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voyage à New York - travel to New York

Getaway travel to New York City to ring in the New Year on a budget

Our getaway travel to New York City for Big Boss and I began by car.

We journeyed from Montreal one Wednesday afternoon for the Big Apple with crappy weather. Our first winter storm of the season in Montreal had just hit us. We returned on a Sunday to the same greyish crappy weather with more snow. The roads hadn’t been cleared up from the previous snowfall and it had already been 4 days!

Brooklyn Bridge Photo by Jerome Dominici from Pexels

However, between our departure and our return, we were in New York City. We were there to ring in the New Year, with our home base in BROOKLYN.

The song from the Beasty Boys “No Sleep till Brooklyn” was renamed by Big Boss “No sleep in Brooklyn“. We ended up not sleeping much and that wasn’t even due to too much partying! So just be prepared. When you travel to New York City, you won’t get much sleep in the city that never sleeps.

New York City, just like much of the rest of the United States is an expensive place to travel to, especially when you are on a budget. Fear not, however, as this blog article might just be what you are looking for if you need budget travel tips to New York City. We’ll share with you our itinerary and how we managed to keep our cost as low as possible while still enjoying our little 4-day getaway.

First stop: Brooklyn

After a good 9-hour drive, we arrived at our destination: Brooklyn in New York City.

One hour and 10 minutes of that was spent at the American border while it only took us 15 minutes to cross the border on our way home. Go figure!

We went to grab a bite to eat at a local joint recommended by our B&B,  Burger Mexicano. Unfortunately, it is now closed. We didn’t want to look for another place as it was already late. Honestly, we weren’t going to be too picky about our first meal there.

This is what’s great about New York, everything is open late. There is something for everyone’s schedule and taste. You can go and have a late-night manicure or get your braids done in a salon at 10pm, any day of the week, even on holidays. We can’t say that Americans are lazy, at least not in Brooklyn, not in that hood.

Where we slept

I found a Bed and Breakfast “Lefferts Manor” in the borough of Brooklyn. New York City has 5 of them. Manhattan is the most popular one as that’s where everyone goes. However, lodging there can get pretty EXPENSIVE. Then, comes Brooklyn. Even Miranda from Sex & the city called this borough home. It has a laid-back feel giving out a home away from home vibe.

Lodging is a tad bit cheaper in Brooklyn. It’s not Manhattan and you’ll be far from all the points of interest but don’t brush off Brooklyn just yet. It does have hipster bars, lofts, shops, and of course restaurants.

Since we were driving to New York City from Montreal, we felt that it would be easier for us to stay in Brooklyn. We didn’t want to have to pay for a spot in a parking garage for the whole length of our stay. That adds up quickly. Instead, we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn where it is easier to park on the side streets and FREE. However, just be aware of the cleanup days of the streets as you can’t park on certain sides of the street.

The neighborhood where we stayed was really nice but the main avenue nearby not so much. What a contrast between this main artery and the side residential streets.

When booking our B&B it looked cute, old, and romantic … In reality, it was, and clean, but the plumbing karaoked ALL NIGHT LONG. It was dreadful, not to mention the toilet on our floor which kept clogging up… Nonetheless, I was able to sleep a good 5 hours each night but Big Boss wasn’t so lucky. 

Moreover, breakfast was not included in the price. So we had to pay an extra $15 per person. It isn’t a real Bed and Breakfast if the breakfast isn’t included! Right?

Getting around New York City

Avoid at all cost-driving around Manhattan when you travel to New York City. You’ll end up getting stuck in massive traffic jams. Then, you’ll waste time trying to park on a street or paying an atrocious amount to park in a Parking Garage.

Your best way to get around Manhattan is on foot or by riding the subway. If you have to, hail a yellow cab, good luck! Of course, the bus exists, but I have never been on one.

Moreover, the red double-decker tour bus does exist, even in New York City. Back in 2009, I believe it was around $60 per person for a 24h hop-on hop-off pass. I personally find that to be expensive. However, if you are in New York City just for the day, it could be a viable option. At least you’d cover all the major sites.

Riding the subway of New York City

Even though we love to walk, we had no choice to ride the New York City subway during our New Year’s Eve travel.

Driving our own car into Manhattan every day was not a viable option. The only easy way onto the island of Manhattan was with the subway.

Luckily at our B&B in Brooklyn, there were some useful tips on the metro. For example, lines Q & B both go through the Prospect Park stop. The B line stops at 9pm and the Q line works 24-7 (awesome).

did buy a 7 day MetroCard with unlimited access for $32/person. One ride costs $2,50. We thought that in the long run, we would benefit from it which we did.

  • Tip 1: Grab a map of the New York City subway.

Ours was provided free of charge at our B&B. You will be needing it to navigate through the intricate New York subway signals and corridors.

I have to admit that having the subway map sort of helped us navigate better.

  • Tip 2: Pay attention.

Listen to the announcements. Read the signs on the front of the subway train or panels. The same train line might be heading in two different directions.

As a foreigner without English knowledge, this must be a nightmare. That is probably why you don’t see too many tourists riding the subway then.  People say and think the Paris subway is complicated, the New York City one beats it.

  • Tip 3: Group your visits by area

This tip is good for any major city traveling. In order to save money on public transit, focus each day on a different area of the city which you are visiting. This way, at the most, it will cost you a round trip ticket per person each day.

However, while we were in New York City and to make our life a bit easier, we bought a 7 day MetroCard with unlimited access. The cost at the time was $32/person. In comparison, a one-way ride costs $2,50. We thought that in the long run, we would benefit from it, which we did.

DAY 1 : Central Park, Times-Square & Greenwich Village

We started our first day by heading into Manhattan with a subway ride. Miraculously, we did not get lost.

We are extremely lucky to not only speak, read, and understand English but also have a great hearing as it is so COMPLICATED to navigate!

voyage à New York - travel to New York City

My past New York experiences hadn’t forced me to explore too much of the NYC subway. The few times I had used it made me squirmish at the idea of using it again.

We had decided to focus on the northern part of Manhattan where the main highlights of the city are. Since it was Big Boss’s first time in New York City, I thought it would be a good place to start.

Central Park

Photo by Jerome Dominici from Pexels

We took the subway from Brooklyn and started off with the Northern part of Central Park . It was my first time in this part of the park. I had always gone to the southernmost tip to the right of the park (ok East).

We walked anti-clockwise around the reservoir like Dustin Hoffman in the movie Manhattan.  Apparently, not everyone had the same guidebook as us as multiple people were going about it the regular way…people…they know nothing…

Dustin-Hoffman-at-the-resevoir-in-Central-Park-between-takes-Marathon-Man-Manhattan-New-York-1975

As we strolled around the park, I finally got a chance to see some of the park’s bridges, just like in the movies. I saw a bride and her groupies, a couple get engaged and a LIVE wedding ceremony on a bridge just when they were exchanging vows…that was so special. I got a bit emotional seeing all these lovers in New York City on the last day of the year… Big Boss did not seem to be affected by it at all…typical male.

I forgot to mention that I walked around our first day in New York City in my PJs. Yes for real (see picture below), not that you care.

I needed to be comfortable and I had forgotten to bring clothing for that. I know it sounds like a real girl problem but honestly, this is a rare time that I actually tried to coordinate a decent wardrobe during my travels.

In New York City, you are going to walk A LOT if you are sightseeing. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a small backpack and warm clothes if it’s not summertime. Forget about making a fashion statement, unless you are comfortable or just bring a change of clothes. That’s what many people do.

voyage à New York - travel to New York City

We tried to spot the Imagine sign in Central Park to honor John Lennon who was murdered in that area. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find it. That’s ok, there is always next time.

Times Square

After 2 hours of walking in the cold through Central Park, we stopped by St-Patrick’s Church, the Rockefeller Center, and Times Square. STOP STOP STOP. People are insane!

voyage à New York - travel to New York City

Times Square was completely packed. We didn’t even attempt to go through it as the access was blocked by checkpoints Charlie on every corner.

I just wanted to show the place to Big Boss and eat. So all we saw was the northern part of Times Square through the upper floor windows of a brasserie. Meal with a view. Not bad.

Unfortunately, I don’t even remember the name of the place where we ate, nor what we ate. It was very touristy and I probably just got a soup just to warm up and keep our meal cost down. Don’t eat in or near Times Square if you are on a budget.

Now, if you must, you might as well grab lunch at Ellens Stardust Diner. At least, you’ll get your money’s worth because your food comes with entertainment.

The Diner is a retro 1950s theme restaurant located at 1650 Broadway on the southeast corner of 51st Street.

The diner is regarded as one of the best theme restaurants in New York owing to its singing waitstaff. 

voyage à New York - travel to New York City

New Year’s Eve on Times Square

Please explain to me why you would want to wear adult diapers for 12 hours straight just to see a small ball drop for the New Year’s Eve countdown? Don’t you see that it is ridiculous? That being said, if you gave me free VIP access, guarantee me a spot at 10pm, I’ll agree to hang out for 2 hours in the cold. But the absurdity of the whole thing ends there.

By the way, we came across a lot of police officers who were extremely friendly. What a contrast with the border-control immigration officers we encountered on our way to New York City.

Greenwich Village

We continued on our stroll towards Washington Square. This is where you can see the famous Arch of Triumph which you see in the movie When Harry Met Sally.

Ever heard of it? No? OMG, am I really that old? or are my movie references that bad…Big Boss has never watched it. It is such a classic though, don’t you think?

voyage à New York - travel to New York

While making our way towards the Arch we realized that all the city noise had died down. It was calm, less crowded, and no more honking sounds. Obviously, that’s because the 1 million crazies had finally made their way to Times Square.

So we peacefully walked by the Empire State Building (King Kong wasn’t there) and the Flat Iron Building (the first skyscraper to be built in NYC).

voyage à New York - travel to New York City

After a 6-hour walk in the cold, we went back to our B&B to relax and unwind a bit before heading back out for some New Year’s Eve celebration.

New Year’s Eve in New York City

We had bought tickets for a rooftop party in Brooklyn at the Kimoto Rooftop Beer Garden. It was a choice to spend the evening in Brooklyn to make things less complicated. Therefore, when we realized that we could even get there by subway (sweet), we wouldn’t have to waste money on a cab.

As the USA is so expensive, especially if you come from Canada, anything to save a buck or two was fine by us. So no cab fare to spend and a 24h/7 subway. FANTASTIC.

Anyways, we had a good time. The unobstructed view of the Manhattan skyline at midnight with the firework extravaganza from the 25th-floor terrace was an explosive experience.

The music was good, the wine was ok, not complaining. It was relatively an inexpensive New Year’s Eve as the cost for both of us was $114CAD. Included in the price: free entry, open bar for 3 hours (we made great use of that), and a glass of champagne at midnight.

voyage à New York - travel to New York
voyage à New York - travel to New York City

That being said, we had to give up our table around 11pm. Apparently, they were all VIP tables and reserved to Snow White and Flash look-alikes. Don’t ask. So we had to stand and let ourselves get pushed around. Luckily a couple took pity on us (they hadn’t gotten kicked out from their table yet) and invited us over.

Moreover, the service was slow and the place was crowded. We quickly learned that since it took a good half hour to get our free drink, we had to order 4 at a time instead of 2. Our champagne toast didn’t come out until 12:30 am.

Nonetheless, it was still a better option than wearing an adult diaper for 12-hours in Times Square.

It was Kimoto’s first year doing that so hopefully, it has gotten better since then. If you are in the hood, you should check it out, at least for the view and the vibe.

DAY 2: Chinatown – Wall Street

After a wonderful night spent listening to the singing of the radiators, old pipes, and clogged toilets, we left our B&B to eat some Dim Sum in Chinatown.

While researching things to do in NYC, I stumbled upon an article Best Brunch Places New Year’s Day, and the name Nom Wah Tea Parlor was on the list. Clearly sticking out from the list of the city’s trendy restaurants and bistros with affordable prices.

voyage à New York - travel to New York City

It was an excellent choice. As Big Boss‘s first time trying out some Dim Sum, he ‘liked’ it. Mission accomplished!

It is while there that I realized that the alley and the Nom Wah Tea Parlor had been used as part of the last scenes of the movie Premium Rush with Joseph-Gordon Levitt. In fact, I had just watched it two days prior to leaving on this trip. This movie doesn’t ring a bell either?

With delicious food in our bellies, we were ready to start our second day of exploring. This time, the southern part of New York City.

Brooklyn Bridge

Starting the very first day of the New Year with some dim sum was just perfect. We were in the heart of Chinatown, not far from the Brooklyn Bridge. This bridge, I had never gotten around to seeing it up close for some reason so that was new to me.

Unfortunately, it felt like everyone who was at Times Square the day before had decided to do the same thing as us. Luckily we found a hidden passageway underneath the bridge leading to a staircase bringing you onto the bridge. So we were able to bypass some of the crowd that way. This saved us a good 20 minutes!

The Brooklyn Bridge is the first suspended bridge built in North America, which I got to study in History of Art back in College.

It is absolutely worth a look and you get a wonderful view of Manhattan from it. The access is FREE! We did, however, have to buy ourselves some hats. It was so cold on the bridge as the wind was strong. We were completely frozen and knew that the hats would come in handy for the next activity on our list.

Staten Island Ferry

We made the most of our subway pass as we hopped on the subway to go to Battery Parc.  Not that we were in a rush, but we were so cold and still had a few things to see before the end of the day. So this allowed us to save a bit of time.

voyage à New York - travel to New York City

So our next stop was the Staten Island Ferry. The ferry is FREE and goes back and forth daily between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island.

About 60 000 passengers use this transportation system each day. For budget-minded travelers or those who don’t want to waste a half-day, this is a great way to see the Lower Manhattan skyline including the new World Trade, the Brooklyn Bridge, and also the famous lady the Statue of Liberty.  

The ferry takes about 25 minutes to cross. If you don’t want to wait for the return ferry when you arrive, I strongly suggest that you post yourself 5 minutes prior to your arrival at the entrance of the boat. Then, dash out to make the return ferry, or just wait 30 minutes for the next one. We opted for the dash part and saved 30 minutes in our day. It’s crazy how many extra minutes we gained in our schedule that day!

If you want to make it even more special, take the ferry for the sunset! I hadn’t checked at the time but maybe you can take it around midnight on New Year’s Eve. That would make for an awesome prime location to watch the fireworks.

Wall Street

We finished off our day walking around the new World Trade Center. Beautiful…and sad.

voyage à New York - travel to New York City
voyage à New York - travel to New York
voyage à New York - travel to New York City
voyage à New York - travel to New York City

Oh I forgot, the famous  Bull of Wall Street….extremely popular stop. You now have to wait in line to take a picture of yourself while touching its balls. So no picture, not enough time.

Dumbo

After resting and warming up a bit, we set out to go out to eat.

In terms of the nightlife for New Year’s Day, there were some places open in our hood and some closed. It was like playing the lottery, unsure of what we were going to get.

We wanted to try out the best pizza in town, Grimmaldi’s Pizzeria in the arear referred to as DUMBO in Brooklyn. That way, we could Manhattan from afar. We saw nothing. There was a crazy line for Grimmaldi’s Pizzeria and at Juliana’s, its rival. No way were we going to stand in line for a slice of pizza!

voyage à New York - travel to New York

So we left with our insides crying FEED ME! However, thanks to our Guide du Routard, I found the address of a restaurant in a neighborhood near ours.

We went and tested our luck in the trattoria  Al Di Là with a real Italian waiter, accent and all. Si si senor! It was delicioso. The best meal of our trip.

The neighborhood is called Park Slope and even by night, it looked really cool. If we were to go there again with the kids we would definitely stay in that area. There are lots of restaurants and nice shops. The brownstones are incredibly well taken care of. It’s pure delight walking around that area.

DAY 3: Soho – Meatpacking District

The final day of our little getaway travel to New York City. My feet, my knees, and my legs were killing me by then and I was still freezing. Luckily, I had brought the new winter jacket Big Boss had gotten me for Christmas. Despite that, we still walked all day. A city is meant to be visited on foot and not in stores.

Soho

We strolled around Soho and admired the cast-iron buildings including The Queen of Greene Street Building and The King of Greene Street Building.

Automne 2015 168

While strolling through that area, we came across our very first Invaders. It’s a form of street art that can be found in multiple cities across the globe. We have since then seen some in Paris and Rabat (Morocco).

We explored the underskirts of Greenwich Village. This is the area where the building of Friends is located (the TV show that lasted 10 years). Ah AT LAST you know that reference!

Also, it’s located near the narrowest home in NYC that was previously owned by Drew Barrymore’s grandfather (little blond girl in E.T.). During my last trip to Paris, I actually saw a narrower home, but who’s counting right?

voyage à New York - travel to New York
voyage à New York - travel to New York
voyage à New York - travel to New York
voyage à New York - travel to New York City

High Line

Big Boss and I finished the day off at the High Line, which opened in 2009 by repurposing old train tracks for people to stroll.

It’s a very pleasant walk with lots of artwork and it’s FREE. Supposedly there is free Wifi there but we did not connect.

voyage à New York - travel to New York
voyage à New York - travel to New York City

This project was inspired by a similar one done in Paris, la Coulée Verte.

That evening we returned to DUMBO for the pizza and the view. Another failed attempt. So we had a mediocre pizza on a side street but with a gorgeous view of the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges all light up. You can’t travel to New York City and not check it out. It’s worth the detour and (you got it) it is FREE.

We finished off our evening in a bar in DUMBO called Superfine and then chilled at Midwood Flats close to our B&B. During our New York City trip, we tried out a lot of local beers that were all good. I liked the one from Long Island but I don’t recall its name, unfortunately.

We really enjoyed our little travel journey to New York City and hope to go back there someday with the kids. For sure we will be adding some museums to the list (some are actually FREE) and see a Broadway musical ($$$). To be continued…

Last tip:

If you have the time and want to make an interesting pit stop on your way to or from New York City, why not explore Lake Placid? It’s only roughly 2 hours away from Montreal and was home to the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Travel New York Now has an in-depth article on all the activities you can do there. It’s worth checking out right HERE.

Automne 2015 153
voyage au lac louise - travel to lake louise

Once Upon a Time Travel Guide…The Canadian Rockies

Travel to the Canadian Rockies and expect to be blown away by their natural beauty.

Ever since we moved to Canada back in 2009, it had always been on my to-do list to travel to the Canadian Rockies.  Somehow, I had never made my way there until now. 

It’s funny how while I was flipping through my Lonely Planet from back then, that I had already highlighted all the points of interests. 

If you are a budget traveler, this might not be the right destination for you. Even though there are ways to save money, the Canadian Rockies remain an expensive destination to travel to.

travel canadian rockies - voyage dans les rocheuses

That being said, this is an absolutely wonderful place to discover with and without kids.  The best part is that you can even travel to the Canadian Rockies with your dog!

The Canadian Rockies is comprised of two major National Parks: Banff and Jasper.  These are the ones we will focus on.

GETTING THERE (FROM MONTREAL)

The Canadian Rockies are located in the Western part of Canada.

By Air

The closest airport to Banff, a popular destination in the Canadian Rockies is located in Calgary.

Despite the airfare being cheaper than traveling from Montreal to Vancouver, it’s still a good chunk of money.  For the same price, I could pretty much travel to Europe!

However, I did find a ‘decent’ price ($500) through Skyscanner, only 3 months before our trip! OMG.

If you’ve read some of my other articles, you’ll know that I usually plan things way in advance.  Three months is like last minute to me.

The best time to go

You might think that I’m a little cray-cray but in all honesty, if you plan to travel to the Canadian Rockies in July or August, you’ll have to plan ahead.

travel canadian rockies - voyage dans les rocheuses

The Summer months is peak season in the Canadian Rockies and prices double or even triple during that time.  The reason is because that’s when the region is basically snow-free and all the trails are supposed to be open.

By train

Another way of getting to the Canadian Rockies from Montreal is by train (ViaRail).  You’ll have to take another train or bus from Calgary to Banff or rent a car.  

I believe it is a 3-day journey from Montreal with not the most scenic view. 

things to do in Calgary with kids - choses à faire à Calgary avec enfants

By car

Are you nuts?  The drive from Montreal to Calgary is 37 hours!  Euh…NO thank you!

Since we only had 8 days to spend in the Canadian Rockies, this was absolutely not an option.  People do do it though. 

visit icefields parkway - visiter icefields parkway

They buy a crappy car, drive it across the country and dump it somewhere in Vancouver and then fly back to Montreal. 

Had we had a good month of traveling and exploring to do, I probably would have considered that option (not the car dumping part).  That way, we would have brought our newfie Nouki along with us!

Another travel option

There is the option of flying into Vancouver, exploring the area and then taking the train from there to Banff and then Calgary.  

You can have a halt in Banff, explore the area, and then fly out from Calgary to Montreal.  A much nicer train ride from what I’ve heard.

From what I’ve read, you cannot rent a car in Vancouver and drop it off in Calgary as they are in two different provinces.

GETTING AROUND

The easiest way to get around the Canadian Rockies is by car.  That way, you don’t have to rely on a shuttle or bus schedules and can travel at your own pace.

Not having your own vehicle does limit you to what you can see.  You won’t be able to explore off the beaten paths places without a car. 

things to do in Calgary with kids - choses à faire à Calgary avec enfants

Rent a car

Car rental is at least double what you might normally pay outside the peak period. It’s cheaper to get your car in Calgary then at Calgary airport. 

However, we got it at the airport because our outbound flight was really late.   We didn’t want to have to grab a cab late at night nor waste time etc…

Calgary is not the safest town and it doesn’t score points on the beauty aspect either.  

Since we were traveling with Blondie Bear, the airport pick up and drop off was the best option for us. It cost us around $520 for an 8-day rental (small car) with Hertz. 

Finally, picking up your car at the airport is super easy. We landed early in the morning around 9:30 and were already in our car by 10:30, which actually ended up being a pickup truck.  That was a first for everyone. It was fun, but it totally exploded our gas budget.

Big Boss had never driven one so it took a while to get adjusted to the driving.  We should have said no to it because the cost of filling it up was outrageous but at least we had better views in it than in a car.

Rent an RV

Another rental option is, of course, an RV.  

For a small one for a week, it costs around $1,500 before taxes and you can only do pick up on Mondays and drop off on Sundays or something like that.  However, this could be a fun option.  

It didn’t work with our travel dates so that’s why I didn’t look further into it. Throughout our exploring, we saw a lot of these badass campervans on the road.  I don’t know the cost but here is their link.

Don’t forget the gas

In your expenses, if you opt for the car rental, make sure to budget a good chunk for gas.  You’ll be doing a lot of driving and contrary to popular belief gas isn’t necessarily less expensive in Alberta.

travel to Jasper - voyage à Jasper

If you can, gas up outside the national parks.   You can save some money that way.

National Park Pass

You need a Park Pass to visit.  Order it online a good 2 weeks before leaving if you can to make sure you get it on time.  Otherwise, you can buy it at the gate but it will make you lose a bit of time.  

If you are going to be going to National parks for a good 4-6 days, it’s better to get the annual pass.  You can save money that way.  

They have family passes as well which are a good bargain. 

The annual cost is $136.40 for a family or group of up to 7 people in a vehicle.   If you have to lodge outside the parks you’ll be able to go in and out as much as you want. 

All the National Parks in the Canadian Rockies have great brochures with maps and distances etc.

I recommend getting or printing one before your arrival.  There isn’t much cell phone reception between Lake Louise and Jasper.  Therefore, they are great to have just in case. Also, you can always burn it at your campsite later on if you have one, pay it forward, or recycle it.

WHAT TO PACK

You’ll be doing a lot of walking in the Canadian Rockies surrounded by nature. 

During the summer, the higher up you’ll go the colder it might get. However, you’re not going to Antartica either. A long-sleeved T-shirt, 2-in-1 pants that also make shorts, a fleece, a rain jacket, hiking socks should do the trick. It is better to dress in several layers so that you can take them off than to dress too warmly and suffocate.

Here are some useful items that you should consider packing, either for your own comfort or that are eco-friendly.

Hiking shoes

As I said, you’ll be walking and hiking a lot.  Wear very comfortable and durable shoes.  We got our hiking shoes at MEC.

traveling with kids - voyager avec des enfants

Travel towel

Whether you are swimming or camping, you’ll need a towel.  Bring a travel towel as it’s more compact and doesn’t take much space in your luggage. Also, they dry super fast.

Bathing suit

A bathing suit will come in handy if you decide to take a dip in one of the many rivers or lakes.  Also, you can enjoy yourself in hot springs in either Banff or Jasper.

Portable charger

If you’re like myself, you tend to take loads of pictures with your phone.  You’ll need a portale charger to be able to carry on until you get back to your lodging at the end of the day.

Pots and bowls

Since we were planning on doing some camping, we did bring some of our camping cooking gear.  They are compact and don’t take too much space in the luggage.  We got ours from MEC (again).

Reusable sandwich bags

They can be used for different purposes.  You can store your travel documents, cables and yes food in them.  This is perfect when you go hiking and don’t want to leave waste behind.  Store your sandwich or dry food inside them.

Baby carrier

You can’t hike with a stroller.  You’ll need a baby carrier in order to explore more remote places.

Insect repellant scarf

Keep the bugs away with a scarf that does just that.

Mosquitoe repellant

Summer months means hello mosquitoes and other insects.  Don’t forget your bug spray that you can buy once there and some after bite.  I read that lavender oil helps ease the pain of the bites.

Whistle

To keep the bears away, use a whistle.  This is not necessary, if you make enough noise, the bears will stay clear of you.  This is the only time when you can encourage your kids to be loud.  

travel to banff - voyage à banff

WHERE TO SLEEP

Lodging in the National Parks of Banff and Jasper is super expensive.  The closer you get to booking your lodging for a stay during the peak months, the pricier it gets.

Lodging price doubles or triples during the summer months because that’s when the parks are the most accessible.  Some trails have snow until June and start having snow again in September. 

However, you might be able to find lodging that fall within your budget if you book in advance or before peak season starts or after it ends.  If you absolutely want to stay inside the parks it’s never too early to book, even if you don’t have your plane ticket! A rental or hotel room for 2 adults and 1 child is anywhere between 250-400$ a night and a dorm in a hostel in the low 100s. Yikes! Just so you know, Airbnb is as expensive as a hotel room.

There are a few hostels that you can find within the parks that are worth checking out.  Even if you are traveling with kids, it’s possible to stay in hostels with them.  We did so when we traveled to Peru and my brother did that with his wife and 3 children when they traveled around the world for 14 months.

Hostels are always a great option when you are traveling on a budget and often offer either private rooms or dorm rooms of 4.  At least, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

Camping in the Canadian Rockies

At the time of our planning, this was not an option for us.  We didn’t want to have to bring our camping gear on the plane and have to pay for extra luggage.

You can camp in the parks but most of the campgrounds are on a first come first serve basis.  This means that you can’t book them ahead of time.  However, I later read that there are plenty of them to go around for everybody.  So not finding a spot shouldn’t be an issue.  One night of camping costs less than 30$.

There are some camp grounds where you can book beforehand but they sell out quick.  Again, plan in advance.

If I had had more time to plan, maybe I would have looked more into this option.  Did you know that you can rent camping gear? Who knew?

I found the company Rent-a-Tent based in Calgary and Vancouver.  There is a supplement if you pick up and drop off the gear at a different location.  Other than that, they offer a complete camping package, minus the sleeping bag which you can bring with you on the plane.

Teepees

Finally, another way in saving money is to sleep outside the national parks which we did.  It did mean more time in the car and gas, but we stayed in some beautiful locations.  We don’t feel like we missed out on anything.  Since we are early risers anyways, we were always ahead of  the game on the sites, except Moraine Lake. Somehow, that lake just eluded us for a while.

travel to banff - voyage à banff
travel canadian rockies - voyage dans les rocheuses

We ended up sleeping in Teepees, 1 hr outside the Banff and Jasper National Parks.  They came with mattresses and you could rent sleeping gear.  We had brought Blondie Bear’s sleeping bag so as to not have to pay extra for him.

We had slept in a teepee before when we traveled to Gaspésie.  If you’ve never slept in one, you should try it.  Kids love it!

PLACES TO VISIT IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES

As we only had 8 days out West, we did try to make the most of it.  Even though we saw a lot, I’m ready to head back out there and see more.  Below are ideas of what you can visit and the number of days you should consider spending in that area. Technically, we only spent 6 days in the Canadian Rockies as the 2 other days were spent in the Calgary area.  However, we did see all the places listed below.

Banff (3 to 4 days)

What’s great about Banff is the traffic.  You’ll feel right at home if you live in the city.

In all fairness, we didn’t spend much time in Banff as we only stopped there for a meal and to visit the very first canadian national park.  Otherwise, we were busy exploring everything around the city.  It’s a good place to use as a base camp if you only have a few days.

maisons de thé lac louise - lake louise tea houses
johnston canyon

Also, there are plenty of boutiques and fancy restaurants there that you won’t find anywhere else around.

You can learn more about Banff and things to do there right HERE.

Kananaski and Canmore (1 day or 2)

Canmore is the last town before you access Banff National Park.  It has really expended in the last few years as the lodging there is much cheaper than within Banff.  Also, it’s about 30 minutes away from Banff.

Don’t forget to get your gas there before entering the park.

stay in kananaskis - visiter kananaskis
stay in kananaskis - visiter kananaskis

About half hour away from Canmore is the Kananaski area.  It’s actually where we slept in a teepee. It’s quiet, you can go horse back riding and spot some grizzlis!!

If you want to find out more about our stay there, you can read it HERE.

Jasper (2 to 3 days)

We found the town of Jasper to be a lot quieter and less touristy than Banff.  It was nice to walk around the town and it felt more authentic.  There are some beautiful sites to visit around the town.  I wouldn’t be able to choose between Banff and Jasper, but everyone tends to go to Banff and skip Jasper.

travel to Jasper - voyage à Jasper
travel to Jasper - voyage à Jasper

Jasper is located at the end of the Icefield’s Parkway and is about a 4-5 hour drive with stops from Banff or 288km.

Read about our trip and what to see HERE.

Ice Fields Parkway (1 to 2 days)

Visiting glaciers in the middle of Summer in Canada, yes it’s possible.  The first time I had seen a glacier was during our trip to Iceland.  I was happily surprised and impressed to see more during this trip.  We didn’t go and walk on it as it required booking ahead. Also, we didn’t have enough time nor the budget for it.

Along the Icefields Parkway, you’ll come across more lakes and waterfalls. It’s a must-see when you travel to the Canadian Rockies.

Yoho National Park (1 day)

The Yoho National Park is located in British Colombia, only 20 minutes away from Lake Louise. It’s often overlooked which is great if you don’t want to be bothered by busloads of tourists.  The Emerald Lake and the Sunwapta Falls are worth a look, right HERE.

So now that you have gotten a taste of what it takes to travel to the Canadian Rockies, where will you go?

ONCE UPON A TRAVEL GUIDE TO … ICELAND IN WINTER

What started out as a simple getaway to Iceland during the Winter holidays ended up being a full on travel experience.   My husband and I traveled there to ring in the New Year of 2018 and to meet up with my family from France. 

Spending New Year’s Eve in a foreign country is something that I’ve been doing for the last 8 years.  It’s usually the time of year that I don’t have my kids which makes it easier for me to travel.  Don’t worry, I do bring them along once in a while (Fès, Paris, Peru).  Also, work usually gives us extra days off which allows me to travel longer without busting my vacation bank.

new year's eve reykjavik - nouvel an reykjavik

Spending New Year’s Eve in Iceland was by far one of my wildest experiences.

I researched and read about Iceland for weeks and the more I did, the more I wanted to explore this incredible country. Had I known it would be so, I would have done things a little differently in terms of organisation from the beginning. However, it wouldn’t have worked out since we were meeting up with my family.

So, here is my first tip. After booking your flight to Iceland, do your research and plan your itinerary. Then, book your lodging and/or tours accordingly.

How to get there

The only sure way to travel to Iceland is by air.  You can use companies such as Icelandic Air or Wow Air.  Both offer planned layover stops in Iceland on your way to and from North America and Europe. How awesome is that?

If you have the time, you should consider doing a layover in Iceland for a night or two on your way to or back from your holiday.  The land of fire and ice is definitely worth a stop.

The downside of traveling during the holidays is that it’s more expensive and not always easy to find inexpensive airfare.

However, WOW Air is a low-cost company.  The basic fair does seem cheap ($500 CAD), but you’ll have to pay extra for just about everything else.  

You need to check a bag? Pay up.  It’s hard to not check a bag when you travel to Iceland during Winter, but Big Boss and I managed to just check in one bag.  If you get cold on the airplane or are thirsty it will cost you a few bucks.  So, don’t forget an extra sweater and to refill your water bottle before boarding the plane.

Need more travel planning tips?  We’ve got just the guide for you right HERE.

What to do when you arrive early morning in Reykjavik

We left Montreal on a chilly day, arriving in Reykjavik on the last day of 2017 at 5am with a good 18 degree difference but still in the minuses.  

We had to endure a woman singing Rudolph the red nose reindeer for 20 minutes while waiting to pass airport security and another one reciting her life story on the plane.  She just wouldn’t shut up and was very condescending.  Apparently, she was a retired divorce attorney, born in Denmark, raised on the anglophone side of Montreal hence ‘English is for smart’ people comment. I really wanted to get violent with her as her talking woke me up and I could have used the sleep. Namaste, namaste, namaste. More often than not, I seem to always end up with an airport or airplane story when I travel and Iceland was no exception.

early morning Reykjavik - arrivée matinale Reykjavik
travel iceland winter - voyage islande hiver

So what is there to do at 5am in Reykjavik? I tell you all about the places where you can eat and activities you can do at the wee hour of the morning in Reykjavik before you are allowed to check into your lodging, right HERE.

Getting around

If you are staying a few days in Iceland, you should consider renting a car, especially if you aren’t traveling solo.  It will be more cost effective that way than going on organized tours.

We found a great deal through Guide to Iceland.  The company offers great service and also a lot of tours.  We booked our ice caving tour on the South Coast through them.

However, renting a car during winter in Iceland is more expensive than in summer.  Furthermore, driving can become tricky when you end up stuck in the middle of a blizzard.  That’s why it’s best to check on the road conditions with THIS WEBSITE, to make sure it’s safe to hit the road.

south coast iceland winter - south coast islande hiver

Just know that the car rental company might freeze a large deposit on your credit card.  Therefore, if you don’t have a huge limit on it, you might want to bring a second credit card just in case.

Do you speak the language?

Most people you’ll encounter in Iceland are foreigners and will speak English.  The only time I heard ‘Icelandic’ was at a gas station.  I felt completely dumb when the guy spoke to me and I didn’t understand.  We had already been in Iceland for a few days and wrongly assumed that everyone spoke English.

travel to iceland - voyage en islande

What’s in your wallet?

We didn’t withdraw any money while we were in Iceland because we paid by credit card the whole time or my mom who was traveling with us, paid by cash.

Iceland is VERY EXPENSIVE.  Food and lodging will explode your budget.

There are ways to save some money in Iceland, but it will still be expensive.  However, all the natural points of interests are FREE to access and so is parking (in most cases).

If you want to visit museums, pools, ride the bus or take a ferry to a neighbouring island of Reykjavik, consider buying the CITY CARD which will allow you to save money that way. Also, with the city card, you can get a discount on drinks in certain bars or on food in certain restaurants.

Food and beverage

Having been forewarned about Icelandic high prices wether be for food or alcohol, we stopped by the duty free liquor store at the airport on our way out. This store and others are always open. You pass by them on your way out so its a good way to check out prices and compare them with city prices. In the pictures below are the description of the amount of alcohol you can buy in the duty free store per person and it is a lot less expensive to do so this way.

early morning reykjavik - arrivée matinale reykjavik
new year's eve iceland - nouvel an islande

Also, if you do enjoy a drink or two, go to the bars at happy hour as they serve up special deals.  It’s a good way to save money.

Cook your own food

I don’t have to tell you that eating out is always more expensive than eating in.  If you don’t want to live off lamb soup (least expensive option) during your entire stay in Iceland, you might want to consider going grocery shopping.

You don’t tip in Iceland!

The Bonus grocery store is the least expensive one to shop at and can be found in Reykjavik and its surrounding area.  You can’t miss it as its logo is a huge pink pig with a bright yellow background.

Where to sleep

Staying in a hostel, private rooms do exist, an airbnb or renting out an apartment might be a more budget friendlier option.

We stayed in a hostel at Hlemmur Square which is now closed due to Covid-19.  It was a dorm room of 12 people and we did not like it.  The hostel was great and the beds super comfortable.  We just didn’t like sharing the dorm with 10 other people and being in the dark all the time as someone was always sleeping.

Luckily when my mom, brother and nephew met up with us in Reykjavik, they had rented an apartment.  We decided to crash with them and slept on the sofa.

Activities to do during winter travel in Iceland

One thing that you will have to factor in while you travel through Iceland during winter is the daylight.  While we were there, there wasn’t much of it.  The sun would start rising around 9:45 am and go back to sleep by 5pm.  That is not a whole lot of daylight to play with.

However, you can still see plenty of gorgeous sites in one week in Iceland.

Some activities that you can do in wintertime that you can’t do during the summer is Ice caving and spotting the northern lights.  The frozen waterfalls, glacier lagoons, windy black sand beaches, hot springs in the mountain all make up for an exciting trip.

What to bring back from Iceland

If you have the budget and the use for it back home, get yourself a Lopapeysa. 

I wanted to go to the flea market Kolaportid to see if I could find one but luckily I had checked ahead and found out they were closed on New Year’s Eve.  They are only open on Saturdays and Sundays. 

So I went to the next best thing, the Hand Knitting Association located on the main street that leads from the big church in Reykjavik.  The service at the store was very good and I was able to find one that fits just right. If you purchased Reykjavik City Card, you’ll get 10% off your handknitted sweater.

Prices can vary a lot from store to store and being machine made versus hand made makes a big difference in price.  Sometimes it’s even machine made outside Iceland! The type of yarn and pattern can also affect the price. So do your research before splurging on one of them sweaters. 

Also, I heard you can also find some at the Red Cross unworn or outside the city up north directly from the factory (I don’t recall the name, unfortunately). 

At first, they can be very itchy so wear clothing underneath that covers the whole sweater area to avoid contact with your skin.  Also, they lose a lot of hair at the beginning.

If you do happen to find curly hair in your soup, it’s most likely from your sweater and not from somebody’s body part.

Now, if you are into fashion and enjoy the outdoors, you might want to check out  66 North.  It’s an Icelandic brand and we bought hats there for my boys back home.

Things to pack for Winter travel to Iceland

Winter in Iceland, is just like back home when you go up to the mountains to ski.

You’ll need winter hiking boots, a winter coat, snow pants, hats, gloves, sweater.  Whatever you usually wear when you go skiing.  Try to wear layers of clothing as the weather in Iceland is ever-changing, even in wintertime.

south coast iceland winter - south coast islande hiver
south coast iceland winter - south coast islande hiver

It might sound silly, but if you know anything about Iceland, you’ll know about their hot springs.  Don’t forget to pack a bathing suit, a travel towel, and possibly some flip flops.  Flip flops will come in handy when you are walking around outside in the cold.

Because of the lack of daylight, a lamp torch will come in handy.

Also, a portable phone charger and pocket warmer will prevent you from missing out on capturing shots of the serene landscape because your phone caught a cold and died.

Places to visit in winter in Iceland

When you travel to Iceland during Wintertime for a week, we were there the first week of January, there isn’t a whole lot that you can do.  This is partly due to the fact that some of the roads are closed due to heavy snow and difficult driving conditions.

It’s usually not possible to drive the ring road loop entirely during winter. However, if you do want to try it, keep in mind that the loop is 1400km, and due to the scarcity of daylight and the ever-changing weather conditions, driving might be slow and difficult.

You’ll need to build flexibility into your plans to allow for changes due to weather.

new year's eve iceland - nouvel an islande
voyage hiver islande - travel winter iceland

Once you’ve walked around Reykjavik, enjoyed their street art, and the major sites such as the Harpa, the statue of the Sun Voyager, the Hallgrímskirkja church, the parliament building, you might be ready to venture out of the city. 

Day trip ideas from Reykjavik

south coast iceland winter - south coast islande hiver

South Coast

Discover
day trip from reykjavik - excursion d'une journée reykjavik

Hot Springs

Discover
golden circle winter - cercle d'or islande

Golden Circle

Discover

Can you travel to Iceland with kids?

Of course you can travel with kids to Iceland.  It’s safe, clean and friendly.  They have all the commodities that you have back home.

You can even go into hot springs with them, so you won’t have to pass up that opportunity.  However, it isn’t recommended for kids under the age of 2 to go into them.

We really enjoyed our time in Iceland, especially on New Year’s Eve.  If you have kids, they will forever remember that night, at least, just as much as you.

Travel to Iceland during the winter holidays and discover on your own what Icelandic culture is all about.

travel big island - voyage big island

Once Upon a Time Travel to Big Island (Hawaii) – A Family Vacation

If you had told me a few years back that I’d travel one day to Hawaii, specifically Big Island, and love it so much that I’d want to go back, I would have said that you had lost your mind.

As the name entails, Big Island is the largest Hawaiian Island and it continues to grow with each volcanic eruption.

Big Island has a very relaxed and laid-back vibe compared to O’ahu.  It is a lot less touristy, especially on the eastern part.

If you are looking for a family vacation in Hawaii that won’t cost you a small fortune, travel to Big Island, sit back and relax.  To save even more on the cost of lodging, for instance, travel to Big Island between September and November as it is considered the low-season.  Don’t worry, it will still be hot there.

family travel big island - voyage en famille big island

Big Island has a lot to offer if you enjoy the beach, tranquility and being in nature.  It is one of the only places in the world where you can explore white, black and green beaches.

We recommend spending at least 4 full days on Big Island if you can in order to let everything sink in.

Our real Hawaiian family experience and travel began when we arrived at Hilo airport on Big Island.  We picked Hilo instead of Kona because of its closeness to the Volcanoes National Park which was on our must-see list.  

How to get to Big Island Hawaii

For a short family vacation, you’ll want to travel by air to Big Island.

There are two airports on Big Island.

To the East you have Hilo International Airport (ITO) and to the West, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA).

Hilo’s airport offers minimal service from the mainland and is mostly used for island hopping.  The airport is small and easy to get around.

On the other hand, Kona airport offers non-stop services from most major U.S. west coast airports and access to the Hawaiian islands.

Getting around Big Island Hawaii

If you want to be in control of your family vacation, the easiest option to travel around Big Island is by renting a car.  This is especially true if you are only spending a few days there.  Since we only had 4 days on Big Island, we didn’t want to overdo it but we wanted to make the most of it.

When driving around, be aware of the mongoose that seem to be daredevils as they enjoy crossing right in front of you all the time.

The mongoose were introduced on purpose to the island around 1883 to control the rat problem in the sugarcane fields.  It was an epic fail to say the least as the mongoose population has severely increase since then.  You see, mongoose are more active during the day whereas rats are active at night. The mongoose have virtually no natural predator.

Big Island by bus

However, there is a bus you can take on Big Island, but it’s not as efficient it seems like the ones on O’ahu.

The Hele-on bus is meant to accommodate workers on Big Island to get to and from work. Consequently, most of the bus departure times are early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

Where to stay on Big Island

Pahoa is located close to Hilo.  If you are interested in visiting the Volcanoes National Park, you might want to consider sleeping in that area as it is closer than Kona.  

Also, Hilo has a more chill vibe than its counterpart Kona and is a lot less touristy.  However, one set back is that the Eastern side of the island sees more rain.  Hilo is referred to the wet side.

I have come to the conclusion that all the Haight hippies in San Francisco back in the day (see article Once upon a time in…San Francisco) sold their homes and moved to Pahoa with their kids.  

The end of the road area as the locals like to call it is very bohemian, free-spirited.  It made me smile to see a baby wearing a cloth diaper in the grocery store.  At last, I was in an area free of high end, superficial tourists.  

Our little piece of heaven

We stayed in yet another Airbnb in Pahoa at the Avocado Tree House.

Run on solar power, water collected from rain, bathroom, and shower outside, kitchen separate from the bedroom. It was AMAZING!  

voyage à big island en famille - family travel to big island hawaii

I brushed my teeth while looking at avocados dangling on the branches in front of me. 

The tree house is located on an organic farm on the eastern part of the island. Words nor pictures can express the beauty of the site and the experience we had.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by chickens, roosters, geckos, coqui frogs.  Fresh eggs and fruits awaited us on our outdoor kitchen’s doorstep.  What a beautiful welcome!

Places to visit on the Eastern side of Big Island

As our place in Pahoa wouldn’t be ready until the end of the day, we had a full day to explore our new area with our rental car that we got at the airport.

When you travel to a beach destination, always keep your beach gear in a smaller backpack or day pack to make it easier to use.  That way, you won’t have to go through your suitcase or huge backpack to find your bathing suit, towel, sunscreen etc.  This is particularly true if you have to leave everything in your car when you leave it to go and explore.  The less people see what is in your trunk the safer you’ll be.

Lili’uokalani  Park

travel to big island hawaii - voyage à big island hawaii

From the airport, we headed to Lili’uokalani  Park and Mokuola coconut island.  It is a beautiful place, especially early in the morning, when there aren’t too many people around.  

It has a Japanese garden with a bunch of bridges, impressive trees and a footbridge that takes you to the little island called Coconut Island where you can swim and picnic.  Blondie Bear and I took our first dip of the day there.  The water was a bit chilly but clear.

Access and parking : FREE

Rainbow Falls

voyage en famille à big island hawaii - family vacation on big island hawaii

About 7 minutes away from Hilo, you can visit Rainbow Falls.  It isn’t a must-see although it does attract a bunch of tour buses.  The forest beside it is actually more interesting than the actual falls and still makes it a pleasant pit stop.  It’s also FREE to park and visit.

Onekahakaha Beach Park

One of the highlights of our family vacation on Big Island was at Carlsmith close to Onekahakaha Beach Park in a tide pool (very common in that area).  

The owner of the natural food store in Hilo suggested we go there to see turtles.  Sure enough, we saw one and swam alongside it.  

I never saw Blondie Bear that happy and excited before.  It was the best moment ever!  

The tide pools are cool but best to visit in the morning.  By the end of the day, too much sunscreen makes the water murky.  Also, you have more chances to catch an infection due to bacteria if you have an open wound, so just be careful.  

You can’t really lay around at this tide pool except on the grass.  The water isn’t deep, so you can easily walk around in it, swim or snorkel. 

What to do when you see have a turtle in the water

If you want to see turtles, this would be a good spot. The tide pools are part of the turtle’s feeding grounds and it is a little off the beaten track. Just don’t be stupid and use common sense if you see one especially if you have kids.  

DON’T touch the turtles, DON’T feed them, and LEAVE them room to go about their business.

carlotaswebblog

Please, please, please, do not scream or yell or shout near them. Have some respect!  It’s ok if they touch you but don’t touch them especially if you have oil or sunscreen on.

voyage à big island en famille - family travel to big island hawaii

Lighthouse

We went all the way to the easternmost tip of the island to see Cape Kumukahi Lighthouse.  Although we were not impressed (rather disappointed actually), this was our first glimpse of what lava does.  To access the lighthouse you will have to go through a dirt road. 

For some reason, Blondie Bear thought it was cool.

Isaac Hale County Beach Park

We just drove past Isaac Hale County Beach Park as were heading towards our tree house. However, I thought it was still worth mentioning.  

travel big island - voyage big island

The roads in this area are quite scenic and worth exploring. 

One of the roads runs along the coast through tree tunnels in the lush Puna district, passing by a few beach parks which make great stops to take in the surroundings, and stops at the Isaac Hale beach park.

Lava Tree State Monument

Our Airbnb host had provided us with a specific map of the area around Pahoa.  During our first full day there, we wanted to take it easy as we had gotten up bright and early for the last 2 days.  

We stopped by the Lava Tree State Monument (free). 

It’s about a 30 minutes walk where you get to see trees petrified by lava and what kind of flora can grow over lava.  It isn’t a very exciting place but it makes for a nice stroll.

Kehena Beach

Take the Pohoiki Road along with the Kama’ili Road (scenic routes), grab some sandwiches from Subway, or prepare your own and hit Kehena Beach located at mile marker 19. 

Of course, we missed it the first time around. 

Most places are not identified on Big Island. Use mile markers as a reference instead when possible. Usually, when you see a bunch of cars parked along the road it is generally a good indication that there is something going on.   

The Kehena Beach is a remote, secluded, black sand beach that you can’t see from the road and where clothing is optional.  The black sand is from molten lava that poured into the ocean and cooled rapidly.

Word of advice.  Don’t take back any sand or lava rock with you on purpose.  By doing so, legend has it that you’ll be cursed by the volcano goddess Pele.  For more information about lava, volcanoes, and legends, don’t miss out on the Bishop Museum when visiting O’ahu.

To access it, you have to go down a cliff (it’s not too hard).  It is also dog-friendly, pot-friendly and drum friendly…just letting you know what you would be walking into.  

Blondie Bear wasn’t too shocked but he did let out a “you must be kidding me” when a naked man started doing a handstand by the water..facing him….hahaha.  

The water there is rough, the pebbles can be hard on your feet.  It’s a good place for bodysurfing and sunbathing in the nude but not so much for smooth swimming.  

I would make it a pit stop though, it is worth the sight in all shapes and forms.

Food and Entertainment near Hilo

While we stayed in Hilo, we mostly cooked our own food.  However, the first day we arrived, as we didn’t have access to our Airbnb, we opted to have lunch at Cafe Pesto.  

Blondie Bear and I shared their homemade lemonade (free refills) and it was almost as delicious as the one Junior makes.  This was by far one of the best meals we would have in Hawaii and not too pricy.

An evening in Pahoa

Uncle Roberts or Uncle’s for the locals is located in Kalpana at the end of the red road. 

During our 4 days on Big Island,  the only time we went out in the evening was to this bar and farmer’s market. Wednesday nights, around 5 pm, is when to go.  

I had read about this place while researching for this trip and our host recommended it as well.   It sounded cool and it was.  

Uncle’s is packed and jamming on Wednesday night, mostly with locals, which is always a bonus.  If you want to get a seat at a table, do arrive early.

A ‘hippie’ farmers market takes place selling anything from bar soaps and jewelry along side various street food vendors.  You can also bring in your own food and alcohol if you so wish.  

It is a huge outdoor yet covered place with live Hawaiian entertainment: musicians and hula dancers and has a very laid back vibe.  

We had a great evening and Blondie Bear tried some hula dancing on his own, even trying out some new moves on the dance floor.  

This is also the spot where you can also watch the lava flow into the ocean or book a lava tour.

Big Island Volcanoes National park

Visiting the Volcanoes National Park was at the top of our list of things to see in Hawaii along with Pearl Harbour on O’ahu.

In fact, before leaving for our trip, we went to check out the exhibition on Pompei in Montreal at the Museum of Fine Arts.  I thought that it would be a great way to prepare Blondie Bear for our trip and learn more about volcanoes.  Getting your children involved or interested in your upcoming family vacation is a great way for them to be better prepared and feel comfortable once they arrive at the new destination.  For more tips on how to prepare them, read HERE.

The Volcanoes National Park on Big Island is the #1 reason why people travel to this island.  I mean, where else in Hawaii can you watch lava flow into the ocean? Only on Big Island.

Where to go near Kona on Big Island

As part of our last full day on Big Island, we decided to go to the beach near Kona.  From what I had read, on the western side of the island, you find better beaches.

Kona is a  much more happening place than Hilo.  If you are looking for night life, this is probably the only spot on the island where you can find some.  It is also a totally different vibe and crowd than Pahoa to say the least.

It’s a 2 1/2 hour drive from Hilo which took us almost 4 to accomplish due to traffic and construction.

The route along the coastline was pretty from what I saw as I slept most of the way.  I think if you want to really experience Big Island you need to rent a 4WD car so that you can go to remote beaches which we couldn’t do with our car (budget). We did test it on some dirt roads but didn’t want to abuse it.

 Manini’owali Beach

We settled for Manini’owali Beach (Kua Bay) in Kekaha Hai State Park, just a few miles north of Kona’s airport between marker 88 and 89. It isn’t very big and has a crescent shape.  It can get very crowded on weekends apparently with lots of families.

It’s FREE to park and access.

If you are looking for a simple yet dreamy beach, this one is worth checking out.  We really enjoyed our time there between swimming in turquoise water, laying on soft white sand, and jumping the waves.  You can bodyboard in the afternoon as the waves pick up more then.  

It’s also possible to snorkel there as well and apparently a turtle swam underneath me as I was floating away, darn I missed that!  

This is the beach we liked the most on Big Island and during our trip to Hawaii.

Green Sand Beach

Although we didn’t go there as we didn’t have enough time, nor the proper car, I thought it would be worth mentioning. Actually, I didn’t realize in what located on Big Island until we visited the Bishop Museum on O’ahu.

The green sand beach, also known as Papakolea Beach, is located on the southern tip of Big Island. Once you park, in order to access it, you’ll have to do the rest on foot.  It’s a 2.5 miles hike one way.

This green sand beach is one of the few found around the world.  Its sandy shores are said to be almost the same hue as the surrounding grass due to olivine crystals left behind by the lava.  Legend has it that they are the Goddess Pele’s tears…

Olivine is often referred to as ‘Hawaian Diamond’ and can also be found in O’ahu’s Diamond Head.

Scenic Route

There are many scenic drives to takes throughout Big Island and if you enjoy being in the car, there is no better place to do that than on this island.

To get back from Kona to Pahoa we took Saddle Road, Rte 200. It only took us 2 1/2 hours.  

Gone were the tropical trees and forests with lush colours that we encountered near Pahoa.  Instead, they were replaced by rolling hills of bright green grass growing over old lava fields.  It was pretty mystical.

Saddly, we couldn’t really make any stops to take it all in, as we were exhausted.  If we ever make it back there again, it’s one place we’d like to explore more.

Our top picks on Big Island

To travel to Big Island as a family, is a once in a lifetime experience. For us, Hawaii was truly an AMAZING trip. 

I would definitely love to go back to Big Island and our Avocado Tree House and check out the other islands. Maybe someday.  I think my soul is somewhere in Hawaii.

Blondie Bear’s list:

  • Manini’owali Beach 
  • Black sand beach
  • Walking on a crater
  • Lighthouse
  • Turtle tide pool
  • And to add to this list from my perspective: Uncle’s

Aloha always!

Once Upon a Time Travel to…San Francisco

Travel to San Francisco and feel the city’s past and present history of freedom and futurism.

I traveled to San Francisco in search of my soul with Big Boss and Blondie Bear while Junior was in the middle of nowhere with the Cadets, poor thing. This was my #5 from Turning 40 doing 40 list. As it would turn out, my soul was not in San Francisco but elsewhere. Despite that, I still absolutely loved San Francisco. Luckily, I had been exercising for weeks, or else my back would have never held up from all the walking we did, ouch!

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

San Francisco has a bundle of nicknames; the most notable ones are SF or The City by the Bay.

On June 29th, 1776 the first Spanish settlement was established in San Francisco, and was named Mission San Francisco de Asis.  Today, it is known as Mission Dolores.

In 1846, San Francisco was conquered by the United States followed by an invasion of gold prospectors.  Thus, began in 1848 the period known as The Gold Rush.

Fun fact: In 1849 San Francisco’s harbor was filled with abandoned ships, whose crews had deserted to head for the gold fields. Many of the vessels were used as raw materials for the city’s harborside expansion.

Unfortunately, in 1906, what is known as The Great Earthquake destroyed much of San Francisco due to intense fires.  At the time, most of the housing was made of wood.

During World War II, San Francisco was the main point of embarkation for the Pacific side of the war and the hub for war industries.

travel to san francisco - voyage à san francisco

To this day, San Francisco has maintained its reputation as a center of cultural bohemianism. In the earlier years it had drawn writers from Mark Twain to Jack London, became a center for the 1950s beat poets and for the Haight-Ashbury hippie counterculture that peaked with the 1967 “Summer of Love.”

HOW TO GET THERE & AROUND

To travel to San Francisco from Montreal, we flew. For once, it was a smooth airline ride.  Our flight was not only on time, but we arrived 30 minutes early! Of course, our gate wasn’t ready upon our arrival but hey, we can’t have it all.

We took our first Uber ride to the airport in Montreal and it only cost us $25, AMAZING! The cab fare it costs around $40 + tip.  Luckily, I slept during most of the flight as there was not much of a movie selection. Also, we had gotten up at 5:15 a.m.  I did however get to watch Purple Rain.  Apparently, it’s a “classic movie” alongside black and white films such as Some like it hot with Marilyn Monroe…odd.

By Air

San Francisco is a very big city, hence its international airport. You pretty much can get to it by plane from wherever you live. Other than that, it’s accessible by car or by train.  However, if you are getting there by car, finding parking will be complicated and most likely cost a small fortune.

There is free WIFI at the San Francisco airport which is strange for the U.S. since you pretty much have to pay for everything there.  Big Boss and Blondie Bear thought it would be a good idea to catch Pokemons in the men’s bathroom while Mama Bird waited patiently for them outside! grrr….

travel to san francisco - voyage à san francisco

To get to where we were staying in Berkeley from the airport, we took the Bart.  It’s San Francisco’s public transit name.  The ride from the airport to North Berkeley station was about 1 hour long.  Despite the wagons being a bit old, they were spacious and the seats comfortable. The Bart ride cost us $30, way cheaper than a Uber or a cab.

Getting around

The best way to get around San Francisco city is on foot or by using the Bart.  However, we came to the same conclusion as in NYC. If you can’t read and don’t understand English well, you are kinda screwed.  You really need to pay attention to everything to figure out how to get from point A to point B when you travel to San Francisco.  

It is imperative that you wear really comfortable shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking and San Francisco ain’t all flat.

one day in San Francisco. - une journée à San Francisco
day trip from san francisco - excursion d'une journée de san francisco
travel to San Francisco - voyage à San Francisco

If you are traveling with young kids, a baby wrap and a light stroller will come in really handy. As a general tip, try to focus on one area of the city at a time.  Therefore, it will be a lot less tiresome for everyone.  It’s also a good way to save money on transportation.  By doing it so that way, all you need is a roundtrip ticket for the day. However, if you are a family of 4, riding Uber or Lyft as a roundtrip might cost you less than Bart tickets.

WHERE WE STAYED

It will be hard not to notice when you travel to San Francisco how is expensive it is there.  In fact, San Francisco is one of the wealthiest and most expensive cities to live in America. The high cost of living is due to its booming tech industry and proximity to Silicon Valley.

Therefore, sleeping in San Francisco is extremely expensive.  When you travel to San Francisco, especially for a couple of days, you could consider sleeping outside of the city.  Even though you will lose time commuting, you’ll save money for your lodging.  Also, if traveling with kids, sleeping outside San Francisco might not be a bad thing. It will be quieter, and you’ll discover a new area.

We opted to stay in the area called Northwest Berkeley and rented a little place through Airbnb not too far of a walk from North Berkeley train station.  It was our very first time using the Airbnb platform.

DAY TRIPS OUTSIDE SAN FRANCISCO

When you travel to San Francisco, you’ll be tempted to venture outside the city. It wasn’t too much our case as we were only there for 5 short days during a long layover before heading out to Hawaii.  Believe it or not, it only cost 100$ extra each to be able to do this planned layover.

That being said, we stayed in Berkeley so that got us out of the city every day we were there.  If you don’t want to have to rent a car but still want to do something different when you travel to San Francisco, check out our Day Trip from San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO ITINERARIES

When you travel to San Francisco and start walking around, you’ll realize how spread out the city really is. Actually, there are 36 neighborhoods in San Francisco, some of them divided into smaller districts.

If you are spending a few days there, it will be easier if you concentrate on a different area each day.  This way, you won’t wear yourself out too much.  That being said, we still ended up walking 20km on average per day. Call us crazy!

one day in San Francisco. - une journée à San Francisco
three days in san francisco - trois jours à san francisco

San Francisco Tip: If you plan to travel to San Francisco during the Summer and want to visit Alcatraz, you’ll need to book your tickets at least 2 months in advance.  I had looked at the tickets and decided to purchase them 1 month prior to our trip. Unfortunately, everything was booked for the whole 5 days we were there.  You can learn more about where to purchase tickets HERE. Blondie Bear was so disappointed that we couldn’t go to visit it.  However, you can somewhat make up for it.  Find out how in our article Day trip from San Francisco.

If you have three full days in San Francisco, here are some areas that you could check out.

FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO

All and all, we really enjoyed our time travel to San Francisco.  It’s a city part retro and part modern.  If you are ever in the U.S, this should definitely be on your travel bucket list.  

San Francisco weather tip:  Plan for every scenario.  There is a microclimate in San Francisco.  The weather can drastically vary from one District to another.  Therefore, pending on the season, always bring an extra layer of clothing with you.

We don’t recommend going there with small kids or if you are ‘elderly’ and unfit. That is if you are like us and like to explore cities by walking and are on a budget. At the time, I had been experiencing back pains. Luckily, I had been doing my back exercises up to the trip.  Three months ago, I would have never been able to walk the 92km that we walked in 5 days.  Sadly, no weight loss to report.

landscape man people woman

ONCE UPON A TIME A CHRISTMAS FAMILY HOLIDAY GUIDE TO PERU

Taking a family holiday during Christmas break in Peru is one you won’t soon forget. Peru is a mystical country to visit. From its sandy beaches on the Pacific coast, through rainbow mountains to luscious valleys below the Andes mountains, there is definitely worth something visiting. Peru is know for its battle with the Conquistadors …