Tobermory day trip: glass-bottom boat to Flowerpot Island, then the Grotto
Shipwrecks in Big Tub Harbour, two hours among the flowerpot rocks, and the reserved parking slot that got us into the Grotto, all in one long Sunday drive.
Places left behind
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Tobermory day trip: glass-bottom boat to Flowerpot Island, then the GrottoShipwrecks in Big Tub Harbour, two hours among the flowerpot rocks, and the reserved parking slot that got us into the Grotto, all in one lo…
Half day in Toronto: red brick at the Distillery, pink umbrellas on the lake, a festival at City HallOne parking spot and about 7 km on foot: Distillery lanes, Sugar Beach, a fountain full of iron dogs, beaver hunting and a Saturday festival…
Montreal to Niagara Falls road trip with my parents: Toronto, Tobermory and Watkins Glen in five daysFive days, four nights, four waterfalls: how we ordered a loop from Montreal so my parents would first see Niagara from a Fallsview hotel wi…Browse the map
Tap a pin to open the postNorth America
A four-day Gaspé Peninsula road trip from Montreal: our route, stops and staysDown the Matapédia Valley, along the Chaleur Bay coast to Percé and Gaspé, back on the north shore: our route, where we slept and where we f…
Winter Grand Circle Road Trip: 9 Nights by Rental Car from Las VegasOur December Grand Circle loop from Las Vegas: 9 nights, about 1,880 miles and 15 stops, with a day-by-day route, drive times, where we slep…
Tobermory day trip: glass-bottom boat to Flowerpot Island, then the GrottoShipwrecks in Big Tub Harbour, two hours among the flowerpot rocks, and the reserved parking slot that got us into the Grotto, all in one lo…Half day in Toronto: red brick at the Distillery, pink umbrellas on the lake, a festival at City HallOne parking spot and about 7 km on foot: Distillery lanes, Sugar Beach, a fountain full of iron dogs, beaver hunting and a Saturday festival…Montreal to Niagara Falls road trip with my parents: Toronto, Tobermory and Watkins Glen in five daysFive days, four nights, four waterfalls: how we ordered a loop from Montreal so my parents would first see Niagara from a Fallsview hotel wi…
Thousand Islands cruise from Gananoque: a Canada Day trip from Montreal via KingstonOne day from Montreal: Canada Day in Kingston, then a 3-hour boat from Gananoque past Boldt Castle and the Thousand Islands Bridge, and a st…
Montreal pet expo (SNAC) without a pet: a cat show, breeders and a whole new worldTwo hours at SNAC in Montreal’s Olympic Stadium with our kid: cat judging, breeder booths, rescues, mini pigs, ticket prices and where we at…
A Charlevoix day trip from Quebec City: Baie-Saint-Paul, La Malbaie and the Clermont lookoutOne June Sunday by car: a basilica, Baie-Saint-Paul’s market, scenic Route 362 to La Malbaie, a cross-topped lookout and a black-fly forest…
Old Quebec itinerary: walking up from Lower Town to Château Frontenac and the CitadelQuebec City’s old town, bottom to top in half a day: Place Royale, Breakneck Stairs or funicular, the Citadel, and how four seasons compare.
Montmorency Falls: admission, parking and the climb, from four visitsFour visits to the falls outside Quebec City: what you pay depends on when you arrive, which lot to use, and how the cable car compares with…
Tadoussac whale watching: Zodiac or big boat, which dock, and what to wearWe took the three-hour big boat from Baie-Sainte-Catherine on a cold, rainy June morning. How to pick a boat and a dock, and how to dress fo…
Quebec City 2-day road trip from Montreal, Chaudière Falls to the Charlevoix coastA June weekend with my parents and our kid: two waterfalls and Old Quebec on day one, Route 362 through Charlevoix on day two, and where to…
Half day in Ottawa: park by City Hall, walk the canal, Parliament Hill and Notre-DameWe parked once by Ottawa City Hall and spent three and a half hours on foot: Rideau Canal locks, Parliament Hill, Notre-Dame Cathedral, ByWa…
Parc Omega day trip from Montreal: getting in, carrots, lunch and OttawaA drive-through day at Parc Omega in Montebello: how to get in, how many carrots to bring, where to eat lunch, and how to add Ottawa the sam…
Quebec City weekend itinerary: a day for the Tadoussac whales, an evening at Montmorency FallsTwo nights near Quebec City, one full day on Route 138 to the Tadoussac whale boats, then Montmorency Falls, the old town, drive times and f…
Montreal Biodome, Insectarium and three more: a summer on the Espace pour la vie passFive Espace pour la vie museums spread over one summer on a family annual pass, with prices, booking rules and how many to fit into one day.
Notre-Dame Basilica Montreal and the Old Port Ferris wheel: a half day in Old MontrealWe toured the basilica one July afternoon and rode La Grande Roue in June. Prices, family passes, Mass times and a walking route linking the…
Mackerel fishing in Gaspésie: three wharves, and the catch came on the last day, in the rainThree Gaspésie wharves on a four-day road trip: nibbles, a small fish, then mackerel in the rain at Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. Gear, rules and l…
Gaspé’s Birthplace of Canada, then a foggy sunset on the Grande-Grave wharf in ForillonAn afternoon from Percé to Gaspé’s granite cross and on to Forillon’s Grande-Grave wharf, fishing into the fog with a seal nearby. Fees, fis…
Around Percé Rock by boat, then on foot to the gannet colony on Bonaventure IslandA morning cruise around Percé Rock, lunch on Bonaventure Island and the Les Colonies trail to the gannets, with 2026 fares, park fees and ti…
Miguasha National Park and the Chaleur Bay coast: fish fossils in the morning, shallow beaches by afternoonDay two of our Gaspé loop: a guided tour to Miguasha’s fossil cliffs, seafood poutine in Carleton-sur-Mer, then three Chaleur Bay beaches he…
Montreal to Gaspésie drive, day one: poutine in Drummondville, the Pointe-au-Père lighthouse and the Matapédia ValleyAbout 850 km by car in one day: takeout poutine in Drummondville, two hours of tide pools, a red covered bridge and a night at a castle-styl…
A Kingston weekend from Montreal: Fort Henry, a beach afternoon and Sandbanks in the rainOne night in Kingston with a kid: Fort Henry’s red-coated guard, three hours at Grass Creek, a burger stop near Picton and Sandbanks in stea…
Mount Philo State Park: a Vermont day trip from Montreal at peak yellow foliageA fall drive from Montreal into Vermont: an hour at the border, Chipotle in South Burlington, a walk up Mount Philo on foot, then Trader Joe…
Las Vegas at Christmas with a kid: two nights on the Strip, KÀ and the STRATTwo Christmas nights on the Strip after a winter Grand Circle road trip: Bellagio fountains, the now-closed Mirage volcano, a same-day KÀ ti…
Gardens of Light at the Montreal Botanical Garden: a walk from sunset at the end of fall colorA Saturday evening at Montreal’s Botanical Garden festival: lit fall trees, three cultural gardens and lanterns, plus hours, fees, parking a…
Death Valley day trip from Las Vegas: Christmas Day in the desert with our kidOn Christmas Day we drove from Las Vegas into Death Valley for Zabriskie Point, the Mesquite Flat dunes, a Junior Ranger badge and Artist’s…
Zion in December: A Rainy Night at Zion Lodge, the Emerald Pools Trail and the Riverside WalkA snowy drive from Bryce, a night at Zion Lodge, then a rainy day on the Emerald Pools Trail and Riverside Walk, plus winter shuttle and fee…
Bryce Canyon in winter: snowy hoodoos from Sunrise Point to the Navajo LoopA December afternoon at Bryce: icy Sunrise Point, the Rim Trail to Sunset Point, part of the Navajo Loop, then snow at dusk and dinner outsi…
Goblin Valley State Park and Capitol Reef National Park, then Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 to Bryce CanyonDusk among Goblin Valley’s mushroom rocks, a night in Torrey, then Capitol Reef’s petroglyphs, Hickman Bridge and Byway 12 to Bryce Canyon i…
Arches National Park in December: Delicate Arch, Skyline Arch and Landscape Arch in One Winter DayA frosty morning in Moab, the 3-mile Delicate Arch hike with our kid, a roadside stop at Skyline Arch, then Devils Garden to Landscape Arch…
Canyonlands Island in the Sky in December: Mesa Arch and a Green River Overlook sunsetWe missed the turn for Island in the Sky and drove UT-211 toward the Needles. Then we walked to Mesa Arch and watched dusk at Green River Ov…
The View Hotel, Monument Valley: a December night facing the Mittens, then the Valley DriveOne December night in the Navajo tribal park: sunset and moonrise over the Mitten Buttes from our room, then the dirt Valley Drive in our ow…
Horseshoe Bend and Upper Antelope Canyon: a December morning in Page, ArizonaA late drive up Highway 89, a frosty morning walk to Horseshoe Bend, then a timed tour of Upper Antelope Canyon. Parking, fees, rules and wh…
Grand Canyon in winter: a night on the South Rim, sunrise, and Hermit Road by carA December night at Bright Angel Lodge, sunrise steps from the cabin, then Hermit Road by car (winter only) and Desert View Drive. Fees and…
A half day in Sedona’s red rocks, from a Route 66 motel in Kingman to the Chapel of the Holy Cross and Bell RockFrom a Route 66 motel in Kingman to Sedona's red rocks: the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Bell Rock and Airport Mesa at sunset, plus Red Rock Pa…
Quebec Ice Fishing: A Night in a Heated Hut for 50 TomcodQuebec ice fishing in a heated hut on the frozen Sainte-Anne River, about 2 hours from Montreal: our overnight trip, 50 tomcod, 2025-26 pric…
A Fall Day Trip From Montreal: Jacques-Cartier National Park, Montmorency Falls and Quebec CityOne Sunday in October from Montreal to Jacques-Cartier National Park, Montmorency Falls and Quebec City: late color in the hills, peak color…
Montreal Marathon 5K 2026: How Our Family’s Race Day WentA morning at the Montreal Marathon 5K with my wife and kid running: the walk from Pie-IX Metro to the start, the finish at Parc Maisonneuve,…
Oka National Park in Fall: Up the Calvary Trail to a Lake ViewA fall day trip 50 minutes from Montreal: the beach and the Calvary Trail at Oka National Park, then an orchard and a free pumpkin farm, wit…
Île-des-Moulins, Terrebonne: Canada Geese and Fall Color Near MontrealA fall day trip just north of Montreal to Laval and Terrebonne, with free entry and parking, weekend-only canoe rentals, fishing rules and a…
Acadia fall foliage in three days: we left Friday evening and drove through the nightOur three-day Acadia fall foliage road trip in Maine: sunrises on the granite coast, Jordan Pond, a lobster boat, and what has changed for 2…
Mont-Orford Fall Foliage: A Chairlift Day Trip From MontrealMont-Orford fall foliage on a day trip from Montreal: the chairlift to the 853 m summit, free Lot P6 parking, 2026 lift prices and a pond in…
Mont-Tremblant Day Trip From Montreal: Snowshoeing in the Park, Hiking Up the MountainThree day trips to Mont-Tremblant, about two hours from Montreal: snowshoeing in the national park's Pimbina sector in winter, then hiking u…
Mont-Saint-Hilaire Apple Picking: Our Day at Vergers Petit et Fils Near MontrealAn apple-picking day trip to Vergers Petit et Fils in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, about 50 minutes from Montreal: the apple bag that doubles as your…
Fall Foliage Day Trip from Montreal: Catching Autumn Early by a Lake in Val-Morin, LaurentiansMontreal's trees were only starting to turn. An hour and a half north, Val-Morin's Lac Raymond was in full fall color. Parking, beach fees,…Asia
A Phi Phi Islands tour from Phuket with our 4-year-old, Khai Island firstOne speedboat day from Ko Sire pier: fish at Khai Island, Maya Bay from the boat, a swim below Phi Phi Le cliffs, lunch on Phi Phi Don, plus…
Kota Kinabalu with Kids: A 5-Day Itinerary of Island Hopping, Sea Walking and Tanjung Aru SunsetsEarly January, one night by the airport, then three nights at a hotel on the waterfront: a day for the city, a day for the islands and a day…
Phuket with Kids: 10 Days, Three Beaches and One Four-Year-Old, from Surin to Kata to PatongPhuket with kids at a slow pace: 10 days with my four-year-old, moving from Surin to Kata to Patong, with a zipline, an elephant visit, a Ko…Latin America
Majestic Mirage Punta Cana review: a week in a swim-up suite with our kidSeven nights at an all-inclusive on Arena Gorda beach: the swim-up suite, pools, steakhouse and teppanyaki dinners, Easter activities, and w…
Punta Cana with Kids: 8 Days of Spring Break in a Swim-Up Suite at Majestic MirageEight days of spring break at one all-inclusive in Punta Cana with our kid: a swim-up suite at Majestic Mirage, restaurants to reserve, nigh…Europe
2-week Portugal itinerary: a road trip from Lisbon through the Algarve to Porto2-week Portugal itinerary from our family road trip: Lisbon, the Algarve, Évora, Óbidos, Coimbra and Porto, with daily routes, drive times a…
Porto fado show on our last night: the cathedral, dinner in Gaia, and the flight to BrusselsOn our last day in Porto the sky finally cleared. We toured the cathedral and the Episcopal Palace, crossed the Dom Luís I Bridge to Gaia fo…
Evening in Porto: Bolhão Market, a walk to Gaia for sunset over the Infante Dom Henrique Bridge, and the Clérigos light showWe browsed Bolhão Market, walked across the Infante Dom Henrique Bridge to watch the sunset from the Gaia waterfront, then came back over th…
Matosinhos and Afurada from Porto by taxi: a windy beach, a fishing village and the Crystal Palace Gardens in the rainOn our third day in Porto, with wind and showers coming and going, we took taxis to Matosinhos Beach, the fishing village of Afurada and the…
First afternoon in Porto on foot: tiles at São Bento Station and the Dom Luís I Bridge before the stormWe returned the rental car and started our first afternoon in Porto on foot: the tiled wall of Carmo Church, the azulejos of São Bento Stati…
Coimbra and Aveiro in One Day with Kids: a Library, Little Portugal and Striped HousesA rental-car day trip from Porto with a kid: Coimbra’s university hill, Portugal dos Pequenitos, the striped houses of Costa Nova and the ca…
An Óbidos and Nazaré day trip: walking the town wall, then watching rough waves from the clifftopÓbidos and Nazaré by car in one day with a kid: flower-filled lanes, a wall walk with no railing, and rough waves from the Nazaré cliff trai…
Alte waterfall’s red cliffs and green water, then the cork-oak road to the Chapel of Bones and the Roman temple in ÉvoraDay 7 in Portugal: Alte waterfall, then Évora’s Chapel of Bones and Roman temple on foot. Chapel prices and hours, drive times, and parking…
2 days in the Algarve: the rock coast at Ponta da Piedade and the waves at a beach resort near AlbufeiraWe drove a rental car down from Lisbon, stayed two nights at a beach resort near Albufeira and saw Ponta da Piedade in Lagos. Drive times, s…
Sintra day trip from Lisbon: Quinta da Regaleira, Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca and CascaisSintra day trip from Lisbon with a kid: train to Quinta da Regaleira and Pena Palace, then Bolt to Cabo da Roca and Cascais. Tickets, prices…
3 days in Lisbon with a kid: Chiado, a São Jorge Castle sunset and Belém3 days in Lisbon with a kid: Chiado, the Santa Justa Lift, sunset at São Jorge Castle and a day in Belém, with times, prices, hours and Lisb…
Portuguese food: what we ate in two weeks in PortugalPortuguese food from two weeks in Portugal: pastel de nata, seafood rice, sardines, octopus, ovos moles, suckling pig, port, and supermarket…
Getting around Portugal in two weeks: 1,130 km in a one-way rental from Lisbon to PortoGetting around Portugal for two weeks with a kid: a one-way rental car from Lisbon to Porto, Via Verde tolls, car seats, SIM cards, the Lisb…All posts
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Half day in Toronto: red brick at the Distillery, pink umbrellas on the lake, a festival at City Hall
One parking spot and about 7 km on foot: Distillery lanes, Sugar Beach, a fountain full of iron dogs, beaver hunting and a Saturday festival at City Hall.
Montreal to Niagara Falls road trip with my parents: Toronto, Tobermory and Watkins Glen in five days
Five days, four nights, four waterfalls: how we ordered a loop from Montreal so my parents would first see Niagara from a Fallsview hotel window.
Thousand Islands cruise from Gananoque: a Canada Day trip from Montreal via Kingston
One day from Montreal: Canada Day in Kingston, then a 3-hour boat from Gananoque past Boldt Castle and the Thousand Islands Bridge, and a storm on the way back.
Montreal pet expo (SNAC) without a pet: a cat show, breeders and a whole new world
Two hours at SNAC in Montreal’s Olympic Stadium with our kid: cat judging, breeder booths, rescues, mini pigs, ticket prices and where we ate after.
A Charlevoix day trip from Quebec City: Baie-Saint-Paul, La Malbaie and the Clermont lookout
One June Sunday by car: a basilica, Baie-Saint-Paul’s market, scenic Route 362 to La Malbaie, a cross-topped lookout and a black-fly forest walk.
Old Quebec itinerary: walking up from Lower Town to Château Frontenac and the Citadel
Quebec City’s old town, bottom to top in half a day: Place Royale, Breakneck Stairs or funicular, the Citadel, and how four seasons compare.
Montmorency Falls: admission, parking and the climb, from four visits
Four visits to the falls outside Quebec City: what you pay depends on when you arrive, which lot to use, and how the cable car compares with the stairs.
Tadoussac whale watching: Zodiac or big boat, which dock, and what to wear
We took the three-hour big boat from Baie-Sainte-Catherine on a cold, rainy June morning. How to pick a boat and a dock, and how to dress for the water.
Quebec City 2-day road trip from Montreal, Chaudière Falls to the Charlevoix coast
A June weekend with my parents and our kid: two waterfalls and Old Quebec on day one, Route 362 through Charlevoix on day two, and where to sleep.
Half day in Ottawa: park by City Hall, walk the canal, Parliament Hill and Notre-Dame
We parked once by Ottawa City Hall and spent three and a half hours on foot: Rideau Canal locks, Parliament Hill, Notre-Dame Cathedral, ByWard Market.
Parc Omega day trip from Montreal: getting in, carrots, lunch and Ottawa
A drive-through day at Parc Omega in Montebello: how to get in, how many carrots to bring, where to eat lunch, and how to add Ottawa the same evening.