Get out and enjoy.......... Fall’s colours

Fall is an amazing time, it is the season when leaves change to blue, golden, brown, scarlet ; when you add a mix of a scenic back drop with golden streak of sunlight shining through branches fall earns the undisputed title  as “the romantic season of the year”.

Canada’s capital city has a wide range of trees from Maple, Oak to birch with leaves that change to brilliant oranges, red and yellow in September through to October. These fall foliages tends to peak towards the end of September.

We took the opportunity to visit two great fall local attractions – the Gatineau Park and Mackenzie King Estate which is located in the Gatineau Park.

Our drive started from BBI Ottawa **, we drove about 15 minutes on the highway heading north west to a small town named Chelsea in the province of Quebec. From the centre town we navigate to a huge parking lot where we grab our running shoe and off we when to a great adventure. “Wow”!! Was the most common expression from the hundred of visitors to this national treasure: if you haven’t seen the leaves change colour during the autumns’ months, then you’re missing out on a true Canadian experience. Species of trees transform into gold, red and everything in between it was absolutely beautiful.

 The Gatineau Park

Located 15 minutes across the Ottawa River in Gatineau is the Gatineau Park –The Park offers a whole range of attractions and activities. It is particularly beautiful in the fall, when the trees put on an impressive show of colour. The park has 361 Kilometres of natural wilderness crisscrossed with forest, lakes, cycling, natural trails and stunning lookout which makes it a destination for romantic hangout.

Four of these lookouts offer spectacular views, including Champlain Lookout atop the Eardely Escarpment, with amazing views of two major Canadian geological formations - the Canadian Shield and the St. Lawrence Lowlands

The Mackenzie King estate

The Park is home to Mackenzie King Estate, the beautiful country home of Canada's 10th Prime Minister, William Lyon McKenzie King. The estate consists of a number of cottages, a tea house, farm house and main buildings and remains a colourful part of Canadian history.

The estate had great English gardens, trails including my personal favourite the waterfall trails. You can learn about the famous ruins and even watch films on the life of Mackenzie King. This is great family getaway spot.

I wonder how many pictures are taken during this time in the Gatineau Park…..If only leaves could talk…..

Until then……

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** While there are thousands of options for Romantic getaway , BBI offers the most intimate stay weather you are looking for a romantic stay or to rekindle your romantic fire – located in Central Ottawa and voted by numerous guests as the place to fall in love again and again.

Pirates are in town - BBI Prescott

Last weekend, I told the most important lady in my life, my 14 year old daughter that the pirates have landed. She replied” what?” I replied “Yes Capital Sparrow and his crew have landed in Prescott and I think we should go and see them”.

“I” being the operative word, as at the tender age of 14 as parent we have to seek an audience most of the times with our kids to hang out……and hope for a yes answer with much anticipation after they consult with their friends to see what on their agenda, fortunate for me I was awarded the moment (lol) and so I was blessed to have had the pleasure of hanging out for ONE FULL DAY in Prescott, Ontario on the St Lawrence with my little princess

The event was the 4^th fourth Annual Pirates Day, at the Fort’s town Prescott home of one of BBI’s location. The town was decorated to welcome the visitors. Prescott welcomed visitors from both sides of the St. Lawrence River, we noted several sidewalk sales and great bargain along King Street and a few side streets. King Street the main street and the economic hub of Prescott was lined with small unique shops from speciality coffee shops to corner shops, from a small town square with a farmers market, to a few small town diners. This area was the centre of activities and attractions for 4^th Annual Pirates day.

Great care was in the planning of the many and varied kids activities. Activities included:  Tattoos and stickers to celebrate the event, hanging with pirates, geo-caching (a new concept) it’s a modern version of treasure hunt using a GPS device, face painting, Giant air bounce, Magic and so much more.

Adults had the pleasure of Giant BBQ’s, Live Music, and Dancing and really cool side walk sales.

The main attraction being Capital Sparrow himself, enacted by a Prescott local - Major James Morrow Walsh, we enjoyed many photos shots and opportunity to visit the Tall ship which brought capital Sparrow to Prescott which was docked in front of BBI Prescott location on the St Lawrence facing the US town of Ogdensburg in the US state of New York.

I must admit it was fun for the entire family we had some great laughter and eat well from the local giant BBQ’s on King Street and the town square. Great job Prescott!!

Visit us on facebook for more info and pictures from this grand event:

http://www.facebook.com/WorldFootprints#!/pages/Ottawa-ON/Romantic-getaways-Bed-and-breakfast-BBI/251002990875?ref=ts

See you soon

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Rally Defi Montpellier

One great thing about rally defi is the opportunity to see residents, who you didn’t, had a chance to connect with during those relaxing summer months…

We had 20 degrees on the high, no mosquitoes, and no black flies which set the perfect atmosphere for this memorial event. At different points of the community small group’s gathered and chatter as excitement builds. It was an opportunity to enjoy some great local poutine, cold beer, French hospitality and meet and greet locals and welcome visitors to this small piscine village – we enjoyed the company of guest from Cheneville, Ripon, Thurso, Mont tremblant, Montreal, Ottawa and the United States.

Celebrations could be heard as far away as the Montpellier Golf Club some 3 km away.

The races got off to wonderful start with much anticipation from the spectators. Lot of cheers as the driver and their little rockets tour the community. The cars were unbelievable modify, the engines roars like thunder and the cars were incredible fast, they were decorated with beautiful colours. It was non- stop action from the start to the end of the races nothing short of total entertainment.

Cheers to the race car drivers, organizers and the many spectators who contributed to a well spend afternoon at the races at BBI Montpellier *.

Joint us again as BBI keep you updated with the many interesting activities at our different locations.

Montpellier is small village in the cottage country region it is approximately 90 km from Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, 35 minutes drive to Mont Tremblant and Montebello, Quebec Canada.

The municipality includes the settlements of Montpellier and Lac-Schryer. Its western portion consists mostly of the Laurentian Hills, part of the Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve

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