Professional writer and editor who operates Cathy Donaldson Communications (cathydonaldson.ca). She is an experienced communications specialist and an accredited travel writer. Contact her at cathy@cathydonaldson.ca
I wrote a feature recently about my family’s recent trip to Boston. (Haven’t read it? See it here.)
Since I took oodles of pics leading up to the Boston Marathon and afterwards, I decided to make this blog post a ‘behind the scenes’ photo essay of that trip. Boston is such a great city that it’s hard not to go camera crazy!
Hubby and I began our journey in Moncton, New Brunswick. (That’s us in the car, caffeine close by.)
Click the pics that follow to read the captions and follow our journey!
With lots of chatter along the way, we trekked over to Boylston Street where the public was invited to visit the Marathon Finish Line before the race. SO exciting to see the venue up close after viewing it on TV for so many years!
We split up for a bit while Sidney, hubby and I checked into our gorgeous room at the iconic Boston Harbor Hotel on the city’s waterfront
That night, we discovered Boston’s Little Italy, a great place to help my daughter and her run buddy carb-load for the marathon. A friend had recommended Antico Forno. Not the place for a quiet conversation that night (a full house!) but the perfect locale to get pumped for the upcoming run.
We woke up to a sunny Easter Sunday and an incredible breakfast at the Boston Harbor Hotel’s Rowes Wharf Sea Grille.
When it was finally race day, the Donaldson cheer squad (and friends!) positioned itself in Kenmore Square near the Citgo sign, about a mile (aka 1.6 km) from the finish.
We grabbed the subway to meet Sarah on the Boston Common for some post-race hugs!
Once in a blue moon, you meet a kindred spirit, someone you immediately know you’re going to like.
In today’s post, I’d like to give a shout out to two such people—one who I’ve known for ages; the other who I just met. Both women have done amazing work in the travel sector and deserve oodles of credit for their achievements!
I’ll start with Annick Robichaud Butland, owner of ABConnect Travel & Tourism Services, based in Hillsborough, N.B.
Annick and her company have been on my radar for months, so I arranged to grab a tea with her last week near her home in Riverview.
Within a few short minutes, I could tell this Dieppe-raised gal was the real deal, someone who had dedicated her life’s work to building partnerships and making a true impact on the travel industry in our region.
“I started ABConnect Travel & Tourism Services in 2019 after seeing a need among small- and medium-size businesses with various tourism needs,” says Annick. “The contract work varies from translation to product development, whatever specific needs the business has.”
She currently has a team of four who work with a range of partners in all sectors from governments to non-profits, as well as a wide range of small- and medium-size businesses from across the region. One of the key offerings of her firm is developing exciting itineraries to elevate those businesses to larger markets and tour operators.
“That’s the core of our operation,” says Annick. “But we’re also pleased to work with individuals and groups interested in having someone plan travel for them in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, and New York City.”
After working more than a decade for the Province of New Brunswick as Manager of Admissions and Groups at Hopewell Rocks, and later as Managing Director of Fundy’s Cape Enrage, Annick knew she had the experience to be a much-needed liaison between smaller businesses and tour agencies.
The mom of five and avid volunteer completed a degree in Organizational Management at Crandall University in 2011, taking night classes 20 hours a week while working full-time. (Her supportive husband, Tony, was a huge help!) The degree broadened her skill set and boosted her confidence to eventually create her own business.
Annick was proud but humble as she spoke about what she’s achieved. Her work ethic and enthusiasm for life are inspiring!
“I believe that giving every task 100 per cent is important for myself but also for those who put their trust in me and my work,” she says. “And I’m really passionate about travel. It opens our minds and our hearts while accumulating valuable life points along the way.”
For more information about Annick and her company, check out www.ABConnect.ca.
The other person I’m happy to highlight as a trailblazer in the travel sector is Sandra Phinney, a professional writer and photographer, who lives near Yarmouth, N.S.
She is Atlantic Canada’s travel writing and mentoring gem.
I first met Sandra at a travel writing workshop in Hampton, N.B. in 2012 and was blown away by her wealth of knowledge and desire to share her craft. I’d been writing travel features for more than a decade at that point but was super impressed with Sandra’s ability to build a freelance business that included travel writing. Her strategy for ‘piggy-backing’ stories—developing content for multiple pieces on one trip—was an eye-opener for me.
The fact Sandra wasn’t a former journalist or professional writer when she began her freelance career also had me in awe.
“I came into the writing life in my mid-fifties and didn’t have a clue,” she told me in a recent chat. “But I think that former careers in teaching, social work, and farming gave me some basic people skills. I’m also a Type-A personality, love a challenge, and have an insatiable curiosity. Initially, I spent 80 per cent of my time analyzing magazines and newspapers, finding markets. I then spent 10 per cent of my time pitching stories to editors and 10 per cent actually writing. I had about a 25 per cent batting average. Slowly, over the years, that’s completely reversed to the point that my batting average is around 75 per cent and I’m writing 80 per cent of the time. But it was a huge amount of work in the beginning, with very little pay!”
Sandra credits the late Nova Scotian Glen Hancock as her first mentor and key to her success. Hancock had worked as a journalist, editor, columnist, and teacher. He was also involved in the formation of the School of Journalism at the University of Kings College in Halifax.
“Glen was in his 70s when I met him and was living in Wolfville, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from my home,” says Sandra. “He graciously agreed to mentor me so, for over a year, I went to his home once a month for an afternoon, with two other wannabe freelance writers. What an enormous gift that was!”
Since she started her freelance career in 1999, adding travel writing to her portfolio in 2001, Sandra has penned four books, contributed to several travel guides, and had articles appear in more than 70 publications, from Saltscapes Magazine to Canadian Geographic and the Toronto Star. She has also won numerous writing and photography awards. (Check out her work at www.sandraphinney.com.)
To satisfy her craving to teach, Sandra continues to give workshops on various topics including narrative, writing memoir, and how to start a freelance business in travel writing.
As someone who learned so much at Sandra’s travel writing course a decade ago, and during visits since, I highly recommend her upcoming workshop on travel writing and photography April 23 at the By the River B&B in Fredericton. Registration is available by contacting Mary Ellen Hudson at maryellen.hudson@fredericton.ca or (506) 292-0842, or Neil Hodge at Neil.Hodge@gnb.ca or (506) 869-0714.
How is it possible that a travel writer who has lived in a province more than 20 years hasn’t truly explored its capital city? Downright embarrassing, I say!
Alas, my dirty little secret is a thing of the past after a weekend of adventure and learning in Atlantic Canada’s ‘Riverfront Capital’—Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Hubby and I hit the road from Moncton mid-afternoon Friday for the two-hour drive along the Trans-Canada Highway to the province’s third largest city (population of 64,000). Some find the drive a tad boring with few landmarks and continuous forests but we thoroughly enjoyed the trek, just so glad to be travelling! (And, yes, there was an obligatory detour at the Irving Big Stop/Tim Horton’s in Salisbury for treats/caffeine.)
Dance Fever at the Crowne Plaza
After eventually veering off the T-Can onto Route 7 (aka The Vanier Highway), we found ourselves on Fredericton’s Regent Street and spotted familiar sites, like the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, the ‘FREDERICTON’ water tower, and Regent Mall. Memories flooded back of running around said mall many moons ago with my teenage daughters and their friends during a visit for a high school drama festival. Wow, it had been a while!
We followed Regent Street along its straight, downhill course into the heart of Fredericton, heading to Queen Street and the Crowne Plaza Fredericton-Lord Beaverbrook Hotel, where we’d stay our first night. It was my inaugural visit to the seven-floor, riverside hotel, which opened in 1948.
As we hauled our suitcases into the spacious lobby, past elegant décor and impressive staircases with beautiful wrought-iron work, all seemed serene for a Friday afternoon.
Not for long.
An elevator opened producing a bubbly gaggle of girls with ponytails and matching outfits. Soon, the adjacent elevator revealed another bouncy crew who we’d later learn were among many guests taking part in a dance competition.
The upbeat vibe continued after we checked in and dropped by The Joyce, a cozy pub/craft beer mecca, located on the hotel’s main floor. The place was hopping with dance families, but I nabbed a table and a cold brew for hubby and me.
We soon spotted Tourism Fredericton rep Mary Ellen Hudson who I’d arranged to meet for suggestions on how to get better acquainted with the city. Since her initial recommendation involved a night on the town, hubby and I made haste to get spiffy in our recently renovated room. Then we were off for a duel.
Dueling pianos, that is.
Sing us a song, you’re the piano man
We opted to grab a cab for the five-minute drive from the Crowne Plaza Fredericton-Lord Beaverbrook to the Delta by Marriott Fredericton, which was hosting the Dueling Pianos and Dinner Theatre Experience. (The hotel holds creative events often, I’m told.) I’d heard of such piano shows before but had never seen one and was excited to witness Toronto’s ‘Great Canadian Dueling Pianos’.
Once the sold-out, seated crowd of 300 enjoyed a delicious, three-course meal served by Delta staff, keyboard masters Joel Lightman and Cody Fenwick took centre stage, each at his own piano. The musicians—who boast decades of international touring experience—took audience requests as they tickled the ivories and belted out tracks ranging from pop and country to disco, hip hop, and heavy metal.
We joined folks we met at our table of eight in singing along to classics like Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, Meatloaf’s Paradise by the Dashboard Light, and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Some in the crowd opted to dance the night away next to their tables or in the aisles. There was a whole lot of happy going on! (Pandemic, what pandemic?)
Eat, drink, and browse
The next morning, I pondered a dip in the Crowne Plaza’s heated, saltwater pool or a relax in its steam room, but opted to get rolling since we had a jam-packed slate of places to go and things to do.
Our plans would see us cover much of Fredericton, which is bisected by the St. John River.
The city’s southside includes the downtown core, which consists of provincial government offices, historic buildings, and numerous businesses, including our hotel and several others. It also contains many of the city’s cultural attractions, such as The Fredericton Playhouse, the Fredericton Region Museum, and the soon-to-reopen Beaverbrook Art Gallery.
South of downtown is a neighbourhood known as ‘The Hill’. In addition to homes and retail outlets, this area houses the adjoining campuses of the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University. Further east are more residential neighbourhoods as well as malls, big box stores, and shops galore.
Fredericton’s northside is comprised of suburban areas once considered separate communities, such as Devon, Nashwaaksis, Marysville, and Barker’s Point. The northside is also home to the Saint Mary’s First Nation.
The fact that Fredericton’s downtown is relatively small and very walkable meant we could leave our vehicle parked for much of our initial exploring.
After a stroll from the hotel, past the Playhouse, the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, and Christ Church Cathedral, we hiked a few streets over to the Boyce Farmers Market, which is open Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-round. I love a good market and this one—considered one of the top 10 markets to visit in Canada—sure fit the bill.
My late mother-in-law lived in Fredericton for 15 years and raved about the market, often purchasing items as Christmas gifts for our family, including our beloved fish-shaped cribbage board. Low and behold, we located Joe’s Woodworking, the vendor where our fishy board originated! We didn’t see Joe but chatted with his wife, Joyce Pitre, one of the many pleasant conversations we had with merchants on our tour.
It was tempting to start early Christmas shopping with the multitude of well-priced, finely crafted items for sale. We resisted and instead exited with yummy baked goods and fresh produce.
To re-energize for the next segment of our Fredericton Refresher, we took a seat at Ready to Eat, a newer restaurant at the market. Chef Matt Mackenzie, formerly of the Crowne Plaza, offers an interesting menu of breakfast classics with a twist, each made with local ingredients from market vendors.
I would be lying to say I did not inhale my wild mushroom bruschetta. Our courteous server had barely put my full plate in front of me before it was licked clean. Patrons at adjoining tables might have wondered how such a petite person could have devoured the two-poached-egg-sourdough-toast-fresh-parmesan-rosemary-and black-pepper-cream creation so quickly. It was seriously that good. (Apologies to those who witnessed the carnage, and to Chef Matt if I inadvertently proposed marriage.)
The remainder of the morning involved me gushing about my breakfast and engaging in a pursuit I enjoy almost as much as eating: shopping! Fredericton has an awesome array of unique boutiques, stores, and galleries making it a fun destination for shoppers of all interests.
Hubby and I spent a few hours perusing wares throughout the downtown core, with faves including those at The Artisan District, Urban Almanac, and Room to Remember. When our feet needed a break, we grabbed hot drinks at the Tipsy Muse, a sweet café on Regent Street where one can apparently also go for live music, art installations, poetry, and film screenings. Very cool vibe. Very rejuvenating beverages.
History lessons
Tea and coffee in hand, we sauntered over to the riverfront trail in time to see a solo kayaker cast beautiful reflections on an eerily calm St. John River. Darkening clouds didn’t deter him, nor us, as we continued our walk along the paved trail.
Hubby stopped not far down the path to check out a series of posts near the Westmorland Street Bridge, striking a pose next to one for height comparison. Online research later revealed that the City of Fredericton commissioned artist Gerald Beaulieu to create the public sculpture in 2016 to serve as both a high-water measuring stick as well as art.
Beaulieu later added another post to “Watermark”. The new pole, encased in copper, denotes ‘2018’ at the 8.31-metre mark. That was the year a spring flood displaced hundreds of New Brunswickers and caused tens of millions in damage. We’d seen photos of the flood’s aftermath, but the art installation made our history lesson that much clearer.
From the flood zone, we made a brief stop at the lighthouse that dots the Fredericton landscape. The red-and-white structure once housed the gift shop and ticket booth of a local tour boat business and is now operated in summer as ‘540 at The Lighthouse’, one of three restaurants in the ‘540’ family.
We wound our way back from the river’s edge to the Historic Garrison District, an area established as a British military garrison in 1784, the same year the province was founded. The Officers’ Quarters building that today houses the Fredericton Region Museum forms the centrepiece of what was the military compound. The Soldiers’ Barracks, Guardhouse, and Militia Stores are among other compound buildings still standing.
Historical records reveal that Fredericton was first inhabited by aboriginal peoples, the Wolastoqiyik (also known as Maliseet) and Mi’kmaq. French pioneers established settlements at the head of the Bay of Fundy and along the St. John River Valley as far as present-day Fredericton and called the entire Maritime region Acadia. In 1692, the French built Fort Nashwaak, which served as the capital of Acadia. (The site of the fort is marked by a plaque located in what is now Carleton Park, near the intersection of Union and Gibson streets on Fredericton’s northside.)
Fast forward to 1713, when the Treaty of Utrecht was signed in Holland, putting an end to the War of Spanish Succession. The treaty saw France cede mainland Acadia (Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) to Britain.
The decades that followed were tumultuous, from the deportation of all Acadians who refused to take an oath of allegiance to Britain, to the arrival of the Loyalists, who fled persecution in the aftermath of the American Revolution. While there’s much that can be said of this period, I’ll wrap up this historical brief by saying that Britain went on to establish Fredericton as the capital of New Brunswick in 1785.
If time had permitted, this history buff would have loved to have toured the Fredericton Region Museum and discovered more about the city’s past. Hubby and I made note to do that next time, and to learn more about the Garrison District in warmer months, when our noses and toes weren’t so cold.
With the Garrison Night Market set to return for the summer on Thursday nights, we’ll have yet another reason to visit. That market features everything from local and imported handmade products, art, craft, clothing, local farm products, local beverages, and great food. (Did I mention how much I love good food??)
Of course, the folks at Tourism Fredericton had also encouraged me to return when the Beaverbrook Art Gallery reopens in April after a major expansion to its Queen Street building. Or maybe consider at ticket for the East Coast Music Awards in May. How about the Harvest Music Festival in September?
Maybe we should just relocate to Fredericton?
A tale of two trails
After a quick thaw in our van, hubby and I ventured to Odell Park, just south of downtown. We picked a non-snow-covered trail, one of 16 kilometres of paths winding their way through an old growth forest. The sun broke through as we meandered, its warmth awakening birds of all kinds perched high in the treetops. It also seemed to bring out joggers and families, with some of the latter spotted in the distance enjoying the playground, having a picnic, or walking their dogs.
Having built up a thirst on the Odell excursion, we motored to a trail of another sort, The Taproom Trail.
Fredericton boasts the largest number of craft brewers per capita in the Maritimes with 26 local breweries, cideries, distilleries, meaderies, and wineries. In 2020, Fredericton Tourism partnered with local taprooms to create the ‘Fredericton Taproom Trail’. Each time a patron buys a pint or flight at a participating establishment, they receive a stamp, enabling them to collect prizes.
We parked on the city’s northside near the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge, a former railway bridge that has been used as a pedestrian crossing since 1997. Today, the 607-metre span is part of the Trans Canada Trail and appeared popular with cyclists, runners, walkers, and families with strollers during our jaunt.
Rather than walk the bridge after a good hike in Odell, we followed the riverfront trail to Picaroons Roundhouse, part of the Taproom Trail. What a cool spot!
Built in 1885, B. Mooney & Sons erected the massive roundhouse at the Gibson Railway Yard for the Northern and Western Railway. The brick structure, which later served the Canada Eastern and Canadian National Railway, has been beautifully restored and now serves as Picaroons’ brewery and tasting room.
After hubby and I made our beer selection, we grabbed a couple of stools along a window bar and surveyed the large, casual space. While busy with clusters of families, friends, and loads of folks with dogs (yes, it’s a dog-friendly business), the cavernous layout meant it didn’t feel crammed. The huge outdoor patio gives Roundhouse customers another seating option, with groupings of Adirondack chairs around glowing firepits adding to the chill atmosphere.
Picaroons was one of the highlights of our weekend, as was the dinner that followed at the 540 Kitchen & Bar on Queen Street, and a chocolatey dessert from Isaac’s Way, another restaurant on Queen.
Sweet dreams are made of this
But the most memorable part of our stay came after a short drive along Fredericton’s Waterloo Row, a southside riverfront street with beautiful Victorian mansions. Our destination was the Quartermain House Bed and Breakfast.
The exterior of the 1840s Gothic Revival home made hubby and I feel as if we were stepping into a dollhouse. In fact, the steeply pitched roof, pointed arches, delicate wooden trim, and paint colours (burgundy and white with a dapper blue door) reminded us of our daughters’ dollhouses.
Once inside, the dreaminess of the five-star property continued.
The downstairs entrance with its glorious chandelier led to a drawing room (library) on one side, featuring a large fireplace, quality furnishings, and gentle lighting. The living room on the other side seemed straight out of Pride and Prejudice, abundant in florals of pink and green, rich velvets, and timely accents, such as adorable Easter decorations.
It was no surprise when we later learned that co-owner Debra Quartermain, is a design aficionado, not to mention chef and hostess supreme.
From the moment we arrived, Debra tended to our every need and felt like someone we had known forever.
I made an audible gasp as she opened the door to our room for the night, the ‘Quartermain Quarters’. Wonderfully decorated with gorgeous furnishings and crisp white linens, the bedroom was the epitome of luxury. Its ensuite was pure heaven.
I’m not sure what I liked most about our bathroom: the double-headed shower, the massive soaker tub, or the stunning tiles that adorned the walls and floor. (In-floor heating was a delightful bonus.)
Debra returned for a chat after we’d gleefully settled in, telling us about the property’s history. Thomas Harrison occupied the two-and-a-half-storey home as early as 1871. The UNB professor resided in the home in 1885 when he was appointed President of the university, the first New Brunswicker to hold the title.
New Brunswick Premier and Lieutenant-Governor John Babbit McNair later owned the property. Debra noted that during McNair’s time at 92 Waterloo many dignitaries and royalty were entertained.
After being subsequently owned by various individuals, Debra and her brother, Robert, purchased the residence in 2012. After months of meticulous renovations, Quartermain House B&B opened in 2013. In its first two years of operation, it garnered top ranking in North America by Booking.com and continues to receive guest accolades.
After a wonderful night’s rest, hubby and I floated to the lovely breakfast room downstairs. Debra’s attention to detail came shining through yet again as she unveiled an enormous breakfast of juice, tea and coffee, homemade mini doughnuts (still warm!), a fluffy frittata or omelette (I was too absorbed in the taste to ask), and scrumptious waffles with peaches and maple syrup. Let’s not forget the exquisite tray of extras: a mini pail of maple syrup, a bowl of strawberries, orange slices, and whipped cream.
At some point we pushed away from the ample table, solemnly packed our belongings, and said our heartfelt goodbyes to Debra.
We weren’t back in the van long before making plans for our next visit to Quartermain House and to Fredericton, in general. We look forward to making more memories in the provincial capital and encouraging others not to wait too long to do the same.
PS: If you go, don’t forget that the City offers free parking for visitors! Parking passes are available at the Visitor Information Centre—one day for New Brunswick residents; three days for out-of-province guests. The passes permit the vehicle owner to enjoy free parking at downtown meters and the City Hall parking lot.
*During her visit to Fredericton, Cathy was a guest of Tourism Fredericton, which neither reviewed nor approved this blog post.
I love—I mean, really LOVE—to plan trips. Sure, it’s incredible to visit new places, discover new cultures, meet new people. But there’s something equally magical about organizing those escapades. There’s almost nothing better than digging into research about a place, figuring out what a destination offers that might interest you, teach you something, help you find peace, or achieve whatever goal has motivated you to take your journey.
My motivation for travel is usually a combination of learning and fun. These days, the inspiration for travel is mostly fun and to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! If COVID-19 has taught us nothing else, it’s that:
Life is short
A curve ball may come our way at any moment
We should grab joy whenever we have the chance!
I understand not everyone likes travel planning (or travel, for that matter).
But for those who could spend hours dreamily perusing travel guides and websites, then spend hours more creating a detailed itinerary for an adventure, what is it about travel planning that gets us so excited?
This avid researcher did some investigating and discovered that the act of simply thinking about a future trip—even if you don’t know exactly when it will happen—is a real mood booster. And who couldn’t use a mood boost during a pandemic, climate emergency, housing crisis, and with the situation in Ukraine? Save your sanity and start planning!
A 2014 Cornell University study found that trip planning encourages an optimistic outlook, and that waiting for an experience tends to be more positive than waiting to buy a material good. (Give me the prospect of Paris over the purchase of a patio set any day!)
“As humans, we spend a lot of our mental lives living in the future,” said Cornell study co-author Matthew Killingsworth in an interview with National Geographic in 2020. “Our future-mindedness can be a source of joy if we know good things are coming, and travel is an especially good thing to have to look forward to.”
Yes!
In recent months, I’ve had a blast drafting a travel bucket list for 2022. Who knows if I’ll get to many of the places, but I’ve been filled with glee pondering my global picks, imagining the new experiences I’d have at some locales and the opportunity to reconnect with friends and family at others.
For now, I’ve opted for travels closer to home and am pumped to be planning some east coast trips you’ll be hearing more about in the coming weeks. It feels SO good to be gearing up to explore, and—with appropriate precautions—to be part of the world again!
Even if you aren’t keen on hitting the road quite yet, consider taking time now to dream and plan. It will boost your spirits and get you moving in a positive direction!
Here’s to good times ahead and getting back to living!
When you discover that two of the world’s most famous interior designers have bought a hotel in a rural community near your hometown, it’s hard not to be nosy, especially if you’re a former reporter.
So it was inevitable I’d make the 25-minute drive to Louisbourg, Cape Breton, when I visited my parents in Sydney, Nova Scotia, last week. I just had to snag a peek at Point of View Suites, a 22-bedroom hotel with a host of other amenities that’s being renovated by designers Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan. Colin and Justin—as their fans know them—have appeared on TV shows like Great Canadian Cottages, Home Heist, Cabin Pressure, Game of Homes, and Cityline. Based in Toronto, the Scottish couple also boast their own line of interior products, have penned bestselling books, have gigs as style commentators, and even interview celebrities on occasion.
When I heard about their purchase of the five-acre, oceanside property in Louisbourg, and their plans to relaunch it as North Star, I was baffled. I didn’t think it was a ridiculous idea but shocked they had discovered one of my favourite parts of the world, a gem of a region that beckons my soul to visit every time I’m in the area.
Shrewd move, gents!
The Louisbourg coastline—which, for me, includes the craggy shores from Little Lorraine through downtown Louisbourg to the Fortress of Louisbourg and onto Kennington Cove—is my Disney. It’s a magical land that, while perennially foggy, oozes beauty, serenity, and rejuvenates my very being.
I never thought a place could have that kind of impact on a person until I moved to other parts of the country. Even if I could find salty air and a rocky coast elsewhere, they could not elicit the tranquility I feel walking along the squishy-under-your-feet marshes in the juniper-scented breeze at Gooseberry Cove. Nor could other locales prompt my joy hiking the Lighthouse Trail, stopping often along the rugged barrens to watch enormous waves crash against jagged boulders at the water’s edge before retreating to the Atlantic.
Lighthouse Point is the site of the first lighthouse in Canada. The original structure was erected in 1734. The current beacon is the the fourth on the site.
My shadow taking a photo of Louisbourg’s snowy Lighthouse Trail.
Other Louisbourg-area trails and side roads that hug the ocean have a similar hold on my heart. They are sacred places, ones I frequented as a child with my parents, ones I’ve since explored with my own brood (who adore them just as much).
What, then, would the Scottish invasion at Point of View Suites mean to my beloved spaces? Would the boom in tourism that is surely to happen with the C+J makeover result in the region being overrun with tourists and my Louisbourg forever changed in a negative way?
My mind was eased when I read some of the coverage about the hotel plans, and how Colin and Justin have gone to great lengths to involve the community in the project.
“We’re going to use design to put this resort on the map and also sing the praises of Louisbourg,” explained Colin in a CTV interview last August.
But even after reading how municipal officials are excited with the potential spinoffs from the Point of View’s celeb remodel and how they are encouraged by how the Scots are embracing the island, I wanted to get the low-down directly from the creators of this coastal conversion.
Alas, my skills as an intrepid journalist must be rusty. A search for Colin and Justin contact info or that of an agent produced only U.S. and overseas details. Those may have eventually worked but, since the design duo are avid social media users, I opted to message them on Twitter. (My interview request included an offer to bring tea and pie, as any good Cape Bretoner would.)
With no word back from the busy renovators, my Plan B took hold.
The air was frigid but the sun bright as my folks and I took a leisurely drive from Sydney to Louisbourg Friday afternoon. We motored along Louisbourg’s Main Street, veering left onto Wolfe Street, which leads to the famed Fortress of Louisbourg, a National Historic Site that features the ruins and partial reconstruction of an 18th century French settlement.
The Fortress of Louisbourg, located just a few kilometres from Colin and Justin’s hotel.
A short distance down Wolfe Street, well before the Fortress, we noticed a sign for Point of View Suites on the left. Without missing a beat, my dad turned in and slowly drove along the paved road that led past several small buildings at the front of the property. Within view was what had to be the main, multi-storey hotel, sitting impressively at the rear of the snow-covered grounds.
With no gate up or personnel to dissuade us from venturing further, we continued towards the large, oceanfront structure. Once close, we peeked through its windows from the warmth of our van, catching glimpses of ladders and what appeared to be work under way. No Colin and Justin sightings were to be had.
I decided not to go full-on paparazzi, limiting my photo captures to the ones shown here. I also chose not to meander down to a nearby building, which I was pretty sure serves as their home base while in Louisbourg. I was sorely tempted, especially after spying the Ford truck featured in their social media posts, an indication they may be home. Yes, Canadian kindness wrestled my investigative instincts and won. (Fears of being attacked by a guard dog that might suddenly appear may also have played a role.)
Despite the sign’s indications, the Point of View Suites is closed until June 3rd when it is scheduled to reopen as North Star.
The property’s main building features 22 rooms.
I still hope to interview Colin and Justin, through less pushy (and potentially life-threatening) avenues.
In all seriousness, I’m overjoyed the Scots have landed in Louisbourg. They have already generated a tremendous buzz in the community of about 1,000, a place that has certainly had its share of ups and downs over the decades with fishing and tourism as its main industries.
I’ll bet my Colin and Justin plaid sheets that the entire island of Cape Breton will see a tourism uptick buoyed by the arrival of these enthusiastic Scots, with economic spinoffs galore.
And I’ve come to terms that I may have to share my Disney. It will be hard, but the world does deserve to benefit from Louisbourg’s magic.
Best wishes to Colin and Justin as they prepare for the June opening of North Star. I’ll be standing by for that chat, with pie and tea (or something stronger), whenever you’re ready!
PS: According to C+J social media posts, you can book North Star rooms now for the summer by phoning Mrs. MacDonald at (902) 733- 2080. (Expect my call!)
With pandemic restrictions loosening around the globe, I feel like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. This travel writer has been pretty much snuggled in her home since COVID-19 hit in March 2020. Suffice to say, I’m REALLY excited to start exploring again!
In fact, that’s what led me to launch my new website last week, www.cathydonaldson.ca, and, today, to add this blog, Destinations by Donaldson. I’ll be using the platform to highlight ideas and itineraries for awesome 50+ travel, provide suggestions for fabulous gal getaways, and give recommendations for amazing multigenerational adventures. (I always love to hear from readers so feel free to add your ideas in the ‘Comments’ section or email me at cathy@cathydonaldson.ca.)
No regrets
I made a few brief trips during the past two years, including a five-day junket with hubby last fall from our New Brunswick nest to Vancouver, to visit our youngest. For the flights, we armed ourselves with double masks, buckets of hand sanitizer, and made concerted attempts not to touch surfaces. While in the beautiful city itself, we were equally diligent.
Our valiant efforts didn’t quite cut it.
Just a few days after we arrived home from the trip, hubby tested positive for the virus and went into home isolation. Thankfully, his symptoms were mild, and he recovered fully. And, thankfully, I didn’t get it. (The Purell showers were obviously effective!)
Did the fact hubby contracted COVID make us regret our travel decision? Absolutely not!
It was a much-needed sanity check during the pandemic rollercoaster, one that gave us renewed hope as we muddled through the months that followed. We soaked up so much happy in Vancouver that we felt alive again. We blissfully followed our daughter-turned-tour-guide, shopping on Robson Street, checking out the unique offerings of Granville Island, biking the seawall, and eating an incredible array of delicious meals that I didn’t have to make.
Happy campers in the Vancouver sunRejuvenating at Jam CaféA Zara stop? But of course!Biking the seawall, Stanley Park
Raring to go!
As we now head into March and pandemic measures are increasingly relaxed, I’m more excited than a kid in a candy store to get back out into this big, wide world of fun! Though no flights are booked, I’m oohing and aahing over the prospect. (Is it too early to have my suitcase packed?)
It seems lots of you are equally pumped to hit the road and skies. Reports indicate that an uptick in bookings for this spring and summer could signal a good year ahead for the travel industry. No doubt as governments ease restrictions further and the strain on health care systems lessen, more of us will feel comfortable making the leap back to travel.
I’m drooling over the endless possibilities for my next adventure. Where to go? What to do? Can I leave now??
Bucket list planning
Here are a few of the websites I’m currently perusing to create my Return to Travel Bucket List for 2022:
The property’s main building features 22 rooms.
