With five kids between the two of us and hectic jobs in downtown Toronto, my boyfriend Paul and I make regular 'couple getaways' - a must! And until this past weekend, if you had asked me to name romantic resort destinations to visit as a couple, I'd probably list off any number of islands in the Caribbean. But after spending Victoria Day weekend at The Viamede Resort,  Kawartha is officially on my list of destinations for great couple getaways.   The Viamede Resort is just 30 minutes north of Peterborough, so getting down there from downtown Toronto was a breezy, two... More »

This is a guest post by Jen's friend, Dara, who traveled with her to the beautiful Crane Resort in Barbados.I'm not a lucky person and I don't often get offered freebies, so when my dearest friend Jen of 30 years called to say she was going to Barbados for a few days and I could tag along, I didn't hesitate, I believe my exact text back to her was "Yes! When???".Crane Beach, BarbadosAnd so a few weeks later we spent five amazing days lounging on the beautiful Crane Beach concerned only with timing our trip to the resort ice cream... More »

There are many wonderful things about having kids who play competitive hockey (but I'll leave that for another post). One of the un-wonderful things is the inability to plan for any March Break vacations, since playoffs happen during that time, and players (and their families) have to be prepared to play at a moment's notice.When two families, with five hockey players between them, find themselves knocked out of hockey playoffs unexpectedly early on the Tuesday morning of March Break...what are they to do? We found a fantastic little getaway destination just under four hours driving distance from Toronto that provides... More »

When planning a vacation, the details of the beach itself can actually be the key to a successful holiday. There are so many options when it comes to destinations I thought it might be helpful to give you a few of my favourite beaches to help you narrow down your choices. The truth is, there are many different kinds of beaches from the relaxing to the bustling to the family focused. I mostly prefer the vast and relatively quiet, myself. So, before you book, think about what you want from your trip and how the beach will play a part... More »

Sure the holiday season is a wonderful time to be with friends and family but baby, it's cold outside! I'm not a fan of cold weather or winter, but as a Canadian I do know that you can't beat it (trust me, I've tried), so you might as well join it. Why not help out the wanna-be-in-Bermuda traveler in your life with gifts that help them get through the winter months whether at home or away. 1. Gloves that you don't have to take off to use your phoneNo other glove should even be sold at this point. This is... More »

A few weeks ago I wrote this piece for the Toronto Star Travel section and I've already had several emails offering other hot spots and fall leaf changing opinions. Seems many of you are keen on filling these last days before winter takes over with options that get you out and about. So without any further ado, here are a few more ways to make the most of autumn.Grab a deal in New York City: "The sun is shining, the air is crisp, the leaves are turning in Central Park, and there's plenty of fun in the Big Apple such... More »

When most of us think Florida, we think sand, sun and a certain mouse. But there's so much more to Florida than that, and the village of Bal Harbour is truly a treasure of the state. Covering an area of just under one square mile and with a population of just over 3,000, Bal Harbour truly is a "dream village"...which is exactly how it was conceived.Founded in 1929 on the very north tip of Miami Beach, Bal Harbour was envisioned, from the beginning, as a modern community that would maintain exceptionally high standards, provide superior services and foster civic pride.... More »

Who says you have to choose between family and friends on your vacation?Pick the right destination and you, yes you, can have it all! Want proof? I spent two weeks in Dubai. The trip came at the tail end of almost 8 months of traveling the world with my husband and two sons.  That's a lot of "put the toilet seat down! " and "does no one else smell that?" I needed girl time. But with four months to go before I could separate from my family, how to work it in?Enter Dubai. I've been to the Emirate three times before and knew that if... More »

"I'm going to Disneyland!"This famous phrase from Disney's famous advertising campaigns, is also shouted joyously by parents surprising their kids with a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. Last month, I had the chance to surprise my six-year-old daughter with her first trip to Disney World. While we had a fantastic time, we both agreed - we prefer Disneyland.Our experience isn't necessarily a good indicator of which park your family will prefer. Which experience would your family like best - Disney World, or Disneyland? Simply living on the east or west side of the country shouldn't make the closest... More »

When I told my friends that our family was doing a quick, last minute ski vacation to kick off our March Break, theirs mouths dropped. My husband had grown up a skier, and he gets out with our boys (aged 12 and 10) at least once a year. Combine that with their annual school trips, and they're pretty competent skiers. I've skied a couple of times in my life, but it was always with strong skiers, and I always ended up in over my head. I've managed to avoid skiing for almost 14 years by using pregnancy, infants and toddlers as excuses.... More »