Twirls and Travels » a blog about exploring with kids

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This year we have a season pass to Snow Valley Ski Hill and one of the best parts about the pass is the fabulous events they host on a regular basis. This past weekend was World Snow Day, and besides skiing events on the hill, they also had Parks Canada set up a tent with information and activities. The best part was the bon fire and apple roasting. I’ve been camping my entire life, but have never made these delicious treats.  I’ve been meaning to blog about camping food (okay, mostly treats) for a while now, so this is a great post to start off sharing all the fun things you can cook over a fire. Violet is a very shy eater- she trusts nothing and is scared of everything- but gave these 2 thumbs up, even though they were something new. The best part is they’re easy enough for kids to make alone- and you don’t have to worry about the apple burning!

The Details-

Take an apple (we used simple MacIntosh apples) and stab on a roasting stick, making sure it’s secure. Put it right into the flames. The best part is you want it nice and blackened, so you don’t have to worry about holding it above the heat, like a marshmallow. You can pop it right in the flames, or next to the coals. Easy.  We roasted the apple for about 7 minutes,   as you want it heated all the way through and blackened all the way around.

 

After your apple is done roasting, rub it with paper towel to remove all the black skin. It comes off perfectly and takes zero effort. I would recommended wearing gloves as the apple is warm, but they’re not necessary. After the skin is removed, pop it onto a wooden skewer. We have these packed in our camping supplies since we often make kabobs over the fire, but if you don’t have they’re easy to find at the dollar or grocery store. Then dip the apple into a ziplock bag with a mix of cinnamon and sugar. There’s lots of variations with this- you could try brown sugar on roasted pears, or your own concoction of savoury spices instead. Violet decided afterwards that she would prefer just the plain roasted apple instead of one dipped, and hey, I can’t complain about her wanting to make it healthier.

Maeve is looking over my shoulder as I type this asking to make these “roasted apple pies” right now! It’s safe to she loved them. They’re the perfect combo of warm apple and sweet sugar, with the right amount of crisp- they’re not soft and squishy.  And they definitely taste like an apple pie. You could eliminate the sugar and make it  healthier too- definitely a satisfying alternative to roasting a marshmallow.

And that’s it. Zero clean up, very little effort and the most delicious “candy apple” you could eat.  Camping season is looking yummier already! Enjoy!

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So the Christmas holidays are over-it’s back to work, back to the hustle and now time to plan your summer vacations before the second weekend of January.  It’s crazy, but it’s the way it goes if you want to guarantee a site this camping season at one of the most popular campgrounds.  I’m looking at my summer schedule trying to figure out how to plan a mountain trip this far in advance- this year it’s tricky- but at least it has us looking forward to summer while hibernating in minus thirty temperatures this January.

Here’s the basic layout of dates and times for all you campers wanting to ensure you get the exact site you want on the date you want.

National Parks in Alberta:

PARK: Jasper National Park- including Pocohontas, Wabasso,Wapiti, and Whistlers (including oTENTiks comfort camping)
2018 Reservation Launch: January 9, 2018 at 8:00 a.m.
WHY: Jasper is one of our favourite places on Earth.  We go every year and enjoy it immensely.  If you are looking for a long weekend, I suggest you refresh your browser right at 8am to start your search. Full service sites are in high demand anytime in the summer. Tenting sites do not fill up near as fast. Keep in mind not every site has a fire pit in the national park- definitely scout out your preferred sites ahead of time. Here’s my post on Jasper during the summer to check out for ideas.

PARK: Banff National Park- Lake Louise, Two Jack, Johnston Canyon, Tunnel Mountain
2018 Reservation Launch: January 10, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. MST
WHY: Banff is incredibly popular and there are so many good reasons why. Two Jack Lake is particularly awesome in my opinion. These campgrounds are busy all summer long, weekends and weekdays- Last year we had friends miss out on a campsite at Two Jack, even though they were at the computer at exactly 9am. But if you are looking to stay in mountains but away from the (bigger) crowds, other options include Bow Valley Provincial Park (see below) and Peter Lougheed PP which are both located in the mountains, but outside the National Park Boundaries.

PARK: Waterton National Park- Townsite Campground
2018 Reservation Launch: January 11th, 2018 8:00 a.m. MST
WHY: If you want to try out Waterton and don’t want to risk not having a site at the popular first come first serve Crandell Mountian Campground, then this is your best option. Unfortunately, the campground is in the middle of the townsite and the sites are not private at all, buuuuuut the views, the ability to walk to anywhere in town you like, and the lake front location make it still a worthwhile visit. If you’d like to Tipi Camp at Crandell Mountain, reservations open May 10th by phone. Here’s my post on what makes Waterton great.

PARK: Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site
2018 Reservation Launch: 11th, 2018 8:00 a.m. MST
WHY: Rocky Mountain House is a gorgeous alternative for summer camping- you’re off the beaten path a bit with lots of new places to explore within a hour drive. I wrote a blog post about the area and why we think it’s a great spot to add to the list.  You can also book Heritage Camping in Trapper’s Tents and Tipis, plus explore the impressive Historic Site.

PARK: Elk Island National Park- Astotin Campground
2018 Reservation Launch:  January 11th, 2018 8:00 a.m. MST
WHY: While Elk Island doesn’t have the popularity of the mountain national parks, Equipped camping is in high demand and is a great way to try out camping as a family without purchasing any gear. These sites will fill up quite fast, especially for popular dates. Here’s a post on why you should add Elk Island to your list of places to discover this year. And it’s the perfect year to check it out,  considering there will be no fees this year and it’s so close to the city!

The link to book all of the above through the National Parks System is HERE

Alberta Provincial Parks-

The Provincial Park system is a bit different. Their system goes live in February. However, you can only book dates up to 90 in advance of your departure date. So if you are looking for May long weekend camping, you can book on opening day. Then you can book up 16 days in a row.

Some dates to keep in mind when looking for a Provincial park to camp at-

February 12  @ 9am: Comfort Camping – reserve for the entire season. If you are wanting to try out the yurts, the canvas wall tents at Dinosaur, the cabins at Lac La Biche, be ready to book on this day. Especially if you are looking for a long weekend or a extended period of time, you need to be on the computer waiting to click on “book now” when the clock strikes 9.

February  5th @ 9am: Group Camping – reservable for the entire season

February 20 : Regular Campsites- these are restricted to the 90 day window

Then for the rest of the season you need to do some counting. For example, if you want to head out on June 30th to spend Canada day in a park, you’d need to book on April 1.  I found this handy calculator to do the math for you at this website HERE.

Our favourite provincial parks include Dinosaur, Writing on Stone, Crimson Lake, Long Lake, Carson-Pegasus, Red Lodge, …just to name a few. We also love the Yurts at Pigeon Lake and the Cabins at Lac La Biche.  But why not browse the Alberta Parks website, find something new and then book early to avoid disappointment!  Last year we stayed at Kinbrook Island, Pembina, Jarvis Bay, and Peter Lougheed– every campground we ventured to last year was excellent with clean facilities and lots of opportunities to explore. My instagram has pictures of the different campgrounds until I can get some blog posts written up shortly.

The link to book Provincial Parks is HERE or you can call at 1-877-537-2757

Insider Tip- write the date and time to book your preferred site in your daytimer and or add it is an event on your phone with a alarm to remind you when it’s the right date and time to book.

Happy Camping!

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  • January 4, 2018 - 5:37 am

    Maegen - Thank you so much for the great blog post! I’m always looking for new ideas for to go camping. Whistlers has been at the top of my list for some time, just curious if you had some good site recommendations.ReplyCancel

  • January 10, 2018 - 7:44 pm

    Trevor - Got two jack lake for the dates we wanted but our second choice camp site, had to be super quick with the clicking again this year. Thanks for the reminder post I probably would have missed it.ReplyCancel

    • January 30, 2018 - 3:57 am

      Kelsy - We got an awesome spot at Redstreak and we’re trying a new place in Jasper, so I’m feeling pretty successful too!ReplyCancel

It’s almost the time of year where I find myself itching to get out of winter and fly somewhere warm and tropical. The Gran Bahia Principe resort on the Mayan Rivera is one of those resorts the consistently comes up as a budget vacation spot for last minute bookings- I find there’s always a good deal to be had staying here. We’ve been lucky enough to stay at this resort on multiple occasions and we think it’s a great place to ditch winter and play in the sun. The facilities and programming are perfect for kids and families, with so much to do and see.

The biggest thing to know about the this massive hotel, is that it is broken down into several resorts on one property – Bahia Principe Akumal, Bahia Principe Tulum and Bahia Principe Coba. There is also Sian-Kann which is adults only. We were grateful to have received a wristband to allow us to check out all areas of the resort, and loved features of each. We booked an ocean front room on the Tulum side- the Tulum section is great, lots of pools, beautiful grounds, well laid out with good food. The Coba side is not ocean front, but rather in behind the Akumal resort. The Coba section boasts the incredible kids water park, lots of pools and also features larger family suites compared to standard rooms. The Akumal side is the nicest of the three and has little extras like pool side drink and snack service, a nicer beach, prettier pools and better buffet. If you are staying in the Akumal side you have access to both other resorts, while if you are at Coba or Tulum, you may not enter the Akumal property.  So after visiting them all, which one would I choose? Well, if the budget allowed I would choose the Akumal for all the extras and the better buffet, but to be honest we felt like both of the others were fabulous. My kids loved the water park at Coba, so we ended up there every afternoon. They also enjoyed the kids club at Coba the best, followed by the Club at Akumal. I liked being right on the beach at Tulum, so I enjoyed having our room there.  But it is easy to get around the resort, there are trains leaving every few minutes to bring you wherever you may need to go, so don’t get too worried about where you are sleeping.

The Beach-

The beach runs along the resort and includes rocky areas and sections of pure white sand. You may have to move a bit to find the perfect location. There are sections of chairs that are reserved for those staying in that area of the hotel, but the beach and water are open to everyone. Around the pier there are so many fish to see, you don’t  even need any snorkel gear to get up close. The ocean sports hut does have free snorkelling rentals if you’d like as well.  I felt like the beach was really safe for children as they have put up sandbags to break the waves. Maybe a bit of eye sore if you’re picky, but I like being able to relax in the water with my kids without being worried about giant waves. If waves are your thing, there are sections of the beach that don’t have breakers as well. We didn’t bring water shoes, but I can see them being beneficial if you wanted to explore all areas of the beach. There are no complimentary sand toys, so make sure you bring some cheap ones along.

The Pools

There are no shortage of pools at any of the three resorts.  My kids LOVE swimming and spent a ton of time in the pools. Almost everyone has a kids “play ledge” or a shallow area, and they’re so big you never feel crowded.  There’s multiple swim up bars and pool volley ball/basketball nets as well. Floaties are allowed in the pools, so be sure to pack one for lounging. Each resort also has an “activities pool” which hosts the different games and events the staff puts on- this may or may not be your thing.  The Coba section also had a quiet adults only jacuzzi pool and a massive zero-entry family pool. It also was home to the massive water park.

The Water Park-

Seriously, how fun is this? They loved this place. With slides for every age it was a huge hit for all families we talked too. There’s ample shade and sun chairs around the park for parents to relax while the kids played. The only time it got busy is when one of the kids clubs showed up to play.

The Kid’s Club “Bahia Scouts”-

I have heard parents say “why would I drop my kids off at a kids club when we are on a FAMILY HOLIDAY?” Well,  I get that.  But I also like Jacuzzi pools and quiet time. And my kids LOVE the clubs.  We didn’t drop them off every day all day, but did leave them for the morning every other day. They made new friends, made crafts, went to the water park,  had sandcastle contests, watched a dolphin show, did scavenger hunts…. they did more then we would have done with them! We picked them up at lunch and we enjoyed the rest of the day together. Tim and I got some well-deserved relax time and were able to have conversations and read books. I call this a win-win.  The club also had “Monkey’s Birthday” once a week at each of the resorts- there was a bouncing castle, party games and prizes, a piñata full of candy and of course, birthday cake. “Monkey” (a costumed man) danced along with kids.   Of course, this was a huge hit. You don’t even have to put your kids in the club to enjoy the fun, you can join the party at the pool if you see it happening. All the activities are listed outside the clubs, so check them out and plan your week a bit in advance. My girls enjoyed the Coba club the best, probably because of the fabulous staff on site. I also enjoyed it was air conditioned so they could cool down and not spend every minute in the heat- the Tulum club is open air. At the end of our week the kids both got a t-shirt, which is a favourite pj top now.  But if kid’s clubs aren’t your thing, there were so many family activities taking place around the resort as well.

The Activities-

The Bahia Principe has so much going on, there’s never a chance to be bored…unless you want to be, which I also highly encourage. On top of the pool games, the sports rentals, tennis and archery, there were also events every evening. We spent our evenings in the Tulum section, where there was always live music in the lobby bar along with a show in the theatre.  We didn’t get to all the shows, but we did see the “circus show” (highly recommended with kids) and The Lion King (again, a fan favourite).  There was face painting before the Lion King shows and a chance to meet the characters. There was also activities in the garden outside the lobby on several evenings- balloon artists, face painting, bouncy castles, giant outdoor movies on a drop screen with popcorn and treats, dance parties…they really cater to young families. I also never found any events too busy. Lots of kids go to bed early or families have dining reservations, so the crowd is always spread out.  Some night we were ready for bed after our dinner too- we just played it by ear. However, the dining options were also a highlight of the trip.

The Food-

So dining is an important part of nearly every trip. The food at the Bahia doesn’t disappoint.  We found the buffet at Akumal better then those at Coba and Tulum- but there was nothing wrong with those buffets either- just don’t be expecting a gourmet meal. There was lots of variety but nothing you’ll write home about. I did make some epic salads and I loved the Mexican section of the buffet as well.  During a week stay you receive 3 a’la carte meals. Our favourites were the Brazilian (unlimited meat sliced at your table), the Japanese (tepanayki style, cooked right in front of you with a show) and the Mexican (cause, well, it’s Mexico). It’s highly recommended to book your tables the night you arrive at the resort, they fill up quickly- you can wait in line to do this, or download the hotel app and book your tables as soon as you log in. Wifi is available for free in the lobby to do this. One night we didn’t have reservations and we didn’t want the buffet so we walked up to the Mexican Restaurant, hoping to tip the waiter for a table (this happens frequently if you follow along on trip advisor). We were offered a table on the beach if we purchased a bottle of wine. I think the cheapest bottle was about $12USD (which we didn’t even drink, but they sent it up to room that evening anyway). We  figured an extra dinner on the beach was worth $12 and indeed, we had the best dining experience of our trip. The kids played while we relaxed, the weather was perfect and the food was delious.  If you’re able, definitely try to get an outdoor table at the Mexican Restaurant.  For lunches, we always ate at the beach buffet- no changing out of your swimsuit,  lots of good variety for the kids (and it changed every day) and you can’t beat the view. There was also hard ice cream which was a huge hit for hot days.   The kids ordered a ton of “smoothies” aka blended sugar juice, but the bartenders can add a banana to make it kinda healthy??   Another favourite was sparkling water with a bit a lime (essentially a virgin mojito).

All in all, I would definitely recommend this resort for a more budget-friendly family holiday.  We never felt like we were at a low end resort by any means, but in comparisons to higher end vacation spots, you may notice a difference. The location is a bit far from the airport, but it was very close to the Tulum ruins and town, Xel-Ha  and other tourist locations.  We were able to take a Collectivo (local transportation- info here) everywhere we wanted to go and felt very safe at all times.  The Akumal Forum on Trip Advisor is resource for specific questions about a trip to the hotel- there are  threads about restaurant menus, nightly shows and activities. Very useful if you like to plan ahead and the information is more useful then hotel reviews.  My kids have been begging to return- definitely paradise for them!

Check out my other posts for All-Inclusive Vacations-

Guide to Planning an All-Inclusive Vacation with Children

Guide to Preparing for a Vacation with Kids 

Guide to Edmonton International Airport with Kids

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  • December 14, 2017 - 5:35 am

    Lisa L - We are hoping to do an all-inclusive soon, and this place looks perfect! Thanks for the thorough review! I wish I could go right now.ReplyCancel

    • January 2, 2018 - 2:36 am

      Kelsy - So great for kids! Mine loved it! Pretty relaxed place, perfect for a simple family vacation!ReplyCancel

  • December 16, 2017 - 11:07 pm

    Josca - Through what website do you book this?ReplyCancel

    • January 2, 2018 - 2:36 am

      Kelsy - We booked through West Jet last time ,but it’s such a popular resort so many companies carry it! I often see it go for $1000 per adult for a week from Edmonton. Good deal!ReplyCancel

  • October 14, 2019 - 1:41 am

    jane - thank you so much for all the information! we habe a 8yo boy and plan to go soonReplyCancel

The last couple of years I’ve been on the lookout for a pumpkin patch in Edmonton- one that we can actually pick pumpkins right off the vine.  We grew up growing our own pumpkins, and in our last home we grew them a couple of times- but they take up a ton of room in the garden. I really wanted my kids to have the fall experience of wandering a field trying to find the perfect fall pumpkin just for them.

Luckily for me, I saw a past photography client post on Facebook that they were opening up their pumpkin field to be a u-pick this year. They’ve grown pumpkins for local grocery stores for years and this is their first time offering a u-pick pumpkins. They had a huge variety of sizes, colours and shapes- I think 6 types! We loved the white pumpkins, the yellow, the light green, the striped, the traditional and even the warty. I think one of each made it into our wheelbarrow. The price is right too- the cost varies from $1- $10 dependant on the size.

The field is a little bit muddy from all the rain last week, so wear boots if possible and be prepared to get a little bit dirty. The pumpkins will need to be wiped off when you pick them up and carrying them gets your shirt a little bit muddy. But my kids didn’t seem to mind (also it’s interesting that carrying their backpack to school is way too heavy, yet they were managing to haul around 15lb pumpkins 😉 )

The Pumpkin Patch is located in Stony Plain on the east side of Golf Course Road between Fairway Dr and Highway 628 (79th Ave).   The technical  address- which can be loaded into Maps on your iPhone is-  52417 Range Road 280. I also just  put in “golf course rd” into maps and it brought up the right general area in Stony Plain. It’s a farm with large silos and a sandwich board sign. Follow the flags to parking in the field.

Hours for this week are-

Wednesday 11am -2:30pm

Thursday 5-8pm

Saturday and Sunday- 11am-5pm

 

Hope you can make it out and find the perfect pumpkin for Halloween.

 

 

 

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  • September 26, 2017 - 3:28 pm

    Beth - We were just discussing this at work this morning! We didn’t know if there was one close to Edmonton…now we’ll head over on Sunday! Beautiful photos!!!ReplyCancel

In August I had the opportunity to get off the beaten track a bit and explore the city of Prince George, BC. Located just above the 54th parallel, it’s a small town in the interior of British Columbia, surrounded by lush green forests and fresh air. Central Mountain Air now flies direct from Edmonton International Airport to Prince George Airport, and the flight is just over an hour, making it a quick and easy getaway destination. There’s a ton to do with the family in Prince George, including lots to explore outdoors. The city is surrounded by numerous Provincal Parks offering lakes to swim in, trails to hike, fish to catch, hills to ski and tons of opportunities for camping and family time. Throughout my weekend in Prince George we explored some of the best places the city has to offer.  I left my children at home for this trip (first time in 3 years!) but I got to have a lot of fun checking out all local activities I knew they would love.

 

Ohh Chocolat Cafe . I felt like a kid in a candy store- but it’s really more like a mix between a chocolatier and a delightful coffee shop.  I enjoyed the amazing Mayan Hot Chocolate (is it bad to say I liked it better the hot chocolate I’ve actually had in the Mayan??) and a pastry.  Kids would go crazy for a s’more bar, a tart or really any of the chocolates on display. Definitely a not-to-be-missed cafe in Prince George.

 

The Exploration Place.  Prince George is home to a playful science museum with a large “hands-on” area for kids- including a interactive dino-dig pit, a giant paddleboat to climb upon, a large water table and a lots of opportunities for dress-up play. The museum is also home to many other exhibits for both children and adults including the Biome (which houses lots of little critters that come out for meet and greets every day). I enjoyed actually reading the exhibits through the museum- something that doesn’t happen often when I’m browsing a museum with my kids in tow 😉

 

The Little Prince.  Near Exploration Place there’s a real working miniature steam engine train and it’s incredibly adorable.  Kids who love trains would be obsessed and admission is only a couple of dollars- it’s a beautiful ride along the river. If you’re in the mood for a treat, there’s Frozen Paddle Ice Cream, locally made in Prince George, right at the train station. I think that’s a pretty perfect afternoon.

 

Betulla Burning. If you love Pizza definitely make Betulla Burning a priority for dinner.  Fresh hand made pizza are cooked to perfection in a gorgous wood buring oven right in front of your eyes using local ingredients whenever possible.  The kitchen is front and centre in the this restaurant, making it ideal to bring the family- kids will love watching their pizzas being made, parents will love the modern and beautiful decor. We also indulged in a 3 foot long charcuterie  board- definitely one of the most delicious parts of the trip.

 

Northern Lights Estate Winery.  Although wineries don’t usually scream “family friendly” this fruit vineyard is a wonderful place to bring the family. They offer child-friendly tours of their orchards throughout the week and there’s also tasting available in the wine bar (complete with juice for the kids!). The resturant offers views of the river valley, along with delicious tapas and food. It was a definite highlight of our trip to Prince George. They also occasionally  show movies outside in their natural amphitheatre.  If you’re into beer, Pacific Western Brewery also offers tours of their brewery, long with tastings for the adults and their craft soda (mmmm root beer) for the kiddos as well.

 

The Ancient Forest. Just outside the city of Prince George is the only inland rainforest in North America.  Gigantic cedars tower along the universal access boardwalk trail, perfect for tiny feet or those with reduced mobility. Some of the trees are amazingly over 2000 years old and they’re surrounded by green ferns and lush vegetation.  It’s absolutely stunning.  The trails lead to a waterfall and a creek, perfect for exploring with kids. There’s no elevation climbs and the trails are well marked making it an easy family hike. I could have spent all day taking in the greenery- it’s well worth the drive out of town.

 

Two Rivers Art Gallery. Downtown Prince George is a hub of activity. There’s free family friendly walking tours that depart from the library during the summertime.  There’s also a beautiful art gallery. The Two Rivers Art Gallery has a permanent gallery and several changing exhibitions.  And best of all, on Thursdays the gallery has free admission. It’s a great day to check out the place with children- and always check their website for upcoming programming for families. We walked by children creating masterpieces within a class and it looked like a ton of fun.

 

Mr PG. Well I may have originally thought the trip organizers were joking about their gigantic mascot, but Mr PG is definitely no joke. He’s 8m tall and worth the stop for the selfie- every town needs their gigantic photo op spot, right? He’s basically a selfie celebrity- after all, he was featured on a Canadian postage stamp!  He was located right across the street from our hotel- a great place to stay with kids, complete with swimming pool and waterslide and a delicious attached restaurant. Prestige Treasure Cove was a great place to stay on our visit to Prince George.

 

If you have longer then a couple of days in Prince George, there’s a lot more to discover- an indoor rec centre with a waterpark, a drive in theatre, numerous parks and playgrounds, historic towns, and a working ranch to visit. And with everything a quick non-stop flight from Edmonton, it’s a very easy destination to discover.

 

Thank you Central Mountain Air and Tourism Prince George for a wonderful weekend of exploring your city. It was awesome to experience so many of the great things that Prince George has to offer. 

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