All posts filed under: Travel

Villa Del Palmar Cancun

Published by Molly Catherine

I’ve been in love with Mexico for many years now… It’s the first place Irek and I ever travelled to together, so it holds a very special place in my heart. We just recently spent a week in beautiful Playa Mujeres at Villa Del Palmar Cancun for October Wellness month. Below are some highlights… The Grounds; The grounds at Villa Del Palmar were beautiful. There is nothing like tropical vegetation in my opinion- so luscious and colourful! The resort has 5 swimming pools, 4 restaurants and 6 bars- so lots of variety! There are also many activities you can participate in… from volleyball, to kayaking, to paddle boarding, to fitness and yoga classes! It’s the perfect place to bring the family as the options really are endless. The Beach; The beaches in Mexico are absolutely stunning– it’s one of the reasons why I love the country so much. Villa Del Palmar‘s beach was no exception… the white sand was so soft and gorgeous! We spent most of our time there and I managed to fit in quite a few beach yoga …

Carillon Miami Beach

Published by Molly Catherine

I have only ever transited though Miami, but never spent any length of time there. I think it will now be a regular destination for Irek and I as we absolutely loved the vibe and of course, the heat! We had the most amazing stay at Carillon Miami Beach… I can confidently say that it’s within my top 5 favourite hotels we’ve ever stayed in. Below are some highlights from our time in Miami… The Grounds; The grounds at Carillon were stunning. There were beautifully manicured gardens and palm trees everywhere, tons of lounge areas, and incredible views of the ocean from almost every angle. The hotel is situated right on the beach, and there is a lovely walking path right in front that stretches along the entire strip. Pool Area; There are two beautiful pools at Carillon, both of which overlook the ocean. It’s the perfect place to soak up the sun, listen to an audiobook and just chill out. Irek and I spent most of our time lounging by the pool and cooling down (it took us …

The Brazilian Court Hotel

Published by Molly Catherine

Irek and I arrived in Palm Beach last Monday and had such a lovely time. We stayed at The Brazilian Court Hotel, which had such a peaceful vibe, and was surrounded by tons and tons of greenery. If you know me, then you know if there is nature around, I’m happy. Below is a brief summary of our time at The Brazilian Court Hotel and some highlights from Palm Beach! The Grounds; I fell head over heels in love with the grounds at The Brazilian Court. Everywhere you walk is surrounded by palm trees and lush greenery. All day long the birds were chirping and the palm trees swaying in the wind. It felt like a scene from a movie, or from a time and place far in the past, that I’ve never experienced before. It’s the perfect place to meditate and just be…. Pool Area; The pool area was serene and gorgeous. I could have stayed there all day just listening to the sounds of nature and soaking up the sun. Unfortunately we were only visiting …

Joffre Lakes, Pemberton

Published by Molly Catherine

On Friday, Irek and I did one of the most beautiful hikes in BC… It’s called Joffre Lakes, and is located in Pemberton, about 30 minutes north of Whistler. There are 3 lakes you visit during this 4-5 hour hike, and they’re all so unique and beautiful. The water is a different shade of blue at each one and the mountain views are breathtaking. I feel most connected to the Earth when we are outside, fully immersed in nature. And, during this particular hike, we were lucky enough to see many different animals! We saw chipmunks, whiskey jacks, some deer, a blue heron, and… On the drive back, we saw a beautiful, big black bear! He was crossing the Sea to Sky Highway in Squamish. It was the closest we’ve ever been to a bear- he was only about 10 feet away from us. It was truly incredible. If you get a chance to visit Whistler, I definitely recommend you hike Joffre Lakes. It’s one of those magical places you’ll never forget. And, it’s just …

One Hundred Waterfalls, Hamilton

Published by Molly Catherine

Irek and I just recently spent 10 days in Ontario visiting family and attending some special events. We didn’t have too much time to explore but we did manage to visit a couple waterfalls in Hamilton the day before we left. Something I didn’t know (and I lived in Ontario for 24 years) is that Hamilton is actually home to 100 different waterfalls! The city sits on the Bruce Trail and the Niagara Escarpment and is full of unbelievable beauty. While we were exploring, I actually felt like we were back home in British Columbia! To get to the specific waterfalls we visited you would drive west of Toronto for about an hour and arrive at Tews Falls. It’s a beautiful area with lots of places to picnic. I definitely recommend visiting this area if you’re in the GTA. In my opinion, it’s the closest place to Toronto where you can experience nature to the fullest. Have a beautiful day & keep smiling! Cheers, Molly xx __________ “Our life is composed greatly from dreams, from the …

The Canadian Desert

Published by Molly Catherine

One of my favourite things to do in BC in the summer is visit as many different wineries in The Okanagan Valley as possible. This past weekend we decided it was time to road trip to Osoyoos! Osoyoos is the southern-most town in the Okanagan Valley, and on average has the hottest, driest summers in all of Canada. However, this year, I think Ontario is giving it a run for it’s money… It’s been ridiculously hot there this year- so I’m told! And I’ll be experiencing that heat myself in just a few short days when we fly out to visit family! 🙂 Now, Osoyoos is home to the first Aboriginal owned winery in North America, called Nk’Mip Cellars. It did not disappoint and has now become my new favourite in the Okanagan! The view from the patio restaurant was a dream… In fact, we loved it so much that we ended up staying for 4 hours and managed to put away quite a few glasses of wine. And speaking of wine, I also now have …

Twenty Mile Bay

Published by Molly Catherine

There truly is nothing like disconnecting from the world to spend a few days immersed in nature. Irek and I did just that this past weekend and went camping at Twenty Mile Bay, near Harrison Hot Springs. To reach the campsite, you have to off-road 40k through the mountains, with stellar views all the way. It’s one of my absolute favourite places in British Columbia… If you visit the area and are looking for an epic place to camp, this is it. It was the first time in weeks that we didn’t do any work and really didn’t think about much at all. We took the time to shut off our brains, relax, meditate, do yoga and absorb the beauty around us. I love so many things about camping; staring up at the stars at night, the fire dancing in the wind, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore (or the silence in the morning when the water is still)… Suffice to say, it was exactly what we needed to refresh ourselves and …

Half Note Trail, Whistler

Published by Molly Catherine

This past Friday Irek and I planned to do my favourite hike in Whistler called: High Note Trail. However, once we got to the top of Whistler Mountain, we quickly realized that the weather was not going to cooperate. It was looking as though we had a few chilly hours ahead of us… It was 10 degrees on the top of Whistler Mountain, at the most. The forecast was showing full sun and mid twenties, so we thought we’d both be okay with shorts and a t-shirt. We did this hike a couple years ago, and we both recall how hot we were! The sun was beating down and since it’s a black diamond hike (the most challenging hike on Whistler Mountain), we thought we’d quickly work up a sweat… This was not the case on Friday. We started the hike around 11am and quickly into the first hour the clouds rolled in- some not so happy looking, and the wind picked up. We were both shivering and knew it was going to be a …

Mission Hill Family Estate

Published by Molly Catherine

There is the most beautiful winery in Kelowna called Mission Hill Family Estate. I fell in love with it the first time we visited a few years ago. It’s such a dreamy, magical place, with vineyards surrounding the entire grounds and beautiful views of Lake Okanagan. Mission Hill is also home to The Terrace Restaurant, which is easily one of my favourite restaurants in The Okanagan Valley. They grow most of their own fruits and veggies and work closely with local farmers to source the rest. Irek and I both feel it deserves a 10/10 as the service is unparalleled and the food is to die for… There aren’t too many vegan options on the menu, but the chef was super accommodating and we couldn’t have been happier with our meals. Irek and I will probably head back to The Okanagan Valley a few more times before the season is over, and I recommend you do as well! Just keep in mind that since Mission Hill is one of the most well-known wineries in Kelowna, it …

The Okanagan Valley

Published by Molly Catherine

Irek and I spent the last couple of days in The Okanagan Valley, which is about a 4.5 hour drive from Vancouver. It’s a gorgeous place, with more wineries than you can imagine! I fell in love with this area the first time we discovered it, 3 years ago. There is nature all around and the climate is desert-like so it gets super hot in the summer. The valley is also home to the warmest lakes in all of Canada, so it’s a great place to explore if you like to be on the water (great for supping, kayaking, boating etc). Just outside of Kelowna (which is the main city) is a smaller town called Vernon. At the top of this beautiful hill in Vernon is a resort called Sparkling Hill, our favourite in all of British Columbia. We spent Christmas there this past year with our beautiful friends from Australia, Robyn and Lewis, and they fell in love as well. The resort has 8 different saunas and steam rooms, and it’s also decked out in …