Roam the Globe with Lisa Stutt

19/08/2020

Lisa May Day 2020 was one for the books! We rented a houseboat for the long weekend with some great friends and we had a blast. It's hard to choose which photos to share as there are soooo many good ones but let me just say if this is on your "someday" list, book now for next summer (we already have 2 boats reserved for next August!).

What an amazing STAYCATION on the Saint John River. The weather was PERFECT and the water was beautiful & warm for swimming. We rented our 5-bedroom boat from Lakeway Houseboat Vacations and it was fully equipped with a hot tub and slide, full kitchen and BBQ. We were 10 people but you could sleep 14 (there are two beds in the "living room / dining room").

We left on Friday afternoon from Mactaquac Park and cruised "up" the river. After a few hours we pulled into a little cove and tied up for the night. It was a race to get into the water! Cold drinks, hot tub and dips in the dark - we had a great time. On Saturday we headed toward Nackawic to have lunch and bevvies at Big Axe Brewery. Different food trucks rotate through and we lucked out with The Grillin' Dillon on site that day - for the BEST burger I've had all summer.

We tied up on a beach close to town for the night so we could restock our refreshments on Sunday at the local grocery store. Oysters and a sunset Surf & Turf were a perfect end to a super day.

For our final night we went back to our favourite little cove from night 1 and joined a party atmosphere with other boaters in for the day. More swimming, cold drinks and Ribs on the BBQ took us into another fun night.

I'd be more than happy to share more details if you have any questions. But I will wrap up by saying this was my favourite birthday gift and a total carpe diem weekend. LOVED IT!

21/07/2020

Lavender is in bloom! NB's very own Lavender at Ocean Breeze Farm near Bouctouche is now open for visitors FRI, SAT & SUN from 10-4 so I'm going up for a visit this weekend. Lavender makes me happy. When you 'round the corner and see a sea of purple, you can't help but smile a dreamy grin. And the SMELL is just heavenly.

This is one of my favourite photos from one of my all-time favourite trips (I spent my 50th birthday in France!). In the south of France, these fields spread out through the countryside for miles and you practically float through them on the waves of this intoxicating perfume. I look happy here, but inside, I am TERRIFIED. The field is FILLED with bees! Through my clenched teeth I am saying "hurry up and take this photo!" so it also makes me chuckle to see this picture.

Want to come to Bouctouche with me? How 'bout France? I am definitely going back for more.

15/07/2020

This is me this past weekend... covered in mud from the Dead Sea! I slathered myself in this gorgeous clay and let it bake on my skin in the hot sun until I dropped into the river to wash it off. Yes, I was in Shediac, but the Dead Sea Mud was LEGIT! It was a gift from a beautiful lady I met at the Travel Expo in Halifax earlier this year . She seduced me with her stories of Jordan. I had no idea what an amazing place this is - but I feel like it is some sort of 'best kept travel secret'. She definitely had me at "Hop on a camel and head into the sand dunes for a camping experience with the Bedouin."

When I get to travel again, Jordan will be in my top 5. Maybe you'd like to come along?

25/06/2020

https://news.paxeditions.com/news/airline/westjet-announces-organizational-changes-prepare-competitive-comeback

WestJet has announced organizational changes that are aimed at streamlining WestJet for a competitive future following the COVID-19 crisis.

25/06/2020

24/06/2020

Roam At Home - St. Martins and the Fundy Trailway. A couple of weeks ago, Wil and I set out on a day trip to celebrate his birthday and see some more of this beautiful province. The Fundy Trailway opened a up a new section this year, making a loop accessible! We headed to St. Martins to start, meandered through the roadway, stopping for lots of sightseeing and a picnic and finally made our way to Sussex to Giermindl's Old Bavarian restaurant for supper.

First, let me say this is a LOT of miles to cover in a day trip, so leave good and early so you can make the most of your day without feeling rushed and allow for some time for a hike or two. Where you enter the Trailway (and pay just $9.50 per person) grab a brochure - it outlines all of the trails and sights to see. We especially loved the recommendations for first time visitors and if you only have a few hours.

Currently, in the little town of St. Martins you can find a public restroom at the local Irving (The Station) so we popped in to grab some bug spray just in case and some extra water. Octopus Ice Cream is a gorgeous little shop on the wharf and we LOVE ice cream so of course we went there. The wharf is a nice stroll and hit of salt air, but the bonus was the gorgeous artwork inside the ice cream shop. Pop in for a visit and the COFFEE ice cream, which Wil ordered, but then gave to me because it was so good (he took my Pistachio) and he’s such a great husband.

Of course I had packed an amazing picnic and there are sooooo many lookouts where you can stop for photos, a hike and a picnic table. We stopped early along the Trailway, but next time we will wait until we get to Long Beach as it was so pretty there and you could sit right down by the beach. Visit here during low tide as the beach extends out half a kilometre!

This roadway reminded me a lot of Cape Breton, it's so pretty - definitely worth a day trip! If you want to stay a few days, there is camping, cave kayaking and lots of little treasures to explore (the Suspension Bridge!) in this area. I had to include the shot of the Pork Hocks we pre-ordered when we made our dinner reservation at Giermindl's. WOW so tasty! We took the Oktoberfest Platter as a second dish and shared the works... with LOTS left over for lunch at home the next day. Our server was super sweet and friendly. This place felt like we went over to our friend's grandmothers to eat. DELICIOUS food and great value.

All in all, a wonderful day-trip. Feel free to add your own beauty shots of the trails or beach to this post, so others can see how truly beautiful it is on the Fundy Trailway.

09/06/2020

Roam at Home - I'm going to share some New Brunswick gems here to help inspire you to travel locally this summer.

This is Ridgeback Lodge on the Kingston Peninsula. Wil and I spent a couple of nights "glamping" here and we felt like we were completely alone it was so private! The wood-fired cedar hot tub is a dream. The accommodations are beautiful and the decor has a cozy Scandinavian feel. It's adults only and no guests, a wonderful place to escape. We LOVED it.

After setting the fire to heat up the hot tub, we spent a couple of hours driving along the river and circled back to Dunham's Run Estate Winery just down the road from Ridgeback. Tours are by appointment and our hosts were super attentive. We lazed around under the pergola and enjoyed the warm summer breeze and our wine. The highlight for me was their blueberry cider, which is now a favourite of mine at our local beverage store.

This staycation is a must on your NB Bucket List. Jump on the Ridgeback Lodge website and get yourself on the cancellation list for the Dream Dome. They are always booked but this is the way to snag a reservation this summer! https://ridgebacklodge.com and https://dunhamsrun.ca

23/05/2020

Futher to my earlier post about Air Canada's flight plans, this CBC article has lots of great information about what opportunities are coming up for travel. If you'd like additional information, I might be able to help - or at least have a good idea about where to find what you're looking for.

Now that provinces have eased COVID-19 restrictions, some people may contemplate travelling abroad. Here’s what you need to know about leaving Canada while COVID-19 still lingers in our lives.

23/05/2020

It's exciting to watch the world getting ready to open back up. But it will be a while yet before we are safe to Roam the Globe. Air Canada has had to abridge its selling schedule for summer 2020, with 97 destinations down from 220 last year, which nonetheless offers wide opportunities for travel and connectivity.

Within Canada, the schedule will increase from 34 routes in May to 58 routes in June, with more routes added in August and September. Air Canada has also updated its schedule until the end of July with resumption of some services to the U.S., Caribbean, South American, European and Pacific markets. Read more here from PAX news https://news.paxeditions.com/news/airline/air-canada-offering-canadians-nearly-100-destinations-summer/

We were all hit hard - harder than we could have imagined. But we are resilient, and focused on what’s to come. We are ready for takeoff. https:/...

22/05/2020

WestJet introduces its non-contact temperature scanning. I love seeing all the new measures coming in to play that will allow us future travel, but I am worried ...what will happen if I am having a hot flash?!

I do love their quick promo video to introduce the concept - you will also find the video link in this featured story from PAXeditions.com (a market leader in Canadian travel trade news).
https://youtu.be/Ij3bDBmkRKE

WestJet has introduced non-contact temperature scanning to its entire domestic network, the carrier announced on Thursday (May 21).

21/05/2020

If you want to start planning a trip for "the future" without any commitment, I would be interested in researching it for you simply for the opportunity to learn about new destinations / properties with a specific person in mind while I'm looking. Message me if you'd like some help with a future trip that is right now, just for fun.

Even during a pandemic, thinking about travel can make you happy.

19/05/2020

No more smelly, gross guy in the middle seat! Air Canada CleanCare+, uses new biosecurity standards and enhanced preventive measures to ensure you can fly with confidence. Starting May 15, every adjacent seat in Economy Class will be blocked to increase your personal space. This distancing measure is just one component of our new end-to-end Air Canada CleanCare+ program,
designed with your health and safety in mind. http://aircanada.com/cleancareplus

Introducing Air Canada CleanCare+, health and safety measures designed so your customers can fly with confidence.

14/05/2020

Wishing you all a happy May 2-4 long weekend (as we always called it growing up in Nova Scotia). The double entendre covered big party plans but these days we will appreciate the sun, get some yard work done & enjoy a bbq or 2. If you can, get outside and let the sun kiss your face.

12/05/2020

Tuesday's Travel Highlights

Magical Travel Moments We Can't Wait to Experience Again... tasting the local food!

I LOVE trying food that is traditional or a specialty to the country I'm visiting. This "welcome gift" upon checking in to our guest house in the French countryside caused quite a stir from Facebook followers back home when we posted 'no thank you' to this mouldy black cheese. After lots of goading and double-dog daring I took a bite. Wow! What a surprise - sooo delicious. As I always said to my son, 'you don't have to like it but you do have to try it'. This is now my personal rule when I travel. What is the most interesting thing you've eaten while travelling?!

10/05/2020

She pushed me out of the nest and showed me how and where to fly. LOVE Roaming the Globe with Mom. Happy Mother's Day to my North Star.

05/05/2020

My Mom and my Mother-in-Law both love to travel as much as I do. Here we are on the Yangtze River in China. Tag me Roam the Globe with Lisa Stutt with your Mother / Daughter / Son travel photos this week. We won't get to travel to see them this Mother's Day, so this is to honour and remember our past travels until we get to go again.

04/05/2020

Air Canada's new CleanCare program

Introducing Air Canada CleanCare+, health and safety measures designed so your customers can fly with confidence.

02/05/2020

My Mom loves to travel as much as I do. Here we are after our no-doors helicopter tour of Oahu last year. She was so FEARLESS! Tag me @ Roam the Globe with Lisa Stutt with your Mother / Daughter / Son travel photos this week leading up to Mother's Day and share a word that describes your Mom.

01/05/2020

Well, this is a fun travel read! Dutch teens sail home across the Atlantic, turning their Caribbean sailing/schooling trip into the adventure of a lifetime.

"We had been making jokes like, 'Oh, we can always cross the Atlantic if necessary.' ... Then it became a reality," said Isabella van den Hout, 16.

23/04/2020

22/04/2020

Happy Earth Day... celebrating sustainable travel.

I'm sharing this destination with you today from my personal Travel Bucket List - Jordan, not a place I had considered visiting until recently when I met a woman who specializes in travel to Jordan. The landscape, the people and customs and the opportunity for unique experiences have inspired me to visit one day.

This video gives you a little peek at Jordan and the Iraq al-Amir Women’s Cooperative - a project supported by The TreadRight Foundation whose one single purpose is to make a positive impact to the people, places and planet that we visit. Learn more about the projects they support at www.treadright.org

The TreadRight Foundation led a group of influential storytellers on a journey of exploration and discovery in awe-inspiring Jordan. The central goal of thei...

21/04/2020

Magical Travel Moments We Can't Wait to Experience Again... Getting a Passport Stamp

I have saved all of my passports since I began travelling - I love to look back through them and remember the trips I've taken. This page dates all the way back to 1990... on a backpacking trip through Europe.

20/04/2020

The Government of Canada has announced mandatory face covering requirements for all air travellers, with limited exceptions. This directive is now in effect (Monday, April 20)

For further details, please see:

COVID-19 is a global public health challenge that has changed the daily lives of people around the world, and ensuring the safety and security of Canadians remains the Government of Canada’s top priority.

14/04/2020

Magical Travel Moments We Can't Wait to Experience Again... Buying Souvenirs!

Spencer bargained HARD for this one and insisted on doing his own negotiating -- netting a 3-for-1 score! (Actual height 5 inches)

"Sure, they can be a little tacky at times and let's be honest, who really needs all those fridge magnets. But you know what? They prove you were there and as the years go by they turn into physical reminders of cherished times." (Early April digital issue of TravelPulse)

Do you have your travel souvenirs on display to help you reminisce or are they tucked away for safe-keeping in a box? Show me one of your favourites! Go...

09/04/2020

I've seen a number of travel partners share their thoughts in video & corporate messaging in the last couple of weeks. Maybe it's because I was blessed to share a Hawaii Five-O vacation with my Mom & Sister last January, but this one from the Hawaii Tourism Authority is the one that speaks to my heart.

Aloha is more than hello or goodbye. It’s love. It’s connection. It’s what we need right now. Mahalo for your understanding that this isn’t the time to visit...

08/04/2020

Finished Ozark... going to dive into a couple of these this Easter weekend - starting with the Motorcycle Diaries (on my list since visiting Cuba earlier this year). Anyone have a favourite Travel Movie to recommend?

Best travel movies to inspire you to travel the world. Under the Tuscan Sun The Movie is about the life of recently divorced writer, Frances Mayes, who on a ...

07/04/2020

Magical Travel Moments We Can't Wait to Experience Again... Laying eyes on an iconic landmark for the first time.

My 50th birthday in France *sigh*

Do you have an Iconic Travel Moment? Will you share a pic? ...how many landmarks/countries we can cover together?

"You've read about it in history books or travel magazines. You've seen it on television and social media a million times. You've heard what it was like from friends. Still nothing, I mean nothing, can duplicate the "pinch-me" sensation of seeing a legendary landmark for the very first time." (From today's digital issue of TravelPulse).