Mont Réal

Montreal
Location: Montreal, Quebec

We stayed in Montreal for four days and three nights. Smoked meat, Jazz Festival, locked rental bikes and Yes, I drove!

Toronto Zoo

I love the zoo.

Toronto Zoo
Location: Scarborough, Ontario

Stingray Bay



Turtle






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Black River Coffee Inc

Black River Coffee Shop
Location: Jackson's Point, Sutton, Ontario

After checking out the thrift shop across the street, we went in search of an ice cream shop. We spotted two, but they were both closed. Black River had an advertisement for a new Blueberry Iced Tea so we stopped by for a refreshing drink.

The back was an open patio that lead to a wooden deck right on the water. We chose to sit on that. The sun had warmed the spacious deck to a comfortable temperature. The river was quiet, with lily pads and flowers on the opposite bank.

We got a latte, tea, mochachino, pecan tart, magnificent mini pie and of course, a blueberry iced tea. The atmosphere of the deck made our drinks so much more delicious!




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Sibbald Point Provincial Park

Sibbald Point Provincial Park
Location: Sutton West, Ontario


I planned a camping trip to the closest provincial park to Toronto. The weather forecast predicted 100% rain and it poured on the highway, but the rain never got to the park! The wind blew it away.

The boys made a fire while we set up the tents. We checked out the beach then barbecued some sausages for lunch. We waited for some latecomers, then tried out a trail called Maiden Hair. It turned out to be a run through the forest because we would get bit by mosquitoes if we ever slowed down. As such, I don't have a picture of us on the trail! At the beach, it was extremely windy, but the water was warm. Some of us went for a dip while the sun was still out. Back at camp, we roasted marshmallows, sausages, meatballs and chicken wings. The sun had set by the time we decided to watch the sunset, but we managed to catch the colours it left on the horizon. We talked around the fire pit until it was close to bed time. Then we took a walk to see the stars. We saw some bats flying low and a few shooting stars.








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Algonquin Provincial Park

Algonquin Provincial Park
Location: Huntsville, Ontario (nearest city)

Lookout (65 mins)
This 1.9 km loop is a fairly steep and rugged trail which rewards the hiker with a magnificent view of several hundred square kilometres of Algonquin. The trail guide discusses the geology of the Park.

















 
Two Rivers (40 mins)
This 2 km loop includes an easy ascent to a pine-clad cliff and introduces the importance of change in the natural forests of Algonquin.


















Peck Lake (40 mins)
The Peck Lake Trail is 1.9 km long and goes completely around the shoreline of Peck Lake. The trail guide explores the ecology of a typical Algonquin lake.





































 







Hardwood Lookout (15 mins)
This 0.8 km walk introduces you to the ecology of a typical Algonquin hardwood forest and culminates in a fine view of Smoke Lake and the surrounding hills.

Sea Kayaking

New World Centre
Location: Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, Quebec

I made reservations for an afternoon sea kayaking package at New World Centre for my family. We got there a bit early and enjoyed some smoked meat sandwiches. After we changed, we waited at the reception centre and played a family game of jitz while we waited for our guide. Katie and I won all three games!

We rode in the backseats of a pickup with the driver, our guide, and another worker from New World that wanted to try out sea kayaking, in the front. The car towed our six kayaks to a boat ramp by the side of the water.

The guide showed us how to wear our skirts. Then we got a life jacket, helmet and a paddle. Adjusting the seat was tricky for my mother and I because we happened to get the bigger skirts for the bigger kayaks. Once we were all ready, we sat in our kayaks one by one and were pushed off the ramp into the water.

The first thing we did on the water was cover some basic strokes. All of a sudden, the sky got dark and you could see a sheet of rain moving across the water. It rained really hard for about ten minutes but we all wore windbreakers and only got our arms wet. The sky quickly cleared up and the guide let us to two inlets where we explored the water further inland. Coming back, the four of us had a race but we started off too close to one another and only my dad was successful at pulling away for the win.


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