Life In Pleasantville
Food, Travel, Life
I’ve lived in Ottawa for over twenty years and I have taken every single visitor I’ve ever had to Parliament Hill. Every one. It’s the Eiffel Tower problem. Parisians have been rolling their eyes at tourists with selfie sticks in front of an iron tower since 1889, and Ottawans have been doing the same quiet …
I don’t get out much in Ottawa, but when Parks Canada invited me to experience high tea at Laurier House Ottawa, I made an exception. Not because there’s nothing to do close to home, there’s plenty, but because when I embarrass myself here I risk running into those people again. My dad jokes have a …
There is a specific kind of town that gets under your skin. Not the flashy kind, not the Instagram-famous kind, but the kind where you park the car, start walking, and forty-five minutes later realize you have completely forgotten what you were worried about before you got here. Perth, Ontario is that kind of town. …
Exploring Toronto with teens was, for me, like seeing this cosmopolitan city with new eyes. Toronto had become so familiar to me over the years, having lived, worked, and played there, that I had become complacent about it as a tourist destination. On a recent trip with my teenager and her best friend though, I …
Winters in Canada are long, and as such, our thoughts naturally turn to beach escapes to make life more bearable. I’m no exception to that rule, except I’ve learned over the years that the beach doesn’t need to be far and the time away doesn’t need to be long to break the monotony. Call it …
If you are hunting for Westport Ontario things to do, this guide covers my favourite spots for views, food, shopping, and easy weekend stays. Westport is one of those Ontario small towns that honestly doesn’t get enough attention. Truth be told, I hesitate to share it because it’s such a gem I’d rather keep it …
Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to visit many spas, and when you’ve been to as many spas as I have, you start to develop opinions. Ayurvedic spas? Love the philosophy, but they don’t quite cover everything I’m looking for. Nordic spas? Fun in theory, but with a hot tub at home and a …
The saying “big things come in small packages” must have been written about Almonte, Ontario. I mean, how could it not have? Consider this: Mill Street, the town’s main street, is only about 350 metres long but in that short stretch you will find vintage and antique shops, boutiques with clothing you will swoon over, …
