Going back in time.

It never occurred to me that I was doing anything that wasn't completely ordinary until my dear friend Christina shouted at me. "You're doing WHAT? OMG that's amazing! Cathie, you HAVE TO write about this!"

So, I'll just tell you now, what I told her....

I'm going to take these photos, get on a plane and go visit the house where I lived when I was 3 years old.

That house happens to be in Nova Scotia.

I happen to love the ocean, and lobster. I'm not really sure which I love more, lobster, or being by the ocean, but I'm pretty sure that the house in this picture is where it all started. I should note that I haven't seen this house, or Nova Scotia at all, in more than 3 decades. For the last three decades, I have been living on the prairies.

So, the plan is as simple and straightforward as it sounds.... photos, plus seat sale, equals adventure! Thank you Air Canada for a great price on the flight, by the way.

I'll report back.

Solo Travel IS and IS NOT

Solo travel is a blessing and a curse.

Solo travel is something you might have to do for work, and you might hate it. Or as a single person, not in a relationship, it might be something that you also dread. All the happy couples in travel ads and their great deals might drive you crazy, especially when you learn of the added ("single supplement") travel costs.

But as a traveller, I want to assure you, it's not something to fear. You could choose to embrace it, as I have. But, you might also have to explain yourself constantly, as I do.

So here's a helpful list that you can point to when your Mother/Husband/Boss/Neighbour asks you why you're going alone.


Solo Travel is NOT:

• about being unhappy
• about running away
• about hooking up
• about hating your family
• about baggage and compromise 
• about letting family hijack your itinerary
• paying for others to join you
• posed vacation photos 
• listening to others complain about your choice of museum 
• waiting for your group to decide
• exhausting, like trying to please and accommodate everyone is

Sol Travel IS: 

• about having your own goals
• about having your own dreams
• about exploring and learning 
• faster and further than with a group
• less expensive
• eating what and where you want to 
• fulfilling and healthy
• about meditation and spirituality 
• satisfying 
• energizing, not draining
• about being an adult
• selfies in cool locations
• not having to pack for 4, book a kennel or find a house sitter
• about me, not you 

For me, in addition to being all of the items on the preceding lists, is a chance to get the heck away from people and their demands. I often work 7 days a week, and 12 hours at a time. On a slow day I could cook and clean for 100 people, on a busy day 300. It's exhausting! When I get a chance for a break I want to head straight to the ocean and just sit, and be alone. I want to listen to the waves and be still. I want solitude. I want to get away from the cooking, cleaning and serving. I don't even want to cook for myself. I don't want to make small talk with anyone. And until I can permanently live by the ocean, I will have to travel to get my break.

When I'm near the ocean, it starts to work its magic and I start to feel refreshed and human again. I want to learn and explore. I want to do something! I want to feel like a living, breathing, functioning, intelligent adult, rather than a zombie servant.

Out of all my travels, I would say that 1 in 8 trips is a solo adventure. It's about balance. Sure, I love being with other people, I love showing my kids the world, attending sporting events and being a fun mom and taking "vacations" but I really do cherish the opportunity to work on myself. I believe that when I get the chance to get away and get refocused,  I can be a better mom, spouse, business owner etc, when I get back.

There is a proverb, that I will paraphrase, that resonates with me. "You can not pour for others, from your own empty cup."

Have you taken a solo trip recently? Love it or hate it?  Let's hear from you in the comments!

Home of the Braves

Some of my best travel stories have come from detours and wrong turns. Like the night we ended up in Atlanta, at the Braves game.

We were on a flight from Minot, North Dakota thru to Nassau, Bahamas, via Atlanta airport. That's when and where we were delayed and bumped overnight to the next flight. Delta Airlines set us up with a nearby hotel and meals (plus future flight credits) for the inconvenience.

With a free evening in Atlanta, I looked up and found a Major League Baseball (MLB) game starting in 2 hours. We rushed to the stadium only to find out it was a sold out game. Turns out this October night was the one-game playoff to determine which team got the wildcard into the playoffs.  It was the Atlanta Braves vs the St. Louis Cardinals.

The automated ticket kiosks only offered standing room tickets to this big game. I passed. Next up, the scalpers. "C'mon kids, mom's going to make some new friends." But all they had to offer were single seats.

As a last resort, I went to the on site Box Office.  "Don't suppose you have 4 tickets for the game? We're Canadian and my kids have never seen a live MLB game...."  I didn't even have to finish the sentence before the clerk said she had great seats right behind home plate. The visitors (Cardinals) just released their team seats. We could sit right behind the Anthem Singer and special guests. Tickets were $40 each and we were in!

A quick stop at the souvenir booth for a couple of Braves' shirts and hats, and we were cheering for the home team!

It was a heck of a game! But better than that it was an EXPERIENCE. Since then, each of my kids has gone to 2 other stadiums to see 2 more games. Our spontaneous detour in Atlanta helped to ignite a passion for the live game.  A MLB game, with a cold lemonade and an Oscar Mayer hot dog... well, it's hard to beat. One of those must-do events when you travel through America with your kids.

Helsinki? Adventure Awaits

There is a remarkable flight sale on right now. If you have ever dreamt of visiting Finland, you need to jump on this deal.

From Winnipeg, Manitoba (YWG) to Helsinki, Finland (HEL) for about $600, but as low as $558, depending on dates. There are lots of great dates in November, early December and late January for around $600.  (This is about half price!)  Many airlines participating in this sale, including Delta, KLM, Air Canada, Air France.

Paired with hotel for 5 or 6 nights, it can be had for under $1000. (shown below) Yes, that's return flights, hotel and taxes all included.

In November, the temperature is near 2C. It is the beginning of the winter season, similar in climate to Manitoba, except that it will be more of a damp cold due to it proximity to the Baltic Sea.

Visit your favourite agent to jump on this deal before it disappears.  There's even an opportunity for a stop over in Paris at no extra charge, if you book your flight times right!

Helsinki tourism link will whet your appetite for this adventure.

Finland is also the site of this year's World Juniors Hockey. However, during this event, prices will be much higher.

What's your path? Your perfect trip?

Are you a trail blazer? 

A patio princess? 

A cafe Cathie? 

A super sports fan?

A water baby? 

You can be them all! Travel is an amazing gift to give yourself.  Find you inner strength, your curiosity and sense of fulfillment.  Choose your own ADVENTURE!

If you are waiting for someone else to give you permission to live your life....here it is. 

You are worthy. You are wonderful and you are CAPABLE. You got this! Now go for it. 

Live well. Travel often. Share the journey.

If that moment should come, and your life flashes before your eyes.... make sure it's worth watching!

Do you live well?  That is not to say richly, but instead, authentically. Are you present in the moment? Are your eyes wide open to witness the miracles that surround you?

Travel often. To travel the same path over and over, is to lose sight of all perspective. To travel and push beyond your boundaries will show you your place in this world, and make you appreciate all that you have. Every journey you take leads to a broader wisdom and deeper understanding.

Open your eyes. To see the mountains yourself is lovely. To show the mountains to your children, is to leave a legacy.

To confidently go forth and show your children how to respectfully explore and navigate and surf the ocean is far better than to allow them to hide away in their bedroom and explore and navigate and surf the Internet. To let them isolate themselves and be disillusioned into thinking they can see the world by clicking a button or tapping a screen is ridiculous! Take them to navigate a city, explore a museum and click with human beings. And if they think you're a pretty great parent in the process, well then so be it. And if you've shared a laugh and enjoyed the ride, then it is indeed a life well lived.

Whistler, site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games

Invited into the cockpit

Canadian Parliament

Colorado

Red Rock, Colorado Springs

NASA, Houston Texas

A real space shuttle

The brave men & women of the space program

Crossing provinces on the railway

Deciding to tackle the roller coaster. Disneyland, California

His first NFL game 

Sitting sideline at the Houston Texan's game. 

Hawaii

Arcade in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Meeting Merlot, the hotel's resident parrot.

Delayed by a storm

Yes! You can do it! 

Kayaking for the first time

C'mon Mom! We'll do this together

Exploring the green grotto caves of Jamaica 

The sandy shores of Jamaica

Cruisin!

Navigating a new city

Always learning. Always exploring. Living is learning. 

$25 To go from "are we there yet" to AMAZING

The only difference between another ho-hum road trip, and your own personal amazing adventure is about $25, a little research and some enthusiasm.

Seriously, $25 or less!

To turn my budget road trip into the "best trip ever" I bought:

1. Decorative paper and a sharpie marker  ($5 at Staples)
2. A $15 gift card as a prize (I chose iTunes, but anything will do)
3. A small IQ puzzle from a toy store. ($5)

To plan the trip, I studied the TV show The Amazing Race Canada.  I then copied their style of presenting instructions, challenges, roadblocks and awards in envelopes.

I decorated some basic envelopes with my own pattern and title. I numbered them 1-10. Several envelopes I prepared in advance of the trip, but some were done "on the fly" during the trip.

The first envelope my son received was from a friend of mine who works at Starbucks. I had given her the envelope in advance and requested that she hand it to my son with his drink when I returned with him later in the day. Upon receipt of this surprise envelope, our adventure began. The first envelope enclosure said, "you have one hour to pack.  Bring your sneakers and plan for 5 days. You are heading east. Your own amazing race adventure starts NOW!"

Instantly that message got his blood flowing and put this trip on the FUN map. My son instantly wanted to take a road trip with me. A road trip with no known agenda or destination!

Subsequent envelopes would reveal flight numbers, and landmarks to search for. The IQ puzzle, as mentioned above (and pictured at left) was used as a time waster on the plane. But it could easily be used the same way in a car. It's a tactile puzzle that's frustrating, yet straightforward. It gets the child to put their electronic device away and put their mind to use in another way.  When Ry solved the puzzle and separated the rings, he received a gift card as a reward.

Other envelopes contained trivia questions related to the destination. This could work for ANY destination. Even if the destination was simply Grandma's house.  You could even hand your child a tourist brochure and have them find the answer that way. Disguised learning!

Trivia questions and checkpoint envelopes are essentially free for the making but they are priceless in building anticipation and enthusiasm for your destination. How you deliver the envelopes is up to you. Be creative. Pace them, and place them as you see fit. (I would put one on the night stand to be found first thing in the morning. It would hold the day's destination or challenge.)

Engage others in delivering your envelopes or adding their own challenges. Like leave the envelope with the hotel front desk and have it sent up with your room service or extra towels. This little bit of extra planning can go a long way in making the child feel they are in their own reality TV show. So don't forget to take lots of pictures.

With a little planning and a bit of creativity, rather than hearing a pained "are we there yet?" you'll be receiving accolades and hugs for the best trip ever!

Our Amazing Adventure: Part 12 The Summary

My son and I raced from Manitoba to Quebec and back in four days just to challenge ourselves and have some fun.

I modelled this spontaneous trip after the Amazing Race TV show on CTV. We took planes, trains and automobile during this adventure. I helped my son discover parts of this great country he had never seen before. And in helping him experience things for the first time I, myself, saw Canada again with fresh eyes.

I also saw a different side of my own son. I have known him to be level headed, compassionate and eager to learn, but this time, I got to see those qualities in action in a new environment. Like the moment when he quietly asked me for change to give to a street person. He debated that action in his head and decided it was the right thing to do.  And then he did it.

My son capably guided us as we walked touring Old Quebec City. He patiently tried to speak and understand French in an everyday setting. And rather than wolfing down his food, for once he lingered and enjoyed the time that was our patio dinner on Rue Saint Jean.  These actions reflected qualities I knew he had in him but are sometimes hard to see in our daily lives rushing to school and hockey rinks.

We talked and we laughed. We had a great time! We took some fantastic photos and most of all, had shared experiences which will become shared memories. That is, of course, the part that will forever be "amazing" to me.






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I've done a trip recap highlighting the cities and adventures along the way. If you'd like to read them in sequence, here's the list.  Cheers!

• Our Amazing Adventure: Part 1 The Inspiration
• Our Amazing Adventure: Part 2 The Surprise
• Our Amazing Adventure: Part 3 Ottawa
• Our Amazing Adventure: Part 4 Taking the Train
• Our Amazing Adventure: Part 5 The Hotwire Hotel
• Our Amazing Adventure: Part 6 Le Chateau Frontenac
• Our Amazing Adventure: Part 7 Quebec City
• Our Amazing Adventure: Part 8 The Food
• Our Amazing Adventure: Part 9 A Whistle Stop in Montreal 
• Our Amazing Adventure: Part 10 The Westin Ottawa
• Our Amazing Adventure: Part 11 Ottawa in Pictures

Our Amazing Adventure: Part 11 Ottawa in Pictures

We had a mere 7 hours to explore the city and we did it on foot, but we sure did have a fabulous time! In downtown Ottawa, there is so much to see and do. We managed to see the changing of the guard ceremony on parliament hill. We found the Terry Fox statue, the Supreme Court building and a Starbucks. We walked along side the Rideau Canal, saw great public art, and then had a leisurely lunch at Byward Market. We could have spent hours at Byward Market... there is so much to see! If I lived in Ottawa I would be living off the fresh fruit and vegetable stands. I'd be a gourmet vegetarian chef! What variety and bounty!

I also managed to detour my son into the brand new Fluevog shoe store at Byward Market. They opened just weeks ago and are such a fun place to shop. The shoes are by an eclectic Canadian designer, who has been making shoes since the 1970s. Fluevog boutiques have been popping up in major urban centres in recent years, finally bringing these funky and fabulous shoes to the main stream soccer moms like myself.  Indeed, I bought a pair. I couldn't resist!

I will let the photos speak for themselves! If this is what we saw in 7 hours, can you imagine a weekend?