Travel

The Great Canada Road Trip (5)

~ 50themusical ~ Leave a comment

Golden and Revelstoke

Leaving Banff behind we travelled to our next overnight stop in Golden. Here we had booked an Air B & B, which was described as having a private garden and hot tub with amazing views of the night skies. The apartment was actually in the basement of someone’s house, which was accessible through their garage. To be fair, the apartment was beautiful, with a spacious sitting room, bedroom and bathroom, but then came the interesting bit – the second bedroom was part of the kitchen, which wasn’t easy to see from the photographs. Although the garden area and hit tub were private, it was outside the living room window of the home owners, so we chose not to use the hot tub on this occasion. Despite all this, we had a great evening, sitting comfortably together, eating, drinking and playing cards.

In the morning, it was raining, so after breakfast, we attended at the Golden Museum, which was in an industrial estate nearby. It was only a small building and there was no charge, other than donating. It was a great little museum with lots of artifacts and stories of people who had lived and worked around the area, including migrants who were invited to come and work on the railway.

Our next stop was Revelstoke, which was about halfway to Kelowna where we would spend the next two nights. By the time we arrived in Revelstoke, the weather had improved once again and the sun was out. It was an interesting old fashioned little town with some lovely shops and cafes. We had some lunch and a walk to stretch our legs before finishing our journey to Kelowna.

Two nights in Kelowna

The drive into Kelowna was not what we expected at all. There had been a few hold ups in traffic on the way and by the time we arrived we were all very tired. We were expecting the hotel, The Prestige Beach House, to have a sea view, or at least some view, but it was in fact at the side of very busy main road. It was a bit disconcerting when there were ear plugs at the side of the bed to ensure you get a good night’s sleep!

There is a lot to be said for not judging somewhere immediately on first impressions, especially when you’ve had a long day. We headed off into town for something to eat and found a beautiful lake front, parks and a pedestrianised area which was so much better than what we had seen on our drive in. We ate at Memphis Blues BBQ, which was a great restaurant for meat eaters, which suited Andrew as he ordered a huge tray of ribs. Afterwards we walked through the paved area at the side of the lake, enjoying a lovely warm evening.

The following morning, we were up quite early and walked back into town and along the lake side, seeing the gorgeous new apartments which had been built along with a canal area to allow people to come and go on their boats. We then continued onto a boardwalk area through a nature reserve and out through the other side of town. It was absolutely beautiful, warm and peaceful, just stopping to look at the plants and flowers, some of which were natural and some which had been planted within the pedestrian areas. It was so clean and well looked after. We called for something to eat (we were thinking of ordering breakfast, but it was now lunchtime) then continued our walk along the lakeside and through the park. We the stopped off for drinks at Earl’s rooftop bar which had a great view over the marina.

Later in the day we headed back to the hotel to get changed for the activities we had booked that evening. We started off with ten pin bowling at the BNA Brewing Company. This was a great laugh, as it is such a long time since we had bowled. We then went down into the restaurant for food. It was a great atmosphere, but unfortunately when the food came some of it wasn’t properly cooked. There were lots of apologies and the food was replaced as well as having a reduction on the bill. The second lot of food which came was really good so it didn’t spoil our evening.

Our final activity for the evening was line dancing at the Hello Darlin’ Speakeasy. We had booked in for an hour learning to line dance. This was such a fun night starting off with being shown into the club through the “secret” entrance at the back of a vending machine. Once inside the room has a very country feel with cowboy boots on shelves, low roof and wooden floors. Our cocktails were served in glasses shaped like cowboy boots. We got up to join the line dancing lesson and all four of us managed the first one okay. The second dance was very tricky and fast so we didn’t quite make it through, but me and Julie managed to join in for the third one. I have never seen line dancing like it. It was so fast, with lots of movement, unlike the steady pace I expected. At the end of the lesson, they played all the three dances again and we were able to join in and dance fairly well. Once the lesson was over, it then became a nightclub, with line dancing. We were definitely the oldest people there, but we enjoyed watching the amazing routines of the young people dancing.

At the end of the evening, we walked back to the hotel having had another amazing day!

The Great Canadian Road Trip (4)

~ 50themusical ~ Leave a comment

Two nights in Banff

The Moose Hotel was a glorious sight. From the huge wooden beams and roaring fire in the reception area to the amazing suites with a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, everything was just spectacular. It was Labour Day when we arrived, so we had booked a restaurant in advance, expecting that most places would be busy.

Banff is such a beautiful area, surrounded by mountain peaks and a town centre which has restaurants, shops, cafes and bars. It has a lovely friendly feel to it and although busy did not feel cramped.

We went to the Bear Street Tavern for our food and were glad we had booked as they were turning people away at the door. The food here is great. We ordered Pizzas and salad and were not disappointed. Our server was friendly and looked after us really well, ensuring we had everything we needed. After our food we had a stroll round the shops then back to the hotel for drinks and a game of cards.

The following morning we headed to Farm and Fire, which was virtually next door to our hotel. We had blueberry French toast, which was amazing, but very filling and sweet. We then got the local bus to the Banff Gondola. The bus was packed, with lots of people standing, but refusing to move further down the but to let others get on. We dealt with this in our usual Yorkshire fashion, to the amusement of many of the passengers.

Arriving at the Gondala we managed to book a spot without too much of a wait. The gondala is an amazing experience travelling 698m up Sulphur Mountain in only 8 minutes . At the top, there is a visitors centre, with 360 degree views of the mountains and towns below. We chose to walk along the boardwalk which is approximately 1km. We took our time, taking in the scenery and ejoying the spectacular views, ending at the Cosmic Ray Station and Weather Obsewrvatory. Once we had walked back down to the visitors centre, we only had a short wait for the return Gondola.

Heading back through town, we called in a few of the shops and grabbed a sandwich to take back to the hotel We had a couple of hours relaxing before our next scheduled activity, The Cowboy Cookout with Banff Trailriders.

For this event, me and Andrew chose to travel in the covered wagon, whilst Nick and Julie went on horseback. Julie had never ridden a horse before, but wanted to give it a go, but it wasn’t the most enjoyable hour travelling to the forest for her. For us though, the covered wagon was great, travelling along the small roads and tracks to the same location. We had a great commentary for most of the way from our two guides, who were interesting and amusing. We were taken to a covered seating area at 3 mile cabin, where we had barbeque, cowboy beans and hot and cold drinks (including cowboy cofffe). The guides all sat with different groups to socialise and this was the followed with lasso practice and horseshoes.

We then travelled back on the covered wagon, which was a great experience. The horseback riders arrived shortly afterwards, with Julie a little saddlesore, saying she was glad she had tried it, but she probably wouldn’t ever ride a horse again.

On our way back through the park, walking towards the hotel we had a most amazing experience which was even better for being totally unplanned. We could hear some drums playing in the park and realised that they were in the bandstand, so stopped to listen. Then we were suddenly being beckoned over and cajoled into joining the group. The session was being held by Rhythm by Nature who was trialling the park as a venue for drum circle. We joined in and for the next 45 minutes had the most entertaining and uplifting time. Andrew was in his element as he played the drums a lot when he was younger, so really entered into it and was asked a number of times to perform a solo. At the end of the session we all left with big smiles on our face and laughing all the way back to the hotel.

We then followed this with an evening in the rooftop pool and jacuzzi, relaxing and chatting about our amazing day, with such a variety of activities which had made us all feel so happy.

Our breakfast the next morning was at Tooloulous, which was a quirky restaurant which had great staff and served amazing food. The breakfasts were enormous!

We had booked a slot on the shuttle to Lake Louise, so after breakfast, we picked up the car and travelled the short distrance to the shuttle stop. I was amazed at how many cars were in the car park and although I knew that Lake Louise is iconic, I certainly did not realise what a busy spot this would be. We got onto the  shuttle bus and were taken to the parking area at Lake Louise. There is then a very short walk to the lakeside. It was a bit of a cloudy day, with a lot of cloud and mist hanging over the mountains, which meant that the lake did not look as blue as it sometimes does. It is a huge lake and we walked part of the trail around the lake, but it continued to be busy for most of the way. Although people will say that this is the lake to see, it wasn’t my most favourite spot.

We got back on the shuttle and headed for Moraine Lake, which wasn’t quite as busy and in my opinion was prettier than Lake Louise. We walked along the edge of the lake and sat on the driftwood to have our picnic. This brought the attention of lots of little chipmunks who were hoping for a little treat, or that we would drop something, but as advised everywhere, we did not feed them and were careful to leave nothing behind. We then walked up the rockpile for an elevated view of the lake, which was really worthwhile.

The Great Canadian Road Trip (2)

~ 50themusical ~ Leave a comment

Vancouver to Whistler

As our second day dawned, the rain had passed over and it was a cool but fine day. Our first job was to collect the hire car. Unfortunately, we realised that we had booked to collect the car from Burnaby, which was quite a long way from the hotel. Luckily, we were able to book a taxi who took us to the hire company along with all our luggage. Once we had the car we set off on the first leg of our journey, to Whistler. This first section of driving wasn’t too long and we wanted to be able to spend some time in Whistler later in the day.

Our first stop along the journey was at Horseshoe Bay, close to the ferry terminal, a coastal village with a backdrop of mountains. We discovered a great restaurant called Trolls. The signs outside called it a fish and chip restaurant, but seeing a few people inside, we viewed the menu and saw a great variety of food for breakfast. Once again, as we were to discover throughout Canada, everyone was friendly, chatty and genuinely interested in talking about our holiday. The food here was amazing, especially the omelettes. Fully fuelled and ready for the day, we set off towards Whistler along the Sea to Sky Highway.

We had a few places on our itinerary to see, but struggled to find the first couple, mainly due to my navigation and understanding of the road numbering system. However, we soon got into the swing of the route and managed to find our main stop off points. It was overcast and showery for most of the day, so we did not see much of the mountain roads as we were driving along. Andrew was driving and loved the open quiet roads as well as some of the trickier winding mountain roads.

Scenic waterfall stops

Shannon Falls Park was our first scenic stop. Leaving the car in a busy pull off from the main road, it was only a short walk up the river to see the impressive falls. Although quite busy, people were well spaced out and most only stay a few minutes to take photos before moving on. It was an amazing view, which we soon discovered would be the first of many. Enjoying the scenery for a while and taking some photos, we then continued to our next stop off at Brandywine Falls. Once again this was a popular spot, with a short walk to the first view of the falls. Different from Shannon Falls, but impressive all the same.

Wonderful Whistler

Our journey then continued to Whistler where we had booked in to the Westin Resort Spa and Hotel. What a fabulous place to stay! It felt like a traditional ski lodge, with lots of wooden beams, a gorgeously comfortable room and a great view from the room. After dropping of our bags, we went for a walk out into the village of Whistler. We were so taken with this area, a pretty ski village with lodges, mountains, shops and a buzzing atmosphere. During the summer months the ski slopes are transformed into mountain bike runs, so the village was bustling with cyclists having an amazing time. We had a lovely wander through the village looking at the various shops and restaurants.  It was still overcast, so we decided not to book a journey on the Gondola as there would not be much of a view.         

We went back to the hotel to chill out for a little while then shower and change before going out to eat. We had booked The Old Spaghetti Factory during the afternoon as the village was so busy and it was amazing. The staff were friendly and helpful, and we were soon ordering our food which was excellent (apart from Julie who had a bug in her salad!). Once we had eaten, we decided to walk a little further down through the village seeing the Olympic Rings, carvings and totem poles. It was now coming dark and the atmosphere was relaxed with a great vibe. Everyone was out enjoying themselves and having a great time. We had a lovely evening exploring Whistler and taking in the atmosphere and later had a comfortable night’s sleep in the hotel.

The next morning, we took our time having breakfast in the Bistro and exploring the shops before setting off on the next leg of our journey to Cache Creek.

Whistler to Cache Creek

The next section of our journey was to make our way towards Jasper, but because of the length of the journey we planned two stops, one in cache Creek and one in Clearwater. (We had initially planned to stay in Lillooet, but had to rebook and found a motel in Cache Creek which was not too far away)

The Bears Claw Motel at Cach Creek was an unexpected little gem. A huge log cabin building with a reception area and restaurant with rooms around the side of the building. We booked in and went to our rooms which were warm, clean and tidy, with a decent sized bathroom. The next step was to find something to eat, without driving too far. We started off looking at a Taco place which was just down the road. This was obviously popular with the locals as it was heaving. It seemed a little chaotic as everyone was serving themselves. This didn’t really appeal to us, so we headed off to Hungry Herbies Drive in, which was a basic café, but very friendly and clean, serving a variety of tasty burgers, fish and fries.

We headed back to our rooms and sat chatting for a while before getting ready for bed and having a very comfortable night’s sleep.

The following morning before setting off on the next leg of our journey, we went to the petrol station next door, which also house Cheryl’s Place Restaurant. This was a brilliant stop for breakfast, with large portions of freshly cooked food and the usual endless top-ups of tea and coffee. Chatting to the staff in the restaurant, we learned that Cache Creek, although officially not classed as a desert, has a desert like climate, with very little snow in the winter and forest fires in the summer. The relaxed attitude to the weather is interesting, particularly coming from the UK, where weather is daily topic and is used as an excuse for things being cancelled or not running on time. Hearing people accept that weather happens and life carries on as usual was quite refreshing.

Cache Creek to Clearwater

Travelling along Highway 97 we began to see the first signs of devastation caused by the forest fires. This was sad to see, with vast areas of trees being completely destroyed, along with buildings and vehicles. The clean-up was in progress, with construction vehicles clearing the burned out cars and buildings, with huge logs at the side of the road, ready to put up new posts for power lines. It was certainly an eye opener to see this and we realised how lucky we were to be able to continue our journey without worrying about our safety.

We drove for a little while and then stopped at The Sugar Shack in 70 Mile House. We were told that it sold the best maple syrup. As we went in, it was clear that the owner had a very dry sense of humour, which really appealed to us but might not have been to everyone’s taste. After having a very amusing few minutes with him, we ordered coffees and teas and shared some maple doughnuts which were delicious. As it was such a beautiful day, we sat outside enjoying the sunshine and relaxing before purchasing lots of maple syrup (gifts for others of course) and continuing our journey towards Clearwater.

We had a few stops to look at scenery along the way and then travelled through Wells Gray National Park. This is a huge area of 5415 km with so many viewing points for rivers and waterfalls. With limited time, we stopped off at Dawsons Falls, Spahats Falls and Helmcken Falls, all of which were beautiful with the advantage of not having to hike for miles to have a spectacular view.

Our overnight stay was at the spectacular Alpine Meadows Resort in Clearwater.  With large log cabins, set in acres of forest close to the lake, it was so peaceful and picturesque. We knew that this was literally in the middle of nowhere so called at the supermarket on our way to buy items for a “picky tea”. The drive along a mostly gravel unmade road was interesting, but so worth it for the amazing views and tranquillity of the location.

We had booked two cabins next to each other, which worked really well to have our own space, but also all sit together to eat. As dusk fell, we sat on the patio, looking for wildlife. We were convinced at this point that we would see bears here due to its location, but no, not a single one, despite us all checking out of the window after dark and even in the early hours of the morning.

The next day the weather was still beautiful and sunny. We had breakfast and enjoyed our last few hours in the lovely scenery, before beginning our journey to Jasper. It would have been great to stay at Alpine Meadows for more than one night, as it was such a lovely location, however there are so many beautiful places to see in the area, it is difficult to do everything in the time that we had.

The Great Canadian Road Trip

~ 50themusical ~ Leave a comment

Heathrow, hiccups and a flight worth waiting for

After more than a year of planning, the day had finally arrived: the start of our Great Canadian Road Trip. My husband Andrew and I, along with our friends Nick and Julie, were setting off on a 17-day adventure—travelling from Vancouver to Banff, on through Jasper, back to Vancouver, and finally across to Vancouver Island.

In the run-up to our departure, wildfires were affecting several areas along our route. The news footage was shocking, and we began making  a Plan B in case we had to change our route.  Thankfully, cooler weather and plenty of rain arrived before we travelled. It was an enormous relief—and our original route was back on.

First Stop: Heathrow

Because our flight left from Heathrow, we travelled down the day before and booked a room at the Thistle Hotel, with on-site parking. Our first impression was not exactly inspiring. There was no lift—which seems extraordinary for an airport hotel—so we dragged six suitcases and four bags up a long flight of stairs. Thankfully, we were only on the first floor.

Our evening meal did little to improve matters. We were shown to a table still covered with the previous diners’ plates, and when nobody came to clear them, Andrew did it himself and went in search of menus. We then had to track someone down again to order drinks and food. The meal was fine, but forgettable. After a chat, we called it a night ready for sleep.  

The following morning, however, things took a turn for the better. We travelled from the hotel to Terminal 5 in a fully automated pod that glides along its own track. It took about five minutes—and it was brilliant. Check-in was quick, and before long we headed for the Aspire Lounge. Our flight was delayed by 45 minutes, though, and oddly we were not allowed into the lounge straight away. Apparently, that is how the system works, but it still felt a little frustrating.

Once inside, relaxation had to wait. We suddenly remembered that we had prepaid for only 15 days of parking and were meant to settle the balance at the hotel. We had forgotten—and getting hold of someone to fix it took what felt like forever.

Then came problem number two: the payment for one of our Booking.com hotels had failed. For a few tense minutes, visions of arriving without anywhere to sleep flashed through our minds. Luckily, we found a motel in the same area and booked it on the spot. Crisis averted.

Premium Economy to Vancouver

For the flight out, we had treated ourselves to premium economy—and it was worth every penny. The seats were noticeably wider, with generous legroom, and the meal arrived on proper crockery with metal cutlery. We even received a printed menu, which made the whole experience feel that little bit more special. Drinks were offered regularly, so staying hydrated was easy. Best of all, after nine hours in the air, we stepped off the plane without the usual aches and pains of being folded into a tiny seat.

Automated border checks and baggage collection were impressively quick, and soon we were on our way to our hotel for our first night in Vancouver. After a year of planning, a few last-minute panics and one very comfortable flight, our Canadian adventure had finally begun.

First night fatigue

We arrived in Vancouver with a mixture of excitement and exhaustion. Although our bodies insisted it was midnight in the UK, the local clock said 4pm. We caught a taxi to take us into the city and to our base for the stay, the Paradox Hotel.

From the moment we walked in, the hotel felt elegant and inviting, and the staff could not have made us feel more welcome. Once we had settled into our rooms, we headed to the bar to make use of our complimentary drinks voucher hunger soon caught up with us.  Although none of us could decide exactly what we fancied. A charcuterie board with fries proved to be the perfect answer: meats, cheeses, bread, crackers and olives to share while we chatted in the bar. By then, however, the time difference was winning. Staying awake until 9pm—5am back in the UK—felt like an achievement, but eventually we admitted defeat and headed to bed, eager to discover Vancouver properly the next morning.

First real sight of Vancouver

The following morning, we were wide awake at about 430am, due to the time difference. It was lovely and comfortable just relaxing in the room and not rushing to get ready. However, at about 7am we were all ready to go out for the day and set off to look for breakfast. We headed towards a place recommended on TripAdvisor, but the route took us through a quieter area near several people experiencing homelessness and substance abuse. Like most cities, Vancouver has challenges.  Feeling uneasy, we decided to turn back towards a busier area and found a café called Bellagios. Whilst we were looking at the menu, an English chap who was passing said it was excellent food, so we opted to go in.

The owner was extremely welcoming and all the staff were so pleasant and helpful. The food was of an amazing quality, with breakfast potatoes which were incredibly tasty. After a really good meal and topped up with tea and coffee, we were ready to face the day.

Our next job was to find a point to get into the hop on hop off trolley bus tour. We have found this is a good way to see a city in a short space of time, getting off to visit things which catch your eye. After a short walk, we found the stop and a trolley came along within a few minutes. It was a little bit more of a novelty than the usual open top bus. The young man doing the commentary was also knowledgeable and very amusing.

Our first hop off was at Granville Island. Originally an industrial area with shipyards, sawmills, and foundries, it was transformed in the late 1970s into a public space with quirky independent shops and markets, arts centres and community theatres. We had a lovely couple of hours walking round the area, then picked up the aqua bus on the harbour to take us to Yaletown to catch up again with the Trolley Bus. After a couple of stops, we got off at the Public Library. I had read there was a roof top garden and platform with great views. The library itself was pretty impressive, but, there wasn’t much of a garden or a view to be honest. Heading back for the Trolley, we got off at Canada Place. The waterfront area, designed to look like a ship, houses a Convention Centre, the cruise ship terminal, shops and restaurants.

While looking for lunch, we saw a huge queue snaking along the cruise terminal and wondered if it was people waiting to board a ship. There was one in the terminal, that had reportedly broken down. Over a light lunch at Marneys, our waitress informed us it was for Aritzia’s famous sale, with some shoppers queuing for days.

After lunch we walked back up to the town and came across “The Round House”,  a historic Railway complex which has now been converted into an arts and cultural centre. It still houses the enormous Engine 374, which pulled the first intercontinental passenger train into the city in 1887. It was a beautiful train looked after by friendly and informative volunteers. We then headed back to the trolley and stayed on longer this time, passing various landmarks, including the A-maze-ing laughter sculpture and travelling through the great expanse of Stanley Park. There is lots to see and do at the park, but as we had been out most of the day, we decided to save a further visit for when we visited Vancouver again later in the holiday.

After a rest and shower at the Paradox, we braved the now pouring rain and returned to Canada Place for dinner at the Tap and Barrel. Unfortunately, the indifferent service, limited menu and unremarkable food made it one of the few disappointing meals of our Canadian adventure.

A few drinks later, we made our way back to the hotel, amazed by how much we had packed into one day—and thoroughly impressed by our first taste of Canada.

A Weekend in York

~ 50themusical ~ Leave a comment

Last weekend we travelled to York for the weekend with my brother and sister in law. York is a beautiful city and is only about an hours drive for us, which makes it easily accessible.

We were later setting off than we intended, for a number of reasons, but we eventually arrived in York at around 8pm. It was a much needed break and we had been looking forward to it all week, but were a little bit stressed out and very tired by the time we arrived. Luckily, when we arrived my lovely sister in law presented us with freshly cooked pizzas which were very much needed after a long day. After eating and a good chat, putting the world to rights, we went off to bed.

We were staying at “Clearly Apartments” on Bootham Crescent, which is a short walk into the city. The apartment was a little surprising at first. It was smaller than I had expected (and how it appeared on the photos), with not much space for four adults to sit comfortably. There was a very small kitchen area, a dining table in the corner and a sofa and armchair. It was darkly decorated, which made it seem a little bit dreary. There were two bedrooms and two bathrooms which were all clean and tidy. The ensuite was a little bit of a squeeze, but over the weekend we got accustomed to the space and enjoyed our weekend together.

An Outdoor Treasure Hunt

Our daughter bought us a Mystery City Treasure Hunt for Christmas, as she knows we like escape rooms and quizzes. This was specifically for York and was based on the Gunpowder Plot. It was in a book rather than on phones, which worked really well. You could also use the QR code to get extra visual clues via your phone if you needed them. The hunt took us around many streets of York with clues outside buildings, pubs and places of interest. Some of the clues were really straight forward and some were a little more difficult to find and solve. It took us about 4 hours all together, including a lovely stop for coffee and cake in a little coffee shop. Luckily the weather was great and we walked over 12000 steps which was pretty good for just wandering around the city. I would recommend one of these city treasure hunts, as it helps you to learn about the city itself, gets you walking and thinking, as well as working together as a team.

A couple of highlights of the day were seeing the statue of Paddington on a bench in Minster Yard, which we had our photo taken with as our grandson is a huge Paddington Bear fan. The second was the coffee shop we called at, which was tucked out of the way in Coffee Yard, at Barley Hall. We probably would not have otherwise come across this place had it not been for the treasure hunt. I had cake, but the others had black pudding sausage roll, which was apparently amazing!

After finishing the hunt, we headed through the market and shops, before heading back to the apartment. We spent the rest of the afternoon watching the rugby, reading and just chilling out.

Great Food at The Churchill Hotel

On the way in to York on Friday night we passed The Churchill Hotel which had a lovely beer garden all lit up with fairy lights and braziers near the tables. Having had a quick look at the menu, we decided to book for our meal in the evening. What a great decision that turned out to be.

The hotel is stunning, obviously on a Churchill theme, with quirky furniture and decorations. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive. The food was amazing! It was all clearly freshly cooked and although it took a while to arrive, we weren’t in any rush and it was lovely just to sit in the nice surroundings.

There was a set menu, with plenty of choice and you can choose to have two or three courses. We all chose to have mains and puddings. The main courses were hot and very tasty, with just the right amount of food to leave room for a desert. The Baked Alaska was one of the best deserts I have tasted for a long time, with a warm brownie topped with caramel ice cream and soft marshmallow meringue.

It was so good that on the Sunday afternoon, we returned for lunch as we struggled to find anywhere in the city centre which wasn’t packed. the food was great, although they got my brothers order wrong and he had to wait for it to be recooked. However the Baked Alaska was just as good the second time.

Castle Museum

On Sunday we headed to the Castle Museum. I haven’t been here for years, probably since i was a child. The entrance tickets allows you to return again anytime within the next 12 months, which is always good.

The museum is good with a variety of exhibits on show, including a fashion exhibition, with clothing throughout the years. There are period rooms showing how homes have changed over the years. Each one has a story behind it, to help explain what was going on at the time. It was interesting to see how fashion has changed from minimalistic to having every surface full of nick knacks. Kirkgate is an area of reconstructed shops on cobbled streets, which are incredible and it was great to wander around the streets as they were dating back as far as Victorian times (or “back in the day” as referred to by my husband for most historical periods)

The 1960’s exhibition was fascinating having lots of the items we all recognised from our childhoods. There is also an exhibition about the First World War. This was interesting and moving in parts, following the stories of people who had lived through the war. It was also a real eye opener reading the cost both in finance terms and the lives that were lost and changed forever as a result of the war “to end all wars”(If only that were true)

One of my favourite parts of the museum was the prison exhibition. The Castle Museum had been a prison for many years and some of the cells and other rooms now form part of the exhibition. I find it fascinating how the views of crime and punishment have changed over the years. It added a little extra interest to read and hear the stories of the people in the felons cells, why they were there and what happened to them. People being imprisoned for debt was one of the saddest things to hear alongside hearing that a woman who killed her husband would be tried for treason. Seeing the conditions people were held in and how things have changed really interests me and I spent quite a while in this exhibition.

A Sunshine break in Gran Canaria

~ 50themusical ~ Leave a comment

It’s been a little while since we had a relaxing holiday in the sun, so it was great to be able to get away to Gran Canaria for a week. Me and my husband, Andrew travelled with our eldest daughter Meg and her partner Ed, and our youngest daughter Izzy and grandson Walter. We had booked all-inclusive at the Tui Blue resort Orquedia at Bahia Feliz. This is the first time we have been all-inclusive and it was definitely a good choice.

First plane journey with a toddler

We took a mini bus to Manchester airport from our home address, which meant that we could all travel together. The booking in process and security all went smoothly, with everyone being friendly and helpful. The flight was delayed for around an hour, but once aboard, our grandson was allowed to go sit in the cockpit and have his photo taken. All the air crew were amazing, assisting all the young families onboard. Our grandson Walter was really settled through most of the flight and when he did become tired and upset at one point, the cabin crew took him and my daughter to sit in the crew area so that she could calm him down, which was reassuring. He didn’t fall asleep at all on the plane, but nodded off when we got on the transfer coach.

Hotel Orquedia

The hotel had everything you needed for a great week away. The rooms were spotless, as was the rest of the hotel. The grounds were picturesque, with plenty of areas of shade or sun, whichever you prefer. There were a number of swimming pools, including a splash area for toddlers, a shaded shallow pool for babies, a shallow pool with a slide for children, a deeper pool for inflatable and a larger pool for swimming and the daily activities. There were a couple of playgrounds and a number of buildings where children could go and play, which were in addition to the paid children’s clubs. My grandson loved going to the stay and play which was in a lovely air conditioned building with lots of tubs of toys.

The restaurant was light and airy, with a seating area outside. The food was excellent, with plenty of choice for each meal. There was also a snack bar and drinks by the pool. We all enjoyed the food throughout the week, eating a variety of fresh healthy foods, fruit salads, vegetables, as well as lots of desserts. It was great that we were all able to eat different foods and try things which we might not normally eat.

All the staff were friendly and ensured everyone was having a great time. We couldn’t have asked for anything better from a hotel.

Enjoying family time

The week away gave us a lot of time to spend together as a family. The first couple of days were spent by the pool, relaxing and enjoying the surroundings. We were in and out of the pool and the playgrounds. We took it in turns to keep an eye on Walter or to take him for a walk through the grounds when he was tired. In the evening, we all got together to go down to the restaurant, and then afterwards into the pool bar for the evening entertainment. Each night there was a children’s disco. There was then a quiz, which we joined in most nights. We often came second or third, but never won! This was then followed by a show by the entertainment team, which were good fun.

Having a decent nap during the day meant that Walter could stay up later and enjoy the entertainment, although he often prepared to go out into the grounds and the playground to run around. When he went to bed on an evening, it gave me and Andrew chance to spend time with Meg and Ed.

Throughout the rest of the week we had more time to relax, as well as join in with some of the activities. It was a lovely balance of spending time altogether, people doing their own thing. I took Walter to a couple of the organised activities for toddlers. Our two daughters spent a morning together. Meg and Ed went off to spend some time on their own. Me and the girls enjoyed a few of the exercise classes including aqua aerobics, yoga and the very adventurous yoga and Hit classes on a paddle board in the pool.

We got to meet some nice families and it’s always great to see how easily little children make friends. On an afternoon, we would often see the same families walking around pushing prams trying to get their toddlers to sleep.

On a couple of the afternoons the bar was open for “happy hour” where there was a cocktail of the day, snacks and a musician playing. It was so relaxing sitting under the shade outside listening to music in such lovely surroundings.

Palmitos Park

We had a trip to Palmitos Park one day, travelling there by bus, which took around 45 minutes. It was an extremely hot day, but the zoo was not too busy and there was plenty of shade. Walter enjoyed seeing all the animals and liked the lizards and crocodiles more than any of the bright coloured birds or furry animals. During the day there was a dolphin show, which was very entertaining and also educational. Although it was a really good day out, I am always in two minds how I feel about animals in captivity. It gives children a chance to see animals up close, which they otherwise may not have chance to do. The zoo promotes the rescue and protection of the animals, but I much prefer to see the animals out in their natural habitat.

Overall we had a great holiday. We all came home with a suntan, relaxed and having enjoyed some quality time together. What more could you want from a holiday?

A Scotland Getaway (4)

~ 50themusical ~ Leave a comment

Bone Caves

Thursday morning was misty and drizzly, but the forecast promised dry and warm weather for the afternoon. We had a late breakfast and a drive into Lochinver to buy pies for tea from the Lochinver Larder.
Around 2pm we made our way to the car park for the walk to Bone Caves. We had seen lots of deer rutting here on a previous visit and some of us were not keen to encounter them on this occasion. However, there were no deer in sight, so we were able to set off on our walk.
The walk follows the river up the valley, passing a waterfall and lots of underground springs. Crossing a dry river bed, we then started the climb up the stone steps towards the caves. It is quite steep and rocky underfoot, but worth the climb, as you are soon able to see the caves at the top.
The caves are small, but you can go inside each one and almost stand up. The caves were excavated in 1889 by the geologists Peach and Horne. They found the remains of animals which once roamed the Highlands including lynx, polar bear, arctic fox and lemmings. It is believed that the caves may have once sheltered these animals and also the humans who hunted them.
There is a slightly different path setting off down from the caves, but it soon meets the original path back into the car park. There were a few deer to see on the hillside on the walk down, but luckily none that we had to come into close contact with.

The Old Man of Stoer

Today the weather was good in the morning, although a little blustery. We decided to set of earlier and walk in the morning before the storm came in which was forecast for the afternoon.
The walk began at Stoer Lighthouse and is mostly a sheep track which is tricky underfoot due to the rocks and the boggy grass and mud. Very soon we were treated to some gorgeous views of the rugged coast and eventually the Old Man of Stoer. This impressive stack reaches out of the sea at 70 metres high.

We continued to walk along the coastal path, reaching the Point of Stoer, giving stunning views in all directions. We sheltered out of the wind whilst we ate our lunch.
The path back to the lighthouse is a little less wet and rugged and eventually leads onto a track which is much steadier underfoot.
Once back at the car, we made our way back to the lodge for a final dip in the hot tub and packing ready to begin our journey home.


A Scotland Getaway (3)

~ 50themusical ~ Leave a comment

The Drumbeg Loop & Scourie

On Tuesday the sun was shining brightly and the sky was clear blue. We decided to go out for a drive, heading off towards the beach at Scourie.

It’s a very scenic drive from Lochinver, with some winding roads. The beach at Scourie is beautiful, with lots of pebbles and shells. After a hit chocolate from the food van, we had a lovely stroll on the beach, taking in the scenery and the fresh air.

We then drove around the Drimbeg loop, another scenic route, taking us back to the lodge.
In the evening, after cooking chilli for tea, we lit the fire pit and sat outside toasting marshmallows. It was quite a windy evening, so we didn’t stay out too long, but it was a lovely way to spend the evening outdoors.

River Inver and Glencanisp Circuit

On Wednesday the rain was lashing down, but the forecast said it would blow over and we would have a fine afternoon. In anticipation we packed sandwiches, ready for a walk when the weather changed.

As promised the rain blew over and the afternoon was fine and unseasonably warm. We walked from the lodge down into Lochinver then followed the circuit which takes you along the River Inver then over the glen, past Canisp Lodge and back into Lochinver.
The first part of the walk is by the fast flowing river, but you are soon climbing with the river below you. Further up you drop again to the side of the river, which is more sedate and there are areas set for anglers. Eventually you leave the river and head upwards across the glen, giving great views. Due to the rain, it was muddy in parts, but it was a great walk. We stopped off near the lodge and it was warm enough to sit without jackets whilst we ate our sandwiches.
Once back down in Lochinver, we made the steady climb back to the lodge and into the hot tub and a restful evening.

A Scotland Getaway (2)

~ 50themusical ~ Leave a comment

On our first day at Waterloo Lodge, it was a little bit overcast with a watery sun trying to break through. We had a lovely brunch (it should have been breakfast, but eggs had been missed from our shopping, so someone had to go and pick up eggs before we could start!) of poached eggs on toast, with potato cakes made with leftover mash from the previous evening.

Culag Woods

We set off from the lodge and headed off down towards the harbour at Lochinver. We were surprised to see, what was once a busy working port, now looking abandoned, almost as if everyone had left in a hurry.
Once past the harbour we turned left into the woods on “Billy’s Path”. The walk is extremely pretty, with plenty to see along the way, including a wishing tree, sculptures of dragon flies and a beautiful pebble beach. There are also lots of viewpoints. It is undulating and a bit slippy in parts. I managed to slip on the boardwalk, hitting my face on my husband’s knee as he reached it to stop me, banging my nose. I recovered quickly and other than a slight bloody nose, I was relatively unscathed. Everyone made sure I was okay before bursting into fits of laughter.
The trees in the woods are covered in lichen, which indicates good air quality. It definitely felt you were breathing in clear air and despite being near the harbour it felt like you were in the middle of nowhere, especially as we saw very few people along the way.


The walk took a couple of hours, as we took time to enjoy the views and scenery. We then walked back up the hill to the lodge.

We had a restful afternoon and evening, cooking curry for tea and then relaxing watching a film.

Achmelvic Beach Coastal Walk

On Monday it was a fine, but blustery day. After breakfast we set off towards Achmelvic beach to walk along the coast.

This is another area of outstanding coastal views and stunning beaches. The walk is fairly easy, with an undulating path, but fairly well marked paths. Near the end of the walk, before returning, there is an old mill ruin, which you get to by crossing stepping stones through the stream. However, there has been so much rain the steps were covered in water which was running really fast, so we decided not to cross.
Our return took us almost the same route, stopping at a couple of beaches on the way.
Returning to the lodge, we had an afternoon of chilling in the hot tub and sauna, leaving us feeling relaxed at the end of a great day.


A Scotland Getaway

~ 50themusical ~ Leave a comment

A couple of nights in Stirling

This week we travelled to Lochinver on the north west coast of Scotland. It is a nine hour journey by car from our home in Yorkshire so we broke the distance by staying for a couple of nights in Stirling.
We travelled to The King Robert Hotel on the Thursday, but as there were six of us we had booked into Bruce’s Cottage which is in the grounds of the hotel. The cottage was set out well for six adults and very clean and comfortable. We ate in the restaurant at the hotel. The food was excellent and exceptionally good value.

On the Friday, after a good nights sleep, we had breakfast before setting off to the Falkirk Wheel a short drive away. The wheel is the world’s only rotating boat lift, created to assist the swift passage of canal boats, rather than taking over five hours to travel up a flight of eleven locks. The gondola takes about five minutes to rotate, lifting the boats thirty five metres to connect with the canal above.
It’s a pretty impressive sight from the ground and the mechanism and engineering behind it blew my mind. On the boat however it is very difficult to tell that you are even moving. Before you know where you are, you are high up on the canal overlooking the vast Scottish landscape.

After leaving the boat, the rain began pouring down, so we decided to head of towards the Helix Visitors Centre where we had a lovely lunch after which the rain had stopped a little. We then went outside to walk around the amazing Kelpies. They are a pair of thirty metre sculptures of steel horse heads, rising out of the ground in spectacular fashion. The sculptures are a fabulous sight and well worth a visit.
As it stayed fine we walked further up the road and around the lake before heading back to the car before the rain came again.

We went back to the hotel for our evening meal and had another good night’s sleep before getting up to start the remainder of our journey to Lochinver. After picking up our shopping from the local Tesco, we went for breakfast at the nearby River House Restaurant. The food was absolutely gorgeous and the surroundings equally so!

Travelling towards Lochinver, we took another very slight detour to the scenic area of Aviemore. We visited the ski centre for a coffee break and a leg stretch. The ski centre was impressive, with lots of activities to do outside of the ski season.
We then continued our journey north, towards Lochinver, another 3 hours away. The drive takes you through some stunning countryside and panoramic views. Seeing deer in the wild as you are travelling through is an added bonus.
We finally arrived at our home for the week, Waterloo Lodge, high upon the hillside overlooking the harbour of Lochinver with a stunning view of Suilven.