Explore Ontario

Glamping at Grail Springs

July 12, 2017August 1, 2017 by Alyssa Garrison

Though I’m from BC and generally considered more outdoorsy than most Toronto folk, I’m by no means an expert camper. Growing up we went “camping”, but for my high maintenance parents that always meant some form of glamping, usually in a massive RV with all the fixings.

Perhaps that’s why I am SO into Glamping Hub.

Have you ever wished there was an AirBNB for outdoor adventures? Meet Glamping Hub, the perfect place to find your next cabin or treehouse. This site is international, easy to use, and has SO many unreal alternative accommodations. From yurts and beach shacks to converted barns and luxury tents, there is seriously something unexpected for everyone, at any budget.

The longer I live in the city the more I crave getting out of the city and into nature, so I jumped at the chance to try out an Ontario glamping adventure of my own. After a lot of “shopping” around the site, I finally settled on the Tabins (tent cabins) at Grail Springs, a short 3 hour drive from Toronto. I brought my good friend Amanda from Blueberry Moon along, and with the help of Zipcar we zipped up to the retreat property for a few days of rest and relaxation.

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I’ll admit I initially wasn’t the bravest about all the bugs and the pitch black composting toilet down the path, but by day three I was so thankful for all of the fresh air and quiet. We went paddle boarding, spent as much time as possible in the various saunas and made magic potions to sip with tea and spices. Though this vegetarian retreat with yoga every morning wasn’t wildly different from my fairly healthy lifestyle at home, it was still the perfect opportunity to disconnect, and there was seriously no better sound than the rain falling on our tabin roof alongside the crackle of the fireplace.

Maybe I can get into this camping (well, glamping) thing after all!

Here’s a list of some essential items to bring along with you on your next glamping adventure!

Portable Nylon Fabric Camping Hammock
2-in-1 Camping Light and Ceiling Fan
Ban.do Super Chill Cooler Bag
Solar Powered Phone Charger for Iphone and Ipad

I'll Follow You Anywhere

A Vacation and a Staycation

July 4, 2017August 7, 2017 by Alyssa Garrison

Hold on tight – this is going to be a BIG post, because we seriously can’t stop gushing about our time at The June Motel!

From the moment we spotted this property-in-progress on Instagram we’ve been dying to go, and when it finally opened this Summer we booked a getaway the first moment we could. With the help of Zipcar (hello BMW!) we set off on our last-minute road trip to Prince Edward County, but not one of us knew just how good it would be.

The following three days were a blur of bubbly, tarot readings, yoga, incredible food, craft beer and more bubbly. Our hosts at The June Motel welcomed us with an epic cheese board, and from that moment everything from the bonfire (complete with epic s’more bar) to their adorable County drive tours were above and beyond.

There was so much to do every single day that we had a tough time deciding what should make the cut, plus our room was so unbelievably cute that we had a hard time leaving the hotel! We’ve listed our favourite stops below, plus a few of the places we missed, and you can book our room here!

Three Days in the County, RAOP style //

Day 1 //
Wine @ — Hinterland
Dinner @ — Miller House at Lake on the Mountain Resort

Day 2 //
Snacks @ The Drake Devonshire
Lunch @ The Courage
Stopped @ Flora Lora Flower Farm
Dinner and Drinks @ Parsons Brewery

Day 3 //
Yoga @ The June Motel
Breakfast @ The Picton Harbour Inn and Lighthouse Restaurant
Stopped @ Vicki’s Veggies
Lunch @ Norman Hardie

Spots we were eyeing but didn’t quite make it to: Slickers Ice Cream, Kinsip Spirits, County Collective, Fifth Town Cheese, County Cider, Prince Eddy’s Brewery.

One of the hardest parts of heading off on a fun vacation like this is leaving behind my beloved pup Honey, but thankfully I’ve found the perfect home away from home for her.

We’d never tried a dog boarding option before (because Honey is so sweet and low energy that all my friends always beg to take her), but this time around I decided to get out of my comfort zone and give her a play-filled vacation while I was off doing the same. Enter Soulmutts, a pup paradise where dogs get to live a “pack lifestyle”, constantly off leash and surrounded by four-legged pals. This place has really gone the whole nine yards – with a big hay-filled yard the dogs can access anytime, an acre-long private forest park that’s fully fenced, and specially designed transport vehicles to make sure the pups are safe and secure. Each dog is screened for aggression and proper vaccinations, which is a big comfort as a dog mom who’s had issues with other dogs attacking her pup at public parks.

The best part about the whole experience was the care and attention that the Soulmutts team gave each and every pup. Honey was introduced to the “pack” one by one so none of the dogs got overwhelmed, and I was sent adorable updates via email and Instagram photos throughout the week.

I’ve always been unsure how Honey would do in a group setting 24/7 because she’s a bit older and slower than she once was, but honestly I felt bad bringing her home after all the fun she had, and I can’t wait to take her back for another staycation!

Some of Honey’s current favourite things:

Chocolate Donut Squeaky Dog Toy
Purple Rope Dog Leash
Pink Elephant Rope Dog Toy
Plush Pig Doggie Chew Toy

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I'll Follow You Anywhere

A Pastel Prince Edward County Travel Guide

October 12, 2016October 12, 2016 by Alyssa Garrison

I haven’t had as much of a chance to explore Ontario as I want to, so when Sophie offered to give me an adventure as my birthday gift, I suggested we get out of town. The KATB crew has totally fallen for Prince Edward County over the past few months (check out their guide here), so it was the obvious choice when deciding on a final destination. Sophie booked us a tiny cabin at Lake on the Mountain just steps from the water, and we roped in Jaymi from Good Day hair as well – mostly because she’s an awesome mutual friend, but also a tiny bit because of her cottage hair styling skills (love you Jaymi!)

Early Sunday morning we settled in for a long drive on the open road and after about three hours of horrible car sickness (thanks to those beautiful winding country roads) we had arrived in Ontario’s tiny island heaven. Separated into a handful of smaller towns and communities, like Bloomfield and Picton, PEC is full of amazing restaurants, wineries, and adorable shops, and we couldn’t have asked for a better tour guide than Sophie to show us the best of the best.

The possibilities for #RAOPplaces were seemingly endless, but I’ve rounded up some of my absolute must-see picks for you next time you visit!

Scroll down for my pastel PEC travel guide!

Slickers //

The best homemade country-style ice cream in all the land. Try the chocolate orange and the campfire!

County Cider Company //

Serving up amazing pizza and just about every flavour of cider you can imagine, this is the perfect place to load up on local sips to take home to your friends (or hoard for yourself.)

Vicki’s Veggies //

You know those farm stands in the olden days where you write down what you take and leave cash in a jar? Well, this tiny family-run farm is just that!

Coriander Girl PEC //

A Toronto favourite, Allison now lives in PEC and has opened up the prettiest little county coriander girl florist you ever did see.

Miller House at Lake on the Mountain //

This restaurant was part of the complex we stayed in, and I’m surprised we ever left. It was essentially a cheese board-only eatery that overlooked the ferry crossing, and if the sun sets weren’t worth a visit, the food definitely was!

Norman Hardie Winery //

Open air dining, an adorable shop filled with local goods, amazing wine and an oyster shucking bar? What else could you ever want?!

The Courage //

The decor at this spot is a perfect mix of minty old and new, and the brunch is on point! Don’t forget to snap a photo of their perfect neon sign between bites.