Should We Stay or Should We Go

People often ask how I keep track of flights, accommodations, expenses, photos, and all the little details that come with travelling. The truth is, I'm not someone who downloads every new travel app that comes along. I've tried plenty over the years, but these are the ones that have earned a permanent spot on my phone—or in my bookmarks—because they genuinely make travelling easier. Some help before the trip, some help while I'm away, and a few help me remember the trip long after I get home. Here are the travel apps and websites I use over and over again. Finding Flights: Skyscanner Skyscanner is usually where I start when I'm dreaming about a trip. I like that I can search flexible dates and compare prices across different airlines without visiting a dozen websites. The "whole month" view is especially useful when we have flexibility and want to see which days are the least expensive. I don't always book through Skyscanner, but I almost always us...

Although we didn't have time to hike the Skerwink Trail on this trip, I couldn't write about the Bonavista Peninsula without mentioning it. John and I hiked it during a previous visit to Newfoundland, and it's one of those places that has stayed with me ever since. Located between the communities of Trinity, Port Rexton, and Trinity East, the Skerwink Trail is widely celebrated as one of the best hikes in North America. Travel + Leisure even ranked it among the Top 35 Walks in North America and Europe . After hiking it ourselves, I can honestly say it deserves the recognition. The trail is a 5.3-kilometre loop that takes you through the forest and along the coastline, with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean along the way. From the moment we started walking, the views just kept getting better. Every time we rounded a corner, there seemed to be another beautiful lookout. 

After spending so much time planning our Newfoundland adventure, it was fun to have a few places find us along the way. Trinity was one of those places. We weren’t intending to stop there, but my sister had been doing some reading and suggested we make a detour while we were nearby. We really didn’t know what to expect, but we were curious enough to turn off the main road and explore. Located on the Bonavista Peninsula, Trinity is one of Newfoundland’s oldest and most historic communities. Its history dates back more than 400 years to the early days of the fishery, when European settlers were drawn to the area because of the rich fishing grounds along the coast. Today, Trinity is known for its beautifully preserved historic buildings, colourful homes, and strong connection to Newfoundland’s fishing heritage. Driving through the community, you can see the effort that has gone into preserving its past while still keeping the town feeling alive. As we drove into Trinity, we weren’t ...

  I love a road trip.  I love hitting the open road and taking the scenic route, map in hand, and stopping whenever something catches my eye. Part of taking a road trip is the challenge that everything you need for your trip is usually packed into the vehicle, and if you aren’t careful, that “I know I packed it somewhere” feeling can become a regular part of your day. Over the years, I’ve learned that staying organized while on the road doesn’t mean having everything perfectly packed. It simply means making things easy to find so you can spend more time enjoying the journey and less time searching through bags. Here are a few things that help keep road trips running smoothly. Give Everything a Home One of the simplest things you can do is decide where things belong before you leave. Instead of tossing items into the car wherever they fit, think about what you’ll need throughout the day and keep those things within easy reach. Snacks, water bottles, sunglasses, chargers,...