The end of June marks two events. One, my current book will be off my desk and on my editor's (and yes, it will, even if it kills me), and two, the kids will be out for summer holidays.
I'm looking forward to this summer. I'll still be working, but I'm planning on doing some major relaxation. I love day trips. It's vacation without the long travel time or living out of a suitcase. :-) So this year I have a "wish list" of things I would like to do before September and school and new deadlines arrive again.
First of all - camping. We moved here 2 years ago and haven't camped since. Year one we had just moved in and we'd spent a week driving across the country and three more weeks sleeping in our trailer while we waited for furniture. Camping wasn't high on the list of priorities. Then last summer we had company for a few weeks and then more again for nearly a month in the fall, so we didn't make it out then either. But this summer I'm determined, and the first place on my list is
Cape Breton Island. I haven't been around the Cabot Trail since I was 14, so I'm really excited to do it again and take the kids.
Prescott House. We ran out of time last year when we were in the Annapolis Valley. The girls and I love visiting historic houses/museums, but it's not my husband's cup of tea so this is one of those trips we'll probably do when he's elsewhere. Maybe on the way back we'll stop at Fort Edward - another spot we missed last year when we were in Windsor visiting Haliburton House. When we take these trips we generally pack a picnic too. Picnics and museums...a perfect way to spend the day.
Pier 21. I have yet to visit Pier 21 here at the harbour. I've done the Harbour Hopper tour and gone to the Museum of the Atlantic and the Citadel, but not Pier 21. There's a lot of history here - this was the point of entry for immigrants between 1928 and 1971. With the exception of two small groups, all 494,874 Europe-bound service personnel embarked from Pier 21 during the Second World War.
Hopewell Rocks - these formations are on the New Brunswick side of the Bay of Fundy. We might be able to sneak in a trip while visiting the inlaws during the summer. It's a bit of a drive but very worth it. I made this trip when I was 18 with my mom - when we took a "day trip" and ended up spending three days away on a whim.
And one other place I'd like to go but that might require a camping trip is the Parrsboro area and the Fundy Geological Museum. I haven't been to Parrsboro since I was...maybe 14? The kids love that sort of thing and it's sufficiently scientific for the husband. Plus there are blueberries. Lots and lots of blueberries. And gorgeous views.
I probably won't be able to fit in all those places, but I know we'll get to at least some. What are your plans for the summer?
15 comments:
Sounds like you'll have great time this summer. My plans involve a lot of relaxing time on the beach for two weeks with a book by my side :)
All those places look great. I want to do some fun stuff this summer, too. We are heading to Ontario to visit family, but after that, I want to take Laura to Upper Clements theme park. We've been going most years because Stephen had a triathlon in Bridgetown, and we'd make a weekend out of it.
Hopewell Rocks are gorgeous. I haven't been there in years, and I don't think Laura has ever been. I am going to put that on the list, too.
Another fun spot is The Ovens, near Lunenburg. There's a campground there, and it's spectacular. There's a short hike where you can see the sea caves, and the cliffs are amazing. I highly recommend it.
Relaxing on the beach sounds great! We have a pool (hooray!) so relaxing on the deck is just about the same thing for me. :-)
Julianne - I haven't been to the Ovens yet - or Upper Clements Park! Both are things I know the kids would love. I'm hoping we have time to do some of those things with our neighbours. It is supposed to be nice this weekend - maybe we'll take the dogs to the lake for a swim.
Great post Donna. I have tons of camping equipment you guys can borrow including one of those stoves (see I don't camp - can you tell). I think you should add Brier Island and go whale watching. I'm taking 3 of my 4 kids there this summer - we go almost every 2nd year - and last time saw 20 humpbacks!!!! Awesome. Might also make for research on a new book.
Donna,
I love camping, too! We went camping in Cape Breton two years ago, and although it rained, we had a great trip. It's definitely worth a trip to Baddeck to visit the Alexander Graham Bell museum. My kids still talk about the Cabot Trail - we saw a basking shark right by the shore.
Have a great vacation!
Pam
Taking nephews this weekend to CA - beach, whale watching cruise & Disney. July is RomCon with my SIL and August is nieces turn with a trip to Sea World.
Melanie - that sounds HEAVENLY!
LOL Renee...we're pretty much kitted out. We used to tent with the kids before upgrading to a tent trailer. One year we camped in Salmon Arm, our tent and screen house sandwiched between HUGE RV's. It looked comical! (And btw now I'm looking into Brier Island).
Pam - isn't Baddeck gorgeous? My dh and I visited the Bell museum as we were passing through to Sydney (we went to Newfoundland for our honeymood). I KNOW the kids will love it. It's top of the list!
My mom has been wanting to visit the Fundy Geological Museum for years - not sure if we're going to get there this year, either, because she's off on a big trek out to Ontario and Michigan to see friends and family. I'll be having a staycation while she's off roaming - really looking forward to that. No real plans, but time off is always soothing.
Hi Donna!
You have to spend some time in PEI too! I am doing a week there this summer camping (and by that I mean borrowing my sister's 32 foot trailer, LOL). We'll hit the provincial park beaches, and do the Anne musical (again, my youngest insists!).
Lilly
Hi Donna!
You have to spend some time in PEI too! I am doing a week there this summer camping (and by that I mean borrowing my sister's 32 foot trailer, LOL). We'll hit the provincial park beaches, and do the Anne musical (again, my youngest insists!).
Lilly
Great plan, Donna! I hope you all
have wonderful and eventful day
trips this summer!
Pat Cochran
No holiday plans this year.
Estella - that's SAD! Or are you the type that doesn't make plans and ends up carving out some time anyway? Sometimes the ones done on impulse are the best kind!
Lilly - I think PEI is next year, if we do Cape Breton this year. The girls have been to the Island but not CB. And then there's coastal Maine...
I think it's fantastic that there are so many wonderful places within a day's drive!
my ownly real plan is to get trhew some of my to be read pile thats it and relax
and i dont ever make any real plans seems when u plans omething goes wrong when u dont plan ur pleasently suprised
Wow Donna! What a fantastic list of places you are planning on visiting! Can I go too?
I don't have any travel plans for this summer. To busy taking care of my elderly mom and working with contractors on her house, (she had a house fire 3 months ago), plus I have a job and a hubby, do grocery shopping, household chores, etc. etc. Geesh! Can life get any busier? Calgon, take me away!
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