Archive for the ‘Travel Tips’ Category

Best Brunch = Delicious + Healthy

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011
Brunch - Wild Oat

Brunch - Wild Oat

When travelling I try to advance research healthy eating spots as well as places to pick up groceries/snacks. Since Ottawa’s like a second home, I immediately know where to go for the best brunch: Wild Oat! In fact I love it so much that I went both Saturday and Sunday this time around.

I know a healthy vegetarian place is especially delicious when I don’t need to twist the arms of my brunch-without-meat-is-wrong friends. When folks who are used to eating lots of meat can concede that a vegetarian meal was highly enjoyable then I can safely recommend it ;)

Great prices and a filling plate. Check them out next time you’re in the Glebe and don’t forget to save some space for the amazing desserts!

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/250/1431901/restaurant/The-Glebe/Wild-Oat-Bakery-Cafe-and-Catering-Ottawa

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Septembre Dans L’Outaouais

Monday, September 19th, 2011
A Stroll Along the Canal

A Stroll Along the Canal

I have an extreme fondness for Ottawa, particularly in May/June and September when the weather is impeccably gorgeous and the best time to enjoy the city. I lived there while attending Carleton University and still try to make it back once a year to enjoy it in different seasons.

Canadians impressions of Ottawa is as a boring city that all wear suits and go to sleep by 10pm.  The reality of Ottawa is that it is a fantastic place for people who enjoy nature and the absence of smog. The number of clear blue sky days in Ottawa are amazing and I notice my lungs breathe a little deeper when I’m here.

People are definitely urbanites, yet still enjoy the well-preserved integration of nature with concrete. In any season (yes even winter) it’s easy to find activities to get involved in and stay active.

One of my favourite bike friendly spots in Ottawa is the Colonel By Bike Trail. You can rent a bike from beside the Canal downtown, across from Chateau Laurier, and ride all the way south well past Carleton University, to Hog’s Back Falls . The path is completely separate from the roadway, surrounded by gorgeous trees on one side and the well, not so great smelling but nice to look at Rideau Canal.

Not only is this path separated, they also close the road to cars every Sunday morning for people to enjoy, a great weekly Ottawa ritual. For more info: http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/bins/ncc_web_content_page.asp?cid=16297-16299-9970&lang=1

A great way to spend an afternoon whether you prefer walking, running, cycling or even paddling along the canal (boat rentals at Dow’s Lake: http://www.dowslake.com/rental_eq_summer.htm ).

When travelling, I like to balance a bit of active adventure with some essential relaxation. Bring a picnic lunch in your basket/backpack, sprawl out and enjoy the slow moving waters of the Canal.

Posted in Cycling, Fitness, Relaxation, Travel Tips | No Comments »

Importance of Training: Niagara Circle Route

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Circle Trail

Betty & The Fancy Cycle on the GO Train

Once upon a time, 4 years ago I embarked on an ambitous fundraising ride from Toronto to Montreal. Yes, 630kms by Bike. In those days, I actually spent 5 vigorous months training, cycling everyday at least 20-40km plus gradually increasing distance in my weekend rides till I worked up to back to back 100 km rides on weekends.

Well that was then and this is now. I cycle nearly everyday from end of March through to October or November each year. However, this is the kind of riding that your body gets accustomed to, where the habit is formed in your muscles and it’s not necessarily challenging you to new levels.

Having dispensed of the above information here, last weekend, I decided to test out the GO train’s new bike cars for a ride of the Niagara Circle Trail: http://www.niagararegion.ca/government/initiatives/gncr/default.aspx

We decided to start at St Catharines, head south on Welland Canal, across the Friendship Trail, then up the Niagara Parkway and take the GO Train back to Toronto from Niagara Falls. Probably the longest ride I had completed all summer was about 50km, whereas my Cycling Mate has a much fancier bike (as evidenced by the above picture) and heads to Oakville for fun on Sundays.

The ride down the Canal was fairly smooth. Getting onto the Friendship Trail a bit tricky as it’s not very well marked and moves away from the actual Canal towards the last 5km or so. The Trail across was decent as well. In the interest of time, we decided to cut through the farm back roads to catch up with the Niagara Trail. An incredibly windy and long ride that seemed to last a lifetime. Here’s where training and building up to this moment would have come in handy. There’s special technique to riding into a headwind, especially with a hybrid bike.

Niagara Parkway TrailThe Niagara River Path is stunning and I would highly recommend taking this path, likely skipping out on the rest of the Circle Trail.

Getting bikes onto the GO Train is fantastic. There’s a whole car just for the bikes. You lock your bike up and head upstairs to relax for the journey. It’s great to see public transportation encouraging active travelling. For more information on the Niagara GO Train: http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/travelling/seasonal.aspx

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Importance of Siestas

Friday, August 5th, 2011
Feline Siesta

Feline Siesta

While travelling, we try to fit so many things in. After all, you never know when you’ll be in that place again.

You never know when you’ll be on vacation again though so take the time to relax and enjoy.

The best way to get the most out of your vacation is to ensure that you get enough sleep every night. In the heat of the day, try to take a break. Head somewhere cool and even lie down for an hour or two. Your body will thank you for it!

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Eat at Local Markets

Monday, August 1st, 2011
Mercat Boqueria, Barcelona

Mercat Boqueria, Barcelona

Eating on the road can be challenging. Healthy options can be limited as I discovered throughout my travels in France, Spain and Portugal.

The crafty traveller can however manage to find great deals, still enjoy local cuisine and stay healthy.

When researching your trip, be sure to seek out local markets. Every town/city has some kind of local market whether fixed or only on specific days. The best deals can be found here and a great way to try local specialties.

In Barcelona, I visited the famous Mercat Boqueria: http://www.boqueria.info/index.php?lang=en

Travellers can truly experience the Fruits of Spain here. There are also small bars within the Mercat where one can try fresh fish brought in daily. 

Start your day at a Market and purchase items to snack on throughout the day.

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Relaxation: What Your Vacation Was Meant For

Friday, July 29th, 2011
Time Out to Stretch

Time Out to Stretch

Wow, the cost of flights just keeps sky-rocketing every year!

Increasingly, travellers want to pack everything into those few short weeks because, well you never know when you might be back to that place.

I made that mistake on this trip, so that by the time I arrived in Aix-en-Provence, it was time to slow down and de-stress. Luckily I decided to wander down a random street and arrived precisely at 12:30pm at the door or a Yoga Studio offering a class at precisely 12:30pm.

My calves were in agony throughout the class and I found all of the standing and balance poses incredibly challenging to hold, even for a few moments. It seemed that my neglect of daily stretching was doing my body in, especially the calves due to all the walking and climbing of hills.

Definitely take time out to stretch while on the move, particularly if you are engaging in activities you do not usually at home. For example, I walk quite a bit at home, however I mostly cycle to and from places. It had been a while since I had walked 6 – 10 hour days mostly without stopping.

Even if it’s just a few minutes in your hotel room before you head off to sleep, your travels will be more enjoyable. Happy Stretching!

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Climb Higher

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Climbing the Eifel Tower

Climbing the Eifel Tower

How do people stay fit when they eat pastries and coffee for petit dejeuner?

I have discovered the secret! It’s walking hills and stairs. It seems that everywhere you go in Europe there are tons of stairs and hills to climb. Your legs will really be strong after a day or week of walking around and climbing.

While I can’t speak for the insides of people and how their organs are affected, certainly the outward appearance of being trim comes from all that climbing.

When travelling in places you will be walking a lot, particularly in the sun, a list of Definite Dos:

  • Always wear a hat
  • Bring 1 – 2L of water minimum
  • Wear light coloured clothes made of light breathable fabrics
  • Siesta in the absolute heat of day (2-5pm usually)
  • Walk in the shade as much as possible before you feel the heat wear you down
  • Test your shoes before you go (check for blisters, wear spots, etc)

Should you find yourself in Paris, I highly recommend taking the stairs up the Eifel Tower. You will be rewarded with waiting only 20 minutes in line (instead of a few hours) as well as the views from below along the staircase. The 2nd Stage is as high as you can climb anyway and it should not take more than 10 – 15 minutes maximum from the ground to the 2nd Floor.

Climbing earlier in the day when temperatures are cooler is highly recommended.

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Keeping It Regular

Monday, July 25th, 2011

Valencia - Snack

Valencia - Snack

Let’s face it, not a sexy topic, however likely the most important one once you’re on the road.

Back home you have a routine. You eat healthy everyday, lots of fibre, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Depending on where you are travelling, it may or may not be safe to consume fresh produce. The local cuisine may be high fat or low in fibre.

One of the first things I pack in my bag when I travel are nutritious protein bars. Depending on the length of journey, I try to bring 1 for each day of travel. They clear customs no problem as they are pre-packaged/sealed. At least if you have that 1 healthy snack a day, you can try to keep some semblance of normality to your system. You will appreciate this dense snack on the plane or while sleeping in the airport waiting for your flight.

When purchasing bars, always peruse the ingredients first. If you cannot recognize or pronounce the ingredients, skip that bar and move on to the next one. Look for a healthy ratio of protein:carbs:fat. Fat should not comprise more than 10-20% of total content of the bar. Also consider that bars with chocolate or other meltables on them will not translate well on the plane (I learned that one bringing good cocoa bars back from Lisboa this time).

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Journeys + Minimalist Packing

Friday, July 22nd, 2011
Backpack

Pack For Travel

This summer I was lucky enough to travel around France, Spain and Portugal.

Of course no trip for me is complete without exploring every possible angle of how I can be more active everyday and try to eat as healthy as one would want to on vacation.

Over the next few weeks, I will share some of my adventures and some tips to help you in your travels.

Let’s start with Packing. The most important things for me after I have decided my destination is to decide the type of travel bag and of course what goes in it. When considering what to pack things to consider include:

  • Tempertature of destination
  • # of Days of Travel
  • Types of transportation you will be using
  • # of times you will have to repack and move to the next destination

I always bring a backpack as suitcases are a pain to lug up stairs and onto trains, etc. The double bonus being that our legs often become quite fit after a long vacation that includes walking or climbing. To keep my upper body strong, I enjoy the challenge of a pack that is a decent weight. At the end of my trip, I notice that my strength has greatly increased.

This time around, for a 3.5 week journey in mostly hot countries, I went for the 25L MEC Velo Pack. The bonus of this pack is that not only did it fit all of my gear, there were also extra mesh pockets on the outside (1 for my water bottle, 2 on the sides to air out my shoes). My aim was to pack everything into that bag, 1/2 full with presents for my hosts so that when I returned with gifts I wouldn’t have any excess baggage. I also carry a smaller sidebag for daytrips and just in case there is overflow.

How does one become a Minimalist Packer? After many years of travelling through many countries, on many varied forms of transport, I have learned to appreciate the ease of the one pack journey. When considering what to pack, always make a list. I like to create categories:

  • Clothes
  • Toiletries
  • Electronica (Batteries, chargers, etc)
  • Documents
  • Gear (Sleep sheet, mini-pillow, etc)

Every adventure requires it’s own special list. The biggest reality we face in travel is that no matter how many clothes we bring, we will always wear only 50% of what we pack. Put all the clothes on your bed you think you want to bring, take 50% of them and throw them back in the closet. Do you really need 5 pairs of shorts or 5 dresses?

Your body will appreciate you for not making it carry more than it needs to.

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