All posts tagged: travel

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 …

So long, Summer!

Published by Molly Catherine

I can’t believe summer is coming to an end! It went so quickly this year, and I’m not ready for the rainy season yet! I’m trying to stay positive though and keep in mind that without the rain we wouldn’t have such a lush and beautiful province. So really, we should be grateful. 🙂 I did struggle a bit last year during the fall and winter months though, because we got so much rain; it really does affect your overall mindset (if you let it). It was the most rain we’ve experienced since Irek and I moved here 3 + years ago. So this year, we’re taking matters into our owns hands and have decided that the best option is to travel once every month or so, and head to tropical places only! This way we’ll break up the winter and it won’t feel so long. Next month we’re heading to Florida and Mexico, followed by Bali and Australia in November/December. But, in the meantime… I’m trying to get outside as much as possible and do …

Lettuce Love Cafe

Published by Molly Catherine

I’m so happy that we made a last minute decision to try Lettuce Love Cafe in Burlington the day before we flew home to VanCity. Lettuce Love Cafe is situated in the beautiful city of Burlington, Ontario (about an hour South of Toronto). It’s 100% plant-based and the food was absolutely delicious! It’s safe to say it was the best food we’ve had in the GTA since transitioning to a herbivorous lifestyle. Lettuce Love Cafe has actually been rated the #1 restaurant in Burlington multiple times over the last 6 years and they have plans to expand and also offer a smoothie bar + smoothie bowls right next door! What more do you need in life?! I already can’t wait to go back next time I’m in the area! Irek and I both rate this restaurant a 10/10 hands down. We loved our meals so much. I had a Mexican bowl with a really nice tofu scramble, and Irek had a power bowl with sweet potatoes, kale, mushrooms etc. We also tried some avocado fries, which …

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 Naam Restaurant

Published by Molly Catherine

Lately, I’ve been hearing really good things about The Naam Restaurant, located in the heart of Kitsilano. So, on our way to the beach the other day we stopped in for a quick lunch to see for ourselves. The Naam has a lovely outdoor patio area with plants all around and a really homey, welcoming feel. The menu has a huge selection of different cuisines, from Mexican, to Thai, to Italian even. I had a very hard time deciding what to order! We went with nachos to start, which were good, although too much daiya cheese (dairy-free) for my liking. And then I had a veggie burrito with a garden salad and some potatoes. The burrito was good, although again, too much daiya cheese. The flavours overall were nice but for me, there was just something missing… it didn’t ‘wow’ me. And as for Irek, he ordered his usual – a veggie burger. He said pretty much the same thing; the food was good but it wasn’t outstanding. That being said, The Naam is open 24 …

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 …