Oh Canada!....Toronto

Amazing art galleries, serene  parks, natural trails and elite shopping centers are just a few options people love to visit when they head to Toronto for an autumn trip.  Visiting this magnificent city in the fall opens up opportunities for people of all ages to experience the beauty and delectable treats that range from rustic to sophisticated.  If you’re planning a fall visit to Toronto, be sure to pack clothes for every type of occasion because you never know where you will end up in this glamorous city!

1.  Visiting the Toronto Islands will appeal to the entire family.  The islands of Toronto offer hiking and walking trails, kayaking opportunities, horseback riding trails and amusement rides for the children(Our son had a blast here!).  Visiting this area of Toronto in the fall will give you a glimpse of the beauty of the autumn colors that offer bold hues of gold, red, green, and orange.  It rivals our beloved Vermont!

2.  If you love sipping cold beer (Me!) and plan on taking a romantic weekend away (Tiff!) to Toronto in the autumn time of the year, you can find some of the best breweries in Canada right in Toronto like the Steam Whistle and Granite Brewery provide a laid-back setting where you can get comfortable and try hearty and cold beers.  I was a huge fan of the “Best Bitter” and “Peculiar” at Granite Brewery!  If you work up an appetite, you’ll be impressed with the food Granite Brewery has to offer.  The Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger is amazing!

3.  Harbourfront Centre is a must-visit for anyone who loves contemporary shopping mixed with a vintage environment.  Refurbishing many of Toronto’s stately and historic buildings, the city has utilized one of the most industrious areas by turning it into a retro-urban shopping and dining arena.  It was a neat little area with a little bit for everyone!

Something else worth noting.  Toronto has been giving a real strong effort to go Green and adopt the eco-friendly lifestyle that my family tries to live!

Tiffany and I had a fantastic getaway with our son in Toronto!  We would certainly like to get back there some time because there is so much to do!  We also would have liked to have gotten to Niagara Falls, but we just ran out of time.  Perhaps this gives us a reason to travel to New York :)  I have heard mixed reviews about the Falls on the American side, so please let me know if you would recommend checking them out from the Canadian or American side!  

-Cliff and Tiff

Beautiful Maine

We found Maine to be loaded with intriguing family attractions, amazing and fresh seafood, unparalleled scenery, and upscale shopping options.  Not too far of a trip for us traveling from Vermont either!  Visiting the Northeast provides tourists with a chance to experience the best of the Eastern Seaboard by offering windswept beaches, beautiful lighthouses and scenic driving routes through the rural areas of Maine.  Rich in heritage and history, this is a fantastic state for people who have diverse tastes and preferences.

Here are my two cents about Maine:

•           Known for maple farms and sweeping pastures in its rural areas, visiting Maine can offer families some refreshing outdoor opportunities.  Apple orchards and farmers markets are in abundance, and you can also choose to visit wildflower fields to explore the beauty of the state with the entire family.  Outdoors at its finest! :)

•           Embrace the coastal part of Maine in the summer by visiting the historic lighthouses or taking a fishing expedition.  Boat rentals are found at various marinas up and down the shoreline of Maine, or you can also schedule a guided fishing expedition.  Windjammer cruises offer something posh and indulgent for people who prefer the finer things during their vacation getaways.  Maine is also known as an exquisite place to comb beaches.  You can plan on enjoying a relaxing beach picnic while the kids run up and down the shoreline collecting shells and searching for starfish!

•           Golfing and hiking are two popular outdoor sports for Maine locals.  Consider embracing the wild beauty of the state by hiking through one of its rugged and beautiful national parks.  You can follow up this afternoon with a relaxing evening on the golf course before going back to your bed and breakfast to enjoy a cocktail and some fresh Maine lobster.

•           If you love to dine out, you’ll be pleased to find award-winning restaurants throughout the entire state of Maine where the freshest of seafood ranges from scallops, lobster, shrimp and snow crab.  (Tiffany didn’t mind wining and dining with some of these seafood options!)

If you are unsure what type of accommodations you should choose in Maine, bed and breakfast inns are in abundance and offer themed, romantic rooms that take you back in time.  These inns are available in major cities as well as in rural areas.  Planning in advance will also give you an option to rent a beach house if you desire to stay near the coastal portions of Maine.  No matter where you choose to stay, you’ll be sure to find something intimate and relaxing!  Maine is a great place to go for a long weekend or an extended stay!

Have a great trip!

-Cliff and Tiff

A Great Responsible Travel Advisor!

Love to travel but don’t have the time or patience to sift through thousands of travel websites? My friend, Robert, is a travel consultant, writer and traveler and would love to help plan your next vacation. I used his services last year when planning a trip to Puerto Rico. He was really helpful in getting us to our destination as eco-friendly as possible and for the best value for our money. Visit his website, theTRAVELER, for details and client testimonials as well as destination information and travel tips.

Thank you Gluten-Free Goddess!!!!!

I was just browsing around for new gluten free recipes and came across this amazing blog!! The blog is Gluten-Free Goddess and as you may have guessed, its all about living a gluten free life!  Karina Allrich is the wonderful woman behind this site.  Check it out if you are GF too, I promise you will love her recipes! :)

:)

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Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all Dads out there!

For my son and I, Happy Father's Day to the best husband and father in the world!!!! Cliff is our hero and an exceptional man.

For Father's Day this year we decided to go to Lake Champlain and spend the day there!


















We had such a great time!

Cliff, thank you so much for this wonderful life you have given our son and I, we love you so much!!!

-Tiff

Arizona and USGBC!

Arizona is a unique land of adventure.  Filled with history from the Wild West, native American culture, Indian ruins, state parks and a variety of other things to do.  Arizona is a place you can spend a short vacation or a long vacation both as a couple or a family!  These tips will allow you to get the most out of your travel time through this great state.

•           The Grand Canyon – Be sure to visit the Grand Canyon early in the morning for the sunrise or in the evening when the sun is beginning to set.  Absolutely breathtaking!!  The shadows dancing across the canyon and the changing colors are an unforgettable experience.

•           Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon – Once you leave the Flagstaff area, drive south on 89A down through Oak Creek Canyon.  The canyon drive beside the meandering Oak Creek is an experience in nature.  At the bottom of the canyon, the road opens up into the red rock mountains of the tourist town of Sedona.  Jeep rides, horseback rides, swimming, hiking and exploring the canyons, visiting the many art galleries, shopping for Indian jewelry, fishing, camping and picnicking are just a few of the activities that are available in Sedona.  

•           In southern Arizona, Tucson is another place you won’t want to miss.  Museums, canyons to explore, the zoo, horseback riding, an early Catholic mission and theatrical works are just a sample of things you can see and do.  Tons of culture can be found here for everyone!  Also, You won’t want to miss the Old Tucson Studios!  You’ll find the Studios about 25 minutes west of downtown Tucson.  Many of the old western movies were filmed here, and visitors can experience what the Old West was really like.  Step back in time, and experience life in a town on the western frontier.  Steven (our son) loves all the Cops/Robbers, Cowboys/Indians style movies, so he had a blast walking around here!!  He reminded me of a young Duke. ;)

Regardless of your interests, Arizona has things the your entire family will enjoy.  It’s a place where history comes alive, where one can experience the different ecosystems and where cuisine from the various cultures can be tried.  Travel to Arizona is something you will never

forget.

***I would also like to make a special note of something that I came across on our travels.  As you know by now I am big on traveling responsibly, green initiatives, and being eco-friendly.  As we were walking about Tucson, I grabbed a local newspaper just to leaf through and see if there were any local music venues or special attractions while we were in town.  This is when I came across an article about the U.S. Green Building Council working on an LEED projects locally in Arizona.  This was something I had never heard of before but I think this is absolutely incredible organization!  If you have some time to look into their website I encourage you to do so.  The organization is all about working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.  Here is just one local project of many they are working on. 

Be Friendly....Eco-Friendly!

-Cliff and Tiff