Travel Guide: Tulum (and we're engaged!)

It's been a very exciting few weeks! We spent a week in Tulum, and much to my surprise WE GOT ENGAGED! That's right, while enjoying apps and drinks at La Popular beach bar (part of the Nomade hotel) Tyler proposed. I was so shocked and since then my mind has been going 100km/hr. thinking about wedding planning. So much so I almost forgot to write this blog.

First of all, we loved Tulum. We are already planning on going back in 2020! We met some amazing people (read more about them later on), ate at so many amazing restaurants, went on a few adventures through Mayan ruins and the Grand Cenotes, and RELAXED on a perfect, sandy beach.

Where to stay:

We stayed at Kore Tulum Retreat and Spa Resort, an adults-only all-inclusive RIGHT in the heart of Tulum. It's the perfect hotel for a beach bum or adventurer. The resort is small enough you never have to worry about not getting a seat by the pool, and close enough to beautiful beaches you can ride your bike or walk to a beach playground! Kore Tulum is located right on the water, with beautiful cliffs overlooking the ocean. The sun rises over Kore so if you wake up early you can catch a gorgeous sunrise. We made a few notes about things we loved (and didn't love!) about Kore... there is no Wifi in the rooms. If you need to use Wifi you have to go to the Lobby or Bar. Not a big deal since we were not there to be on our devices, but we thought it was important to let people know about this. Also there is no Beer stocked in the room fridges - something Tyler was quite upset about. The resort offers the use of free bicycles until sunset. We had read reviews that the bikes were poor quality prior to arriving, but when we got there we didn't see an issue with the bikes - we used them everyday, and went quite the distance with them with no issues. We even rode into Downtown Tulum to the grocery store to buy cheap beer - haha! The food was a big one for me. I found it pretty hard to find gluten-free options, so I ate a lot of yogurt, fruit and granola. Tyler loved the food though, so I wouldn't say it was BAD, it was just hard for me to find a lot of options. That being said, Kore is so close to so many amazing restaurants and Tulum is so health-focused, we were able to walk, cab or bike ride to eat at other places.

What to do:

The Grand Cenote is a 200-peso cab ride away - and only about a 7 minute drive. It is SO beautiful but go early. We went right at opening and were the only ones swimming. As time went on it got busier and busier, but we still left before the crowds! The water is warm, and crystal clear. You can swim with the cutest turtles, and swim beneath caves of bats. It was an amazing experience and so nice that it was so close. If the weather wasn't so warm, we could have rode our bikes there. That's the nice thing about Tulum - so many things to do are accessible by bike! The Grand Cenote cost 90-pesos per person for entrance.

The Tulum Ruins are an even closer adventure. Our resort was located right in the centre of Beach Road. If you ride North you venture towards the Tulum Ruins, and if you ride South you are greeted by beautiful hotels on white sandy beaches. We loved the location of our hotel because we could easily access everything! The ruins were definitely an adventure. We tried to go a few times but every time we went it was SO busy. Finally on our successful attempt we woke up early and got there for open. It was already HOT out, and there were already tons of people - including large groups of tours that had obviously been bussed in from Cancun. I will say the ruins were not a highlight of the trip for me, but I am glad we saw them. Their history was lost on me since I was so hot I thought I might faint. I quickly toured through the entire park before landing at the beach where we went for a swim and then quickly continued through the rest of the park. The views are absolutely stunning from the top! I am glad we saw it, but to be clear I won't go back to the ruins on my next visit to Tulum. The ruins cost $10 USD per person for entrance.

Where to eat:

Nomade Tulum has 2 amazing restaurants on site; Macondo and La Popular. I am biased to say you NEED to eat at La Popular because that is where we got engaged, but I am sure both are amazing. Macondo is Moroccan-inspired, and would be a great place to enjoy in the rain - when it rains it POURS in Tulum, and this roofed restaurant is the best place to hide from the rain. La Popular on the other hand is a seafood restaurant right on the beach. The drinks at both are absolutely amazing; I would highly suggest trying the Cucumber Margarita at La Popular.

The Real Coconut is the place to go if you have food allergies or sensitivities - like me! All items on their menu are gluten, dairy and sugar-free. It is located on the Sanara Tulum property, right on the beach. I was sad to see they removed Empanadas from their menu ... I have been dying for Empanadas ever since my gluten sensitivity was discovered! But the rest of the food is amazing. Our one complaint was the expensive beer...

Mateo's Mexican Grill offers authentic Mayan and Mexican fare. Mateo moved to Tulum and started his journey into the restaurant business with a tiny food stand on the side of the road. He hired a local to do all of the cooking while he squeezed fresh juice. Today Mateo's is one of the most popular restaurants for authentic cuisine in Tulum. A must-try for anyone visiting Tulum!

Le Zebra Beach Hotel has an incredible restaurant on site - with free wifi! They also have "the best tacos in Tulum" according to Tyler. I won't lie, I had a bite and he is probably right. They were amazing! The guacamole was also delicious, and served with plantain and corn chips. The best part about Le Zebra though, is the view. Located right on the beach, I now only eat at places with beachfront views...

If you are in need of a quick breakfast, or a midday snack you have to hit up Matcha Mama. We had spent hours walking along the beach one day when I suggested we go for Nice Cream at Matcha Mama. It's called "nice" because it's nice on the tummy. Made with a coconut base, their Nice Cream was perfect for both Tyler and I, and our dairy sensitivity. I enjoyed a bowl of coconut nice cream, while Tyler had chocolate. I tried both - and they were both to die for!

If you want a really awesome evening experience, along with great drinks, explore Azulik after dark. The restaurant and bar are suspended up in the trees, with nets for you to lay in. The drinks aren't cheap, but they are phenomenal and worth every penny. They also have an impressive wine cellar!

Shopping:

Tulum has some of the most incredible shops, many of which are owned by expats - jealous! Here are some shots from my favourite shops...

What we saved for next time:

Be Tulum - Our next trip to Tulum, we will definitely stay at Be Tulum. The grounds are so tropical and beautiful, and it is central to many of our favourite spots.

Pasha Tulum - a Cypriot-inspired mediterranean restaurant. It looks amazing, and I love mediterranean cuisine, so we will definitely try this place out next time!

Gitano - I got so many recommendations for Gitano but we didn't have time to go on this trip. They are known for their live music on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, and party vibe on Friday and Saturday nights.

We had the most amazing time in Tulum, and met the most amazing couple - Betti and Ryan - who happened to be wedding photographers. The morning after we got engaged they offered to take some engagement photos for us to commemorate such an incredibly memorable trip! On the last evening of our trip we climbed over a retaining wall and had photos taken on the very sharp and dangerous cliffs of Kore Tulum. When I saw the final photos all of the risk was worth it. I'll post a few here, but check out their website and Instagram for more of their incredible work! Thank you Betti and Ryan!

As always, thanks for following along. Check out my Instagram for more photos from our trip!

xo,
Sera

Summer in Ontario: Prince Edward County

This year marks 32 years since Tyler's Family started camping at Presqu'ile Provincial Park. The perfect halfway point between family members in Ottawa and family members in Brampton, they now call this beautiful provincial park "Home" for 2 weeks every summer.

I just started camping with them 4 years ago. Coincidentally enough, 4 years ago the Drake Devonshire hotel (restaurant pictured above) opened up in Wellington County. Directly along the rocky shores of Lake Ontario, this now Landmark began the floods of Toronto hipsters into Prince Edward County, opening one craft brewery after another.

As you know from previous posts, I am not one for camping, though I have found some really great shortcuts to surviving these camping trips (See my previous post on Glamping). Since my first year at Presqu'ile I have escaped camp-life by slowly making my way through PEC on mindless day trips through each little town. From adorable motels, to farmer's markets, trinket shops, wineries and cider houses, I continue to find more and more gems hidden inside PEC's 400+ square mile radius.

This year will be no different. I am about to embark on my first of two extra-long weekends (I got a new job so I will not be staying the full 10 days) and I usually try to avoid visiting the same place twice. But sometimes they're just too good to miss year-after-year, so this year I may have a few repeats on my list. But since I consider myself to be a little bit of a County Snob, here are some of my favourite spots to visit every Summer.

Where to Eat -

PICNIC PEC

An adorable food truck on the Rosehall Run property, this little "picnic" spot serves up the most delicious grub. My favourites are obviously the charcuterie and cheese boards, which pair well with all of the Rosehall Run wines. The focus of PICNIC is to deliver healthy food options in a hurry. That being said, I am never in a hurry. But I do love this stop for a little lunch break as we ride our bikes through the county. The best part: This year I can try their Vegan and Gluten-Free options, which I've never been enticed by before... so who says you can't try something twice?!

Norman Hardie Pizza Oven

It doesn't matter how many times I say I need to visit new places, I somehow always end up at Norman Hardie for their wood oven pizza. This is the first year I will pass on Norman Hardie. But for everyone else who CAN eat gluten, make sure this place is on your list. Besides their wines being amazing, the pizza is to die for and the winery is very picturesque. It's located in Hillier not far from Rosehall Run! Pictured above: The wine I enjoyed while I waited for my pizza to arrive.

The Public House at Jackson's Falls

A proud participant in Countylicious (PEC's Spring and Fall version of Winterlicious) this restaurant, complete with a patio and young, serves up native-inspired cuisine with a kick. They serve many local brews and almost always have live entertainment. It's such a fun place to spend an evening after a long day of tastings!

Best Vineyards -

Hinterland Wine Company

I am going to go ahead and say it, I think Hinterland makes the BEST sparkling wine in Canada. I actually feel so great every time I am there sampling all of the wine's I've tasted before. This year I am committing to just one vineyard and one brewery - to save Tyler the pain of trying a million different wines he doesn't enjoy - so Hinterland is definitely our go-to place for 2018. Plus, their lunch menu is amazing ... who doesn't enjoy sparkling wine and oysters?
(Note: They also have amazing gluten-free Ciders)

Rosehall Run

Directly across the street from Norman Hardie, this adorable winery is probably best known for the Pixie Sparkling Wine. Grab a glass of your favourite - or get a few samples - and settle in for some lunch at PICNIC. I love that my two favourite spots to visit are directly across the street from one another, it makes for an easy trip into town!

Sandbanks Estate Winery

You'd probably recognize their Sparkling Rose from my Instagram. It's definitely their shining star, and has ruined ALL other rose options for me. It's not that it's their only good bottle, it's just so good I never buy anything else. In fact, last year for my birthday I ordered myself a case, delivered straight to our door, (Happy Birthday to me?) and it was gone remarkably fast ... You can find the rest of the Sandbanks wines at the LCBO but the Sparkling Rose is quite hard to track down. Doesn't that tell you something? Trust me when I tell you to try it. You'll never look back.

Three Dog Winery

Maybe it's the adorable paw that adorns each bottle, but they had me at DOG. I wasnt going to go back here this year, because I am really trying to find NEW places to add to my list, but this year they opened a new yoga studio on site, making them the first co-located winery and yoga studio in Canada! I'll definitely be stopping by for a yoga class, and a glass... their Pinot Grigio is an easy bottle to polish!

Best Breweries and Cider Houses -

Barley Days

The first brewery to open in Prince Edward County! And probably still one of the best. I haven't tried it yet, and probably never will now, but their Hibiscus Ale is supposedly heavenly. Named after the 1800s crop-of-choice, Barley, it's fitting that they'd open a craft brewery in The County. Located in Picton, the brewery also has a rentable Farm House on the property, a pretty awesome location for a Bachelor Party if I might suggest!

Clafeld Cider House

The sister company to Waupoos Winery, the Clafield Cider House creates some of the most exquisite ciders using the fruit they grow on their orchard. With several different varieties, and a few wine ciders, this is one of my favourite places to stop in and have a flight. The Rose Hip cider wine is amazing, and so is the dry apple cider. Definitely stop in here for a taste!

Parsons Brewing Co.

I think it was their beautiful website that first lured me into visiting Parsons Brewing Co. They definitely have an eye for design. They also brew some of the most amazing beer, and their restaurant onsite is AMAZING. I'm adding this to our must-visit list for this summer since Tyler hasn't been yet and will enjoy the beer, while I sip on their amazing cider.

Where to Stay -

Camp at Presqu'ile!

This is half a joke, and half an honest suggestion. If there was one campground I had to spend 10 days at every year, it would be this one. It's absolutely stunning and surrounded by beautiful rocky beaches. Somehow every year the water in July is just the right temperature for my wussy self to swim in, and I almost always go home with an amazing tan. Every year I look forward to the evening bike rides along the 8km road path to get Kawartha Dairy Ice-cream (which also hurts my stomach EVERY YEAR! But hey - it's tradition), hiking the Marsh Boardwalk (pictured above) and then skipping rocks as we watch the sun set. To say I hate camping would be incorrect because I absolutely LOVE Presqu'ile -- I just maybe hate sleeping in a tent, outhouses and mosquitos at dawn. There is also a Nature Centre (cool for the kids!), a lighthouse and museum/gift shop where you can learn about the extensive history of Presqu'ile. Book a site here.

Rent an AirBNB

As a former AirBNB Host, I regularly scour AirBNB for new places to stay. More and more AirBNBs seem to be popping up in the PEC area, and every single one of them is ADORABLE. It would be a hard to run an AirBNB that wasn't picture-perfect because there is so much competition in the area. Most of them are hidden gems inside victorian homes or old farm houses. Run a search on AirBNB and see how cute they are for yourself... keep your dates open since the nicest ones book up QUICK every summer! My personal favourite spot to stay is The Ferg. I also think THIS tiny home is so so adorable.

The June Motel

I've never stayed here, but it's on my PEC Bucket List. It's the cutest converted motel, complete with Instagram-worthy wallpaper and decor. The owner's visit California annually for inspiration for their hotel. And the hotel has bikes guests can borrow for self-guided winery tours. It's a super adorable spot for a Bachelorette party... Sign me up! Book a room here.

Drake Devonshire

Before The Drake, PEC was a place you went for relaxation. I wouldn't be surprised if the hipsters have forced ALL of the retiree's out by now, but it's for good reason. The Drake Devonshire serves up overpriced accommodation and mediocre food, plus they don't allow pets to even step foot on their parking lot pad (so you definitely won't me there) but I had to list it or this list wouldn't feel complete. Try to book a room here.

What to Do - 

The Millennium Trail
An almost 50km long trail which has been rebuilt over the past few years sits along old farm roads and railroads. To date only 11km are suitable by bike, but the rest can be walked or ran on. It's also accessible through various county points which makes this an awesome "to-do" no matter where you're staying. Check out the full path at www.pectrails.ca

Visit the Lavender fields
This year's annual Lavender Festival is being held on July 7th and 8th in PEC. If you can't make it then, check out Prince Edward County Lavender, in Hillier for the most picturesque fields of lavender all summer long.

Wellington Farmer's Market
One of the cutest farmer's markets I have been to, likely because of the portable stone oven pizza I get there every year (but sadly not this year!). We also stock up on amazing hot sauces and preserves. There are so many sweet vendors at this market, you have to check it out for yourself. It's in Wellington, a few steps from the Drake Devonshire and happens every Saturday 8am-1pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm.

There are also SO many little towns -- Trenton, Wellington, Picton -- with historic main streets and adorable shops and restaurants. So be sure to do your research and plan your trip before you go! But the one thing I've learned about PEC is that no matter how much I plan, it's always more fun to stray and wander, you never know what you're going to find! Enjoy your trip! <3 p="">

Summer in Ontario: Muskoka

I'm on the Go Train heading north as I write this, and I can't help but think that Go Train stations are the prime example of "paving paradise and putting up a parking lot". I pass so much beautiful green space every day and at each stop I see endless amounts of pavement that could have been stacked parking lots to save some greenery. Maybe it's because I am heading up to Muskoka this weekend that I am feeling very passionate about the loss of green space?

I spent many many summers in Muskoka as a teen, and then during college I worked at Muskoka Woods, and Rosseau quickly became my "second home". Now as an adult I still long for weekends when I can get away and spend some time on Lake Rosseau. But in the past few years Muskoka has exploded into a place I could definitely call HOME, let alone a second home. It has everything now; From great restaurants, amazing yoga studios, cute bake shops, and specialty stores with products I could once only find in the city. It used to be a mission getting Hollister orders to deliver there, now I can shop the greatest brands in some of the cutest boutiques.

Since we're heading up there this long weekend, I thought I'd share some of my favourite places in Muskoka to check out! Follow me on Instagram this weekend to see everywhere I go :)

Power Yoga Canada
Located steps away from the JW Marriott in Minett, this state-of-the-art yoga studio has indoor and outdoor classes overlooking the lake. A studio I've seen grow immensely over the past few years, their outstanding ability to lead quality yoga classes has helped them grow a huge following. I often talk to people who tell me they can't wait for summer to get back to their regular classes at PYC Muskoka. Can't wait to join the girls there this weekend for some more yoga on the dock!

Health Hut
Located in Port Carling along 118 is the most amazing store with the best selection of clean makeup, skincare and lifestyle essentials. Holistic Nutritionist, Tara, opened the store several years ago and has since expanded to owning a second location in Toronto. Both stores I frequent often for their amazing selection of hard-to-find brands!

Teenie Weenie Bikini Co.
I've been shopping here since the first year it opened (2005), and every year it grows bigger and bigger. It started as a little wooden shack and through the years has grown to be one of the cutest not-so-little shops in Rosseau. Owner, Ashley, spends the winter curating new designs for her own line of bathing suits, and scouting out the best accessories to sell in her store. Every summer I go home with at least 1 new item from her shop, and this summer I am eyeing a Bali bag!

McPherson Ave.
Want to find some of the hottest looks straight from the runway? You have to stop by and see Elle at McPherson Ave. She has hand picked some of the most amazing pieces just for her pop-up shop in Muskoka. And if the Summer's over and you haven't gone to see her? That's ok, you can shop online at her website (link above!)
(Note: The SWS Marina Pop-up is open now and is home to many great brands for Summer 2018 including: Lululemon, WaxOn Wax Bar, Abbey's Bakehouse, McPherson Ave., and more!)

Abbey's Bakehouse

With 2 locations in Muskoka, the first being situated inside an old church, Abbey's is one of the cutest ways to spend your morning. With delicious baked goods and some amazing iced drinks (yes - iced! because it gets HOT in the summer!) meet up with friends and catch up at Abbey's. Their peanut butter cookies are to die for. Their second location is in Minett at the SWS Pop-Up Village!

Belle's Boutique
Located in the heart of downtown Bracebridge, this boutique store stocks great brands with pleasant price tags. I actually haven't even found a store as amazing as this in Toronto, so when I head up north I usually go home with stacks of new clothes. Belle has an eye for trendy, quality pieces and her store never disappoints!

Muskoka Natural Food Market
What started as a small natural food store has become a massive market in Bracebridge. It's always been the place I went for non-toxic shampoo, toothpaste and supplements. I still find myself back there every summer looking for new products they're carrying, or trying new plates at their Deli Lama vegan restaurant. This weekend I plan on stopping by Buddha's Bakery for some gluten-free treats!

Love another spot in Muskoka? Believe me, me too! There are so many great spots I haven't featured here, so let's chat about them in the comments below :)