Author: Christie

The best Ontario road trip you need to experience at least once in your lifetime

| Christie

The scenery changes once you get to Sudbury (5 hrs north of Toronto), but the truth is that the 700-km stretch from Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay offers the most picturesque coastlines and rocky cliffs that will take your breath away. The rugged Precambrian red granite, the forested hills, and the deep blue or turquoise waters create the perfect backdrop you could wish for.

From pebbles to the finest sand beach, you will never tire of finding your special spot. From lazy rivers to white-waters rapids, there is something for everyone! Oh, and did I mention the waterfalls?!

Agawa Bay

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Paddling through the Happy Lands

| Christie

Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park (officially Kawartha Highlands Signature Site) is a 375-square-kilometre (145 sq mi) area of preserved wilderness used for recreational purposes in south-central Ontario, Canada. It is the largest park in southern Ontario after Algonquin Provincial Park, and is located North-East of the main belt of the Kawartha Lakes, in Peterborough County.

With an extensive network of lakes and rivers, this area also has historical significance as a trading route for Indigenous people and early settlers. Often called Canada’s Canoe Capital, The Kawarthas are known for many things. The name “Kawartha” derives from an Anishinaabe word meaning “land of reflections” or “bright waters and happy lands”.  And here we are to explore these lands and enjoy the beautiful summer days.

Bottle Lake trailhead

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Summer is here, and so are the pollinators

| Christie

As the days got longer and the skies sunnier, nature has finally come back to life, entirely! After a long winter and a shy spring, we are all eager to enjoy once again our summer activities. Blooming flowers, birds and wildlife normally keep us entertained on a daily basis, but today I will focus on the pollinators who have found our backyard garden attractive again, this year. Summer feasts are in full swing for the little ones as they can’t seem to satisfy their insatiable appetite!

bumblebee
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Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco’s architectural masterpiece

| Christie

With a handsome setting around the San Francisco Bay, that eventually gave the city a nickname by which it is often called “The City by the Bay”, San Francisco is known for so many things: from its steep streets featured in so many movies, to Alcatraz Island, where the famous or rather infamous prison is, to the iconic Victorian houses, and last but not the least, the Golden Gate Bridge. If you happen to be in San Francisco, you can’t go far without noticing the Golden Gate Bridge, as it is visible from many points along the Bay shore. Partially hidden at times by the ever-lasting layers of clouds, it is just there, begging for your attention.

Golden Gate Bridge from battery observation deck

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How to spend a day in Point Reyes, California

| Christie

Located 40 miles (63 km) northwest of San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore is a relatively hidden gem if you are not from this area. Rolling hills and endless beaches are the main features of this reserve, and if you are a nature lover or a birdwatcher, then this is your kind of place you want to visit.

Point Reyes Beach

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Muir Woods National Monument and the glory of the redwoods

| Christie

“This is the best tree-lover’s monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world.” – John Muir

Located 12 miles (19 km) north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods National Monument is nestled in the Coast Range, a mountain range that runs down the length of California. The mild climate along the coastal mountains provides an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, and the redwoods are the most famous, dominating the entire ocean coast. Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Monument protects 240 hectares of old growth coastal redwoods (Sequoia Sempervirens). This is one of the world’s last remaining ancient redwood forests, which is why it was designated a national monument in 1908, even before the National Park Service existed. The Kent family, who purchased the land in 1905 with the goal of protecting the redwoods and the nearby mountains, insisted on naming the park after naturalist John Muir, whose environmental campaigns helped establish the National Park system in the United States.

The towering redwoods
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Hiking the Fisherman’s Trail, the most spectacular coastal trail in Portugal

| Christie

Fisherman’s Trail is praised for its dramatic coastal scenery, with paths that provide access to secret beaches and fishing spots. Some sections may be challenging because of the dunes and sandy beaches or the detours around cliffs; however, this is a trail that anyone might want to see at least once in their lifetime.

The Fishermen’s Trail, with a total of 226,5 km, is actually part of a larger hiking system, Rota Vicentina. This single-track trail can be done exclusively on foot. It is rated as moderate, but can become quite difficult in some sections due to the varied coastal landscape, strong winds and scorching sun, and, in a way, the lack of signage or rather intuitive in places. It can be done in 13 one-day stages, you can find more information here.  Each section of the trail is representative for this spectacular area as a whole. From fossilized dunes, to hidden coves and fine sandy beaches, all the colourful rocks and cliffs and biodiversity are a blast for the eyes and soul.

Atlantic Ocean, Almograve Hike
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