There is plenty to do on the property, such as fishing expeditions, horseback riding, ATVing (book these through the resort office) or simply grabbing a kayak, canoe or paddle boat (complimentary for guests) from the shoreline for a little adventure down the Mattawa River. If you’re visiting in the winter months, as some cabins are 4 seasons, you can look forward to activities such as snow mobiling , cross country skiing or snow shoeing.  ​

We had a complimentary stay in the largest cabin, The Director. The ground level had three bedrooms (two of them had bunkbeds with a double bed on the bottom, and the other with two single beds), one large bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub, a living room area, kitchen and dining space. The upstairs loft was perfect for families with small children, as there was a queen bed and several single beds. The highlight to this cabin would have to be the beautiful back deck, it was so spacious and airy and overlooked the lake and tree covered hills. It looked like something you’d see on a postcard - it was the perfect spot to BBQ or enjoy your complimentary ‘breakfast basket’ in the morning. ​

In the entrance of the restaurant, there is a little gift stop filled to the brim with local goods like soaps, snacks, artwork and bathing suits. Perfect for a souvenir and a great way to support Canadian businesses. 
The Cardinal has a gorgeous dining area that’s frequently rented out for events like weddings or family reunions. The tables are beautifully decorated and overlook the lake, it definitely has the backdrop to make any gathering special. 
The owners and staff are so friendly and welcoming and were able to give us great suggestions on what we could do over the weekend. We were given directions to a “hidden waterfall” accessible only by watercraft. We hopped into a canoe and made the hour paddle over to the natural beach and relaxed in the pools under the falls. It was great to be able to enjoy the peaceful forest and private beach all to ourselves.  ​

My friend and fellow WCT blogger Katie and I decided to meet in Quinte West for our wonderful accommodation at local Air BnB Strawberry Hallow. It was a great, pet friendly bungalow with 3 bedrooms and a backyard. We found the area to be a perfect launch point as nothing was too far of a drive from this location.  It was beautifully decorated and the host, Nicole, was easy to communicate with – we were very happy to be calling it home for two nights. (At the time of publication the property is listed at $130 a night and can be found here :   ) ​

One of the first communities we decided to explore was Brighton. Katie and I love finding unique pieces to bring home or add to the Inn in PEC and we excited to stop at Marion’s Antiques (360 Main St, Brighton, ON) a charming stop filled with everything from furniture to vintage stuffed animals. We browsed through books, vinyl records and beautiful jewellery pieces. The man at the front desk was happy to chat, telling us they had only recently re-opened and had a great response from the locals who started visiting again right away. We walked away with a smile and a crystal candy bowl.  ​

Right across the street is Cheer Farms (365 Main St, Brighton, ON), a family owned and operated farm stand where you can pick up fresh produce, local knick knacks and baked goods! The stand was all decked out for the holidays, you could pick up some nice festive flower arrangements and home made home décor. The service was wonderful and we were able to purchase some fresh from the oven Hello Dollies, ‘Christmas’ jam and bbq sauce. It was definitely worth the stop! 

A cute, quirky spot we were recommended to stop at was The Bird House ( 240 Presqu'Ile Pkwy, Brighton, ON) A wonderful spot if you have a garden or balcony that could be a little more bird friendly. Fun bird houses, feeders, baths and bird seed wreaths were up for grabs at this family run store. They are currently offering pick up at the front door, or two visitors inside at a time max. 

Full from lunch and looking to burn off a little energy, we decided a scenic walk would make for the perfect afternoon activity. Right down the street from The Bird House lies the entrance to Presqu’lle Provincial Park – the perfect place for a stroll with over 16km of trails and paths and a gorgeous shoreline with plenty of picnic tables to stop at and enjoy the view. If you wanted to prolong your stay, there are over 300 camping spots to hunker down at in the park.  
It also happens to be home to Ontario’s second oldest lighthouse built in 1840. We parked and walked along the shoreline to visit the 69 foot lighthouse with a bright red door. Plaques informed us about the tragic loss of the schooner ‘Speedy’ in October of 1804 as it carried several high ranking trial officials and a prisoner travelling from York (aka Toronto) to Presqu'lle. The waters in the area are highly dangerous and many ships have sadly been lost – hence the importance of the lighthouse. There is lots of history tied to Presqu’lle, so take your time exploring the grounds and reading the historical blurbs as you go. We walked away with more knowledge about the area than when we first came – which is definitely an added bonus. ​

Katie had already heard of The County Emporium before Bay of Quinte suggested it to me (2522 County Road 64, Quinte West) and the idea of being able to get a little holiday shopping done and have my dinner under the same roof was intriguing. Friendly owners Kate and Davelynn were there to greet us at the front of the shop where workers were setting up Christmas trees and stringing up lights. The store, which was actually a church, was filled with unique gift ideas and local products. A popular item seemed to be Smashtess romper, as the ladies were already wearing them when we arrived, and our friend Jo who tagged along with us told me she had just received her romper she had ordered from them (they deliver! How convenient! ) Funky holiday socks and specialty gummy candy was bought before we put in our order for dinner. You place your order (the menu will change from time to time as they will get catered by different local restaurants) which happened to be Indian Food that night, we all got butter chicken and naan bread (delicious!) and took our meals to an adjoining room that resembled an upscale cafeteria with pink plush couches, warm inviting blankets on benches and mason jars filled with pretty carnations. It was a great, chill atmosphere and I’d love to go back in the light of day to get a better look at the church. ​

Looking for a little more sustenance after our walk, we drove back into town to grab some lunch at The Caribbean Jerk Spot (690 Sidney Street, Belleville ON). Once owned by a husband and wife team from Montego Bay, the restaurant has now been passed onto the couple’s daughter with family friend Devin working in the kitchen. You know when you smell dishes bubbling away in a kitchen with lingering spices and sweet aromas in the air and you just KNOW it’s going to be a good meal? That was The Caribbean Jerk Spot. Katie opted for the traditional jerk chicken on rice while I went with Devin’s sweet and sour chicken. Plenty of vegetarian options to choose from as well. The portions were great and Katie and I were so full. Please note, at this time you’re only able to takeaway food. We enjoyed the meal in our warm and cozy car. ​

We decided to do a little shopping and downtown Belleville was just the spot to scratch that retail itch. We were able to grab a to-go coffee and some nice snacks and pantry items to take home from French bistro L’auberge de France (304 Front St, Belleville ON) They had a delicious array of sandwiches and decadent desserts for purchase as well, but unfortunately we were a little too full from lunch – but we are excited for our next visit.  

And so our road trip came to an end, I felt like we were able to do as much as we could in those two days we were visiting, but there is still so much to cross off our lists! We look forward to coming back to explore and get to know the Bay of Quinte a bit better. We extend a heartfelt thank you to Bay of Quinte for hosting and introducing us to their wonderful communities we otherwise might not have known about! If you want to mirror our road trip or add new stop suggestions for next time, please feel free to leave a comment below – we’d love to hear about it! ​

Please see www.bayofquinte.ca for more information! ​

I really enjoyed having two half bathrooms in this shared space, one room was more like a powder room with toilet and sink while the other room just had the shower in it. This really kept the ‘line ups’ for the bathroom down while staying as a group. 
Sunny Beez boasts a large backyard with fire pit and outdoor seating area. Perfect for tanning, grilling up some burgers or having the kids run around. It was so nice to sit out by the fire at night and watch the stars (something us city folk don’t usually see). When it was too chilly out one night, we enjoyed staying in to watch a movie since the TV was equipped with Roku streaming service which was super easy to use. ​

TIP: Staying in a larger group or vacationing as two families? Ripple Rentals owns the cottage right next door to Sunny Beez so you can share a large backyard and still have more than enough space and beds for everyone. (Sister property is www.latitudeadjustment.ca) 
The cottage is located just a short ride away from many attractions like wineries, breweries, great eats and quaint towns to visit. Here are some of the spots we enjoyed over the weekend: ​

Let me start off by saying, we got the BEST service here. We visited this location twice and everyone was so friendly and helpful. If you know me, you know I love my craft beer and this family owned brewery was less than a 10 minute drive from Sunny Beez. It had a great outdoor patio with rotating food guests every weekend (We enjoyed sharing some of Nonna’s Pizza!) and wonderful brews to choose from. (My favourite this time around was Common Mutt, a lager with nutty caramel and a mild citrus finish) I also really enjoyed their music selection which was all on vinyl. Definitely a fun place to meet up with some friends and have a good time. ​

My husband and I enjoyed a sweet treat from The Pantry (www.instagram.com/thepantrybakeshop) as well, he got a fruity scone and I devoured a blondie bar.  I was impressed to find out they were all handcrafted and homemade by baker Catherine Chauvin. Still dreaming about these goods! Yum! ​

My friend Katie also picked up a beautiful bouquet of flowers in a mason from BlackStone Flower Farm. This stall has so many lush bouquets to choose from and there were really cool flower’s I don’t think I’ve ever even seen before! Fun addition to the Air BnB for the weekend. ​

​I love me a woman run business! The Mitchell Family have owned this winery by the beachfront for over 28 years (It’s also Ontario’s ONLY beachfront property, fancy that!) We were told the oldest sister was now in charge of the winery and we always love supporting a family owned business. I’m not a huge wino and definitely not an expert but staff member Robin led us through a tasting and helped me find the wine I’d like the best (ended up being Caboom! A fruity red – I walked away with a bottle).

Being able to enjoy our tasting flights out in the sun on the sprawling property was really nice. We even walked down to the beach and walked barefoot in the waves of the shoreline.  The estate is frequently rented out for weddings and we can see why, it’s simply gorgeous. If you’re stopping in for lunch, they also have picnic baskets for purchase to enjoy some nibbles by the beach…and again, a short drive away from Sunny Beez! ​​

I was so glad Brian from Ripple Rental’s filled us in on the epic Polish Beach Club waterside restaurant.  Don’t expect it to be super fancy or dressy… go casual - think Polish Grandmother whipping you up some delicious pierogis, schnitzel, sausage and cabbage stew… are you drooling yet? This was quite possibly the best meal we had all weekend! It’s about $20 a person for a combo and we could barely finish the generous portions. We were also able to buy a bottle of local wine and watch the sunset over the lake under their fairy lights on the patio. It’s STEPS away from Sunny Beez so you have no excuse not to visit! We were there on Friday night, but we saw it got very busy on Saturday so you might want to consider a reservation. So much fun! (Call 519-253-2708) ​

Although Dairy Freez is a little bit of a drive from the cottage, we really enjoyed this local favourite. You can dig into some reasonably priced ice cream cones, sundaes, chips, burgers and onion rings etc… either in the comfort of your own car (they’ll bring it right out to you, like the old days) or in their charming backyard/back patio area. Dairy Freez is located in suburbia in Kingsville and a fun little stop for a cheap dinner and to bring kids! (Call 519-839-4703) ​

We loved stopping at this place for breakfast and brunch! It’s close by, has cheap eats and the back patio can’t be beat. It literally felt like you were enjoying your morning coffee in the forest! Staff were friendly and were always refreshing our coffees and checking in on us. This was a really great place to end our trip. Reservations recommended. (http://m.facebook.com/garfieldscolchester) ​

Located about 15 minutes away from Sunny Beez, and with a menu filled with creative cocktails lies WolfHead Distillery.  They make small batch whiskey and vodka with some interesting flavours like banana caramel (we bought a bottle to take home) and caramel apple root beer. It was a nice stop for lunch (think burgers, salads and sandwiches), quick service, and fun atmosphere/staff but keep in mind to reserve a table ahead of time, as we barely made it in without one. It was a perfect place to enjoy a sunny afternoon – Wolf Head had us howlin’! ​​

Instead of hopping on a flight I’ve been sticking more and more to local attractions and getaways in Ontario. I have a long ‘must visit’ list of places I’ve had my eye on in Canada and St. Jacob’s, Ontario is definitely near the top. I’ve seen how charming it looks from posts of friends visiting the farmers market or picking up some antiques and being only about an hour and a half away from Toronto, it seemed like the perfect weekend getaway. 
I was so excited to be able to partner up with Staybridge Suites Waterloo who offered us a complimentary stay in the heart of St Jacob’s Market District. First off, let me say what a perfect location the hotel is in to fully enjoy St Jacob’s for the weekend as its only steps away from the famous St Jacob’s Farmers Market and Outlet Malls. Staybridge Suites is also a short 5 minute drive away to St. Jacob’s Village area. 

Travel and stays have been a little different during the pandemic and Staybridge has made us feel safe and comfortable by using disinfectants to deep clean rooms and common area’s and by offering Grab & Go breakfast boxes to promote social distancing amongst guests instead of their usual breakfast buffet. Check in was a breeze and there was a safety barrier installed at the front desk to promote social distancing between guests and staff.
Their rooms are clean and spacious and even offered a kitchen, which is perfect - we were able to store our purchases from the market in the fridge to keep them fresh throughout our stay.
The beds were comfy and the bathroom was spacious with more than enough room to comfortably store my makeup, hair straighteners etc... One of my biggest pet peeves is a bathroom without a lot of storage space, especially when you're sharing the room with someone else.

Some other fun perks of staying at the Staybridge is their large ground floor pool with splash pad for the kids, and free onsite laundry machine access that really help out guests that are staying long term! It really reminded me of an upscale apartment building.
The friendly and helpful staff were able to give us some great recommendations on what to do in the area, and I'll be listing some of my favourites.

​This was our very first visit to the market and WOW, did it blow us away. It's so much bigger than I thought it would be  (it's actually Canada's largest farmer's and flea market!) and we were kept busy for hours browsing each stall and picking up some tasty snacks. Everyone told us that we needed to pick up a box of the market's well-known apple fritters from Fritter Co. We only realized how popular they really were when the line-up for their stall snaked all the way outside the market doors! It was definitely worth the wait, and it was cool to see the apples being peeled, and cored and fried right in front of you. Each box served is super fresh and still warm by the time you take your first bite.

​If you wanted to stop here for a lunch break, they have a selection of ready-made meals for you to enjoy on distanced picnic tables by Peddler's Village.
We also picked up the most amazing summer sausage from the Mennonites local farm's, fresh lemonade, cheese bread, peppers and torta's! We had to stop ourselves and save room for our dinner reservations later that evening, but it's so easy to get caught up in all the delicious items the market has to offer!

The market is currently open Thursday and Saturday year-round from 7:00am to 3:30pm. Please note that face masks are currently mandatory for any indoor parts of the market.

Staybridge recommended this amazing restaurant to us and we are so glad they did, as it ended up being one of our very favourite stops! Anna Mae's is a Mennonite restaurant in the heart of Amish country. It was about a 25-minute drive from the hotel, but it goes by quick with all the beautiful scenery and spotting the horse drawn buggies in the local community. The eatery was featured on 'You Gotta Eat Here!' and the spotlight was on their famous 'broasted' chicken. What's that!? Their fresh marinated chicken gets pressure fried so that it gets a crispy coating on the outside but still says tender and juicy on the inside. No doubt about it, we were trying the broasted chicken!

​The portions here are unreal (we walked away with some leftovers for a midnight snack back at the hotel) and our chicken was served with our choice of sides (mashed potatoes and carrots, please!) and some of the best bread rolls we've ever tasted! Be sure to save room for dessert because they're well known for their delicious selections of pies and cakes. I indulged in a slice of fresh peach pie (that I'll be dreaming about for weeks!) and my husband devoured his banana cream pie. It was super filling and very affordable. Our whole meal came to right under $40 for the both of us.

​Hot tip: Be sure to make reservations, as there was a lineup outside the door! Also, be sure to visit their bakery on the way out, we took home some oatmeal cookies!

​This butterfly conservatory is an indoor oasis! Walk under waterfalls, watch colourful birds fly from tree to tree or run across your path, have a butterfly friend land on your shoulder! I felt like I was in a whole other world. Staff were knowledgeable and friendly and were happy to educate us on a wall of butterflies emerging from their chrysalis (50 had already 'hatched' that day and were handing upside down from their cocoons drying off). The gardens were so well kept and little snacks were left out for the butterflies to nibble on so you can see them up close.

​There are also two exhibit rooms filled with creepy crawlies (think cockroaches, scorpions and giant spiders!) for you to explore and a collection of butterflies from around the world of every colour and type.

I am always excited to visit a brewery and see what they have in store.
Block 3 Brewing was located less than 10-minute drive from the Staybridge Suites. There were many tables spaced far apart and patio seating to help with social distancing.

​We got a flight each to try and taste as much of the different types of beers on tap as we could. My favourite being 'Black is Beautiful' (limited edition) and 'Fickle Mistress' ( a dry hopped sour). The inside of the brewery was really beautiful and a great place to meet and catch up with from friends. It was also located in St. Jacobs Village, so you can go and explore shops and sights on foot after a pint or two. Did we mention that they're dog friendly as well?! What a bonus. Be sure to stop by their bottle shop on the way out.

My husband is the biggest fan of Waterloo Brewery's grapefruit radler, so stopping here on the way back to Toronto was a must. The food was fantastic (pear and brie flatbread and dill pickle roll ups) and I really loved trying their new strawberry rhubarb radler. It was nice to sit on the modern patio and enjoy the sun. It was a perfect way to end our trip and grab some radlers to bring back home!

​These were just some of the many stop options you have in St. Jacob's and we are already planning our next trip back to see even more! We would like to thank Staybridge Suites for their wonderful hospitality and introducing us to one of our new favourite weekend destinations.

Until next trip!

Nestled away on the shores of the man-made Lake Eugenia and only 90 minutes from Toronto, Cedars of Lake Eugenia Resort boasts six 2-bedroom cottages and three 3-bedroom chalets. The sprawling property includes a pool (open from mid June until Labour Day weekend), games and rec room and playground for the kids! Each property has its own firepit, gas BBQ, and fireplace and is a short walk away from the lake. It’s a family owned business and open all year round.

One of the perks of the stay would have to be the complimentary use of canoes and paddle boats, I always find these are available at an extra cost at other properties I’ve stayed at and it’s nice to have an all-inclusive sort of feel. If you’re into fishing, be sure to bring your equipment as the lake is a hot spot for bass, perch and trout.
We had a chance to visit the games and rec room where you can play a few rounds of pool, pick up a classic board game (we loved playing a childhood favourite, Battleship) or choose a DVD from the endless library to bring back to your cottage. If you’re planning an extended stay, laundry facilities are also available in this building.

​Even though you’re sharing the property with a few other cottage’s and chalets, I found that they are far enough away from each other that you don’t really hear other guests or get in each other’s way. There is more than enough room for everyone to enjoy themselves. In between two rows of the rental’s is a beautifully maintained ‘fairy garden’. There is a large firepit with extra seating and lovely sets of fairy lights strung up to set the scene. It’s perfect if you were planning on roasting marshmallows or enjoying a few drinks with a group of friends or family. It’s also wonderful for weddings, the setting sun on the lake makes a gorgeous backdrop for vows on your big day. The resort does offer wedding packages and owners Natasha and Mark even tied the knot on the property as well! Reach out to them for more details!

​If you felt like taking a quick day trip, the resort is only a 30-minute drive to Blue Mountain or 15-minute drive to nearby trails and waterfalls. We really enjoyed the easy hike at Hoggs Falls and wandering around Eugenia Falls Conservation Area. We were only there for the weekend and couldn’t experience all of what the surrounding area had to offer, but other activities include golfing, cycling and even horse back riding at nearby Whinny Acres and Bluewood Stables.

I really love how the resort has so much to offer for kids and adults alike, and just how great the owners were to us. They were friendly and made our stay very memorable. We stayed in the cutest 2-bedroom cottage with a nautical theme. It was spotlessly clean, and the beds were so comfortable. We backed out onto the lake and the sounds of the geese flying overhead at night as the sunset in a brilliant mix of pink and orange was something I won’t soon forget. It’s hard to believe you are only 90 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of downtown.  I could feel the stress leave my body during my stay here, it was a really great way to re-set. If you’re looking for the same and wanting to support a local family run visit now that restrictions are lifting, consider Cedars of Lake Eugenia Resort. It’s a place where you’ll feel like family.


Until next trip!

The blood was ready to be spun in the centrifuge, and a few minutes later it was brought back into the room with a bright yellow liquid floating above my blood sample. It looked so strange. The platelet rich plasma triggers collagen production when put into the mini injection holes and can assist with a smoother complexion and tighter skin.

​

​The nurse cleaned the numbing cream off of my face and began the microneedling procedure. If I’m honest, I was expecting this to hurt much more than it did. While it felt annoying, I didn’t feel any real pain. There was maybe a moment when it hurt for a few seconds while being run over my nose where it stung, but other than that I found it to be very bearable. It felt more like a vibration than anything else.
As the pen was run over my skin, the bright yellow plasma (yuck) was smoothed over my face. I can’t say I wasn’t grossed out by this, but the nurse kept ensuring me it worked wonders. The whole facial took about 15 minutes.
After the procedure you aren’t supposed to wash your face for a whole 24 hours. You read that right, you need to leave that plasma on your face! While it DOES get absorbed into the micro injection holes, it does leave your face feeling tight. Again, not painful but more annoying. This part was the most uncomfortable for me. I wanted to go home and do my normal skin care routine and scrub this stuff off! But I had made it this far, there’s no point in minimizing the results by scrubbing the plasma off early.

​If you plan on going out in the sun or being outdoors after this facial, be sure to apply a sensitive skin facial sunscreen. Your skin is super sensitive at this point and you’ll need to really take care of it for the next few days.
On day’s 3-4 is when I noticed a light peeling. While it wasn’t too bad and friends told me they really couldn’t see it (Girl, you TOTALLY can!) I felt a little self-conscious about it and was constantly applying a light moisturizer. It lasted for about 3 to 4 days and then it was like I had shed into a new skin! Bumps were smoothed over, pores were reduced and I felt like I had more of a glow to me. I can definitely see the appeal of a PRP facial!

​To see long lasting results, it’s recommended to have this procedure done a few times. I could see myself trying this out a few more times over the year. My skin has never looked as bright and smooth as it has from chemical peels, micro-dermabrasion or oxygen facials and I can appreciate the great results that come with waiting out the ‘healing’ process. It might not be for everyone and I know other’s will tend to go for a facial that requires less or no ‘down time’ afterwards but the results speak for themselves.

​I had a wonderful time during our night walk and it was interesting to see a familiar space like the zoo, in a new light (quite literally). I’d recommend the event to absolutely anyone. The crowd was made up of every age group and background, there is truly something for everybody.

​Tired of doing the same old thing for date night, group events or family time? How about being a hero? This is where the traditional dinner and a movie take a backseat. It’s time to put YOURSELF in the action!
You and your friends are now a team, working to save the last known dragon egg, preventing their extinction. Okay, now just where would a dragon egg be in Toronto?! In a castle of course! Where else? Join Secret City Adventures for their newest escape room experience, The Dragon’s Song – taking place at Casa Loma. I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek through Travel Massive’s media night event!

​What makes The Dragon’s Song so unique is that it’s the first experience from Secret City Adventures that’s completely fantasy. You’re lead through several floors at the top of the castle by a confident Knight and a kooky Alchemist to find clues and spells to rescue the dragons! I was impressed with the quality of the puzzles, which were much more technologically advanced than I’m used to with other escape room’s I’ve participated in. Some of the reveals really felt like magic!

​The rooms themselves were just as magical. We passed through a dragon’s lair, peeked into a mystical mirror and searched for pendants under the guidance of our trusty Knight and Alchemist. I’m not always confident in escape rooms, sometimes I find them really difficult. When we hit a snag in solving a few puzzles, the actors would gently offer clues or subtly point us in the right direction, which didn’t give away too much, but was greatly appreciated to keep the game moving!

​Please visit Secret City Adventure’s website for more details on booking and snag tickets since they are sure to fly fast! https://www.secretcityadventures.com/dragon/

​With the fall weather, it did get chilly at night. I would suggest bringing an extra comforter or having a glance through the house manual provided with instructions on how to operate the small heater situated in the kitchen. It’s easy enough and probably a must-do for the winter, as this is an all season’s cabin.