WWOOFING AT SCALES NATURE PARK

Last updated: September 21, 2023

“Ouch!” I’m holding Rusty, a young Eastern Fox Snake, while my coworker cleans his cage, when it happens. I cringe and see him biting my left index finger, out of nowhere, and it draws a bit of blood.

Within seconds, another coworker arrives, hands Rusty to my colleague, and puts my finger under cold water, to wash it off. Although he’s not venomous, I’m shocked, and ask my coworker if I hurt him by accident. She shakes her head and says “No, he’s got brain damage, so you didn’t do anything wrong.”

Soon after, I find out that he’s in this condition because a freezing damage happened in his hibernation room in the past, and since he was closest to the vent, he was affected the most. So now I feel sorry for Rusty!

Introduction

Before this happened, it’s been a normal day at Scales Nature Park, in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada, where I’ve been WWOOFing* for a while. Scales Nature Park is a nature preserve, and first opened its doors to the public in December 2009. This is where you can see “Canada’s largest collection of native amphibians and reptiles”, as shown on their website, as well as some exotic animals.

Scales Nature Park has an indoor nature centre, where the snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs, and salamanders live, a gift shop, and a classroom.

There’s also a 21-hectar outdoor nature park with 4 km of walking trails, where you can find natural wetlands and upland habitat, hardwood forests, ponds, and hemlock groves. If it’s your lucky day, you might even see local wildlife, like garter snakes, toads, chipmunks, and beavers.

Some previous travel companions, who’d WWOOFed at Scales Nature Park before, had told me lots of exciting stories, so now it was my turn to see it for myself!

Three weeks earlier, Jeff Hathaway, the founder and owner of Scales Nature Park, picked me up at the Greyhound bus station in Barrie, and a bunch of friendly staff and WWOOFers greeted me when we arrived. After leaving my luggage in the 4-bed female dorm I was staying at, and a quick tour of the property, I found myself in a car with my new colleagues.

Our destination was nearby Bass Lake Provincial Park, a popular camping spot, where Scales Nature Park hosted a reptile show. Jeff and his experienced staff members had brought some small snakes and turtles, and taught the audience about their characteristics and behaviour.

People were listening intently, but it seemed that everyone, including myself, was most excited about touching or even holding the snakes at the end! For a long time, I’d assumed that their skin is slithery, like a fish’s, but instead, it turned out to be very dry.

A small selection of the animals (photo credit: Scales Nature Park) and stunning Bass Lake beach.

My Tasks at Scales Nature Park

My first task every morning is wiping the outside windows of the animals’ terrariums in the exhibit hall, before the first customers arrive. Later, I clean some containers the animals were in during reptile shows (when they weren’t shown to the audience), and cut vegetables for the turtles to eat with other WWOOFers.

About a week after arriving at Scales Nature Park, a coworker teaches me how to sell admission tickets and gift shop items to customers at the cash desk. Then I refer them to a staff member, who shows them around the exhibit hall, and explains things about each animal.

As time goes on, my list of tasks keeps growing, like sweeping floors inside the exhibit hall, assisting Jeff at a reptile show in Toronto, and translating a WWOOFer’s manual from English to German, as many of them are from Germany.

Besides, everyone, whether staff member or WWOOFer, is expected to help with household tasks outside of work (e.g. cooking, wiping tables, cleaning non-public bathrooms, and washing dishes), on a rotating schedule.

Feeding and cleaning the inside areas of the animals’ homes is mostly reserved to Jeff and experienced staff, who have attended local universities or colleges for biology, reptile care, or something similar. Still, I learn a lot by watching them, and love helping with tasks, like holding a few animals, while a colleague cleans their cages.

A small part of the exhibit hall, fun times behind the cash desk, and a selection of cool stuff at the gift shop! The last one is photo credit of Scales Nature Park.

Free-Time Activities for WWOOFers

There’s lots of room for free-time activities while WWOOFing at Scales Nature Park. For example, one sunny day, a coworker and I borrow bikes from Scales Nature Park, and ride them on a beautiful path towards Orillia, where we hang out next to Lake Simcoe. Another day, we see some local bands playing at a concert in Orillia, then have a few drinks and sing karaoke at a bar.

One evening, the majority of staff and WWOOFers are going on a spontaneous wildlife tour (unfortunately, I don’t remember the location), where we see a few wild animals. We also watch movies at a drive-in movie theatre in Orillia and Scales Nature Park’s classroom, play card games and have lots of fun conversations, swim in the pool, and relax in the whirlpool after a long day.

Last but not least, eating meals together each day makes getting to know each other a lot easier!

From the top left: Path from Scales Nature Park to Orillia and a pond next to the road, Lake Simcoe, and a frog (or toad) we met during the wildlife tour.

Past and Current Events & Projects

Scales Nature Park offered lots of cool events before COVID happened, such as:

Community Turtle Training. This 1-Day workshop happened through the Save Turtles At Risk Today (START) project. It was made for local community members, who couldn’t participate in the Turtle Boot Camp, and wanted to know more about turtles. For example, attendees were taught about distinguishing species and male and female turtles, and how to handle them, taking good observation data, when the Reptile hotline should be phoned, and prepared an injured turtle care kit.

Halloween Flashlight Tours. A few days before Halloween, Scales Nature Park hosted this fun event! It was a great way for kids and adults to find out what the reptiles and amphibians are up to in the dark, which is their favourite time of the day to be active. The indoor nature centre was decorated in the “Halloween spirit”, and some staff and animals were happy to dress in costumes.

Here are some of their current events and projects:

Reptile Camp. Scales Nature Park is proud to host this popular event again in July and August 2023! It’s a day camp program for adventurous kids aged 7-12 years, who are eager to learn about exotic and native reptiles, and how to handle and feed them. Participants also get a chance to explore nearby pond and forest habitats. Last but not least, this program includes games and craft projects, that can be taken home at the end, and I’m sure lots of new friendships are made, too! The cost is C$ 300 per child for 5 days (Monday-Friday).

Leaders in Training Camp. This day camp program is also happening again this summer, for youth from 13-17 years, and although not mandatory, it is recommended to sign up for two weeks. In this program, participants learn how to come up with fun activities as a summer camp counsellor, leadership, and of course, animal care! Besides, first aid and safety training, equipment usage, and planning skills are a part of this program. The cost for five days (Monday-Friday) is C$ 120 per person.

Herpetology Experience and Research Program. This program’s main target group are students or recent graduates from 18-30 years, who are interested in a career in herpetology. It’s a 8 to 12-month residential program, and participants collect experience about various topics related to herpetology and conservation, such as: Identifications, life history, animal handling and husbandry of 70+ species, and outdoor skills.

Scales Nature Park also offers workshops (e.g. Advanced Reptile Workshop and Rattlesnake Workshop), Community Volunteer Training, Certification Courses, and Co-Op’s and Internships. You can also contact them here for their virtual, off-site and on site programs.

Turtle Boot Camp. Scales Nature Park has hosted this event, which, according to their Facebook page, is “the most intensive and thorough reptile focused field training available in Ontario”. This training program was mandatory for their field staff, but other people were welcome to apply as well. Attendees found out how to identify turtles, handling methods, marking techniques, digital data entry, and more!

Georgian Bay Turtle Hospital. This is a non-profit organization founded by Scales Nature Park. Its main focus will be to treat injured turtles, incubate recovered eggs, and taking care of turtle conservation “through public education, population monitoring, and research”, according to their website. The opening date is currently TBA, and it’s planned that staff and volunteers will run these projects in the Georgian Bay/Lake Huron watershed region.

Scales Nature Park has also collaborated with other partner organizations throughout the years, such as the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Ontario Nature, Sciensational Sssnakes, and several universities, e.g. the University of Toronto, Queen’s University, Trent University, and Grand Valley State University in Michigan, USA.

Conservation projects. Within time, Jeff and his team launched several projects to protect reptiles, such as the Saving Turtles At Risk Today (START) project. In cooperation with the Georgian Bay Turtle Hospital, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Laurentian University, and Trent University, Scales Nature Park intends to decrease dangers (e.g. road mortality and habitat loss) to local turtle species. Turtles are collected from wetlands, bodies of water, and along roads, then measured, weighed, shell-notched, and marked, to estimate how many turtles live in a specific area.

Also, staff and volunteers put up nest cages to protect eggs from predators, like foxes, skunks, and racoons, or eggs are excavated at the Georgian Bay Turtle Hospital. After the turtles hatch, they are released into wetlands, if possible near the nest location where they were found.

Then there’s the Georgian Bay Conservation Action, Research and Education about Snakes (C.A.R.E.S) project, launched in 2020, which centers around the conservation of endangered and threatened snakes of the Georgian Bay watershed, such as the Massasauga rattlesnake, Eastern Hog-nosed snake, and Eastern Fox snake. For example, by reducing natural threats and teaching people why snakes are crucial to people and the ecosystem, Jeff and his team hope to convince some people to change their negative opinion about snakes.

Some of these animals are taken from their home for additional data collection, including digital images, measurements and mass, and blood samples may be taken for DNA analysis. Scales Nature Park also keeps an eye on roads around the region “to monitor road mortality and inform mitigation efforts such as snake exclusion fencing”. For more information about Scales Nature Park’s many conservation efforts, please see this link.

From the top left: Giant Madagascar Day Gecko, Snapping Turtle, Northern ring-necked Snake, the classroom used for workshops and trainings, and the outdoor area behind Scales Nature Park. All except the last one are photo credit of Scales Nature Park.

Scales Nature Park’s Current Hours

This summer (June until Labour Day), Scales Nature Park is open from Friday to Sunday only, from 11 am to 4 pm (by appointment only). Walk-in visits are not possible right now, and the classroom, walking trails, and outdoor facilities are still closed until further notice. But staff are available to answer questions via email or phone from 9 am to 5 pm most days.

The lower level of the Nature Centre and Gift shop at Scales Nature Park are open for guided tours by appointment only. Please find more details, as well as Admission rates on their Visitor Information page. Tours can be booked here.

For the most up to date information, please visit their website or social media pages.

Most of Scales Nature Park’s facilities can be accessed by wheelchair, depending on weather. Guests in a wheelchair need to travel over grass for a short time, to use the wheelchair entrance, and staff is always eager to help. In winter, it might not be possible to use this entrance because of snow. But Jeff and his team are happy to assist guests booked on a private tour unable to use stairs, if informed about this prior to arrival.

Directions to Scales Nature Park

Scales Nature Park is right next to Highway 11 in the township of Oro-Medonte, about an hour north of Toronto, and a 20-minute drive from Barrie. If using a GPS, make sure that it says Oro-Medonte, not Orillia, and their entrance is on Line 15 South, not Line 15 North. Watch out for the entrance sign next to the road. Here’s their contact information:

82 Line 15 South

Oro-Medonte, ON

L3V 8H9

Phone: +1 705-327-2808

The map is photo credit of Scales Nature Park.

My Opinion on WWOOFing at Scales Nature Park

WWOOFing at Scales Nature Park was one of the best decisions I made during my first year in Canada, for lots of reasons. Thanks to the liberal and easy going atmosphere, I felt welcome immediately, and Jeff, his team, and I had several things in common, like listening to a Rock music radio station all day, lol!

Many of us were within a similar age group, and it was inspiring to see that everyone seemed to enjoy his/her job. Although we worked hard every day, to ensure visitors of all ages were having the best time, I never felt overwhelmed. I’m grateful to Jeff and everyone else for teaching me a bunch of cool stuff about snakes, turtles, lizards, and amphibians.

Soon after leaving this place, I was able to apply what I’d learnt by helping a turtle across a highway road, so exciting! I’m very impressed by Jeff’s passion to keep Scales Nature Park (and its partner organizations) growing over the years, which I’m sure helped to gain a good reputation in Ontario, still, it must haven taken a lot of time, effort, and money.

I also appreciated that the animals at Scales Nature Park are very well cared for, thanks to Jeff and his team’s many years of experience. Some animals, including snakes and other reptiles, are often falsely judged, so I like that they explain to people why these fascinating creatures are beneficial to us and the environment, and offering to touch or hold them.

Speaking of the environment, I also liked that staff and WWOOFers were asked to not flush toilet paper, to save water; instead, it was collected and burnt regularly inside Scales Nature Park’s outside area.

Lastly, I think that working at a cash desk and improving my English skills by talking to lots of people every day made it easier to get my first paid job in Canada a few months later.

I WWOOFed at Scales Nature Park in August 2012, so some things may have changed with time.

Awesome times holding an albino Burmese python. 😀

*WWOOFing is short for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, and people can stay and help out on a farm (or other operation) for a limited time. Workers don’t get paid, but accommodation and meals are included, so it’s a sweet way to collect experience, meet new people, and save money. It’s similar to volunteer work.

Before starting a WWOOFing adventure in Canada, you need to sign up on their website for a one-year membership, which is CAD 55.00 for a single, and CAD 80.00 for a joint membership.

So if you’re in the area and interested in learning about reptiles and amphibians, I highly recommend checking out Scales Nature Park. Cheers!

If you’re in Ontario for a while, check out this blog post as well:

The Best Toronto Travel Guide

March 15, 2021 2

SOCIAL DISTORTION – A SHOW TO REMEMBER

Last updated: September 21, 2023

“Reach for the sky, ’cause tomorrow may never come!” These lyrics, written by Social Distortion, are one of my life mottos, especially tonight. It’s June 9, 2018, and they’re playing at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, Canada. This song, called “Reach for the Sky” is the opener of the set, and puts everyone in a great mood, hungry to hear what’s next. Same as many other strangers in the crowd, I’m pogo dancing* and screaming my heart out to the song lyrics I know.

Social Distortion is a Punk Rock band from Orange County, California, USA, and has been around since 1979. So it’s no surprise that fans of various ages are in the audience. I’ve been listening to them since 2008, saw them live for the first time in 2009, and proudly wearing my Social Distortion hoodie wherever I go.

Vancouver is almost 600 km (372 miles) away from where we live, and my main reason to visit is tonight’s show. It’s my first concert in a long time, as I was either broke and/or lived too far away from bigger cities before, where famous bands usually play gigs.

It looks like there are lots of Social Distortion fans in BC, as this show was sold out quickly, so a second one was added for the next day. While Jade Jackson and Aaron Lee Tasjan, the support bands, are playing their set, I make my way to the first row, before it gets too busy.

Soon the air in the room is damp from people dancing. Even though the headliner hasn’t entered the stage yet, it’s already decorated with cool stuff, like mannequins, road signs, a siren and a giant dog statue! Then, around 11 pm, Social Distortion finally enters the stage.

So far, Social Distortion’s set consists of older, like “Mommy’s little monster” (1983) and “She’s a Knockout” (1990), but also newer songs, like “Don’t take me for granted” (2004) and “Machine Gun Blues” (2010), so there’s something for everyone in the audience.

Lead singer/guitarist Mike Ness is the only original band member, and seems to enjoy getting the most attention. They haven’t published an album since 2011, so later, we are glad to hear a new song, “Over You“, which is going to be on their new album. Yay, something to look forward to!

Here’s a video of “Highway 101“, the second song of the set.

Social Distortion - Highway 101

Watch this video on YouTube

Suddenly, something unexpected happens. I feel like 16-year old me, who used to go to Punk Rock shows a lot, and behaved the same way, is standing right next to me. In my imagination, we’re reunited. Most times, she went to gigs by herself, as many of her friends didn’t share her taste, or lived too far away to join. But she was fine with that, all that mattered was seeing one of her favourite bands live.

She lived in a small town in Germany, where, in her opinion, many people were close-minded, boring, and/or conservative. She’d been listening to this music for about a year, which has encouraged her to be herself, and she felt like the scene accepts her. She didn’t care that the general public perceived her as a misfit, as she was focused on enjoying her life, and not obsessing about people’s expectations.

Every day, she put on alternative clothing, like ripped jeans, a black shirt, studded belt, Converse, and if it was cold out, a kufiya scarf, and sometimes, she dyed her hair red or black. She was sick of school and most of her classmates, and Punk concerts made her forget about these and other things she worried about. Although she was rather quiet, the aggressive, but passionate lyrics of her favourite bands (i.e. left-wing politics, free-thought, non-conformity, society issues, etc.) spoke right to her.

Even though she usually didn’t talk much to the other fans in the audience, it felt like she’d known them for years. To her, it was important to enjoy every moment to the fullest, which she did by drinking a beer and pogo dancing the night away.

A Punk Rock girl through the years, 2005 vs. 2020.

Thanks to this reunion, I learnt that live music is still a big part of my life, a happy place I haven’t thought about in a long time. 16-year old me reminded me to focus on what matters most in life: Just be yourself and don’t care what others think. Do what makes you happy, and fight for your dreams. Don’t let others make you feel bad.

No matter how old I get, music is an important part of my life, and will stay with me forever. We’re as close as ever, so I’ll keep going to live gigs in the future, and dress alternatively in my free time, to keep 16-year old (and present) me alive and happy. Although society’s expectations have changed with time, they still don’t matter much to me. I know there’s still a lot to learn in life, but I feel pretty comfortable with who I have become, which has to do with her for sure!

Back to the concert, before Social Distortion is playing “Don’t drag me down“, another fan favourite, Mike Ness hints that it could be a “tribute song” to Donald Trump, which makes me laugh! It can certainly be interpreted that way, although it was published in 1996.

Unfortunately, this great show can’t go on forever. The lead singer fools the audience by asking to choose the last song of the set, but then it turns out that their amazing cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” was on their setlist all along! He adds that in 1989, his friends asked why he decided to cover this country song, instead of a punk song, and Mike just responded: “Because it’s cool”, and the cheering crowd is going crazy, as if there’s no tomorrow!

Social Distortion on stage. Photo credit: Joseph Fletcher.

It’s way after midnight when the song is over, and I walk outside, still “high” from the music, but also happy to breathe in the cool night air. Like 16-year old me, I didn’t make any friends, which is fine. So I just hop in a cab, that takes me to the HI Downtown Hostel, where I’m spending the night.

As you can probably tell, I had a blast at the Social Distortion concert! Most of the band members, including Mike Ness, are in their 50’s or even 60’s, but this didn’t stop them from playing an awesome show! Apart from playing great songs, I think it’s important that bands communicate with the audience, which Mike did very well! For example, towards the end, he asked if everyone had a good time, and the crowd cheeringly agreed. Then Mike added: “If you’re not having a good time, we’re not doin’ our job!”

So I can’t wait to see Social Distortion live for the third time in the near future!

The Commodore Ballroom has been a part of Vancouver’s entertainment scene since 1930, and in my opinion, it was the perfect spot for this show. I prefer smaller over large locations, as it’s more personal, and you get a chance to be close to the stage, without having to pay anything extra.

Besides, although the Commodore Ballroom is not fancy, it has everything you need to have a good time: A large dance floor, bar and merchandise stand, seated area with tables, and a coat check area, so there’s no need to worry about your valuables while having fun.

So it’s no surprise that many Punk and Rock music legends, like The Clash, Ramones, Nirvana, Pixies, Franz Ferdinand, and The Interrupters, but also local bands, chose this venue for live shows over the years.

The Commodore Ballroom from the outside.

*Pogo is a dance associated with Punk Rock shows, where people either jump up and down, or move (dance) around. Occasionally, dancers collide, and it might even seem that they’re attacking each other, which is untrue. Instead, pogo represents a feeling of belonging in a group (i.e. the Punk Rock scene), and if people fall, they’re helped back up instead of getting trampled. Apparently, it was invented by Sid Vicious, the Sex Pistols’ famous bassist, in 1976, during the early Punk days in London, England.

Until next time, and thanks for checking out my blog today. 🙂

February 9, 2021 0

3 DAYS ON GRAND MANAN ISLAND ITINERARY: THE BEST THINGS TO DO

Last updated: August 7, 2024

It’s a beautiful summer day, so we decide to spend some time on Grand Manan Island, in New Brunswick, Canada. It’s the largest island in the Bay of Fundy, where the tides rise and fall more than 16 meters (52 feet) each day, higher than anywhere else in the world!

The island’s size is 655 km² (253 sq miles), and 2,595 residents lived here in 2021. In addition, Reader’s Digest Canada voted Grand Manan Island as one of World’s 7 Best Small Islands in 2018.

Grand Manan Island has a lot of great things to do for everyone! From watching the sunset at a cliff, hiking, looking for sea glass, visiting museums and art galleries, and so much more, it never gets boring here! So here’s the Ultimate Itinerary for Three Days on Grand Manan Island 😀

Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Day 1: Ferry ride, Anchorage Provincial Park, and a Cliff Sunset

We take the ferry from Blacks Harbour to Grand Manan Island, and hope to see some wildlife, so we walk right up to the deck. Some animals who call this area home are puffins and other seabirds, porpoises, minkes, humpbacks, and the rare North Atlantic Right Whale. Although we don’t see any nearby, we love the picturesque ocean scenery and even spot a bunch of little islands.

So our trip is off to a great start! Suddenly, some fishing weirs and a lighthouse, the gateways to Grand Manan Island’s North Head village, appear in the distance.

Our first stop is the Surfside Motel (123 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A4), where we’re staying tonight. It’s been around for more than 40 years and has 22 nice, standard rooms, with one or two beds.

I love hanging out on the lawn with picnic chairs in the back of the building! It’s also a great spot to admire the view of Stanley’s Beach, Long Island, and Flagg’s Cove.

Then we relax at Anchorage Provincial Park (136 Anchorage Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 2H4) for a bit. This spot has a scenic sand beach and offers tons of hiking and cycling trails, picnic areas, and is home to the Grand Manan Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

It’s also a popular camping spot that provides picturesque vistas.

Soon the brisk and clean marine air makes us hungry, so we head to the Compass Rose Heritage Inn (65 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A2) for dinner. It was established in the early 20th century as a post and telegraph office. Their dining room is equipped with antique furniture, and guests can watch the Bay of Fundy and the buzzing North Head fishing harbour from their table.

Like many restaurants on the Canadian east coast, their specialty dish is lobster. But tonight my travel buddies are in the mood for haddock and I order a vegetarian curry pasta dish. Everything’s super yummy and we’re very happy with the service!

Unfortunately, the Compass Rose Heritage Inn restaurant will not be open in summer 2024.

It’s getting late now, but that doesn’t stop us from driving to Southwest Head Lighthouse (2571 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4H4) on the opposite end of the island. It’s supposed to be the best sunset spot for Instagrammers on Grand Manan!

Day 2: Farmers Market, Swallow Tail Lighthouse, and Grand Manan Art Gallery

In the morning, we check out Grand Manan’s Farmers Market (1021 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4E5) at the old North Head Hall. This event has been around since 1984, and happens every Saturday from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm from Canada Day until Labour Day weekend in September.

There’s a variety of awesome handmade goodies to find, like jewelry, beauty products, arts, crafts, books, and baked foods.

Our next stop is Swallow Tail Lighthouse (50 Lighthouse Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 2A3), one of Grand Manan’s most popular tourist attractions. It was completed in 1860 on an isolated peninsula in North Head and is operated by the Swallow Tail Keepers Society, a non-profit organization.

It’s still an active lighthouse today, although there’s no light keeper, as it was automated in 1986. We need to walk a bunch of concrete stairs, then across a wooden bridge, before arriving at the lighthouse. But it was 100% worth it!

There’s also a walking path, but be careful, as the entire peninsula is framed by rocky cliffs, that are more than 30 meters (100 feet) high! A bunch of picnic tables and benches are available if you need a break. Besides, Swallow Tail Lighthouse is supposed to be perfect for watching the sun or moon rise, and lighthouse tours can be booked on request.

Swallowtail Lighthouse is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm during the summer months. The Gift Shop is also open, where you can find lots of unique items! Please find more details on their Facebook page.

The front of Swallow Tail Lighthouse, looking at the bay from the top, and items for sale at the Gift Shop. The latter is photo courtesy of Andrea Kelter.

After this exciting morning we have lunch at The Old Well House Café (56 Route 776, Grand Manan NB, E5G 1A1), a quirky local café. We stuff ourselves with Blueberry muffins, nachos with hummus, and a cuppa Joe, of course! Everything is very good!

You can sit inside or on their outside patio, and they often host live music and comedy nights!

Next, we want to soak up more local culture at the Grand Manan Art Gallery (21 Cedar Street, Grand Manan, NB E5G 2C3), that is operated by the Grand Manan Historical Society. It shows artwork by artists from Grand Manan Island, the Bay of Fundy region, or further away.

This tourist attraction is open from June to late September, every day of the week, and it’s also fully wheelchair accessible.

My favourites are Wendy Moore’s “Flowers” painting and Marie-Paule Paulin’s “Misty Morning” and “Sunset”, as I think it represents the laid-back lifestyle often found in the Maritimes.

Then we check in to Pa’s Place & Beach Front Cottages (70 Red Point Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4J2), our accommodation for the next two nights. It’s further down the island, in Seal Cove. This place was founded in 1912 and guests can either stay in the 2-floor main building or one of their private cabins.

Our cabin has two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, living room, bathroom, and a porch with BBQ. Another bonus is the private Seal Cove sand beach, only a few foot steps away.

It’s quieter than last night’s accommodation, as it’s further away from the main road. So later, all we can hear while falling asleep is the soothing sound of the ocean.

The cabins from the outside, partial living room and kitchen at our cabin, and Seal Cove sand beach. The first two are photo courtesy of Pa’s Place & Beach Front Cottages.

Day 3: Grand Manan Museum, Southwest Head Cliffs, and Bill’s Beatles Collection

The next day, we tour the Grand Manan Museum (1141 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4E9), another popular attraction. They intend to teach visitors about the 200-year old rich, maritime heritage of Grand Manan Island, especially the fishing industry.

The museum exhibit features various displays of natural and human history, e.g. Fisherman’s Shed Exhibit, Upper and Lower Marine Gallery, and Communications Exhibit, with an old telephone, typewriter, and post office desk.

My favourite is the wall painting of marine creatures though, as it must have taken a long time and talent to put it together! At the entrance of the museum, there’s a gift shop, too, with soap, jewelry, printed and painted artwork, and birthday cards for sale.

Wall painting of marine creatures and vessel replica used around Grand Manan Island in the late 19th century.

You can also check out their outside exhibits, e.g. “A Walk through time”, that shows photos of the early settlement and social and economic development of the island, or the Deep Cove School House. It ran from 1889 to 1947, which makes it Grand Manan’s longest operating one-room school house.

Lastly, don’t miss the nearby sign post, to learn how far away certain places are from the island!

The Grand Manan Museum is open seasonally (mid June to late September), Monday-Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm. Between October and May, the museum is open by appointment only.

Next, we go to Southwest Head Lighthouse one more time to enjoy the stunning view off its rock cliffs during the day. If you feel adventurous, several hiking trails can be accessed through here, but be careful, as the cliffs are 60 meters (200 feet) high!

As we continue driving back on the main road, we suddenly spot a white and yellow house, that has The Beatles painted on it! It turns out it’s Bill’s Beatles Collection (1844 Route 776, Grand Manan NB E5G 3H2), an impressive selection of Beatles memorabilia from the past 60 years!

Owner Bill Dickinson’s personal Beatles collection includes posters, instruments the band played, mugs, records, t-shirts, pins, movies, action figures, cassettes, guitar picks, toys, pillows, magazines, and more!

Bill’s Beatles Collection is open Thursday to Monday and admission is by donation. Bill will be happy to tell you tons of Beatles stories, including him seeing them live in concert in Montreal in 1964!

Other Things to See and Do on Grand Manan

Unfortunately, three days are not enough to see everything on Grand Manan Island.

So here are a few more attractions that sound really awesome:

Sea Watch Whale and Seabird Watching Tours (S C Breakwater Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4H4). This business was founded by Captain Peter Wilcox and his wife Kenda in 1969. Their tours are a great way to meet some marine animals living in this area.

Their 5 ½ hour Puffin – Machias Seal Island tour takes guests to a nearby sea bird sanctuary. Often sighted birds on the way and the island are puffins, razorbill auks, common murres, as well as eider ducks and black guillemots.

Their whale watching tour takes 4 to 5 ½ hours, depending on the whales’ location, and can be booked from early July to late September.

The coolest thing is whale sightings are guaranteed or your tour is free!

Adventure High Sea Kayak Tours (83 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A2). This local business has been known for their guided eco-friendly adventure tours since 1989.

Their tours can be booked for a half, full, or multiple days. They include experiences like a Kayak Tour & Dinner on the beach, island hopping, and enjoying a bonfire by the beach. All tours include basic paddling and safety instructions, and kayak and safety equipment.

The multi-day tours also include accommodation and meals. Adventure High also offers Specialty tours (e.g. painting, photography, and yoga, in addition to sea kayaking, of course!), a paddling school, cabin/cottage accommodation, and bike rentals. These services can be booked from May-October.

You can also book Atlantic tours in Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, Polar Kayaking Adventures in Antarctica, and Tropical Kayaking Adventures in Florida, Honduras, and the Bahamas!

The Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station (24 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A1). This small natural history museum sounds perfect for people eager to know more about the marine conservation of the Bay of Fundy and the animals living in it.

Their displays include whales, seabirds, seals, sharks, and fish, and you can symbolically adopt a North Atlantic Right Whale! You’ll also learn why these amazing creatures are endangered and the efforts to protect them, as well as the Harbour Porpoise Release Program.

This museum is open daily from late spring to early fall from 9:30 to 5 pm. There’s no admission charge, but donations are always appreciated!

Numerous little islands. An example of an island close to Grand Manan Island is Whitehead Island, the only island with a year-round population. It’s accessible via a free ferry from Ingalls Head, or boat, and is known for its sandy beaches, salt marsh and the Longpoint Lighthouse.

Cheney Island is privately owned and apparently, is haunted by “Old Man Cheney”, the ghost of its first settler.

Ross Island is where the first settlers of the United Empire Loyalists landed in 1784, and the remains of Fish Fluke Point Lighthouse and their stone foundations can still be visited. During low tide, these islands are connected, and so you can enter it by foot!

More details about these and other islands can be found on the Grand Manan Tourism website.

Look for sea glass. Lots of beaches within the Bay of Fundy are fantastic spots to find sea glass, which includes Grand Manan Island. Most of these little treasures are formed by pieces of glass bottles that people threw into the ocean many years ago. Over time, their sharp edges become smooth.

The most common colours are white, brown, and green, but you can sometimes find blue, red, purple, turquoise ones as well. The best spot to find sea glass on Grand Manan Island is Pettes Cove in North Head, near the Ferry Terminal and Swallow Tail Lighthouse.

How to Get to Grand Manan Island

From the Canadian side (by car): Drive to Blacks Harbour (35 minutes outside of Saint John), then take the ferry to Grand Manan Island. Please find the most current ferry schedule here.

The journey takes about 1.5 hours, and the cost per car is C$ 39.25 for non residents (excluding the driver). Passengers and other modes of transportation are welcome as well. There’s a cafeteria on board, which is famous for their seafood chowder! You can find more details on the ferry service here.

From the US side (by car): First, take I-95 to Bangor, Maine, then head East on Rte. 9 to Calais to enter Canada. Then go East on Highway 1 for about 35 minutes and take exit 60 to Blacks Harbour. From there, take the same ferry to Grand Manan Island.

Reservations are highly recommended in the summer months and passengers need to check in at Blacks Harbour maximum 45 minutes before the ferry departs.

As there’s no public transportation on Grand Manan Island, it’s recommended to have your own mode of transportation, like a (rental) car, motorcycle, or bicycle.

If you need to fly to New Brunswick first, the closest commercial airport is Saint John (YSJ), which is reachable via Toronto Pearson International Airport and Montreal International Airport.

Grand Manan Island is also accessible via private vessel, as long as you arrive at one of the commercial wharves (North Head, Ingalls Head, Seal Cove, and White Head).

Grand Manan Island also has a 1,000 meter (3,280 ft) long airstrip for private plane landings.

My Opinion on Grand Manan Island

As everyone knows, vacations always end too soon, but the memories stay with you for a long time. So we don’t know whether to be happy or sad when leaving Grand Manan Island the next day. What made this getaway special?

I especially liked learning about Swallow Tail Lighthouse, witnessing the spectacular sunset at Southwest Head, walking on Seal Cove sand beach, and the great shopping! The locals we met made us feel welcome by offering their help if needed.

Although Grand Manan Island is a popular destination, the roads weren’t crowded, and it’s obvious that authorities care about keeping the island clean.

Another reason to travel to this island is to appreciate its unspoiled nature, e.g. by looking at the water, collecting sea glass, hiking, cycling, kayaking, or whale watching. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a history and culture enthusiast, beach fan, outdoorsy traveler, or interested in wildlife.

In addition, Grand Manan Island offers a great variety of places to stay and eat. Also, it’s a perfect spot to relax and recharge from city life, but it’s got everything you need to have a great vacation.

Spending time in the Maritimes for a bit longer? Then check out these posts:

The 16 Best Things to Do in Fredericton, NB

Is Halifax, Nova Scotia Worth Visiting in 2024? (Guest Post for Veggies Abroad)

January 9, 2021 2

FUN TIMES AT MUKTUK ADVENTURES

Last updated: September 21, 2023

It’s a peaceful night in June, and although it’s very late, the sky outside couldn’t be brighter. Suddenly, the silence is interrupted by a few dogs starting to howl, and then the rest follows their lead, one after the other.

We’re at Muktuk Adventures, a guest ranch in the Ibex Valley, about 25 minutes outside of Whitehorse, Canada. More than 100 Alaskan and Siberian huskies live here, and many hang out in or by their kennels in front of the lodge entrance.

Muktuk Adventures has been specializing in raising, training and caring for their dogs for more than 30 years.

Our Stay at Muktuk Adventures

The Muktuk Guest Ranch and partial kennel area.

All guest rooms are on the second floor of the Muktuk Lodge. We love our room called “Klukshu”, as it has all we need, despite its small size: Two twin beds, walk-in closet, chair, and two night stands. The other guest rooms have one or two Queen or double beds, and the shared bathroom is only a few steps away.

Further down the hallway, there’s a lovely common room, with couches, chairs, two coffee tables, magazines, and most importantly (at least to us), two acoustic guitars! If guests want more privacy, they can book one of the log cabins near the main building.

Klukshu room, and a part of the common room. Both photo credit of Muktuk Adventures.

Every morning, we stuff our faces with the tasty continental breakfast that is served downstairs (coffee, tea, boiled eggs, yoghurt, blueberries, bread, sliced cheese, cold cuts, etc.). And two sweet doggies hanging out with and entertaining us during our meal makes this experience super special!

We also chat with Manuela and Jeff, our hosts, and it turns out she’s from Germany, too, and Jeff and Sean went to the same high school in New Brunswick. What a small world we live in! 😀

Great times during breakfast!

Muktuk’s Adventure Packages

Muktuk Adventures is proud to offer their fun packages as well:

In Summer, you can book Canoe Tours, e.g. on the nearby Takhini and Yukon river, or all the way to Carmacks or Dawson City. Accommodation will either be at the Muktuk Guest Ranch, or by the shore of a river. They also offer Hiking Tours at Kluane National Park, Tombstone Territorial Park, or inside the Ibex Valley.

Coming Fall, Muktuk Adventures offers Bikejoring (1 or 2 dogs pulling a fat bike) and Canoe Tours, Yukon Fall Colour Tour, and the Northern Lights and Huskies Package, which include admiring the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) from their deck or by the Takhini River.

Some packages include a visit to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, where you can see animals living in Northern Canada (e.g. moose, lynx, bison, and caribou) in their natural environment.

In Winter, it’s all about Dog Sledding, as this area gets tons of snow each year. Some of the highlights include touring on the Yukon Quest Trail (where the annual race occurs) and the Dawson Overland Trail, which became famous during the Klondike Gold Rush at the end of the 19th century, and winter camping in Yukon’s backcountry!

If you book one of these packages, you’ll also learn how to care for and harness the dogs, and you’ll be your own musher! Also, warm winter clothing will be provided by Muktuk Adventures. Some packages also include Ice Fishing, Snowmobiling, watching the Northern Lights, and visiting the Takhini Hot Springs.

Muktuk Adventures’ packages can be booked for half, full, or multiple days. Most packages include experienced and certified guides, equipment and gear, transportation from/to Whitehorse Airport or hotel, and to activities outside of or to the Muktuk Guest Ranch. For multi-day packages, accommodation and meals are included, and a lunch for full day packages.

Regardless of the package, you’ll spend lots of time with some adorable dogs, because they join all of the tours!

Northern lights by the Muktuk Guest Ranch. Photo credit: Muktuk Adventures.

The Dogs at Muktuk Adventures

Muktuk Adventures started as a racing kennel, but since 2008, the company has specialized in recreational dog sledding. Soon after, they started adopting dogs, mostly from kennels and shelters in the Yukon or Alaska.

Their gang is divided into working, non-working, and retired dogs, and it’s even possible to sponsor or adopt one (or more) of them! On their website, you can learn about some of the pups and their unique personalities, no matter which group they’re in.

How to Get to Muktuk Adventures

Since there’s no public transit outside of Whitehorse, the only way to travel to Muktuk Adventures independently is by car. Here are driving directions and a map, courtesy of Muktuk Adventures:

Travel north along the Alaska Hwy (Hwy 1) towards Haines Junction, passing by the Dawson City turn-off (Hwy 2). Continue along and you will see the Muktuk billboard sign on the right side of the road.
Drive one mile further until you see a blue sign with flags on top and a green street sign that says Husky Trail (Km 1442.5).
Turn right and follow Husky Trail at a reduced speed for about 4 kms. This road will lead you directly to the Muktuk Guest Ranch.

Here’s their exact contact information:

Muktuk Adventures, Km 1142.5 Alaska Highway, Km 4 Husky Trail, Whitehorse YT, Y1A 7A2, Canada Telephone: +1 867-668-3647 Email: info@muktuk.com

Muktuk Adventures is currently open daily from 9 am to 5 pm (except Sundays).

My Opinion about Muktuk Adventures

I think it’s obvious by now that we enjoyed our stay at Muktuk Adventures very much! Why? First of all, we loved the uniqueness of this place, as it’s very rare that you’re greeted by a bunch of dogs when entering a hotel!

When visiting a facility that handles animals, it’s crucial to me that they are loved and well taken care of, which undoubtedly, is the case at Muktuk Adventures. The staff are genuine and experienced dog owners, and the pups are living their best life, regardless of their “group status”.

It was also clear that the staff is doing the best they can to provide an awesome experience to their guests, no matter if you booked a room or cabin, or one of their tour packages. Although the rooms and facilities can be considered basic, everything we needed was available, and it shows that it took a lot of effort and passion to put this place together, and everything was spotless.

I hope to return to Muktuk Adventures someday, and then, I’ll join one of their tour packages for sure!

So if you’re looking for a cozy, fun, and unique place to stay while in the Yukon (and love dogs, of course!), I highly recommend Muktuk Adventures!

October 26, 2020 0

QUARANTINE LIFE WITH DEXTER THE RAT

Last updated: June 18, 2023

After returning from Germany to Canada in August 2020, I had to quarantine for 14 days, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Although I wasn’t technically travelling, I think this counts as a travel experience, as I was away from our regular home. Plus, we all know that this is usually not part of a traveler’s life!

Thankfully, Dexter, our pet rat, was happy to spend it with me! But first of all, who’s this special friend of mine?

Dexter is a standard pet rat with white and light brown fur, and black eyes. He was born on December 1, 2018 in Kamloops, BC, same as Moochie, his brother. Sadly, Moochie passed away in May 2020 because of a brain tumour (RIP), so since then, Dexter has been the only rat in the house. He’s fine with that, as he gets to spend lots of quality time with his humans every day.

Dexter is very social and affectionate, but he can be quite dominant, too! He likes sleeping, ripping up newspapers, and eating, of course, especially avocadoes, bananas, pasta, cheese, pork chops, steak, and the occasional treat. Like most pet rats, Dexter doesn’t like baths though.

We were quarantined in a cabin with a small yard, just us. Dexter hung out with me on the couch during the day, and inside his cage at night. After a few days, we’d gotten used to a daily routine. It looked like this:

We ate lots of meals together. Dexter didn’t mind eating the non-fancy food, that had been sitting inside our kitchen cupboards for a long time.
Since we hadn’t seen each other in a while, Dexter was excited to hear what I’d been up to in Germany, and my plans to visit Japan and other destinations in the future.
Dexter learnt about Pokémon Yellow, a game I played on my Gameboy Color. He loved the background music, and was happy for me when I caught a new Pokémon or win a tough battle!
Dexter always sleeps a lot, so I decided to adjust to his schedule a bit. It was an awesome, but action-packed trip to Germany, so sleeping a lot helped me recharge from it.
I read several books, such as a manga named “My Roommate is a Cat” by Tsunami Minatsuki, and told Dexter what it was about. He was also glad that I talked to people on the phone, as we couldn’t have visitors.
We listened to music together, and watched Netflix, such as Friends and Back to the Future. It was a great way for us to snuggle into a blanket and relax. Also, Dexter watched me build a drum set out of Nanoblocks!
Lastly, I walked around the yard quite often for fresh air and Vitamin D. Unfortunately, Dexter doesn’t have a leash, so he couldn’t join me. Also, I didn’t want to overwhelm him with more changes!

In general, there are lots of benefits of spending time with a furry friend, as it’s supposed to make you feel calm and relaxed. Dexter is no exception to this, as he’s always there, and loves us unconditionally.

I believe that he understands what I’m saying, which helped me not to get lonely or bored during quarantine. One day, Dexter sensed that I wasn’t feeling well, so he laid next to me, and put his front paws on my hand, and this loving gesture made me feel much better! <3

The Nanoblock drum set, and Dexter in our quarantine home.

Here are a few things I learnt during our life in quarantine:

It’s important to relax, and accept the situation you’re in, especially if you can’t do anything about it. So we just took things day by day, and stuck to our routine. I knew that soon, life will be back to normal!
Live in the moment, and if you’re tired, don’t feel bad for taking a nap. That’s a big one, as it doesn’t help worrying about the past or future, and although it might sound lame, sleep is important!
Appreciate and use up the food that you have before buying new stuff. If it’s not your favourite food, come up with ideas on how to make it tastier. Be creative! There are so many people starving in this world, so either way, we should be grateful for what we have.
Ensure to keep your brain occupied, e.g. by playing video games, and reading books or magazines. It also made me realize that I should keep reading a lot in the future, instead of wasting time on the internet.
Spending time alone is supposed to be healthy, as you get to know yourself better. Before I was surrounded by friends and family a lot, which was awesome, but I also appreciated spending time just by myself, and Dexter, of course. This helped me to be prepared for life after quarantine!

Fortunately, with all the fun we had, the time flew by very quickly! Although being in quarantine was quite an interesting experience, I hope that next time, things will be back to normal, so we can just do whatever we like. Funnily enough, it felt strange at first to be back in the outside world, as we’d gotten so used to our quarantine home!

I hope you enjoyed e-meeting Dexter, and thanks for checking out my blog today 😀

Sadly, our sweet Dexter passed away in February 2021, most likely because of congestive heart failure. He was 26 months old, and we’ll keep all the amazing memories of him and Moochie in our hears forever <3 They both had the best life a rat could ask for.

September 30, 2020 0

A VISIT TO THE RAMONES MUSEUM – HEY HO, LET’S GO!

Last updated: April 8, 2024

As a fan of 15+ years, I was super excited to visit the Ramones Museum in Berlin-Kreuzberg, Germany, in August 2020.

It’s the first and only Ramones Museum in the world, and was founded by Flo Hayler, a music journalist and huge fan, in 2005.

According to their website, more than 1,000 original artifacts, representing the band’s history from 1974-1996, are exhibited.

Breakfast at the Bar & Café Area

I was worried about getting hungry while touring the museum, so my first stop was the cozy (inside) Bar & Café area. All breakfast foods are either vegan or vegetarian. I had the “Blitzkrieg Bop” breakfast, that consisted of two slices of bread with a few veggies, sliced cheese (a vegan spread can be ordered instead, if preferred), and veggie cold cuts.

I also ordered a bottle of Club-Mate, a non-alcoholic caffeine drink often found in Eastern Germany. The food arrived quickly, and it was minimalist but amazing, just like many of the band’s songs!

The punk music playing in the background was just another bonus. There’s no way to miss the Wall of Fame, where tons of great bands (e.g. Rise Against, Die Toten Hosen, and The Undertones), that visited the museum, had left their signature. And the photos of various artists on the wall are worth mentioning as well!

The “Blitzkrieg Bop” breakfast, and a small overview of breakfast food items available.

Partial Bar and Café area, including a few photos and the Wall of Fame!

Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to try any of their (mostly vegan) cakes, a hot or cold (alcoholic) drink, or check out an event. But these are on my bucket list for next time!

A small selection of pastries and drinks available. Photo credit of the Ramones Museum.

The Ramones Museum Tour

Then I walked through the swinging doors to check out the museum area!

I quickly learnt that the museum’s treasures are shown in the chronological order of the band’s history, so it started with their early years from the mid to late 1970s. My favourite displays of this period were:

A signed cover of the first Ramones album (1976), photo credit of the Ramones Museum, band member pictures and handwritten lyrics to “Judy is a Punk” (1976), a photo of Johnny Ramone and Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols (1977), a poster from their gig in Lyon, France, on Apr 28, 1977, and Marky Ramone’s shoes, that he wore during their European tour in 1978.

Next, I entered a separate room, where “Rock’n’Roll High School“, a teen comedy movie featuring the band, published in 1979, was playing. It was great to sit on the couch for a break, and I liked the cool t-shirts and posters hanging on the wall, that were made specifically because of the movie.

As I kept on walking, I found more awesome Ramones memorabilia from the 1980s until 1996. Here are some examples: Ticket stub from a gig in Berlin, and picture of a show in Tokyo, Japan (both 1980), and an article in the New York Post about Johnny Ramone (1983). These two are photo courtesy of the Ramones Museum, then CJ Ramone’s bass guitar.

Also, a set list for a gig, each band member’s profile, and poster of their show in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 16, 1996. The last one is also photo credit of the Ramones Museum.

After the museum tour, I couldn’t resist buying a Ramones Museum t-shirt and sticker from the gift shop. I mean, I had to get something to not forget that I visited this place, once I’m old… Just kidding. 😀

Past Events at the Ramones Museum

Many times, The Ramones Museum was transformed into a concert venue, and these artists, among others, played (at least) one show: Frank Turner, Anti-Flag, The Gaslight Anthem, Jet, and even CJ Ramone!

In August 2020, “Window Shows” were added to their program, i.e. the musician(s) play(s) inside, and the audience is outside. The museum often hosted other events as well, like Rock ‘n’ Roll Jukebox, and a Vegan Punk Rock Brunch.

Directions & Admission cost

In the past, the Ramones Museum was at Oberbaumstraße 5 in Berlin-Kreuzberg.

Finally, there are news about reopening the Ramones Museum! On April 6, 2024, a new bar/café/diner/gallery called 19:77 opened in Berlin (Finowstrasse 24, 12045 Berlin, Germany). From May 1, 2024, you can check out the Ramones memorabilia from the museum here as well!

Another cool thing is their Get in the Van Tour, a 2-hour Punk subculture and DIY Sightseeing tour around Berlin, where you’ll learn about Berlin’s Punk history from the 1970s until today. It can be booked every day for 2-6 people, and includes a free drink and t-shirt. How awesome is that?

GET IN THE VAN BERLIN - 2 Hour DIY & Subculture Sightseeing

Watch this video on YouTube

Here’s the previous Admission cost for your reference:

It’s 5 Euros to visit the museum, and this includes a Ramones Museum pin. If you bring it when you return in the future, admission is free!
For 7 Euros, you get museum admission, plus a hot or cold drink (except long drinks).
For 12 Euros, you can visit the museum, plus a breakfast for one person.
For 24 Euros, you get museum admission, and a shirt of your choice, except long sleeves.

Entering the Ramones Museum Bar and Café area is free of charge.

My Opinion on the Ramones Museum

I was amazed by the immense detail, effort, time, and passion that must have been put into setting up the Ramones Museum over the years. Although the museum area is rather small, it’s very well organized. I also appreciated the kind staff, warm atmosphere, and very affordable prices.

So whether you’re into The Ramones or not, I think this museum is worth visiting to learn about the band’s large impact on the history of music.

Plus, their large breakfast kept my belly satisfied for a long time! For me, it was an awesome start to exploring Berlin, as several tourist attractions (e.g. East Side Gallery and the Brandenburg Gate) were not far away.

Feel free to check out Rebecca’s blog post to learn more about Berlin’s tourist attractions, and tons of yummy vegan food options! :p

If you’re looking for more cool things to do in Berlin, check out this blog post:

24 Hours in Berlin, Germany

September 16, 2020 0

WELCOME TO MY TRAVEL BLOG!

Last updated: September 21, 2023

Good day, I recently started this blog, and here a few travel passions of mine I’ll share with you:

Music Tourism. Since I was a little girl, I’ve loved music, because it’s one of the best ways to escape from reality. It started with recording radio songs to cassettes, later listening to CD’s and watching music videos on MTV, and then on YouTube.

As a teenager, I started identifying myself with mostly Punk and Rock music and still do to this day. My favourite bands are Nirvana, The Offspring, Social Distortion, The Ramones, Green Day, Rise Against, Sex Pistols, Foo Fighters, Bad Religion, Dropkick Murphys, and many more!

In recent years, I saw several bands live, and plan to keep doing so in the future! Also, I’ll talk about trips related to music tourism, such as visiting a musician’s grave or his/her birth place. So stay tuned 😀

Foo Fighters gig @ Rogers Arena, Vancouver, September 2018.

The Real McKenzies at Blue Grotto, Kamloops, BC, March 2023.

Food Tourism. I always like to check out places to eat, that offer mostly healthy food choices, and are easy on the wallet. I’m interested in a variety of cuisines, like Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Indian, and North American.

I’ve been a vegetarian since 2011, so I’ll only talk about restaurants which have at least one option for me. Fortunately, many places nowadays have tons of options for vegetarians and/or vegans, so don’t worry, it won’t get boring!

Left: Monashee Buddha Bowl in Clearwater, Canada. Middle: Shojin ryori (Buddhist monk’s diet) in Koya, Japan. Right: Soup and Guinness bread in Ballina, Ireland.

Ecotourism and Animal-friendly Tourism. Making a difference by reducing my carbon footprint is important to me. For example, I usually travel by bus, train, bicycle, or on foot, if possible.

Also, I enjoy exploring natural habitats and learning how to protect species in need, and to help keeping an area accessible to future generations. Another critical aspect when I travel is to buy authentic souvenirs from local businesses, which I’m hopeful gives the owner(s) an opportunity for a better life.

Also, animal welfare has been a crucial part of my life for 20+ years. So obviously, when on a trip, I like to participate in animal-friendly, non-exploitative activities, such as whale watching or visiting a local animal rescue organization.

Meeting new furry friends on the road is always lots of fun <3

I’ve been lucky to have met some Canadian wildlife in their natural environment throughout the years as well.

From the top left: Mountain sheep and moose in Jasper National Park, AB, and beaver and bison in Elk Island National Park, AB. Canada geese on Toronto Islands, ON, July 2012.

Soft Adventure Tourism. While travelling, I like to explore the area and get back to nature at the same time, so I go hiking, stand-up paddle boarding on a lake or ocean, sea kayaking, or ziplining.

Also, I’ve enjoyed tent camping and cycling in the summer since I was a child, and ice-skating, skiing, and snow shoeing in the winter. These activities are great, because they’re not physically exhausting, don’t need a lot of preparation, and are quite low-cost.

Plus, they sometimes force you to get out of your comfort zone, which I think makes them even more exciting!

Left: On a bike tour in Dublin, Ireland. Right: Kayaking in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick.

Domestic Tourism. Last but not least, I’ll keep you posted about trips I’ve been taking within Canada, which has been my home since 2012. I think it’s not always necessary to travel abroad to have an awesome time, and it supports the local economy as well.

So far, I’ve traveled to places in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Yukon, and New Brunswick, and can’t wait to explore more of this gorgeous and versatile country!

Peyto Lake Upper View Point, Banff National Park, Alberta.

June 29, 2020 0