Snow Shoeing - Winter's Cardio

About 5 years ago I discovered the joy of running. At first it was all about fitness as I was terribly out of shape and looking to lose some weight. By the second or third year however it became more about my passion for the sport, the love of the outdoors and the desire to be in the sunshine on anything from a crisp April morning to a sweltering July afternoon.

Proud of my first medal at one of my first running events

While my running evolved over the first four years, one thing stayed the same. I did not run in the winter. Something about the temperatures dipping below 5C just turned me right off the sport and had me indoors until the following spring. This winter, however, I was able to put that behind me and run right into the depths of January and February. This new found love of cold weather activity sparked a new interest which made use of the snowy, slippery terrain; snow shoeing. 

It started by chance. Early in the winter a buddy had bugged me to try cross-country skiing with him. I did... and I hated it. I had trouble staying on my feet and even when I could I must have looked like a drunk flamingo. He saw my struggles and recommended we try something with a lesser learning curve for the rest of the afternoon, so we strapped on some snow shoes and headed for the trail.

First snow shoe adventure near Barrie, Ontario

Fast forward two months and I now own my own pair of snow shoes (Atlas 9-series), and have been out on many adventures both back-trail and urban. My first big run was High Falls trail in the southern tip of Algonquin Park's panhandle. Great views of a mostly frozen river/waterfall and beautiful forest scenery. Algonquin is one of my favourite places to visit, and the snowy winter setting puts a fresh spin on it.

Beautiful frozen scenery

High Falls Trail - Algonquin Park 

Moose sighting after leaving the High Falls trail

Not being able to 'get away' every weekend however has forced me to track down some great urban snow shoeing. I explored the parklands of my own neighbourhood here in Mississauga and while there were no wild life sightings, I had myself a great view of a passing GO Train. I feel as though you don't really know even your own neighbourhood unless it is explored outside of a car. In the summer this can be done on a bike or even on foot, but in the winter time snow shoeing is a fantastic option.

Loving my Atlas snow shoes

Many chilly Sunday mornings have been spent with my father-in-law in Brampton trekking across several city parks. We cruise through thick powdery snow that boots alone wouldn't dream of, passing by small half-frozen duck-filled ponds. These trips even include a bit of urban exploration checking out an abandoned highway overpass which had been decommissioned since the closing of a quarry many years earlier.

Urban exploration - a decommissioned highway overpass

Out exploring, even on the coldest of winter days

While snow shoeing doesn't offer the adrenaline of snowboarding or downhill skiing, it is a great (affordable!) winter sport for those looking to explore nature, see their own local park from a new perspective or even just keep up with that outdoor cardio in the harsh Canadian winter. Just remember to layer up!

Ducks!

Note - For those who like to track progress I highly recommend the Strava app/site. It is great for running, cycling and even has an option to track other types of movement like snow shoeing. 

Mike @ Palms & Pints
@palmsandpints

Punta Cana All-Inclusive: 10 Things I Loved

If you are a sun-worshipper such as myself, the Dominican Republic cannot be beat. Temperatures almost always over 25C, blazing sunshine, pristine white sands and turquoise waters. Sitting on the eastern tip of the country, Punta Cana is widely considered to be the top beach destination in the DR and one of the best in all of the Caribbean.

I was recently in Punta Cana to attend a friend's wedding, and I had a fantastic experience. Like is done by the majority of travellers to Punta Cana, we stayed at an all-inclusive resort. Paradisus Punta Cana excels almost everywhere with great food, well equipped rooms, beautiful landscaping and of course a prime slice of sun-kissed Punta Cana beachfront.

Here are 10 awesome travel experiences I got out of my trip to this corner of paradise, in no particular order:


1. Early morning beach runs.

2. Admiring the towering palms.

3. Attending a beautiful beach wedding.

4. Drinking coconut water fresh from the tree.

5. Lounging (aka doing nothing) on a world class beach.

6. Consuming all-inclusive island cocktails.

7. Strolling through the stunning resort landscaping.

8. Taking full advantage of tank top and shorts weather, all-day everyday. 

9. Indulging on high-quality meals at breakfast, lunch & dinner. 

10. Did I mention the sunshine and coconut water? 

-Check out my full review of Paradisus Punta Cana resort here. 

-My review of the wedding venue JellyFish Restaurant is here. 

-If you are looking for tips on planning your own all-inclusive vacation, check this out! 

Mike @ Palms&Pints

@palmsandpints 

Algonquin Park

Some of my fondest childhood memories come from time spent camping with my dad in Algonquin Park. While only being a few hours’ drive from the Toronto area, there is just something enchanting about getting away from the urban sprawl to a place where the air is fresh, the water is clear and the outdoor recreation is endless. We would spend each 3 or 4 day getaway hiking the various interpretive hiking trails, cycling the daunting mountain bike routes and of course relaxing around a campfire under the stars at night. Years later I have rediscovered my love for Ontario’s most popular provincial park and try to make it there at least once a year for my dose of Canadian escapism.

Towering Pines 

A beautiful vista, one of the countless in the park

Transportation around the park is easy. The main road (Highway 60) runs right through the park from the West Gate to the East Gate, with visitor centers at each side. Pick up a park map on your way in as all of the trails, campgrounds and other points of interest are mapped based on kilometre marking from the West Gate. This section of the park is known as the ‘corridor’, whereas the less accessible ‘interior’ can only be accessed via portage routes and is recommended for more experienced and adventurous folk.

Whiskey Rapids 

As an avid runner and cyclist I am always looking for a cardio-based outdoor adventure. The hiking trails of Algonquin are unbeatable. Each one explores a different element of the park’s geography, eco-system and history from raging rapids to beaver dams, early 20^th century logging camps to peaceful spruce bogs. The views from these trails probably haven’t changed much in hundreds of years since the early settlers portaged through the land. Be sure to grab a guidebook (50 cents) at the starting point of each trail (or from the park visitor centres during the off-season) to get an excellent description of each section of the trail via numbered posts.

Lush forests and pristine waters

A hiking trail post marker

 Unlike most of Southern Ontario’s well known lakes, many of the lakes within Algonquin Park’s boundaries ban the use of power boats, meaning both the noise and oil pollution is non-existent and the water is calm and crystal clear; a canoer's paradise. Some of the golden sand beaches I would wager could compete with the best in the country.

Blue sky reflecting off of clear waters in a typical Algonquin bog

My most recent trip to Algonquin Park was this past October. Like the last couple of years we stayed at a very well located cottage complex in Dwight, only a 15 minute drive from Algonquin’s West Gate. Full review of this property can be viewed here, but in brief as long are you are not looking for luxury, this is a clean, well equipped and very affordable option in the area. On the way back to the city be sure to stop at 3 Guys and a Stove in nearby Huntsville for the best gourmet buffet breakfast you’ve ever had!

Logging Chain Lodge - our base for all Algonquin adventures

Mike @ Palms & Pints

@palmsandpints

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada in Photos

This past September my wife and I finally made it over to Ripley's Aquarium of Canada in Toronto. Working downtown, I passed by this highly reviewed attraction many times over the summer but chose to wait until the fall when the suffocating crowds they were reporting had somewhat died down. 

As the aquarium is open until 11pm on many nights, we made our reservations for 7pm and had more than enough time to explore the entire premises quite thoroughly and crowds were no issue at all.

We had a fantastic time at this creative, interactive, state-of-the-art facility and would highly recommend it to anyone living in or visiting the Toronto area.

Full details and review of our experience can be found on my TripAdvisor review here.

These are some of our favorite shots from the outing:

Arriving at the Aquarium 

Sharks overhead in the uniquely designed 'Dangerous Lagoon'

A Sawfish trolling the faux-ocean floor

Sting ray getting up close and personal in 'Ray Bay'

Chillin' with some Nemos (clownfish)

A stunning jellyfish in 'Planet Jellies'

Wifey posing with the crew from 'Ray Bay'

Thanks!

Mike @ Palms & Pints

@palmsandpints 

Manitoulin Island in Photos

I spent a sunny August weekend with my wife and in-laws on beautiful Manitoulin Island. As a life-long Ontario resident I was surprised it had taken me nearly 29 years to make it to the world's largest freshwater island. To be honest, a day and a half wasn't nearly enough time to take everything in, but we did our best, exploring on foot and bike as much as possible. Here are some of my favorite photographs from the adventure:

Picturesque beach at Gore Bay - after a 20min bike ride from our cottage.

Gore Bay (the bay, not the town), as seen from dock level.

Getting ready for the next cycling adventure, with Ice Lake in the background

The Meldrum Bay Inn, where we had a fantastic dinner - Full Review Here

The stone pier out into Meldrum Bay. It was cool to see, but likely not worth the hour drive from Gore Bay as there wasn't much else in the area.  

An old sign that lists just about everything you are going to find in quaint Meldrum Bay.

Majestic Bridal Veil Falls. We wished we had more time to swim in the lagoon below like some were doing, but sadly we only got a quick visit on our way off the island. 

One of the many beautiful sailboats docked at Little Current, our entry/exit point of Manitoulin Island. 

Manitoulin Island is a pretty well kept secret compared to other Ontario 'Cottage Country' destinations, so we were a little surpised to see a cruise ship making the rounds.

Enjoying the sunshine and the view. If I want my own boat one day I may have to start a little smaller. 

Some musings about Manitoulin Island:

-There are two ways to get to the island, a 3 hour drive from the Toronto area, followed by a 1.5 hour car ferry, or a 6 hour straight drive. When you factor in having to arrive at the ferry 1 hour before departure you are looking at similar timelines. We choose the road route as it provided a much more flexible schedule. 

-As the island isn't very accessible by car, there are surprisingly few on the road. This makes for fantastic cycling with little towns and places of interest separated just enough for a nice ride. 

-Take a week if you truly want to experience the island. A weekend is far too short. Plan to picnic by beaches and hike the trails. The more you can cover on bike & foot the better as it's hard to really appreciate it's beauty from the non-coastal main road that spans across it. 

Here is my review of Evergreen Resort, the cottage we booked for the trip. 

Thanks!

Mike @ Palms & Pints

@palmsandpints

Day Trippin' The Toronto Islands

My wife and I made the journey down to the Toronto Islands to attend a kids birthday party on Centre Island. After the party was cancelled last minute due to a rainy forecast, we decided to board the ferry across anyways and explore this under-appreciated piece of Toronto parkland.

There are several islands just off the coast of downtown Toronto in Lake Ontario. A ferry is needed to get to the islands, but once across everything (except Billy Bishop Airport) can be reached on land routes through a series of paths and bridges.

Toronto Island Ferry making the journey across - Source 

As the birthday was cancelled there was no need to linger at our child-centric ‘Centre Island’ entry point, and we quickly headed east towards the residential Ward’s Island. As the rain started to spit we decided that a roofed 2-seater pedal car (are these considered bikes?) was the best method of transportation. While the island won’t mistake for Algonquin Park, it is almost surreal to see the secluded homes and open fields while the Bay Street skyscrapers practically still cast a shadow over you.

Toronto skyline as seen from Ward's Island

A typical home on Ward's Island

Riding the 2-seater bike across the island

Wet conditions didn't deter from the adventure!

We wheeled around on leg-power to the far reaches of Ward’s Island, exploring the residential areas that dot the island in addition to an old church house and some marinas filled with nice little sailboats (one day!). As the rain was increasing and temperatures dropping we decided to head for shelter at the local island eatery. We just ordered drinks but they served all sorts of lunch and dinner fare for those whose picnics were cut short by the weather.

Historic St. Andrew's Church 

Picturesque marina

While we were able to make the best of the rainy and chilly conditions, the Toronto Islands would be much better served on a warm sunny day when you can bring a cooler and a hibachi BBQ and enjoy the cottage lifestyle in downtown Toronto.

Mike @ Palms & Pints

@palmsandpints

Unlocking The Power of Hotwire

Hotwire is becoming more and more a go-to tool for even novice vacation planners. While it can provide fantastic savings, it may also deter from your trip if not used correctly. For those unaware, Hotwire is a third-party hotel booking website which typically offers lower rates than booking directly through the hotel or other common third-party sites such as Expedia or Hotels.com. They are able to do this by allowing you to book a hotel based on a set of criteria (rough location, amenities, star rating, customer review aggregate) without knowing the exact property ahead of time. The hotel name is only revealed once your non-refundable payment has been made. While I don’t fully understand the economics of this method, I have assumed it works because hotels use the service to sell-off otherwise unfilled rooms at a discounted rate which doesn’t contradict the ‘lowest advertised rate’ found on their website. 

Here are six tips to help you decide if Hotwire is right for you, and get the most out of it: 

1) Not For Brand-Loyal Travelers

If you are loyal to a specific hotel brand or chain (i.e. you wouldn’t stay anywhere other than a Homewood Suites by Hilton when traveling in North America), Hotwire isn’t for you. Besides the fact that you have very limited control over which brand you end up with, you are also likely missing out on deals associated with loyally programs run by your favorite brand.

2) Are The Savings Worth The Risk?

Find a few hotels on a regular third-party booking site like Expedia. Pick ones that you like based on area, reviews and star rating. Now compare the prices of those hotels to what Hotwire is offering within the same criteria. If you are saving under $20 per night you must decide if the risk of booking the ‘unknown’ is really worth it?  

3) Area, Area, Area!

A major concern some travelers have with Hotwire is the inability to know exactly where the hotel will be located. The website will divide cities into ‘zones’ which can be as small as a few square kilometers, but may be much larger. Carefully review their zone map and when you find the zone you want to be in, imagine your hotel being on the far edge of that zone. Is that something that would severely disappoint you? If so, Hotwire may not be your best option as they cannot offer the location precision you are looking for. 

Intercontinental Wien (Vienna) - easily my best Hotwire find.

4) Consider The Bed Situation

When booking a hotel direct or even via Expedia/Hotels.com you are usually offered a choice of bed configuration. Two doubles, two queens, one king etc. When booking through Hotwire they will only guarantee there will be enough bed space for the people you’ve specified. If you are booking a room for two people you will have no control over which configuration you will be given. Thus two people expecting their own beds may be forced to share one. This is typically a moot point for a traveling couple.

5) Insider Information

Because Hotwire assigns you a hotel based on a series of criteria, chances are someone has previously looked for the same thing and made the booking. There are websites where fellow travelers post their search criteria and subsequent hotel bookings. This can be very helpful with narrowing down the list of potential hotels you may receive. BetterBidding.com is a well-known website which provides this information. While there may be many hotels in a certain area with a certain star rating, if you pay close attention to the exact amenities they are listing (pool, conference center, gym etc.) it may rule some of them out. Explore sites like these and you may be able to narrow down your choice to 2 or 3 possible outcomes. Please keep in mind however that Hotwire can change the selection of hotels they offer at any time and there is no way to identify the options with 100% precision.

6) Contact The Hotel

After booking you can always contact the hotel directly to discuss any special requests including the aforementioned bed issue, or to just verify your details . Because you booked via third party and likely got a price below their posted rate, they may be unable or unwilling to guarantee your requests or may want to charge you an extra fee outside of your payment to Hotwire. There is no harm in trying though as the worst they could say is no.

Have any Hotwire questions, or know some other tips I didn’t list? Drop a comment below!

Mike @ Palms & Pints

@palmsandpints