a historic rental in the heart of charlottetown

For our second extra long weekend, we decided to head to Prince Edward Island. We took the ferry, though you can take the bridge. For the same cost, we'd much rather take the ferry and be able to get out and enjoy the water. It's about an hour and it breaks up the four hour drive to the island nicely. Because we were catching the last one for the day, we boarded just as the sun set. It was a beautiful night on the water.

We decided to spend the first two nights in Charlottetown, the capital, and then make our way around the island, spending a few nights on the opposite side. Whenever we are staying anywhere, I always try to find a reasonable home to rent first. Often they're a little more than a hotel stay, but for us as a family of six, having our own space is so much more relaxing. Especially if we're staying in the same place for more than one night. Because we booked last minute, this historic, three story town house, right downtown in the historic district, was significantly discounted. It had everything that we could have wanted. The kitchen was well stocked. There was a charming little backyard area, as well as a large second floor balcony. The beds were very comfortable with hotel linens and towels. They even had set out everything we could have needed for our littlest, from baby gates to a high chair and toys.

While all of that is important, the best part of this home was the character it had. Being over two centuries old, the house simply oozed character. The floorboards were warped and creaky, and the treads on the stairs had been worn thin in the centers from decades of inhabitants climbing up and down. And what's more, the owner had furnished it with some lovely antique pieces, like this stunning wardrobe in the front entrance. How I would love to find a cabinet like this...

There was a cheerful dining room that overlooked the sidewalk just out front. The sun streamed in windows while we ate breakfast and because the house was set right at the sidewalk, and downtown being only a block away, people we always walking past. Beyond the dining room was the kitchen, which was dated and quite cramped, but still functional. And then beyond that, a few steps up, was a small sitting room and doors to the back yard. It wasn't a large yard, but rather a small deck and a patio area with a grill, perfect for dinging outside. It was just what we needed. There was also a very long, narrow front hall that led back to the kitchen from the front door, along the staircase. At the end of it was a tiny little powder room tucked under the second floor landing. The boys absolutely loved these little details. This, as well as the tiny little desk build into the kitchen cabinets with a stool and mounted radio. They took turns playing DJ while I flipped pancakes, and joked that if they were Harry Potter, the powder room would be their bedroom.

As I mentioned, the kitchen was very well stocked. There was a full spice cupboard, wonderfully sharp knives, a good variety of pots and pans, and a large collection of plain white china (much to my pleasure). They even had thoughtfully provided coffee and a French press, as well as gourmet hot chocolate and a couple snacks. This was particularly convenient as we had checked in long after the grocery stores had closed. Another reason we can justify the cost of a home to rent is because even though the accommodation might be more expensive than a hotel room, we're able to make meals at home, which for us is much more cost effective. After enjoying coffee on the balcony the next morning, I popped out to grab groceries and then came home in time to make breakfast for the boys.

The second floor had a small den at the top of the stairs. Here they had a sofa bed made up for the two little ones. They were beside themselves with the giant television mounted on the wall, as it meant they could watch cartoons in bed the next morning. And there was a tiny, half-sized door that you climbed out of to reach the balcony. It felt very New York!

Here you can see the upper balcony over the small patio area, as well as the attached neighbors.

At the other end of the hall, looking out the front of the house, was a small bathroom, and the master bedroom. I absolutely loved the natural light in the bathroom!

Then, up in the attic space of the third floor, with it's wonderfully high ceilings and exposed beams, there was a bedroom for the two older boys, as well as their own bathroom and small little sitting area with a chair and desk.

Their bathroom was the perfect little bath, with it's antique claw foot and cozy feel. 

After arriving late the first night, when we had finally managed to get four very excited boys settled in bed, I climbed the two flights of stairs with my book and a cup of hot chocolate, and sunk into the tub with my book. I had lots to see in town the following day, but at that moment, I was just thankful for this little space which felt so much more like home than a hotel room.

trip east - part two

 

This is the beautiful Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. The landscapes can vary so much in this province, but this particular part of it reminds us of home. The valley runs parallel to the Bay of Fundy, along the Western side, nestled between two mountains. The mountains shelter the area and have created a sort of micro climate, perfect for apple orchards and vineyards, both of which are abundant.

We spent a day driving around Grand Pre - a UNESCO world heritage site and a memorial to the Acadian people forced to leave. As early as 1605, the French settled in the valley in Port Royal (Samuel de Champlain), and made their way up the valley becoming the Acadians. They were known for their use of dikes to hold back the tidal waters, creating rich farmland. In 1755, the British forced  the Acadians to leave, but the french influence is still evident today. Then New England Planters came in, invited to occupy the farmland left vacant, and take over cultivating the area.

We packed a picnic and ate at The Lookoff (on the North mountain), which offers the most beautiful views of the Valley. And it's not just the scenery that's so charming - situated on the farms are old Colonial homes and grand barns. Classic four-square farmhouses are also prevalent and occasionally you drive past a grand Palladian home with it's large chimneys.

While the climate is very similar to ours here in the Niagara Region, they are probably about two weeks behind us. This meant that we got to enjoy the Apple orchards in blossom, and the Lilacs in full bloom.

We'd be driving down the valley on the original highway 1 (which winds through each small town), and we'd be almost giddy pointing out home after home.

This was my favourite little cottage in Nova Scotia.

At the other end of the Valley is Annapolis Royal. The little towns along the rivers in Nova Scotia remind me of a folk painting.

I didn't take near as many photos throughout this part of the trip as I usually may have. We spent a lot of time driving, and I tried to just enjoy as much of it as I could in the moment with the kids.

After spending a few days in Nova Scotia, we began our trip back home. Our first stop was in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick (deemed Saint Andrews By the Sea). It was Canada's first seaside resort community, with the grand Algonquin Hotel up on the hill overlooking town, and charming seaside cottages and inns at the water. We stayed at the Seaside Beach Resort, a collection of little cottages that reminded me of Nantucket.

Next we headed towards Woodstock, Vt. We stumbled across this little town called Wayne, ME on our way. We had to turn around and drive through it a second time because it was about as classic small-town USA as you could hope for - from the general store to the bunting flags hanging from the river bridge behind it.

Here I quickly popped into an antique shop - Bittersweet Antiques, while Ryan admired the owner's garage.

We drove past Mount Washington and by the time we made it to Woodstock, the town was asleep. It was still pretty to drive through, but we promised next time to spend a couple days there.

It added so much to have the kids with us experiencing things. It wasn't always easier, but it was an adventure! And an adventure is what we were going for.

trip east - part one, nantucket

When given the chance, Ryan and I head East. The American East coast, the Canadian East coast - it doesn't really matter. Just East. We've tried the West coast, and while beautiful, it's just not our thing. We love being by the water. It's soothing to our souls. But we also love the small town feel and the rich history of the East. We love the architecture of the homes with their classic, timeless style. The way of life there seems to be much slower, and more relaxed. It's just where we love to be.

For the first time in our many trips to the coast, we decided to bring our children with us. We wanted to show them all the things we love. And while our boys are used to a fairly long drive to the cottage in the summer, the 21 hour drive to Nova Scotia was going to be a new adventure (for everyone).

The plan was to take two and a half days to get out to Nova Scotia, via the US. If you drove straight East from us, you'd end up near Boston. We'd then head North East through Vermont and Maine, and then back into Canada and through New Brunswick to Nova Scotia. At the last minute, we made a huge decision to spend one night on Nantucket. It seemed ridiculous at first, but honestly, I couldn't say no. Even for just one night. I'm going to highlight our time on the island first, as honestly, that's where I took the most photos (mainly because I had more time to wander about). Then I'll highlight the rest of our trip in another post.

Packing for a road trip for a family of six was a challenge! There were a couple things that made it easier. First, my husband invested in a rooftop carrier. This was huge as I wasn't limited to space, like when flying. Second, we made use of the hotel laundry machines halfway through. And third, we kept a large suitcase, but packed smaller weekend bags (one for us, one for the kids) with everything we needed for that night and next day. This was especially helpful for Nantucket as we wouldn't have our car and would need to carry our luggage on and off the ferry.

So, to optimize our time on the island, we drove to Sturbridge, MA the first evening. We literally arrived at 1:30 am and were checked out by 6:30 am the next morning. We booked an early departure on the high speed ferry. which meant we arrived on the island late morning. I find this to be a great time to go as a couple weeks later, and students arrive back home from school, and busy season starts which basically doubles the population. Sure, you miss the quintessential Hydrangeas and Roses in bloom, but it's still beautiful (and less expensive).

It was a perfectly grey ferry ride in - warm enough to sit outside, but cool enough to be thankful you threw in a sweatshirt and blanket. Our hair was windblown and our skin tasted salty by the time we docked, but the fog was lifting and the only evidence of the morning's down pour were the puddles in the cobblestone streets.

We made our way to the rental shop, where the boys rented a Jeep for the day - the perfect vehicle for making the most of the sandy back roads and beach drives. We didn't all fit in the Jeep, so George and I took the transit and we met them out in Sconset. They brought the luggage to the hotel (the scenic way, no doubt) while George and I walked about town.

We met for lunch at The Brotherhood of Thieves, where Ryan got to enjoy his favourite sandwich in the world - their Reuben.

I spent my time in town window shopping and admiring the well-kept homes.

I then grabbed an iced coffee from Handlebar Cafe, which is conveniently across from the transit waiting area, and waited for the bus to Sconset.

I got off at the rotary by Sconset Market, and found the boys waiting. They headed to the beach and the playground across from it and I walked up and down the lanes, looking at the cottages.

It's such an interesting place. These cottages are so old, some of them dating back to the mid-18th century, and yet, they're so meticulously kept. They are so charming. 

  

It has it's own smell - it's a mix of fresh ocean and sweet, floral from the beach roses.

We spent the remainder of the afternoon chasing waves and spotting seals.

We stayed by Surfside Beach, which isn't far from Sconset or town. We had takeout Lola Burger by the fire and walked the beach at sunset.

In the morning, I went back down to the beach and caught the end of the sunrise. The beaches are so beautiful. Our ferry would be leaving before noon as we had a long drive to the next destination, so I headed back into town for one more early walk around while the boys went back out in the Jeep.

It was so quiet in town, I felt like I had it all to myself. I picked up another iced coffee and morning bun and did some more window shopping as nothing was open. The brick sidewalks lulled George back to sleep.

Then I made my way down to the Wharf, quickly popping into the grocer to pick up some lunch supplies for the ferry ride home - namely buns and cold meet, some kettle chips, a pint of strawberries and chocolate chip cookies.

The old wharf is charming as well. It smells like the ocean with beautiful boats docked outside of tiny cottages for rent. And a few little shops to browse with souvenirs and gifts.

The boys met me here with a little time before we departed. We walked the docks, checking out the boats and watched a tall ship leave. This photo made me smile.

We knew that it might not be what we were hoping, given all that could go wrong traveling as a family. But with some planning ahead, it worked. And surprisingly, despite how short of a stay it was, we were relaxed and enjoyed ourselves! And what's more, our kids fell in love with a place that we love. Next time though, we're renting a cottage and staying for a week.