Stay in World Class Accomodations

When it comes to accommodations on Cape Breton Island, the options are endless but one thing for sure is you have your pick of world-class options!  Whether you prefer to stay in a fully-equipped hotel, wilderness cabin, quaint B&B, serviced campground or backcountry campsite, you'll find something to suit your taste and your budget. 

The Keltic Lodge is a world-class resort on the Middle Had Peninsula near Ingonish Beach in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  The property features a spa, swimming pool, full-service restaurant, bar and a variety of rooms for various budgets and preferences.  A beautiful hiking trail is also nearby and the views around the resort, which include Cape Smokey Mountain and Ingonish Beach, are spectacular.  The property is also rumored to be haunted which gives it added appeal.

The Grand Reopening of The Keltic Lodge Resort

As a youngster with a wild imagination, I thought the Keltic Lodge Resort in Ingonish, Cape Breton was a place where royalty and movie stars stayed when visiting the island.  Every time I came across a picture of the resort or admired it from nearby Ingonish Beach, it's well-manicured lawns and stately main lodge reminded of something from an enchanted fairy tale. I envisioned women with big fascinator hats and Victorian-like dresses strolling through the gardens and men in tuxedos sipping Brandy and smoking cigars in a chandelier-lit lounge. The closest I got to the place was an impromptu mini photo shoot orchestrated by my parents who thought having us kids sitting together in one of the Adirondack chairs (or Keltic Lodge chairs as I called them because that's the only place I ever saw them) would make a fun, unique photo.  My curiosity about the place was fueled even more by rumors that well-known celebrities and politicians frequented the lodge.  Many years later, I would find out what it was that attracted so many visitors from around the world.
I was already living away in another province when I found out my sister would be working at the Keltic Lodge for the 2002 season.  My first thought upon hearing this news was "she can get the inside scoop on the place and tell me what it's really like inside and who stays there".  Before she was able to spill anything, I had the opportunity to get the inside scoop myself when I traveled home that summer and visited her at her home-away-from-home at the on-site staff residence.

I was a little uncomfortable with having to drive up to the resort and trying to find my sister.  Would I look suspicious?  Would security stop and question me?  It was, after all, a grand resort where the rich and famous took their vacations and I didn't want to look like some crazed paparazzi.  I was reassured that there would be nothing to worry about and that those things I heard about the rich and famous were just fairy tales fueled by local children trying to impress us city slickers who camped in Ingonish on summer weekends.  Was she serious?  Just fairy tales?  Or was she sworn to secrecy?

I arrived one evening in the early summer of that year and parked in the main parking area in front of the Balmoral residence.   I already had the back seats of my parent's mini van taken out and a sleeping bag set up in the back as I wasn't able to stay in my sister's room.  Because this post is supposed to be about the grand reopening of The Keltic Lodge, I'll sum up my time spent there that summer like this:
I learned that The Keltic Lodge is not some untouchable place where only the rich and famous stay.  It is not a stuffy, snobby resort with gold-plated railings, crystal chandeliers and bowtied garcons.  It is, however, a beautiful, magical place that caters to people from all walks of life.  That summer was one of the best summers of my life.  Through my sister and my time spent around the lodge while visiting with her, I met lots of people from all over the world, I sampled ice cream from the Atlantic Restaurant, I embarked on a tour of the inside of some areas, I enjoyed some wonderful evenings in the Sitting Room while Cyril MacPhee performed, I was introduced to the Thirsty Hiker Pub at the nearby Glenghorm Resort and even took my turn as the designated driver back to base and, most importantly, I fell in love with that iconic white building with the red trim that I'd admired from afar for so long.

Although I never had the opportunity to actually stay at the Keltic (besides sleeping in a van in the residence parking lot), I've visited the grounds many times and often park in the big parking lot near the restaurant during lightning storms (best place in the area to watch lightning, hands down!) when it's too stormy to stay in my tent at nearby Broad Cove.  I've always wanted the resort to succeed partially because my sister worked there, partially because it employs so many local people but mostly because it belongs on the Middle Head Peninsula.  It's the heart of The Highlands and without it, the area just wouldn't be the same.  A few years ago, rumors started to spread. The beautiful resort needed some major repairs and that it was for sale and that perhaps it would even have to close.  Those are just some of the things I heard.  That's why when I recently learned that some major renovations were done and there would be a grand reopening to show the public that the Keltic was, in fact, still alive and not going anywhere, I clicked on that "attending" button on the Facebook event page and made plans to attend it back on June 25th, 2016.  I wanted to be there and show my support for the new initiatives being taken to revive Cape Breton's premiere vacation destination.

A number of people were already roaming the grounds when I arrived but I was still able to find a parking space close to the building before it got too crowded.  I entered my name in the draw to win one of several great prizes (one of which was for a stay at the resort) and walked around the newly-renovated area.  I started to explore the Inn area on my own when a very friendly, well-mannered young man offered to give me the grand tour.  I was very impressed with what had been done with the suites and especially loved the ones with the glass doors overlooking the bay.  The spa was also very impressive and I especially loved the hot tub on the outside deck looking toward majestic Cape Smokey Mountain.  As I wandered around admiring the spectacular work that had been done to an already spectacular place, I heard the faint sound of a lone piper. And than I heard another.   

The ribbon cutting ceremony wasn't due to start for another couple of hours so I decided to take a spin around Ingonish to visit some of my favorite places.  I went to Black Brook, Warren Lake, Broad Cove, North Bay Beach, The Point and Ingonish Beach.  I even stopped along the way to buy a Frisbee at The Outdoor Store but there were none left. Guess a few people had that in mind for the weekend seeing as, in Ingonish, you are surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches perfect for a game of Frisbee.  On my wanderings, I noticed that there seemed to be more tourists around than usual for that time of year.  A telling sign to come?  Word is getting around.

I returned to the Keltic just in time for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and speeches.  Everyone involved in the resort's present and future success were so full of energy and promise for a bright future.  There was even mention of making the Keltic a year-round resort which I think would be fantastic! Unfortunately, I didn't win any of those door prizes but I felt privileged to be in attendance at such a wonderful event in honor of the resort and to be among the first people to learn more about what is coming from Cape Breton's premiere destination...which may sooner than later become Nova Scotia's premiere destination or even Canada's premiere destination.  And why not?  It has everything - The world-class golf course, beautiful scenery, sandy beaches, fun activities, warm hospitality and scrumptious food and drink.
I ended that afternoon with a hike on the Middle Head Peninsula Trail.  I hadn't done that trail in many years and thought it would be a fitting end to the day.   The breeze coming off the water was nice and there were no flies.  I walked right to the end of the peninsula and stood at what felt like the edge of the world and admired the awe-inspiring views.  On the way back, the wind died down and the flies came out in full force.  The final leg of the trail was pure torture.  I stopped at one point to get some bug spray from my backpack (I found everything but) and heard something fairly big moving in the bushes not far from where I stood.  I froze in terror thinking it might be a bear and when I got the nerve, I started moving slowly down the trail before speeding up again.  Fortunately, I was closer to the end of the trail than I thought and within minutes I was back in the safety and comfort of my air-conditioned Sonata.

I ate supper at the Seagull Restaurant before heading to my favorite cafe in the area for dessert.  One of my traditions when in Ingonish is to have a piece of that delicious carrot cake they serve at the Bean Barn Cafe and grab a coffee to go and enjoy it along the shores of Freshwater Lake while the sun sets.  But, much to my disappointment, The Bean Barn was closed early that day.  Despite that one hiccup, it turned out to be a great day in The Highlands.  One that made me appreciate that shining star on the Middle Head Peninsula even more.  The Keltic Lodge has always been special.  Amazing.  Spectacular.  Grande.  Now it will be all of those things and more for generations to come. And perhaps someday, I will leave the tent in the trunk and forego a night at Broad Cove Campground to spend the night in one of those luxurious rooms with a view. 

Can we at Least Get Along Long Enough to Share a Beach for Crying out Loud?

Being kicked off a section of beach that has been deemed private brought back a bittersweet memory of a moment I will never forget one evening on a beach in the Caribbean. The practice of reserving beach space for certain people and segregating others from accessing it is common practice in many regions of the world. The owners of ritzy resorts put up fences to keep out the people they consider “undesirable” – poor locals that they deem troublemakers and are best kept out of view of rich tourists that frequent their fancy, gated resorts. I didn’t stay in one of those fancy resorts; I opted for a small boutique hotel that allowed access to a beach that belonged to a fancier place. I was appalled by what I saw when I first went to that beach. On one side were the rich tourists; on the other side were the local people – the ones who lived in that town and had more right to that beach than anyone else. The next night, in protest, I went to the beach where the locals were. Unlike the rich tourists who would kick up a very loud stink if one of the locals crossed onto their turf, not one of those “undesirables” asked me leave. Instead, they smiled as I walked by them, they stopped me to ask where I was from, the children showed me the fish they had caught from a nearby dock, the parents invited me to sit with them around their fire. They never complained about anything while the people on the other side of the fence were frowning, cranky and complained about everything from the temperature of their drinks to the color of their beach chair. Most of them were too busy complaining and dressed too fancy in their high heels and designer gowns to even enjoy the beach and the spectacular sunset that evening. The lesson? Many of the people I have met in my life who had next to nothing were the happiest and were always open to meeting people from ALL walks of life while many of the people who had everything were miserable and complained about EVERYTHING and judged people for having less than them to the point of requesting such “undesirables” not be allowed on their beach. This makes me wonder with all the hate going on in this world – will we ever come to a resolution where we can all love and respect one another if we can’t even get along on a beach and share it equally?

As for the beach I was kicked off? I have been going to that beach since I was a child. There are two ways that I know of to get to that beach; one public access road where rowdy young people congregate and one at the end of the road past the Inverness Beach Resort area. I often travel alone and feel safer at the end near the resort and never had a problem until this day when a very rude and condescending woman, who I assume was the manager or owner of the resort, approached my car, saw that I was a young woman traveling alone and still told me to leave. I was very offended by this. Not because she was rude but because I had been a customer of her business a number of times in the past and she treated me like a common criminal instead of a potential paying customer. Also, the fact that she was a woman and should understand the unique problems that can arise when a woman travels alone, she should have understood my desire to park somewhere where I felt safe. I suspect she reserves the privilege of enjoying that section of beach to rich tourists…forgetting that it is the local people who keep coming back year after the year and we are the ones who, in the end, keep this business and other ones on the island in business. And that is something that does not go over well with me.

As for what I am going to do about this incident? Well for one, I know I won’t be able to go to that beach anymore unless the restrictions on that section of beach are lifted. The public area is too rowdy and crowded and I often do not feel safe there. This is unfortunate as Inverness Beach is one of my favorite long, sandy beaches in Cape Breton. I also know that there are laws pertaining to beach access in Nova Scotia and I’m pretty sure that no one is allowed to deny the public access to any beach in the province whether it falls on private property or not. Beaches are public domain and are for everyone’s enjoyment. I will be researching this information further and if it is discovered to be correct, I will be approaching the owner of that resort to discuss this. I understand that they may have had problems with rowdy guests in the past but it is wrong to paint everyone with that same brush. It was very obvious and plain to see that I was not there to cause any trouble. I simple wanted to lay on the beach and enjoy my day off in total relaxation away from screaming kids and rowdy teenagers. Is that too much to ask?

Absolute Paradise

I spent a full week at Anamaya in April and I can honestly say that it was the best place I have ever stayed in all of my travels. Everything was perfect, it was paradise. Anamaya is located on top of a hill above the small village of Montezuma overlooking a spectacular view of the Pacific Coast and surrounding mountains. It was one of the best views I had ever seen! The infinity pool (yes there was a beautiful infinity pool overlooking the ocean and that view) was always clean and refreshing.

I stayed in one of the more affordable rooms in the main house at Anamaya and it was amazing. Comfortable bed, full bathroom, tons of closet space and beautiful patio doors that opened to overlook the ocean...every morning, I awoke to the sun rising over the Pacific.

The service at Anamaya was probably the best service I had ever had anywhere. The staff were amazing, They interacted with guests, they were there to help with anything we needed, they were polite and friendly and you could tell they loved working at Anamaya.

Many activities such as surfing and ziplining were available and every excursion I participated in exceeded my expectations.

The main house was where everyone gathered for meals. Internet, free international calling, snacks and smoothies were available throughout the day and the outside deck area was teh perfect place to meet up with other guests to chat or to spend time reading in a hammock, or sunbathing.

I didn't participate in many of the yoga classes that were held throughout the week but based on my observations and what I heard from other guests, the instructors were very knowledgeable.

Walking around the various houses at Anamaya was an adventure in itself because I never knew what I was going to see! Monkeys, geckos, various tropical birds, iguanas and a strange (but seemingly friendly) raccoon-like creature that often visited me in the evening while I was relaxing in the hammock.

Now for the food...The Most Amazing Food Ever! At 7:00am, a large fruit bowl full of mixed fruit and various dips was placed in the kitchen before morning yoga. At 9:00am, buffet breakfast with a large variety of items served. At 2:00pm, buffet lunch with various wraps and sandwiches and many other items. At 7:00pm, large 3-course dinner served with a different (and absolutely delicious) meal every night. I have honestly never eaten as well I did that week in Montezuma, Costa Rica and the best thing about the food was it was all fresh and organic.

There is so much more I can say about Anamaya but it will take too long! To sum up my review...if you ever find yourself planning a trip to Costa Rica, make Montezuma one of your stops and stay at Anamaya...I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

It's Official...I'm Off to Costa Rica this Spring!

The last time I blogged about a trip to Costa Rica that I won, I wasn't sure if I would be able to go. With the moving, work and so many other things going on and the fact that the rules stated I would have to take the trip this November, it didn't look possible. Since then, I have been in touch with the people who held the contest and some very helpful and accommodating people at Anamaya Resort in Montezuma and was able to work something out with them that would allow me to go at a later date. Although I would rather go sooner than later, I am booked to attend a yoga and adventure retreat at the resort this coming April. The only problem I have now with this trip is the fact that I have to wait until April to go!

Costa Rica Flag

 It's still almost surreal to me that I am even going. Costa Rica has always been at the top of my must-see list but I didn't have any plans to go anytime soon. Maybe once I have my flights to Costa Rica booked (I'm just waiting for the prices to go down again so I can snag a good deal), the reality will sink in but I can't imagine me being more excited to be going than I already am. I've already been doing a lot of research about the country, the town I will be staying in and the beautiful resort I will be staying at while I am there and I am quite impressed to say the least. Costa Rica is said to have one of the most beautiful and pristine, natural environments in the world and Montezuma, which is located in Puntarenas Province, was once a remote fishing village that has transformed into a popular Eco-tourism and yoga retreat destination. Waterfalls, beautiful sandy beaches and stunning coastline will make for some great pictures and nearby souvenir shops, nightclubs and restaurants serving up local fare will make for exciting off-resort excursions. I'll spend one night in San Jose Costa Rica and as an added bonus, upon arrival in Montezuma, I will lay eyes on the Pacific Ocean for the first time. To date, I traveled to many places that were close to the Pacific, such as the interiors of California and British Columbia, but I never made it to the coast.

Anamaya Resort, the place I will be calling home for the duration of my week in Montezuma, is also quite impressive. It is my understanding that a number of activities and excursions are included in my package including daily yoga classes, town and beach excursions, infrared sauna treatments, a waterfall hike, Butterfly Garden tour and, what will probably end up being my personal favorite, a Zipline Canopy Tour. I don't think surfing lessons are included but I know the region is known for its surf culture so I will be making it a point to seek out some lessons! The luxurious and relaxing accommodations, the gourmet organic food and the infinity pool are all added bonuses and, so I have heard, there is a lot of wildlife around the area. It should be interesting to look out my window and see monkeys, toucans and parrots frolicking about!

Such a Big Decision that Really shouldn't be all that Hard to Make!

Again, I have found myself in a bit of a conundrum. First, it was Lisbon, Portugal. Now, it is Montezuma, Costa Rica. Yes, I have won another contest except this time, it wasn’t for my writing skills but for simply filling out a form. Either way, I could be on my way to one of the most beautiful countries in the world before the year is out and bonus, Costa Rica is actually on my bucket list!

I have to admit, it did sound a bit suspicious. I received an email saying I had won and to confirm my contact information. I know there are a lot of scams out there so I never give information or “confirm” anything like this without doing research and background checks and that is what I did. The first thing that made me lean towards believing the email was the fact that they already had all my contact information. In the end, I found all the information I needed to realize that I had actually won this trip. I now recall entering this contest (I enter a lot of contests) every day for weeks and that I am a frequent visitor to the website that hosted the contest which, I should add, is Canadian, and yes, that makes a difference seeing as how I am located in Canada. I found no warnings or red flags whatsoever in my search and even found the original contest page with its rules and regulations and fine print.

So, by now you are probably asking “so what is the problem?” After all, it is a free trip to Costa Rica. Well, see that’s the catch…my accommodations, meals, excursions and resort activities are all paid for but my return flight is not. And the trip has to be taken by the end of November…this November. Of course, the first thing I did once I determined I was not being scammed but had to come up with my own airfare was research cheap flights to Costa Rica and I actually did find some pretty cheap ones at around $450.00 return/taxes included. That’s pretty good and affordable. I don’t have a whole lot of money kicking around right now but that is a pretty good deal for a return trip to Costa Rica. But the cost of the airfare is not really the biggest issue, it’s the timing. It’s always about the timing.

November is not that far away and I just found out a few days ago that I will be making a big move sometime this fall and starting a new job and these things may not allow me to take that much time away. So that is the conundrum; whether I will be able to leave town for that long during that time period.

Despite the reasons I may not be able to go, all I have been thinking about for the last two days is how to get around those barriers because, after much thought, I’m pretty sure I will be going to Costa Rica this fall. I only get to live once and how often do opportunities like this come my way? Not often. I believe in living life to the fullest and jumping on any opportunity that comes my way. That is why I have set up a trip watch for flights on hotwire.com from Halifax to San Jose Airport in Costa Rica. That is why I even searched for the cheapest ground transportation from San Jose Airport to Montezuma. That is why I have researched the country inside out. And that is why I researched the resort I would be staying at and took a peak at some of the reviews on Trip Advisor. The reviews are good. So are the amenities and excursions available. An infinity pool, healthy meals, nearby sandy beaches, Montezuma Falls, ziplining, scuba diving, rainforest excursions, yoga and surfing lessons. Did I mention there is an infinity pool? How can I say no to any of this?

So now it is just the waiting game. Waiting to hear back from them about how long I have to make my decision even though I am pretty sure the answer will be “why yes, of course, I will accept an almost free trip to one of the most beautiful countries in the world!”