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East Coast Trail: La Manche Village Path

May 23, 2019 | Leave a Comment

I spent Victoria Day (a.k.a. May Long Weekend) the best way possible: outdoors exploring a place I’d never been. La Manche Provincial Park has been on my list for quite a while. It’s only 45 minutes outside of St. John’s and has a lot to offer. There are swimming holes, a campground, and a hiking trail. And not just any hiking trail– one of the East Coast Trail paths runs right through the park. La Manche is the perfect day trip for anyone who just needs a little break from the city.

La Manche Village Path runs from the suspension bridge in La Manche Provincial Park to Bauline East. The website says it goes all the way to Tors Cove, which I guess is correct but the sign marks the trailhead in Bauline East so we didn’t bother with the Tors Cove arm.

If entering the trail at the suspension bridge, you can park in the provincial park for a fee, or at the end of La Manche Road for free, which is about a kilometre past the entrance to the park. Drive down La Manche Road until the end, where there is a small parking area and a sign (pictured below) which marks the entrance to the trail. After about a kilometre and a half of easy walking, you’ll reach La Manche Village and the suspension bridge. This was honestly the best part of the whole hike. La Manche Village is a former settlement and you can still see many of the foundations of the homes that used to exist there years ago. It’s kind of an eerie feeling to stand in the very spot where someone once cooked, slept, laughed, and loved. The suspension bridge replaced the original bridge which was destroyed by waves (hard to imagine on a gorgeous day like the one we experienced) and is quite unique in the province, especially so far off the grid. Plus, the views from this place are amazing. It’s worth checking out, even if just for a perfect picnic location!

Once you’re finished soaking up the gorgeous views, waterfalls, and historic abandoned village, head across the suspension bridge and onward on the trail. Doctor’s Cove is only a short hike from the bridge. There are a few flights of stairs as well as some solid inclines, so you’re in for a bit of a workout but nothing brutal. Doctor’s Cove is a steep downhill to a rocky beach area which is so peaceful and secluded. Another great spot for a picnic. Totally worth the climb back up to the trail. We even got a small little glimpse of an iceberg that was peeking out from behind a cliff.

The sign at the suspension bridge.

Honestly, once you hike up out of Doctor’s Cove, don’t bother heading all the way to Bauline East unless you’re truly just out for the fresh air because there isn’t much to see on the rest of the trail. It’s basically a backroad ATV trail. We didn’t go all the way to Tors Cove because we were bored with the trail. But please, let me know if we missed something amazing because we will go back again! From my experience, La Manche Village Path is an amazing afternoon hike if that’s all the time you have. Take your time, breathe in the fresh air, and enjoy the scenery.

The sign at Bauline East.

Have you hiked La Manche Village Path? What’s your favourite path on the East Coast Trail? Let us know in the comments or on social media (@twowildtides), we love hearing from our readers! And please, check out our other posts about the East Coast Trail hikes that we’ve done:

  • Sugarloaf Path
  • Cobbler Path
  • Father Troy’s Trail
  • Mudder Wet Path
  • Silver Mine Head Path
  • Blackhead Path

happy hiking,
char

Filed Under: ...in Newfoundland and Labrador, Adventures, Local | Tagged With: active lifestyle, adventure, canada, explore, hike, hiking, Lifestyle, lifestyle blog, newfoundland and labrador

17 Spring & Summer Adventures in Newfoundland

May 2, 2019 | Leave a Comment

Warmer months are around the corner and that means you can break out your hiking shoes, summer tires, and backpacks. Here is some inspiration for your Newfoundland adventure season.

Summer Roadtrip: The Irish Loop
Hiking in Central Newfoundland: The Salvage Trails
Canada Day Weekend with Wildhood Clothing
East Coast Trail: Silver Mine Head Path
Exploring Newfoundland’s West Coast: Camping at Sir Richard Squires Memorial Provincial Park
Camping Like Never Before: Terra Nova National Park Oasis
A Taste of History: Lunch at The Stone Jug
Exploring Newfoundland’s West Coast: Shallow Bay Beach, Baker’s Brook Falls, & Western Brook Pond
My Dildo Adventure
Exploring Newfoundland’s West Coast: Trout River and the Tablelands
Road Trip: Discovery Trail
East Coast Trail: Blackhead Path
Being a Tourist at Home with O’Brien’s Boat Tours
Exploring Newfoundland’s West Coast: Hiking Gros Morne Mountain
East Coast Trail: Cobbler Path
A Bucket List Adventure with Ocean Quest
Exploring Newfoundland’s West Coast: Blow Me Down Provincial Park, Woody Point, & Green Gardens

We would love to answer your travel-related questions. Just shoot us an email, leave a comment below, or reach out on social media (@twowildtides). We’d also love to hear about your NL roadtrip experiences! What are your favourite places to visit? We love hearing from our readers!

Filed Under: ...in Newfoundland and Labrador, Adventures, Local | Tagged With: adventure, blog roundup, canada, canadian travel, explore, newfoundland and labrador, road trip, roundup, summer roadtrip, travel

How to Spend a One-Day Layover in Toronto

April 25, 2019 | Leave a Comment

Any Canadian frequent-flyer will likely find themselves stuck in Toronto Pearson International Airport from time-to-time. We certainly have. And if you’re flying on points or looking to save some money, a couple of hours can turn into a whole day or more. We encourage you to venture out into the city (it’s a whole lot more accessible and affordable now with the UP Express train) and see what Toronto has to offer.

Lucky for you, we have the perfect formula for a day in the Six (or any city for that matter): landmark + lunch + museum/exhibit. It’s pretty common sense and not too original, but it’s tried and true.

Let’s talk landmarks: the CN Tower (obv), Toronto Island, Harbourfront, Rogers Centre (Skydome), Casa Loma, St. Lawrence Market, Union Station, and the Gooderham Building are some well-known ones that you can’t go wrong with checking out at least once in your life. I also love the Distillery District for the museums, shops, and gorgeous brick buildings.

After you’ve had your fill of Instagram photo ops and tourist traps, treat yourself to a bite to eat. Toronto has such a vibrant food scene. You can pretty much go to any part of the city and find something amazing. Whether it’s a franchise like the Rec Room, Elephant and Castle, Moxie’s, or Mill Street (plus a million other options) or a unique joint like the Addisons Residence, you’re bound to have some mouthwatering options. On my most recent trip to the city, I tried out Stormcrow Manor on Church Street, known as Canada’s nerdiest bar. I didn’t get all the geek references but I could certainly relate to some! The food is delicious, the drinks are bomb, and you can roll a 20-sided D&D die for a shot.

Let your food settle while you stroll around a museum (or make yourself sick in the Museum of Illusions–that’s what I did). If you haven’t been to the Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario, or if you’re a fan, the Hockey Hall of Fame, you should definitely visit those. I also recommend the Museum of Illusions (despite the potential for motion sickness) and the totally hyped Ripley’s Aquarium.

What do you recommend doing during a day in Toronto? Which of these activities have you tried? Tag us in your pictures on Instagram and Facebook, @twowildtides. We love hearing from our readers!

xoxo,

char

Filed Under: Adventures, Global | Tagged With: adventure, canada, canadian travel, explore, toronto, travel, travel blog

Winter Wonderland in Ottawa

February 28, 2019 | Leave a Comment

From the very first time I visited Ottawa, I knew I loved the city. It truly is beautiful, there are great restaurants, events and festivals. My recent trip lined up perfectly with Winterlude, an 18 day festival that takes place in the Ottawa/Gatineau region. There are all kinds of activities from ice carving competitions, to skating, to winter playgrounds, to cultural walks– there’s something for everyone. Having never visited Ottawa in the winter, I was excited!

Step one of this adventure was checking into the Alt Hotel on Slater Street. I love these hotels because you can count on a high level of service, friendly staff and a fun, updated look. From the moment you walk in the hotel, there’s a sense of being home away from home. The location is impeccable, perfect for exploring downtown Ottawa (and Winterlude festivities). The lobby is outfitted with a lovely bar area. They have a great happy hour, delicious food, and they’re open 24/7. During happy hour the bar is definitely buzzing and we enjoyed a couple of drinks there throughout our stay. There’s also a gym on site so if skating isn’t your thing, you can still get your workout in. The space really has a young, hip vibe and caters to a wide variety of clientele. We were impressed.

Our room was clean, classy and spacious. We have a history of working and staying with the Alt Hotels in other locations such as St. John’s and Halifax. You can’t go wrong with these rooms. The beds are always comfortable, there’s a tv, work/desk area and bathroom equipped with all of the amenities you could need. These hotels are consistent in their ability to go above and beyond. The stay was lovely, comfortable and restful. It will not be our last stay with the Alt Hotel. We can’t wait to check them out in another city one day. Thank you for your hospitality.

After settling into the hotel, it was time to start exploring. We headed to Jacques Cartier Park to allow our inner children to play in the snow. The sculptures were grand and beautiful. I had never seen anything like it before. WOW! We were also quick to grab some inner tubes and line up for the icy snow slides. They were so fun and fast! Our walk through this winter wonderland wouldn’t have been complete without some maple syrup candy. It was a blast!

A trip to Ottawa in the winter wouldn’t be complete without a skate on the Rideau Canal. So grab your skates, toques and mittens. We skated about 15km, stopping here and there for photos. We took it at a relatively casual pace because it was so busy. It was really fun to get outside and on our skates. I even have the bruises to prove that competitive skaters wipeout when they get stuck in ruts too. How cool is it to skate outside on the world’s largest skating rink?

The next morning we woke up early and ventured to Nordic Spa. If you’re looking for a relaxing way to spend your morning, it doesn’t get any better than this. We arrived around 9:00 am and started the day with an hour long massage. I’m not going to lie, I totally feel asleep (haha). It was so relaxing. Then we put on our white robes and flip flops and headed outside. We checked out all of the saunas and hopped in all of the pools. There’s a heat cycle they recommend which includes 10-15 minutes in a hot sauna, followed by a cold plunge in one of the cold pools and then some time to relax. We cycled through the steps a few times and absolutely loved it. I wasn’t sure about the cold plunge, outside in the middle of winter but it was super refreshing. We also took part in an Aufguss Ritual in the Finnish Sauna which we both thought of as a highlight. You can read about it on their website by clicking here. Leaving the spa I felt lighter, so relaxed, my body was very happy.

Our weekend getaway to Ottawa was awesome. We spent a lot of time outside which is our favourite place to be. I’m grateful for this experience with great company. It was perfect.

Thank you to our friends at the Alt Hotel for making this weekend extra special.

xoxo,
linds

P.S. If you’re in the Laurentian Valley area check out their skating trail through the woods for a little winter magic!

Filed Under: Adventures, Global | Tagged With: alt hotel, beautiful, canada, canadian travel, ice, nordik, Ottawa, rideau canal, skating, snow, spa, winter, winterlude

Hemingway’s Home in Havana

May 22, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Ernest Hemingway is one of my favourite writers. I have a deep passion for literature and a fascination with Hemingway’s era and work. Those close to me know of this love for Hemingway and what Paris in the roaring twenties must have encapsulated. I’m among those who think his writing is incredible. His work is genius. The work he put into his writing is so evident with every sentence crafted to perfection. I admire his style and the fact that he treats his readers as intelligent human beings. He doesn’t have to tell us everything.

I have knowingly and unknowingly found myself in Hemingway’s old stomping grounds around the world. I have spent hours perusing the shelves of Shakespeare and Co. in Paris. I have sat in the cafes in Montparnasse. The streets of Pamplona quickly brought me to Cafe Iruna in the main square. And finally I have drank daiquiris in Havana next to his statue.

I recently returned from my second trip to Havana. There’s something magical about that city as with many of Hemingway’s favourite locations. I could wander through the streets of Havana forever admiring the coloured buildings. On this recent trip, my wandering brought me to Hemingway’s house just outside the city of Havana. It was breathtaking and is now open to the public as a museum.

I was able to peek into the house through the open windows and doors. I was able to sneak a glimpse into the life and mind of Hemingway. His house was open and breezy. It was filled from floor to ceiling with books. His bedroom, apparently one of his writing spots, was tucked away in the corner of the home. The backyard has a stunning view of the city of Havana. It’s a large property complete with a tower and in his time a tennis court.

His boat is also stored on the property. I got a close view of the vessel that took Hemingway himself out to sea. I can only imagine the fishing adventures, stories and drinks that were shared on that boat. I would highly recommend a stop at his home if you’re in the Havana area. It was so special.

A trip to Havana wouldn’t be complete without visiting Hemingway’s bars. El Floridita was one of his favorite bars and he could often be found sitting at the bar with a daiquiri (they’re delicious). La Bodeguita Del Medio was his other go-to place and they’re known for the best mojito in Havana. So what are you waiting for? Hop on a plane and raise a glass to the man himself. To Hemingway.

My fascination with Hemingway’s life will never end. I’m so curious about what made him tick. Every time I’m in Cuba I read one of his books on the beach. I take something new from his writing each time I flip through the pages and I think his work has a lot to teach any aspiring writers. This trip I read The Sun Also Rises. I do not agree with some of the language he used in this novel. However, I think there’s always something to be learned from every book and it really was written brilliantly. It touched me in a way I wasn’t expecting and the ending has stuck with me ever since I put the book down. It really resonated. The last paragraph hit me hard. I couldn’t think of a better ending – it was perfect.

Thank you for your work, Hemingway. It truly is a blessing. But we lost you far too soon. I wish you could have received the help that you deserved and needed. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health please reach out. There are resources and people around to help you. You don’t have to go through this alone.

xoxo,

linds

**I do not condone big game hunting. Unfortunately, that was something that Hemingway enjoyed.

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Filed Under: Adventures, Global | Tagged With: adventure, canada, cuba, explore, hemingway, island, Lifestyle, love, travel

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