BUCKET LIST TRAVEL

TORONTO It can be done.....an impromptu visit to Toronto with no planning and that's what makes it so adventurous and spontaneous. Twice in less than a year my boyfriend and I have arrived in Toronto with no lodging reservations and limited data on our phones. We almost ran out of gasoline too. Fortunately a kind woman delivering mail in Cabbagetown directed us to a station. My boyfriend and I love Toronto because it's such an exciting international city with diverse neighborhoods, outstanding public transportation, amazing restaurants, unlimited shopping, and culture galore.You too can enjoy all the wondrous things that Toronto has to offer at your own pace. Impromptu Toronto is a unique way to enjoy Toronto by the moment. Trust your instincts, grab a Toronto map, and don't hesitate to ask the locals for directions and recommendations.                                         ...

Episode 4 It's been a week since my last visit to Charlevoix and this is my recommendation for having a fun filled and memorable time in Charlevoix. Make a reservation at the Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites located at 111 Pine River Lane. It's right in town close to the beach and all the shopping and restaurants. Once you arrive in Charlevoix check into the Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites. Walk over to Bridge Street and have a bite to eat than do some shopping. Head over to the mushroom houses and check out the unique one of a kind architecture of these houses, then enjoy a relaxing time at the beach before returning back to the Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites. Take advantage of the outdoor pool and when evening arrives have dinner at one of the restaurants.                                            Let the scents of the fragrant flowers lead yo...

Episode 3 Sometimes a detour makes all the difference. How grateful am I that on that hot July day the drawbridge in Charlevoix was up, traffic was at a standstill and I made a right turn onto Belvedere Avenue and discovered an elegant summer place.  It was my day off and I was on my way to Petoskey to visit a friend when I got stuck in traffic in Charlevoix. Drivers were all waiting for the drawbridge to come back down. It was taking longer than usual, typical for  the middle of July in northern Michigan. It was hot outside and my air conditioning wasn't working but fate had things worked out in my favor. I was able to make a right turn from Bridge Street onto a street I wasn't even familiar with. That street was actually known as Belvedere Avenue. My first impression was "What beautiful homes, who wouldn't dream of living in one of them?" I wanted to park my vehicle and take a walk. I found a parking spot right in front of the Inn at Grey Gables. The inn wa...

Episode 2: I'm an adventurous gal whose always looking for new found treasures. Fisherman's Island State Park just outside Charlevoix is a jewel of a park for camping and it's only $17.00 a night for a campsite. Not all those that come to vacation in Charlevoix are affluent and wealthy. There are ways to enjoy this beautiful beach town without spending a fortune. My go to place is Fisherman's Island. For only $17.00 a night you can camp at this breath-taking state park. It's very primitive; no flush toilets, no sinks, no showers....just an outhouse but there are those of us that are okay with roughing it.  I discovered Fisherman's Island State Park last year. I was subletting my apartment in Traverse City for a couple of nights and needed someplace to stay and that place was Fisherman's Island.                                                 ...

A Beautiful Beach Town: Episode 1 I'm just a regular gal with an adventurous spirit who likes to day trip to Charlevoix. My first visit to Charlevoix was on the 12th of June, 2014. It was my birthday and the innkeeper I worked for in Traverse City highly recommended visiting Charlevoix for the mushroom houses, shopping, and water activities.  That birthday spent in Charlevoix was magical and since than I've made a handful of day trips back to Charlevoix and each visit gives me a new perspective of what I call "A Beautiful Beach Town" When the snow finally melts and the fragrant scent of flowers sprinkles through the air, it's common knowledge that spring has sprung. The verdant trees brighten the landscape and birds sing from the branches above. The days grow longer as May turns into June. Summer is here and it's time to vacation in beautiful  C H A R L E V O I X.  Nestled between two lakes quaint Charlevoix is especially lovely during the summer m...

Historically known as Constantinople and Byzantium, the present day ISTANBUL is a magical city that strategically lies on two continents; Asia and Europe making it an East meets West wonder. It's the only city in the world nestled on two continents. Scents of exotic spices, baklava, coffee, fresh fish, and flowers fill the air and stray cats roam the cobblestone streets mingling with locals and tourists alike. Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, a narrow strait between the Black and Marmara Seas. Istanbul has a remarkable architectural heritage and visitors are mesmerized by its mosques, monuments, museums, palaces, and water fountains. To truly immerse in Turkish culture, a homestay allows you the benefit of getting a deeper understanding of the everyday life of the locals. If you find the right family to connect with you can receive outstanding recommendations of what to do and see in Istanbul and enjoy authentic homemade family meals with your host. There are t...

A world class city is attracting visitors from all over the globe and it's in a desert. D U B A I Largest & most populous city in the United Arab Emirates Located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf  360 sunny days a year 1.2 million residents The world's tallest structure is a mega tall skyscraper known as Burj Khalifa D U B A I Jumeriah Beach with its soft white sand is on the Persian Gulf coast (enjoy some swimming) The Dubai Mall has 1,200 shops all under one roof plus an aquarium, cinema, and ice rink The Dubai Museum contains displays and exhibits focusing on the past and present Camels abound in Dubai, take a desert camel ride DUBAI Drink a Jellab; a blend of grape molasses and rose water topped with raisins and pine nuts Eat a manousheh (flatbread filled with herbs, cheese, eggs, and meat) with tabbouleh salad DUBAI is a world class city in the Arabian desert