Posts Tagged ‘Family Travel’

A Packing Checklist For Your Summer Vacation

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

While going on a summer vacation is fun, packing for it is not.

Packing Tips for Summer Vacation

There’s the rushing around, getting things into bags and fitting it all in the car. Then there’s the worry that you’ll forget something important.  It’s no wonder ‘What should we bring?‘ is the biggest question we get asked.

One way to ease the stress of packing is to have a checklist. Then on the actually packing day, all you have to do is check off each item. No need to make any decisions or rely on your memory.

To get you started, we polled our staff & used our decades in the business to provide you with a list of what you might need to bring on your Blue Mountain summer vacation.

Clothing

Clothing can be a challenge when you’re packing for more than one person. Print off a copy of the clothing list for each member of the family and have them gather together their own clothes. If you don’t trust them, you can double check, but it will save you having to hunt for yourself.

  • Underwear, socks and bras – enough for each day unless you plan to do laundry
  • Shoes – sandals, flip flops, running shoes, hiking shoes, dress shoes (for dining out)
  • T-shirts
  • Sweater or sweatshirt and a jacket for cool evenings
  • Shorts
  • Cotton pants & jeans
  • A dressy outfit for dining out (more than one if you’ll be dining out frequently)
  • Hat & Sunglasses
  • Bathrobe or beach cover-up
  • Bathing suit(s)
  • Pajamas & slippers

Toiletries

Don’t forget your essential toiletries. Visit a drug store well in advance and get travel sized versions of everything. Not only will it save space in your packing, you can leave it behind when you leave, giving you more room to pack souvenirs.

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Hair brush, mousse, gel or other hair pro (more…)

7 Tips for a Cheap Family Vacation

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Anyone with children knows that raising a family is expensive. Food, clothing, school supplies, and extra-curricular activities all add up quickly. And, for many, this recession lingers.  When summer rolls around and you start thinking about your family vacation, budgeting can seem daunting. However, with a little planning, you can still have a great get-away without breaking the bank.

1. Plan your meals

When travelling with a family, food can be the biggest expense. It is also a big headache if traveling with fussy eaters who balk at new and different foods. Finding a place to stay with a kitchen can easily solve these problems. By preparing some of your meals yourself can greatly reduce your costs.

Even if you don’t have access to cooking facilities, you can still save money. Most vacation rental places – even hotels – have at least a fridge for you to use. Bring milk, fruit and cereal to serve fast and easy breakfasts. However, don’t expect a hotel to have dishes. Plan ahead by visiting a dollar store to bring along some basic dishes and cutlery.

Family travel deals can come from avoiding restaurants.

If taking a vacation from cooking is part of the appeal of getting away, you can still save money on food. Most grocery stores have a deli counter where you can buy salads and sandwiches for much less than a restaurant meal. Pick up food and drinks for an inexpensive picnic lunch while you’re out and about.

2. Take a Shorter Trip

There’s no law that says you need to get away for two weeks. Plan a long weekend or a mid-week getaway. You’ll still come home refreshed but won’t need the same budget as a longer vacation. Mini-vacations have the added benefit of being easier to pack for and less stressful on toddlers.

3. Off-season rates

If you’ve got a tight budget, check to see if your vacation rental or hotel has off-season times. Often these will be cheaper than peak season.

4. Bring Toys, Games and Sporting Equipment

Packing balls, bats, kites and water toys allows you to plan a no-cost day at a park or beach near your hotel. Create a (more…)

Why Blue Mountain is the Best Place to Take a Vacation in Ontario

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Visitors to Ontario often don’t realize how big the province really is.  How many times has a relative flown in to visit and said to you, “Let’s go to Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, and the Parliament Buildings. Then tomorrow …”?  Even when they look on the map, the just don’t get how far apart everything is.

But anyone who lives here knows Ontario takes up a lot of space.  You can’t see it all in one day.  And because we’re so big, each region has its own distinct landscape.

A  picture of the beauty of the Blue Mountain area

From the top of the Blue Mountains to the shores of Georgian Bay

The Blue Mountain region is different from the rest of the province.  As you drive towards the area, gradually the land becomes more rolling, more hilly.  The hillsides are covered with lush forests or rolling farmland. At the tops of the hills, you catch glimpses of Georgian Bay.  As the landscape changes, you know you’re getting closer to your destination.

In the spring, Blue Mountain has that fresh, young green colour of new shoots and new leaves.  Everything is starting to burst with life.  Summer brings a deeper green, as everything is in full leaf.  Autumn turns into an explosion of colour.  There’s nothing quite as stunning as the Collingwood hillsides covered in oranges, yellows and reds on a sunny October day.  And winter has its own special beauty.  The rolling hills covered in a blanket of fresh, white snow.  The crisp, clean feel that is missing from city snow … assuming the city has any snow.

But Blue Mountain is more than natural beauty.  Yes, there are many outdoors activities; snowmobiling and skiing in the winter, hiking and boating in the summer.  But once you’ve had enough of the outdoors, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep you busy. You can spend an afternoon wandering through an art gallery or a museum.  You can go shopping at the many local boutiques and shops.  When you’ve enough, get dressed up and enjoy a quiet dinner at a luxury restaurant. Or be casual and have a great meal at lively pub.  Or just stay in and enjoy the beautiful homes & cottages we rent.  The choice is yours.

And perhaps the best part of a Blue Mountain vacation is how easy it is to get here.  From Toronto, you can hop in your car straight from work and be sitting down for a late dinner in less time than it would take you to get through airport security.  No long line-ups, no baggage search, no uncomfortable plane trip.  Just a pleasant drive through lovely countryside, then before you know it, you’re already starting your vacation.  What could be better?

Feel free to add why you love living or vacationing in the area.

Photo credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hollyberrie05/ / CC BY 2.0