Destinations Archives - Small Barrels Magazine

Disney World Vacation: Five Helpful Tips for Couples

October 10, 2019 By karin Leave a Comment

Flowers for the Easter season — Flowers in the Grand Floridian Lobby for the Easter season

If you’re a couple and you’ve chosen Walt Disney World for your vacation destination, you’ve probably already embraced the prospect of big crowds, long lines, and a family-focused vibe. And that’s good because you won’t ever entirely avoid these things, even armed with all the best tips for jumping ride queues and finding little pockets of quiet(er) in the park.

Incidentally, this article is not about queue-jumping or scheduling your rides to beat the crowds. These resources exist and we’d encourage you to seek them out. What we’d like to instead is give you a few concrete things to do while at Disney that will help you to still feel like a couple on vacation, and not two overgrown eight-year-olds (at least, not the whole time). This is possible by making a few tweaks to your Disney day — and your Disney mindset.

Grand Floridian's elegant lobby — Grand Floridian’s elegant lobby

Tip #1: Bliss out at a deluxe Disney resort.

This is obviously not a tip for saving money, but it may help to save you some sanity. If you’re going to travel all the way to Walt Disney World and are planning to stay on the premises (highly recommended), consider booking a room at one of their several deluxe resorts. You’ll enjoy spacious and lovely grounds, decor that’s ‘still Disney’ – but more restrained than the bright, fantastical stuff at the theme parks – and a greater selection of upscale places to eat and drink when you’re not at the park. In other words, you have a place to truly escape the roller coasters, character greetings, and stroller dodging of the day (and be ready for more the next day!)

We recently stayed at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. In addition to it being lovely all around, I appreciated the perk of the short stroll from my room to Senses, the resort’s on-site luxury spa at. I had one of the best massage appointments (ever), ending with a complimentary glass of wine. (Yes, there is more to Disney than Mickey and Space Mountain.)

Other deluxe resort advantages: booking a room on a concierge floor is often an option at the upscale hotels; that can mean perks like continental breakfast, hot pre-dinner appetizers, and wine/aperitifs for a night cap.

Gorgeous grounds at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Tip #2: At a theme park? Linger over lunch.

Instead of go, go, go from the moment you arrive at a theme park, plan to linger over lunch. Sure, you can wolf down your fifth hot dog of the week and press on. But there are lots of table service dining options – many even licensed – where you can enjoy being waited on and take things a little slower (ideally while sipping a restorative beverage).

As with all Walt Disney World table-service restaurants, be sure to book well in advance (yes, even for lunch). It takes a little pre-trip planning, but your body and brain will thank you after a morning packed with rides and stimulation. Consider doing this daily as a mini ‘couples retreat’ in the middle of your day.

Disney’s EPCOT theme park has lots of interesting table service dining options. On our recent trip, we enjoyed a lovely, leisurely British pub lunch on the patio of the United Kingdom Pavillion’s Rose and Crown Dining Room. On our ‘Magic Kingdom’ day we lunched at the elegant The Plaza Restaurant, enjoying its very tasty fare. (The Plaza was exceptionally small, and even with a booking we waited a good 20 minutes – a reminder to always book ahead!!)

The art of the leisurely lunch at the Rose and Crown Dining Room

A tasty Reuben Sandwich Platter at the Plaza Restaurant

Tip #3: Call a cab or car ride service

Disney has terrific public transportation for guests staying on the premises. It’s often a great option – and sometimes your only option – for navigating the massive Disney grounds. But it is also public transportation. That means dealing with preset bus, monorail and boat schedules. It also means fighting for space during heavy crowd times like park openings and closings. That can translate to hot, humid journeys while sandwiched between strollers, tired parents and kids. Just saying.

Suppose you’re a couple staying at the Grand Floridian which is located near the Magic Kingdom. You have dinner reservations at Disney’s Dolphin Resort, which borders on EPCOT – a decent journey. Rather than getting all fancied up only to have to figure out (and fight) the public options, deal with transferring and waiting around, why not order a ride? We used LYFT on a couple of occasions and were happy to pay the reasonable fare for the quick, direct and private ride to our dinner destinations. Worth it!

Manhattan — Couples’ cocktail time at Bluezoo (Dolphin Resort)

Tip #4: Think ‘proximity’ when booking your resort.

This is a variation on Tip #1 (i.e., stay at a deluxe resort). It also has the advantage of lessening your need to exercise Tip #3 (booking cabs and rides to get around):

When choosing your deluxe resort, take into the account the park you’ll be at most often, and the location of the restaurants where you’ve made the most reservations. The resort that is closest to the most of these things is your winner. You can flip this and do it the other way — let your resort choice dictate your ‘main park’ and the bulk of your dining options. Either way, the more these things are connected, the less time you’re going to be worrying about making connections.

We chose the Grand Floridian because: a) it’s one stop away from Magic Kingdom, the park we knew we’d be visiting more than the rest, and b) we knew we wanted to dine at three Grand Floridian restaurants: Citricos, Narcoossee’s, and Victoria and Albert during our 7-night stay. All in all, it meant way less time travel fuss to and fro. We basically had to get dressed and go, and knew we’d arrive at MK or a dinner within 15 minutes.

Exclusive dining, adults only — Exclusive dining adults only) at the Grand Floridian’s Victoria and Albert

Having stayed at the Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club luxury resorts in the past, I can also highly recommend either of these resort choices. Right on the doorstep of EPCOT (just a short walk away) and a quick boat ride or walk to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it makes sense to stay at Beach Club or Yacht Club if you’re keen on these parks. There’s also an impressive number of more upscale table service/finer dining options to choose from all within walking distance in the EPCOT/Disney’s Boardwalk area.

Shula's 22 oz. "Cowboy" Ribeye — Shula’s – an upscale steak house in the EPCOT area

Tip #5: Embrace the fact that you won’t do it all.

This is a tip we’d offer to anyone traveling to Disney – kids in tow or otherwise. There is just too much to do, see, hear, taste and experience at Walt Disney World to do it all, or even close to it all. If you try – even if you think you can try – you will run yourself ragged by day two at the latest. So, burst that bubble right now and you will be happier for it.

Instead, spend a morning at your park of choice and ride the attractions that intrigue you most. Linger over that lunch. Maybe do one last ride or two as you make your way back to your deluxe resort for a restful afternoon, then go somewhere great for dinner (maybe cab it or use LYFT). Maybe you’re refreshed enough for fireworks or other evening show. If not, what’s the harm in seeking out your resort’s lounge and enjoying a night cap, just the two of you? A pretty good day, even if you only saw a fraction of Disney. (There’s always next time, right?)

Night cap in the lobby — Night cap in the Grand Floridian lobby

In and Around the Castle – Fairmont Banff Springs Review (Part 2)

November 12, 2018 By karin Leave a Comment

While there’s plenty to do in and just outside of the town of Banff, exploring the historic Fairmont Banff Springs hotel itself as well as its stunning surroundings outside gave us plenty to do.

Below are a few outdoor shots taken on a leisurely afternoon stroll just outside the castle doors.

Here, we’ve just left the ‘new’ lobby entrance and are heading in the direction of town.

A great shot of the hotel nestled in the valley, with the famous pointed peak of Mount Rundle rising just behind it:

Fairmont Banff Springs - The Castle in the Mountain — Fairmont Banff Springs – The Castle in the Mountain

This should give you an idea of the ‘unseasonable’ early October snow fall we experienced – notice how the snow is on the ground but meanwhile the leaves have yet to fully drop:

Venturing just behind the hotel, you’ll find the gorgeous Bow Valley. (Just out of view of this shot to the right is the famous Banff Springs golf course):

"In the Valley Below" — “In the Valley Below”

In the summer months, you can exit to the rear of the hotel (as though heading toward the Waldhaus Restaurant), take an outdoor staircase, and then a picturesque footpath through the woods right down to the Bow Valley and its famous falls. It was too snowy for this route this time, and the other foot-friendly trails were slippery and snow-packed. We managed to get there on foot as we know the area pretty well, but grabbing your car and taking the short drive to the Valley and Falls would be the best option on a slippery, snowy day.

In the hotel's "backyard" — In the hotel’s “backyard”

Here we are walking along the ‘back patio’ of the hotel. (In summer, just on the other side of the canopied space pictured below, the Rundle Lounge opens up onto a patio space with stunning views overlooking the Bow Valley…)

Walking around the Banff Springs hotel — The Hotel’s Back ‘Patio’

Exploring the inside the hotel is just as fun as heading outside. Certainly, there are boutiques and galleries on the lower level of the hotel to check out. But quite honestly my favourite activity is to simply stroll the old corridors and grand halls and let them speak to you.

We spent an afternoon doing this, simply admiring the grandeur and subtleties in the hotel’s careful interior designs, drinking in its storied history, maybe even sensing the genteel ‘ghosts’ of yesteryear as we passed from room after room.

Here is a shot of the old lobby and reception area of the hotel:

Pausing to wonder at the stories behind the antique furnishings and paintings lining corridors like the one below was quite fun. There are so many careful details to fascinate no matter which way you look, from intricate carvings in the stonework to large and impressive vaulted windows. We saw plenty, but who knows what we missed?

And we ourselves didn’t try it, you can opt to join a guided tour. No doubt it would be be full of fascinating facts about the hotel (arrange with the concierge desk):

Castle corridor Banff Springs — Castle corridor

Here is the stunning Mount Stephen Hall being set up for a banquet that evening:

Mount Stephen Hall - Banff Springs — Mount Stephen Hall

And the Cascade Ballroom standing empty that day, but still gorgeous, elegant and grand:

Sadly (for us) both the Alberta and Alhambra Dining Rooms are no more having been re-imagined into very functional conference meeting spaces. We have fond memories dining in both places. Particularly we recall the live music and dancing that lit up the Alberta Dining Room nightly some twenty years ago, and of course for decades before that. Of course, even on our first trips, it felt somewhat out-of-time and you could feel that the era of dining and dancing was already coming to an end. (Better that the rooms are being put to new uses than simply locked away, right? But...sigh...)

Do make the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel one of your next destinations, and be sure while you’re there to enjoy the living history within its doors, and the most glorious sights nature has to offer just beyond…

For more information or to book a holiday at the “Castle in the Mountains”, visit www.fairmont.com

A Stay at the Castle – Fairmont Banff Springs Review (Part 1)

November 9, 2018 By karin Leave a Comment

This was the view from our king suite at the legendary Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel – the “Castle in the Mountains”. (Yes, this is an actual photo taken with my phone.)

Somehow, I feel I barely need to type another word to convey the feelings of wonder and relaxation brought on by this vacation…

The breathtaking site was all the more incredible coming the morning after what can only be called a harrowing highway drive due to an early autumn snowstorm. The storm turned the 90 minute drive from Calgary into an over six hour ordeal. At 8:30pm rather than our anticipated 2:30pm arrival, we finally made it to “the Castle” — without yet glimpsing the mountains behind the snow clouds and darkness. We were grateful just to be safely off the road, never mind at our intended destination.

Snow storm on Trans Canada Highway — There are mountains just beyond those snow clouds

Many had it far worse. Delays were not only due to slipper roads and visibility issues; several traffic accidents had occurred farther ahead on the road, creating havoc. In fact, the highway was eventually closed, leaving people stranded in their vehicles overnight (can’t imagine…). In our twenty years of travel to the Rockies and making the scenic drive from Calgary to Banff National Park, we have never experienced anything remotely like this, even in winter. (I’m hardly suggesting that this is the norm — but do be warned that dramatic changes in weather can happen when traveling in the mountains at ANY time of year.)

Anyway, after all the stress and drama, you might imagine how we were all the more delighted to be told that we’d been upgraded from a very comfortable king room to a king suite, one of only about eight such rooms overlooking the Bow Valley.

I (really and truly) gasped when I opened our bedroom window the next morning. The dark clouds had cleared, bands of pink and gold morning sunlight stretched over the snow-capped mountains, and suddenly we were here.

The old entrance to the hotel, complete with its snow-topped horse-and-rider statue rising from the center of the cul-de-sac drive, was picture-perfect. I raced into the suite’s living room next to see just how spectacular the Bow Valley would look from our window. Of course, the majestic view was beyond words as you can see above in the first two shots. This is am absolutely magical place to be, and our three-night vacation was just beginning…

The view was the absolute ‘centerpiece’ of our stay, but the suite itself was spacious and very comfortable. The king bed had a Goldilocks “just right” firmness, and the large adjoining living room gave us plenty of room to read, write, stretch out and relax. The bathroom was a decent size (not always the case in these older hotels) and stocked with luxurious rose-scented products from Le Labo.

Something to note: this is an old hotel, built in 1888, rich in history and also rich in design certain quirks. Rooms have been through renovations, re-imaginings, and expansions. Our suite was more than comfortable, but guests should be prepared for the quirky placement of doors, thin walls, odd angles and projections, etc. The service in the hotel overall was excellent; we were a bit wary after a stay we at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise some years back where service was somewhat spotty and unreliable (rooms not ready, dinner reservations canceled…). This time around, the Fairmont Banff Springs and everyone we encountered on its staff were more than charming.

Above is a shot of the living room. With its valley views, it proved the perfect place to enjoy our scrumptious Rocky Mountain Breakfast for two.

"Rocky Mountain Breakfast" in our room — “Rocky Mountain Breakfast” in our room

Though it took some grit to get here, we woke up in paradise ready for a wonderful stay at the Castle…

For more information or to book a holiday at the “Castle in the Mountains”, visit www.fairmont.com

Christmas Romance in the Rockies

January 21, 2018 By karin 1 Comment

A Christmas-time getaway in the majestic, snow-capped Canadian Rockies at Lake Louise is a particularly romantic way to celebrate the season. The landscape provides all the ‘decoration’ you need to set the mood, which is at once cozy, elegant, and awe-inspiring. The powder-topped mountains and frosted trees are surely bound to cue up the Christmas carols on your winter walk…

The iconic turquoise blue lake is frozen and covered in snow, but cleared enough to skate on — and even to play an impromptu game of hockey, Canadian-style.

At some point, as beautiful as it is outdoors, you want to head inside – and in our opinion there’s no better place to do this at Lake Louise than at the Post Hotel. Nestled among the pines just outside of Lake Louise village, the Post is just enough off the beaten path to let you breathe, and close enough to everything that means getting there is no chore at all.

Balcony View - Magical Christmas Lights — Balcony View – Magical Christmas Lights

…And just look at that magical evening view from our room! We have stayed here many times, returning again and again for the warmth and elegance of the accommodations, the delicious food and remarkable wine selection, and the sense of calm and relaxation that being at the Post provides, but this was our first time to visit in the winter.

Here’s another magical wintertime view from our room, this time just after sunrise:

Since we’re so used to seeing it in the late summer or fall, we found the Post to be transformed outside by the snow, crisp air, and twinkling white lights, and inside by the abundant but very tasteful Christmas decorations.

The Library at the Post Hotel - Ready for Christmas — The Library at the Post Hotel – Ready for Christmas

Above has always been one of my favourite places in the hotel – a library tucked away on the third floor, lovely for early morning reading, or a quiet afternoon of board games. Already inviting with its grand stone fireplace, built-in wooden bookcases and cozy furniture, experiencing the library room all done up for Christmas made it hard to pull ourselves away…

Here’s another view of this amazing room – and though there was no roaring fire, you can just feel the warmth, can’t you?

Another View of the Post's Library Room — Another View of the Post’s Library Room

Here’s a close up shot of the tree – I was absolutely taken with the delicate paper bird ornaments. Take a close look – they’re amazing!

Post Hotel Festive Library — Post Hotel The Festive Library

And I love that such care and attention to detail exists even in this room although it is quite often occupied by only one or two guests.

Post Hotel Library Christmas Decorations

In fact, as you wander and gaze throughout the hotel, there are little touches everywhere that foster Christmas magic, from elegantly decorated alcoves, to tiny trees gracing the table at Fondue Stubli, the hotel’s fondue restaurant.

Decorative Wreath — Decorative wreath dressed up an alcove

Though Christmas was everywhere at the Post – inside and out – there was nothing overdone or gaudy about it. Everything was done with such exquisite taste that the effect was pure romance and delight.

I’m writing about this because it was not our intention to have a “Christmas vacation”, but our stay at the Post definitely put us in the spirit. If you are looking for that ‘white Christmas at a ski chalet’ mood, I highly recommend it. I will note that we stayed mid-December wrapping up our trip on December 18th. This was apparently just before it was about to get significantly busier with families and travelers on holiday. While this would have had its own loveliness I’m sure, we felt that we got to enjoy the best of both worlds – the lovely sights and sounds of the season, but also the rest and quietness we craved.

Though perhaps not specifically “Christmas”, every time I look at this photo I think: what could be more festive, comforting and romantic than a glass of wine and a fine chocolate fondue? And with that…

…to all a goodnight at the Post Hotel in December!

Kingmik Dog Sled Tour Through a Winter Wonderland

January 12, 2018 By karin Leave a Comment

If you’re looking for a unique way to experience the Canadian Rocky Mountains in the wintertime, consider booking a dog sled tour with Kingmik Dogsled Tours. This is a world class operation, spectacularly done from start to finish. First and foremost, the moment you arrive for your tour and see the gorgeous Alaskan Huskies waiting eagerly to get going, you know and see how well-treated, well-cared for, happy and loved they are. Each dog is beloved and treated like the unique creature he or she is. The guides and operators of Kingmik are special people with special relationships with each dog, and you see this immediately. And of course, you’ll be taking in some of the most breathtaking views in the world from an utterly unique vantage point.

A short drive from our stay at the Post Hotel in the village of Lake Louise, we arrived for our 2:00pm Great Divide Tour a bit early (the whole tour was about an hour and a half, a 10 mile trip). This meant we had some time to greet the dogs, pat, play, and fall instantly in love with each of them. It was fascinating to watch the dogs interact with each other, gobble down their food (they eat like 8,000 calories a day – fat, protein – amazing!), and of course just how friendly and playfully they greeted us newcomers. Before the tour began, we were rounded up for a brief orientation and some facts about the dogs. Besides their insanely high-caloric diet(!), we were impressed to learn that the dogs themselves determine their retirement and are not pushed beyond what they show the guides they are able and interested in giving. In these cases, adoptive homes may be sought, but the retired dogs often live the rest of their lives at the Kingmik kennel property in B.C. – which sounds amazing, and which you can arrange to visit. (We didn’t visit this trip, but would sure love to see this side of the operation!).

The other interesting fact that was shared: Siberian Huskies, the breed often featured in movies about dog sledding, are not the same nor in the same league endurance wise as the Alaskan Huskies who pull the Kingmik sleds. You’ll see all kinds of coat colouration, and eye-color – all sorts of beauty! In fact, they are not an officially-recognized breed – but these are the dogs of the Iditarod, and the working dogs with a long history in northern villages.

After the orientation, we were bundled into our sled-for-two. (While it’s a cozy vessel, be sure to dress warmly. You’re not moving much during the tour and this can result in cold feet and hands (etc.) without the proper gear!) A this point, the baying and barking was deafening — and the dogs’ energy was contagious. They clearly wanted to go and get out there already. And once they began, like magic, it was silent except for the swoosh of the sled through the snow. The dog sled was pulled beside a cross country ski trail, another way to see this beautiful bit of land. Our guide Kylie was wonderful: full of experience, information, humour, and a genuine love of each dog in the seven-dog team pulling our sled. We heard funny and touching stories about each of them.

The scenery on the way to the Great Divide Arch was unparalleled. With spectacular now-capped mountains rising on all sides, it was in fact the trees that were the stand-out stunners that day. Frosted with gingerbread-icing snow, it was like zipping along through thousands of Christmas trees. According to our guide, this sight is not all that typical, but recent conditions that alternated between cold and warm and snowy created the perfect Christmas card clinginess we saw all around this. Of course, without this there would have been other visuals to rhapsodize about, but we certainly felt fortunate!

Kingmik dogs taking a well-deserved break!

After turning around at The Great Divide Arch, we got out to stretch our legs and visit with the dogs. We were then each given an opportunity to drive the sled with Kylie. Wow – standing to drive the sled and drinking it in from this vantage point was an entirely new feeling. There was a different sense of the dogs’ power and tangible connection to them. An amazing, once in a lifetime experience!

A thank you to everyone at Kingmik Dogsled Tours, to our amazing guide Kylie, and of course to our team of Alaskan Husky supestars – Two-Step, Yorkie, Growler, Vargas, Sneetches, Who, and Horton (oh Horton!). This was an exceptional experience on all levels, and one we will never forget!