocery stores and had a view on the lighthouse and the glacier on Sneafellsnes peninsula. The area was pretty quiet, in a small neighborhood, and I totally recommend it. Either way, you will have no trouble finding a place that corresponds to your needs in Reykjavik. I hope you enjoy your stay in Reykjavik and that it is the start of an amazing trip around Iceland! other articles you might enjoy
It is no secret that Canada has beautiful winters and that the province of Quebec receives a lot of snow in the winter, but there are places in Quebec that receive just a little bit of extra powder and the Parc National des Monts-Valin is one of those places. Actually, the Ghosts Valley or, Vallée des fantômes, is the place where it snows the most in the whole province, receiving an average or 3 meters of snow each year. This amount of snow offers peak conditions for winter activities such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and some of the most beautiful views.
how to get to the ghosts valley
To get to the Ghosts Valley, you need to catch a ride on one of these bad boys pictured below. These mini buses equipped with snowmobile tracks are the only way to make it up the mountains in the winter. If you are lucky, you can make a reservation to stay overnight at one of the cabins available here, but if you aren't able to make a reservation for a cabin, you can still make a reservation for the shuttle. Try to book in advance because there are limited places and they often sell out months in advance.
my experience snowshoeing in the ghosts valley
I'm not going to lie, on the day that we visited, it was freezing cold. I mean -20 degrees, windy, my breath froze on my hair cold. But in the valley, where you are hidden from the wind, it really wasn't so bad and, to be honest, I was so amazed by the view and the amount of snow on the trees that it took me a while to even feel the cold.
The trail, from where the bus drops you off, is 2 km to a small cabin where you can go to warm up or eat a snack, and an additional 1 km to the summit. So basically, 6 km total. The trail is always uphill all the way to the summit, but most of the way it's not a very steep hill. It will be a challenge, but is attainable to anyone moderately active in my opinion. Most of the people that were there on this week day were retired and over 60 years old and, though they looked in fairly good shape, I don't think they trained for this hike. Honestly, I have hiked way longer trails and some that were way steeper, but it was still a challenge for me. I am not used to wearing snowshoes and they are pretty heavy. The cold also made it harder to breath and made me tire more quickly than usual. Still, I have no regrets visiting and absolutely enjoyed the whole day. It just made me appreciate the cabins and fireplaces a little bit more! The pictures really don't do it justice! The whole hike was beautiful! where to stay
If you can, try and rent a cabin directly at the park. If you can stay for 2 nights, that means you get a full day of playing in the heavy snow and the opportunity to see the sunrise or sunset.
If you can't manage a reservation directly at the park, make sure to make a reservation for accommodation close by as you have to arrive pretty early for the shuttle. Personally, we stayed in St-David-de-Falardeau in a dome that you can check out here and it was the perfect distance. We were a 15-minute drive away. There are also plenty of hotels in Chicoutimi, which would be a 30-minute drive form the park, but you'll find a wider range of options and more affordable prices there. what to bring
Warm clothes! I can't say this enough! Of course, you should check the weather and plan accordingly, but plan to bring extra layers and extra clothing so you can change when you get to the cabin and don't have to wait for the shuttle in humid clothes.
I also recommend bringing a lunch. We had to be at the park for 8 AM for our 8:30 shuttle and it was picking us back up at 2:30 PM so I was glad we had packed a sandwich and plenty of snacks. Also think about bringing water in a thermos or very well insulated bottles so your water doesn't freeze mid-hike. You need to bring your own snowshoes or cross-country skis or rent them at the park entrance. If you don't own any, make sure to plan ahead. If you are like me and enjoy taking pictures of your adventures, this is going to be a challenge for you. I had brought two batteries for my camera and both died before we even reached the summit because of the cold. I had to wear them in my mittens so they would warm up and work again for about five minutes. Same with our cellphones, they both kept dying from the cold. Make sure you keep your electronics in your coat and close to you so they last long enough for you to get good pictures of the hike. why you need to visit
I think the pictures pretty much speak for themselves. Wether you are from the area or visiting Quebec on a short trip, this will impress you. It is one of those pretty short and attainable hikes that have a very good effort vs views ratio. Even though it might be a challenge, you will still love every minute and appreciate every single turn around the bend.
In my opinion, it is a bucketlist hike that everyone will love and should do at least once in their life!
This trail is all of the reasons that I love hiking so much all wrapped into one. It has a little bit of challenge, a lot of views, a similar minded group of people and limited access so it's never crowded, a nice place to have lunch and warm up in case of inclement weather and the pleasure of being outside in nature. What more could you ask for?
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