All posts tagged: travel

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 …

Cannes, France

Published by Molly Catherine

Irek and I were in Cannes last week for four days. Unfortunately two of the four days the weather did not cooperate! The first day it was cloudy and rainy, and the second day it was so windy that we couldn’t even hang at the beach! So suffice to say, we didn’t get to explore as much as we would have liked… However, once the sun came out on the third day and the weather calmed, we took advantage and headed straight for the beach! The view from the beach is incredible too with beautiful mountains in the background and gorgeous yachts all around! It was very inspiring! Cannes is beautiful, but it definitely had a more westernized feel than Nice. There were high-end shops everywhere you look; Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci etc. It wasn’t exactly my style, as I’m not one for shopping really. Irek and I both prefer to be outdoors and exploring nature, than inside shopping for handbags and watches! But, if that is your style, then Cannes is most definitely the …

Sunshine and Cocktails in Nice

Published by Molly Catherine

A few days ago we did some exploring in Nice and ended up climbing to the top of this hill that overlooks the city and has incredible views of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s so important when traveling to find areas where you can get different perspectives to really appreciate your surroundings. Looking down on Nice from above made me feel entirely grateful for this life, for the people I travel with, and for the ability to experience different places and cultures. After we walked around for a while just soaking in the beauty, we had a few cocktails and some snacks at a little bar by the water… then we proceeded to the beach! This was the first time during the entire trip that we really took some time to just relax and take it easy! It was much needed and we all felt very rejuvenated after. 🙂 Have a beautiful day and keep smiling! Cheers, Molly xx Ps. Happy Father’s Day to my wonderful Dad; I love you so very much. __________ “Life is a …

Èze Village, France

Published by Molly Catherine

The other day we went to the most beautiful little town called Èze Village. It’s actually the highest point in all of Côte D’Azur so the view of the Mediterranean Sea was breathtaking. It was first populated around 2000 BC, so you can imagine all the history that lives there. Walt Disney actually spent a significant amount of time in this medieval village over the years. I have never fallen in love with a place so fast like I did with Èze; the cobblestone pathways, the stone buildings, the colourful flowers, the cute little shops… It was something out of a story book; so charming and romantic. I can only imagine all the inspiration Walt Disney must have cultivated in this beautiful place. We explored the exotic gardens at the very top of the village and I was in absolute awe of the beautiful succulents and cacti from all around the world. Irek and I also shared a bottle of rose at this amazing bar overlooking the sea. We both agreed that it was the most beautiful …

Caju Vegan Restaurant

Published by Molly Catherine

If you’re looking for healthy, raw, plant-based options in Nice I have the perfect solution for you! There is this incredible little restaurant in Old Town called Caju Vegan. They are not fully raw but have tons of raw options, cold-pressed juices, amazing smoothies, and so much more. It was exactly what Irek and I needed to refuel our bodies after too much wine in Paris! Not only was the food amazing, but the two owners were the loveliest people we’ve come across during our travels in France. They gave us suggestions of where to travel, and just had such beautiful energy. It was so refreshing visiting this restaurant- it had a very similar feel to many of the vegan restaurants we go to in Vancouver- so if you’re in Nice and dying for some high quality plant-based food, you MUST go to Caju Vegan. We are heading back to Nice for a couple of days on the weekend and will most definitely be going back. 🙂 Cheers, Molly xx __________ “Ethical veganism results in a profound …

Nice, France

Published by Molly Catherine

Since I’m not one for major touristy things, Paris was a bit overwhelming for me! The crowds were extra crazy due to the Euro Cup and so it wasn’t relaxing by any means… That being said, it was still an amazing experience and I’m super grateful to have been able to see all the amazing buildings, structures, and famous landmarks Paris has to offer. Also, we had wonderful company, which makes any city you travel to that much more enjoyable and memorable. All that being said, when Irek and I arrived in Nice a few days ago, it was like a breath of fresh air! We definitely prefer to be close to the sea or ocean as much as possible, and also enjoy warmer climates… So we really have come to love Nice! We found a beautiful Airbnb about a 20 minute walk down to the beach, so the location was super convenient. It was also very nice to start the day with a bit of a walk… Although we’ve been walking 15-20 km everyday! …

Exploring Paris

Published by Molly Catherine

I’ve been in France now for 5 days and it has been an absolute whirlwind. We spent the first couple of days exploring the city and seeing the sights, and on the third day my sister got married to her wonderful husband beside the Seine River. It was an honour for Irek and I to serve as their witnesses and to experience such a beautiful ceremony. Paris is definitely a busy, happening place. It’s even busier right now with tourists than usual as France is hosting the Euro Cup. I am not one for crowds really and so 3 days in Paris was enough for me. But definitely glad we were able to explore a bit, see the amazing architecture, and spend quality time with my sister and now brother-in-law. I also got to see my beautiful adoptive Godmother after 12 years, so that really made my trip thus far. Irek and I arrived in Nice yesterday afternoon and now we’re about to head out into the city and explore Old Town. It’s been a …

Alice Lake

Alice Lake

Published by Molly Catherine

Irek and I did a bit of exploring around the Squamish area this weekend. On our way to Whistler we always pass by this sign that says “Alice Lake” and are always intrigued. This time we decided to stop by and have a look! Turns out it’s a beautifully secluded little area with tons of places to picnic and a lovely beach area. We noticed right away how quiet it was and the area just felt very calming. We looked on the map to see if there were any hikes to do to find some nice view points. We ended up just doing a short 2 hour hike through the forest, which was super easy, and there wasn’t too much of a view. However, if you have little ones, or are not into super tough hikes then this one would be a good option. We’ll definitely be going back and bringing a SUP. The lake was perfect for supping, especially if you’re a newbie, as it was very calm and quiet. There were at least …

Deception Pass Park Washington

Deception Pass

Published by Molly Catherine

There is the most amazing park about 2 hours south of Vancouver in Washington, called Deception Pass State Park. Irek and I haven’t done too much exploring in Washington since we moved to BC almost 3 years ago, but there is so much to discover all around the Pacific North West. This park in Washington was surrounded by some of the greenest water I’ve ever seen. It was breathtaking and really took me by surprise. Once we went down below the bridge, the only sounds you could hear were birds chirping and bees buzzing! And, overhead, eagles were soaring and pelicans were hunting for fish. It was absolutely incredible, I fell in love with it. We didn’t realize how huge the state park was, until we arrived and had a look at the map. We could have spent much longer than just the few hours we were there exploring. It’s definitely on my high priority list to head back there, and potentially camp for a few days in the summer. Hope you enjoy the pictures …