wan·der·lust
/ˈwändərˌləst/
noun.
a. a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.
It’s the first day of September – time to wave goodbye to hot, sunny days, and happily embrace the crisp, cool air. It’s my absolute favourite time of year! However, before we get there, I wanted to take the time to recap my summer. It was definitely one for the books, and I want to have a record of all the happy times in case things get weary come winter.
To start the summer off, my sister and I jumped in the car and began a road trip toward the East Coast. We spent our first night at a cozy Bed & Breakfast in Lévis, Québec. We adventured across the river on a ferry and toure
d historic downtown Québec City. I was so intrigued by all of the character in this city. The architecture was lovely, the cobblestone streets were divine, and the crèpes – the crèpes were a whole experience in themselves. My 24th birthday was definitely a special one!
Day 2 was full of driving, which seemed to drag on forever as we left Québec and drove through New Brunswick. We hardly stopped at all, simply wanting to reach our destination as soon as possible. It was such a relief to finally see the Confederation Bridge.
We spent four days in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island at a very sweet, very relaxed bed & breakfast called Cavendish Breeze Inn. Since things were JUST opening up for the season around there, we were basically the only guests and as a result, we got a free room upgrade. Plus, we had a backyard pool all to ourselves.
For our first adventure, we explored PEI National Park, which houses Green Gables. As many of you know, I love books – like LOVE books – and Anne of Green Gables was one of my childhood faves. My sister laughed at me a bit for being so excited 
about this adventure, but I just couldn’t contain myself. I was enchanted by the beauty of it all, as we toured the historic house, walked through the Haunted Wood, and skipped along Lover’s Lane. I could feel Anne’s imaginative spirit everywhere we went.
On the same day, we took a trip to Avonlea Village. I mean, we had to keep the theme going, right? This little village replica was the cutest little spot. I got to see the schoolhouse where Lucy Maud Montgomery taught and the church she attended. I was amazed by the work that was done to bring these buildings to this location. The church was actually cut into three big pieces in order for transport. How crazy is that?!
Avonlea Village became a favourite spot for us two. We returned here a few times to try all of the different food, including Samuel’s Coffeehouse, Moo Moo Grilled Cheese, Piatto Pizzeria, and of course, COWS ice cream. Our tummies were very happy with all of these choices. Oh, and I almost forgot! I tried my very first fish and chips on the coast. After a lifelong aversion to seafood, this was a huge feat, and I actually really enjoyed it. Surprise!
On another day, our plans for a canoeing adventure were overturned by windy conditions. So instead, we drove across the island to the West Point Lighthouse. It was a classic tourist spot – nautical blue and white stripes against a red, sandy beach. Definitely Instagram worthy. Definitely. After taking a million pictures from all different angles, we looked around for cool rocks and fancy seashells before jumping back in the car.
To finish things off, we visited Cavendish Beach. The cliffs here were an incredible sight. For my sister and I, our only experience of the ocean previous to this was in Florida, and I think my sister was too young to even really remember it. The PEI coastline was entirely different and entirely beautiful. The red soil, green grass and blue water were an unforgettable sight.
Our long trek back to Ontario was made happy by all the memories we had made.
About a month later, my husband and I embarked on our first anniversary trip. It was entirely planned by my hubby, since we’d decided that we would take turns planning anniversary trips. Where did we go, you ask? Well, we hopped on a plane to San Diego, California!
The first day was rough – our flight experience was terrible – BUT the rest of the vacation was a dream. Andrew used AirBnB to find us a nice place to stay, just a couple of blocks from the ocean. We even had our own little backyard patio.
We spent one day walking up the cost of California – from Pacific Beach to La Jolla Cove. My first look at the ocean here took my breath away. Again, an entirely different experience each time I see the coast: Cavendish Beach, PEI was very cold and windy, while Pacific Beach, California was warm and wavy.
As we walked up the coast, we observed lots of surfers (and Pokémon Go players). We found a hidden gem – the Dr. Seuss tree – claimed to be inspiration for The Lorax. (I told you I love books.) And finally, we saw the wildlife. There were seagulls, of course, much bigger than the ones I had ever seen, but what we were really impressed by were the pelicans and seals. They were so close you could touch them, and many of them seemed to enjoy the attention.
The next day, we took a trip to the San Diego Zoo – a pioneer in the creation of open-air, cageless exhibits, and one of the largest zoological associations in the world. I knew this was a big place, but I actually didn’t realize its breadth until we took a gondala lift across the park and back to get a little aerial perspective. This zoo was HUGE.
I was floored time and time again by the closeness of these animals. You could almost reach out and touch many of them. We were particularly impressed by the stoic giraffes, the large elephants, and the hungry baby gorilla. The pandas, however, were very shy.
Why do I love the zoo so much? Because it reminds me of the beauty and grace of my Creator. These creatures were each designed with incredible care, and for me, they are a reminder of how small I am, yet how great my God is. Observing these animals reminds me that this world is a gift we were meant to cherish.
On our actual anniversary – another warm and sunny California day – we fully embraced our role as tourists, taking in the city on a trolley. First stop? Old Town San Diego, known as the birthplace of California. We wandered through the marketplace, in and out of the old schoolhouse, the town hall, the jail and the first bank.
We drove by the Maritime Museum, located on the decks of a huge ship called the Star of India, and the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum. We had a brief look at Seaport Village and the Marina, before we hopped off in the Gaslamp Quarter. This is an historic area of downtown San Diego – home to many old hotels and theatres, as well as an abundance of restaurants.
Next, we took the trolley across a very l
arge bridge to the island of Coronado. This place is home to an enormous hotel – a favourite for high class guests including many of the country’s presidents and celebrities.
We hopped off again to explore Balboa Park, which is the country’s largest urban cultural park. It houses 15 major museums, performing arts venues, beautiful gardens, and the Zoo mentioned before. Although we didn’t have the time (or money) to tour any museums, the Spanish architecture and floral gardens were enough for us.
Last, but not least, we stopped in Little Italy. My hubby and I both share a special affinity for all things Italian. We love sipping espresso beverages, eating yummy pasta dishes, and tasting new wines. We grabbed some coffee at James Coffee Co. (a must-see for my husband), before sitting down for dinner at Buon Appetito. Here, we enjoyed fresh baked bread, delicious handmade pasta, and the most incredible tiramisu. Truly one of the best dinners I’ve ever had, and all in all, another amazing vacation.
To finish off the summer, my husband and I took a trip much closer to home. We decided to spend a day touring the Toronto Islands. We drove down to the big city, took a ferry across the lake, and rented some bikes when we arrived. Our leisurely ride allowed us to catch a glimpse of the iconic Toronto skyline. We ran through a garden maze, much like in Alice in Wonderland, which proved to be much more difficult that we expected, and enjoyed a picnic in the park.
So, there you have it. My summer was full of incredible experiences and I was happy to play the part of a tourist. I feel so incredibly blessed to have the ability to explore this world, and I look forward to many more travel adventures in the future!