NEW YEARS IN MONTREAL

This year for New Years we took a road trip to Montreal with my family.  We wanted to ring in 2012 in a different city, and Montreal was a great choice.  Even though I'm a born New Yorker, I have such a thing for European cities, and this is as close as you can get to Paris without having to jump on a seven hour + flight.

We rented these wheels...a jumbo sized Ford Expedition e.l. to accommodate all seven of us and our luggage.  Montreal is less than a two hour flight away from New York City, but driving there took less than seven hours and it was fun, especially in this cool ride!  We really want one of these now...we feel like we would take so many more road trips.

Then we checked into the Hotel Omni Mont-Royal.  This was definitely a great hotel in the center of the city.  For starters, the location is just a couple of blocks away from shopping, restaurants and a metro stop, so we just parked the car at the hotel and explored the city on foot.  In addition, the rooms, although not the most modern of decor (although they are in the process of renovating and updating), were nice and spacious, and our room on the 28th floor had a great view of the city!  The fitness center has nice workout equipment, steam rooms, a hot tub and a pool.  And the service was excellent- what you would expect from an Omni property.  Plus, we got it at a great price during the New Years holiday weekend.  We paid about $175 a night...so it was a win-win situation for a great hotel.  I highly recommend the Hotel Omni Mont-Royal if you jet set to this Canadian city.

We spent about 3.5 days and four nights exploring every corner of this wonderful city.  So much so, that by the end, we said we could "put a fork in it, we had seen Montreal."   Yes, it was cold and snowy, but that was part of the charm because it was so festive.  We wandered around the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal.

We walked through Montreal's Chinatown neighborhood.

We went to see Montreal's Notre Dame Church which is so incredibly beautiful.

And need you ask...yes, of course we ate, and ate, and ate (and shopped).  I will have more on all of the great places where we stuffed ourselves silly tomorrow, and more on some of Montreal's good shopping this Friday in my Jet Set Stylin' Fridays post!

TORONTO- TAKE TWO

This same time last year, I was in the wonderful Canadian city of Toronto! When many people think of Canada destinations, they often think of Montreal, Niagara Falls, Quebec, or Vancouver. But, I have to tell all you jet setters, while Toronto is low on the radar, it's pretty awesome and it's waiting to be discovered! I loved it so much that I am itching to go there again for my Toronto- Take Two trip.

Toronto has so many cool neighborhoods, shops, restaurants, museums, galleries, etc. Out of most big cities I have been to, it most closely reminds me of Chicago. Situated right on Lake Ontario, it has the water and Harbourfront (that's how they spell it), a downtown with big buildings, and all that a big city has to offer.

Toronto is also a good walking city. In addition, it's extremely ethnically and culturally diverse. You can check out Chinatown, Korea Town, Greek Town, Little Indian and Little Portugal all in one day! Toronto is definitely a great weekend getaway. I would say that you only need about 3-4 days to get a good feel for the city. Plus, for all you East Coasters, it's such a short flight...so why not go?

Click the link below to read more about some of the restaurants I checked out last year:
Tasty Toronto
Click the link below to read more about some of the great shops I checked out last year:
Toronto Home Stores

HEALTHY WINTER VACATION FOR WOMEN

I was just flipping through the February issue of Ladies' Home Journal Magazine and saw an article that peaked my interest...How to Stay Fit- A Season Guide to Incredibly Fun Trips for the Active Female Traveler. For the Winter they suggest the following two trips:

1- Women's Ski Camp in Snowbird, Utah: Snowbird Resort runs two camps- one in January and another in March- that cater to intermediate-and-above skiers. Whether you want to gain confidence on the slopes or bump your skiing up a notch, you'll fit right in. And you'll feel less intimidated learning in small groups led by female instructors. They suggest staying at the Cliff Lodge right on the mountain. A ski-plus-lodging package which includes lunch and lift tickets runs about $1150 for a three-day camp and $1450 for a four-day camp.

2- Cross-Country Skiing in Banff, Alberta, Canada: Banff National Park gets loads of snow, has stunning views of the Canadian Rockies and, with a variety of easy and moderate trails, is a great location for a long weekend or cross-country skiing. They suggest sleeping at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge where rates start at $169 a night.

CANADA AND WINE- A PERFECT WINTER COMBO!

The Niagara Wine Country in upstate New York and Canada has a lot of great wineries. In the town of Niagara-On-The-Lake, Canada alone- there are over 20 wineries. One of the best wines they produce in that region is Ice Wine- a sweet, syrupy delicious wine that's best alone, with cheese or dessert. While most people think of checking out wineries when it's sunny and warm outside, this is the time of year when Ice wine grapes are at their finest.

Winter can feel like forever, so a short weekend getaway is a great way to break up my least favorite season. I was just in Niagara and Toronto, Canada this past September for my big 3-0 and I have to say it was awesome! If you haven't been, definitely look into it and see if you can check it out.

Your perfect excuse for planning a weekend to go there...The Niagara Wine Festival 2010! The festival runs this month from January 15th-31st. There are a lot of great events planned for the festival from wine tastings, to food tastings and celebrations of all kinds. Yes, it's certainly cold up there this time of year, probably not the place to go to with kids, but it's a good excuse to jet set on the cheap with friends or your honey. The price for flights and hotel rooms this time of year is low. It's also a great way to be introduced to some new wines you may have never tried before...California isn't the only place that makes wines my jet setters!

JET SET SMART STORKHEARTS

Just because you are expecting a little one doesn't mean that you can't still jet set somewhere fabulous. In fact, I think it's the perfect excuse to go some place great with your loved one. I just came across something called Babymoon Guide which will help you get started.

Whether you want to jet set to somewhere far and exotic, or just want to be pampered for the day, this is a great place to find what you are looking for. They list suggested destinations for the Caribbean & Mexico, the U.S., Canada and Europe. They also have reviews from parents-to-be who have jet setted to the destinations so you can read and see what they thought about their trip.

Their featured babymoon this month is at the Mohonk Moutain House in New Paltz, New York. Their "Hello Baby" Babymoon package includes the following:

- Side-by-side massages: Moms-to-be will be nurtured by a 50-minute Maternity Massage designed to enhance lower back comfort, relieve leg and foot tension, and promote a sense of well-being. For Dads-to-be, a choice of the 50-minute Eagle Cliff Deep Tissue Massage or the customized Sky Top Revitalizer Facial for men will melt away stress and tension.
- Chocolates delivered with turn-down service each night
- Spa gift for the new parents
- Welcome gift for baby
- Charming accommodations, three meals daily prepared by award-winning chefs, afternoon tea and cookies, and most resort activities

Hey, I love to travel, and I wouldn't want to stop when I get pregnant or even when I have kids. As always, make sure to check with your doctor first before doing anything. If any of you have been on a Babymoon or would like to plan one, please let me know.

TASTY TORONTO

Eating and trying different foods is one of my favorite things to do when I jet set to a different destination. I just got back from a trip to Toronto, Canada, and took pictures of almost all of the places we stopped into for a bite to eat. Whether it was just a snack, a drink, or a meal, I kept notes so that I could share it with all of you. So consider this article your "Eating Your Way Through Toronto Guide." If you ever happen to jet set to Toronto in the future, feel free to print this and take this along with you so you can eat and be merry!

(1) Harbord Fish & Chips: 147 Harbord Street (416) 925-2225
For around $10 U.S., you get a nice helping of fish & chips.We went for the Haddock and fries. I have to say it was delicious! What really impressed me was the fact that the fish is fresh- not frozen- and when you order french fries, they are literally cut right in front of you and cooked before your eyes, so you know they haven't been sitting around all day. The one thing I was disappointed in about this place was that their tartar sauce came out of a package. You would think if they go through all of that trouble for their fish and fries, that they would equally do the same for their sauce and make it homemade. But, the good news is is that the food was so good that you didn't even need the tartar sauce. One place that we didn't get to try, but that we heard is also good for fish & chips is Chippy's: 893 Queen Street West (416) 866-7474.

(2) Nyood Restaurant: 1096 Queen Street West (416) 466-1888

This is a really chic and trendy little hot spot. They serve Mediterreanean food in a "tapas style" menu. They have an open-style kitchen, so literally the chef prepares your food right in front of you. The dishes are creative and presented really nicely. We had their Soft Shell Crab Salad with yuzu, watercress & coriander ($18), Mushroom Flatbread with gorgonzola, cremini, king oyster & lemon thyme ($18), Chimichurri Tiger Shrimp with crispy lentil, smoked tomato, and spiced honey ($17), Panko Crusted Chicken with radicchio, pear and key lime ($16), and the Malta Braised Short Ribs with spice crunch ($14). Everything was amazing! The owners of this restaurant also own a place called Kultura: 169 King East (416) 363-9000 which we heard is equally as good.

(3) Queen Star Restaurant: 1116 Queen Street West (416) 537-1067

This place seems to be open all day. It's your typical greasy spoon spot where you can get a yummy breakfast of eggs & bacon or good Chinese food for lunch or dinner. Or it's also a good place for Poutine ($5)- The French Canadian dish of french fries with cheese curds & gravy...Heaven! Poutine seemed to be sold at many different places around Toronto- so we knew it was a must try.

(4) National Bakery & Pastry: 812 College Street (416) 536-9981

Toronto has an area known as Little Portugal. We knew we had to stop at a Portuguese Bakery and have some coffee and Pasteis de Nata or Portuguese Custard Tarts. They also have a great selection of Portuguese rolls & breads...this place is totally authentic and worth the calories!

(5) Reposado Bar & Lounge: 136 Ossington Avenue (416) 532-6474

Reposado is an awesome Tequila Bar. We had Margaritas: The Original Reposado Margarita ($9), The Blood Orange Margarita ($9.50) & The Mango Margarita ($9.50)...all were so yummy!

(6) The Gladstone Ballroom Cafe at The Gladstone Hotel: 1214 Queen Street West (416) 531-4635

Their Breakfast On The Go Sandwich ($6.95) is worth staying at the cafe for. It has eggs over medium, grilled peameal bacon, cheddar, tomato & chipotole mayo on a toasted english muffin.

They also have House-Made Baked Goods. Their chocolate-banana-walnut muffin is definitely worth ordering ($1.77) as is their cinammon-raisin scone ($1.99)! Wash it all down with one of their Lattes ($3.53)...which was voted best Latte in Toronto by The Economist!

(7) Carole's Cafe & Kitchen: 109 Atlantic Avenue (416) 536-1347. This place serves brunch, but is better known for it's wide array of cheesecakes. You name a flavor and it's probably on the menu from plain to pumpkin.

(8) Mildred's Temple Kitchen: 99 Sudbury Street (416) 588-5695

This place does an AMAZING Sunday brunch...and considering brunch is such a big deal in Toronto...this was a must try for us. We had their Mrs. Biederhof's Pancakes ($12)- The BEST blueberry buttermilk pancakes with Lanark County maple syrup & whipped cream.

We also had their Huevos Monty ($13)- black bean refritos, sharp cheddar baked in flour tortillas, eggs sunny, salsa & avocado creme fraiche, and we had their Chef's savory tart with salad ($12)- the choice changes every week. When we went, their tart was made with fingerling potatoes, goat cheese, onions & herbs.

(9) Chinese Bakery: Just wander through Chinatown and you are bound to find this place!

It has everything from Chinese steamed buns, to butter rolls, pork buns and everything in between. It's a great place to stop in for a quick bite as you are touring the city. The buns are 3 for $1...so go ahead and help yourself!

(10) Leslieville Cheese Market: 541 Queen Street West (416) 361-3111. This place has great cheese and breads. Stop in here before you head to Toronto Islands and pick up a basket of stuff to have a nice picnic. We had their Earl Grey Iced tea with lemon which is brewed fresh and sweetened...it was delish!

(11) Tim Hortons: THEY ARE EVERYWHERE! This is a coffee & donut chain (like our version of Dunkin Donuts in the U.S.) which started in Ontario, Canada. It's known for its Apple Fritter & The Dutchie donut. We had their Maple Glazed- which is basically a Boston Creme donut with maple glaze instead of chocolate...Oh My Gosh...I could have eaten a dozen by myself they were so good! Their coffee is pretty good too! They do now have Tim Hortons in the U.S., including 11 locations in NYC!

(12) The Drake Hotel Corner Cafe & Bistro: 1150 Queen Street West (416) 531-5042

We had their: Southern Fried Chicken & Waffles ($14)- Herbed waffles, BBQ Fried Chicken, Maple Syrup & Sweet Niagara Cherry Jam...to die for!
And their Eggs Benedict ($14)- 2 Poached Eggs, House Smoked Pork Loin, Toasted English Muffin, Hollandaise & BBQ French Fries...you must get this one too!
(13) Liberty Farmer's Market (Every Sunday 9am-2pm): Fresh local Canadian vegetables & fruits, along with tasty breads & pastries.


Buon Appetite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!