Tide-Pooling in Vancouver Island's Botany Bay

One of my favourite things to do when I'm oceanside is hunt for tide pools. The abundance of flora and fauna that can be found within a tide pool gives you a little window into what the ocean floor might look like in that area.

What exactly is a 'tide pool'? Here is the official definition from Wikipedia: "Tide pools or rock pools are shallow pools of seawater that form on the rocky intertidal shore. Many of these pools exist as separate bodies of water only at low tide. Many tide pools are habitats of especially adaptable animals." The animals that typically enjoy tide pool environments are starfish, anemones, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, snails, crabs, and many more I'm sure!

When we visited Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island last month, I insisted on visiting the famous Botany Beach where tide pools dot the ocean's edge.

5 Family Friendly Activities in Parksville, British Columbia

Are you planning to visit the picturesque town of Parksville on British Columbia's Vancouver Island? If you are there with kids, there is no end of fun adventures to be had. My family and I recently spent three days in the Parksville, B.C. area and ran out of time to explore of all the great things the town and surroundings had to offer.

To make planning your vacation to the region a little easier, I've made a handy-dandy list of exciting family outings to try during your stay. (And even if you don't have children with you, you should try these activities anyway!)

This isn't even a full list - I have additional activities posted on my blog and my YouTube channel as well. I will include links to all of these extra articles and videos at the bottom of this post to help you find what you need!

Bike Along the Shores of South Beach in Miami

During the planning phase of my trip to Miami, which happened in October, I read several blog posts and articles about how to get around Miami Beach most effectively. Walking along the boardwalk, taking shuttle buses to and from your hotel to the various beaches, grabbing an Uber - there are many different ways to access the different hot spots in Miami Beach. One that I knew my husband and I would want to try was to rent a bike and cruise along the streets and boardwalk, taking in the sights while getting some healthy exercise.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach: The Glitz and Glam of Miami Beach

In October of 2016, my husband and I had the opportunity to stay in a five-star hotel resort in Miami, Florida during Joey's annual work AGM. We would probably never have had the chance to stay in such a swanky place on our own, so I was incredibly excited for the occasion to explore a hotel of that rating. (Thank you, MNP, for the amazing work retreat! It was fabulous!)

Return Holidays: Why You Can't Discount a Repeat Trip

I believe I can speak for all travel junkies out there when I say that traveling to new and previously unexplored places is addicting. The thrill of seeing something amazing for the first time, or undergoing a totally new experience, gives those of us who love travel something equivalent to an adrenaline rush. The anticipation of an adventure somewhere new is almost as exciting as the journey itself.

Bucket List Item: Introducing Baby to Costa Rica

Last month, my family ventured to Costa Rica for our first international family vacation. Flying was surprisingly easy, as I discussed in my last post (which was about a month ago - I have been very neglectful of this poor little blog!).  The rest of the trip was just as stress-free, for the most part. We LOVED introducing our beloved Costa Rica to our 10-month-old babe, Avy!

Get Married in Costa Rica on the Beach

I was never the type of child to dream about her wedding. I never dressed up as a bride, or cut out pictures of flowers and dresses. When I was 25, I worked at a museum that had a lovely viewing space, which was used for weddings.

Since the wedding planner at our building ironically didn't work weekends, I had the lovely job of using her notes to make sure the weddings were pulled off according to plan. After an entire summer of suffering through brides, the mothers of the bride, and drunken grooms and guests, I HATED weddings.