Road Trips - Roamancing

Our Phoenix Oasis at the Marriott Canyon Villas in Desert Ridge

April 27, 2013 by Brie Mason 1 Comment

This is the second post in a series of posts by Brie Mason on her mini vacation to Phoenix with her two kids. Read her first post on Overcoming Fears Road Tripping to Phoenix Arizona by clicking on this link.

I felt right at home exploring in Phoenix, yet it was different enough for me to feel like it was a true vacation getaway. With the kids, of course, and I’ll admit, myself too, the first thing to explore is always the hotel! We routinely drop our luggage and run around the room, bouncing on the beds, scoping out the bathroom, checking out our view, the TV, and any other fun features that might be there. Next, the kids have to locate the ice machine and fill the bucket, even if we don’t have anything to put in it! On this particular trip, we stayed at the Marriott Canyon Villas in Desert Ridge. It’s an incredible place and I fear the kids may have been spoiled for any of our future trips!

This Marriott is really like a self-contained little resort. There are several pool areas, with one being a splash pad for young ones, another a quiet pool for adults and a main pool area that includes a waterfall, volleyball net, basketball hoop, and at least two hot tubs! We also had free access to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge, which was adjacent to us, and boasted a long lazy river.

The Marriott Canyon Villas Main Pool Waterfall

The JW Marriott’s Lazy River

To add to the resort element, there were also activities going on all day. There were the typical ping pong tournaments, and water aerobics classes, but it was some of the other listed events that had me intrigued. Imagine racing on giant blow-up alligators, for example, or joining in a real cowboy sing-a-long! The one that interested my teen son the most was making survival bracelets. He was really impressed with the idea that he could make something that he’s been seeing in the stores.

Finished product. There’s a special spot to push and all the rope will unravel giving you 7 feet of rope to use for survival purposes.

Since our return home, every time I look at the computer screen, it’s on images of paracord for sale. I think it left a lasting impression on him! From what I hear, all the kids at school are asking him to make them one. At least we know his class will be prepared if they ever end up stranded needing emergency rope that’s all compacted on their wrists!

Although we could have spent all our hours at the hotel, Phoenix with it’s beautiful desert landscape was calling! Stay tuned to more of our Phoenix adventure, as we strayed out of our hotel oasis to explore!

Until I came here, I didn’t realize a cactus could be so beautiful!

Filed Under: All Aboard!, Around the World, Brie Mason, Kid Travel, Our Travelers, Road Trips, US, West Coast Tagged With: Arizona, desert oasis, Desert Ridge, family fun, JW Marriott Desert Ridge, Marriott Canyon Villas, Phoenix, survival bracelet, travel with kids

Overcoming Fears Road Tripping to Phoenix Arizona

April 21, 2013 by Brie Mason 4 Comments

The opportunity came for a short get away to Phoenix Arizona, which was to include children. Being that we currently reside in Los Angeles, the most cost beneficial way to make this trip work was to drive. Unfortunately for me, my husband ended up having to fly off elsewhere for work, leaving the vacation to me. I was excited to have special mom/kids quality adventure time, but was definitely a little worked up about the driving! I’m not someone who feels bold on the road. I am always the passenger on long road trips and have never driven more than 2 hours myself. Lately my attitude towards fear has been to pretend I’m someone who really enjoys doing it instead. There are people who love roller coasters, and flying and heights! I decided to take on this 6 hour drive with that same attitude.

Thanks to my GPS, and amazingly chill kids, I was able to be a smooth rider and conquer the trek. For a while it felt like a party on the road, because we kept passing ‘Carpoolchella’ painted cars. Droves of people were on their way to the Coachella Music Festival and they were flashing each other peace signs. I have to admit I enjoyed sneaking peaks at the hairdos and outfits! On the whole trip I only felt uneasy twice. The first was when we passed a whole field of wind turbines. I don’t know if this is true for anyone else, but I find these to be really ominous. I immediately get chills and feel like I’m in a horror movie. This little video clip was taken by young Master Mason in the back seat.

The second time I got worried was after we had been driving through a really long stretch of desert towards and through a place called Desert Center. I was watching my gas go down and down, and I could see nothing up ahead, except for more desert. My mind was formulating a plan. I saw Call Boxes every mile on the highway so I thought if I ran out of gas we might just have to walk to one of those. I pictured myself waving down a truck, because I know they can be helpful, but also saw that going very wrong. Just when I was trying to come to terms with my options, a gas station finally popped up! Everyone there was freaking out at the close call and some were expressing anger that there weren’t any signs warning you to fill up before beginning the long stretch.

Not even a mirage of a gas station in sight!

The station itself was really creepy, with quite the characters working inside and a sign for ‘Massage’ beside the restrooms. The kids got the vibe and hustled in and out extremely fast. We all busted a gut once we got back in the car, because just a mile further up the road a whole wonderful looking little town appeared. The creepy gas station would only get us this once, because if we return again, we will no longer be amateurs to this road!

At the end of the trip I drove into Phoenix feeling like some kind of great achiever. I felt empowered, and the next morning I woke up inspired, wondering where else we could drive to. The old me would have even been afraid to drive around an unknown town, but necessity forced me to change my attitude and I was greatly rewarded for it.

Filed Under: All Aboard!, Around the World, Brie Mason, Kid Travel, Our Travelers, Road Trips, US, West Coast Tagged With: carpoolchella, coachella, desert center, desert road, driving from California to Phoenix, overcoming fears, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, road trip with kids, road tripping, road trips, wind turbines

Roamancing Mozambique: Sights and Sounds of Maputo

January 28, 2013 by Alyzee Lakhani 5 Comments

One of the nicest things about Maputo, Mozambique is how sunny and close to the sea the city is. It was a pleasure just to get into the car with no destination in mind and take in the sights. With the weather warm and conducive to relaxation, sometimes we would just take a ride into, around or out of the city to see what we found.

Coconut water vendors in Maputo, Mozambique

It was not uncommon for us to start such a day with a fresh coconut juice. The most fun part of this was watching the vendor hack into a fresh coconut and seeing its juice spurt out of the top, before he stuck a straw into it and handed it to us through the car window. It was still cool from being inside the coconut, where the summer heat hadn’t got to it. It’s such a perfect drink for the hot weather too. No wonder the area is filled with so many palm trees. I loved looking at all the flora in the neighborhood, because it is so different from the kind we find here in Vancouver.

The tropical plant life in Maputo was fun to look at.

The kind of mood I found among the people in this city was generally relaxed. It seems hard to believe that a whole city can still function while most people are relaxed and cheerful, and yet that is the general sense I got in my interactions there. My unofficial tour guides for example, loved to have fun but were also hardworking art students and ambitious entrepreneurs that worked late into most nights. And the coffee shops were full of people shootin’ the breeze at all hours of the day. Perhaps it was because I myself was on vacation and not so stressed, but I found that the general environment of Maputo was one of general ease and relaxation. You never see anyone in a terrible rush. I’ve heard that other residents and visitors find this to be true about Maputo as well, and can’t really put their finger on why either.

La Dolce Vita, a popular cafe in Maputo, Mozambique.

Even though the city is quite commercialized, there are some pretty gorgeous sights to take in just driving or walking around. Being as there are so many roads that run near the coast, the sea is never far, and something about a big blue ocean view is so lovely. No wonder they advertise them for hotels and such. But I’ll quit rambling and just let you see for yourself.

A small lake in Boane, just outside Maputo

A small rivulet in Boane, just outside Maputo.

Okay, that’s not an ocean, but look at how blue it is! Even having seen it face-to-face it’s hard for me to believe the colour. I asked to stop the car so I could take a picture of this rivulet, because of how striking its colour was. It could not have been bluer if a child had coloured it with a crayon.

Costa du Sol, a road running along the coast in Maputo, whose name literally translates to the “Sunshine Coast”.

Looking at these pictures again in the depths of a drizzly winter, I really do miss the sun and sea of Mozambique. I’m glad it’s always summer somewhere in the world. And I’m sure I’m not the only one. It almost brings out a sigh of relief to see a place so bathed in sun and warmth. I hope it does for you reading too. To summer! And travel. And cheating winter by going to the Southern Hemisphere in February. And using pictures of sunny days to get through the winter. To those of you that understand what I’m saying, We can do it! To those to whom I sound crazy, my apologies. But I hope you all enjoy the pictures.

Until next time, happy travels!

Filed Under: Africa, All Aboard!, Alyzee Lakhani, Mozambique, Our Travelers, Planes, Trains ..., Road Trips Tagged With: blue ocean views, happy travels, maputo, maputo mozambique, mozambique, roamancing mozambique, southern hemisphere, sunny travels, travel maputo, travel mozambique, tropical coconut water, warm weather

Roamancing Liechtenstein

January 16, 2013 by Megan Ho 8 Comments

“Why are you going to Liechtenstein? There’s nothing there!”

That was the response my family got when we told our relatives in Zurich we were going to Liechtenstein for a day. We were only in Switzerland for a few days, and after exploring the Swiss countryside my sister had the idea to go to the nearby principality of Liechtenstein, a small country between Switzerland and Austria. Her reasoning: How many people can say they’ve been to Liechtenstein? I had hardly known the country existed before this trip, so a visit was a pretty interesting idea.

On our way!

So, armed with a rental car and a GPS (key), we set off the next morning for Liechtenstein. We headed for Vaduz, the capital and main town of Liechtenstein. The beauty of Europe meant it only took a couple hours to reach another country, and we were in Vaduz by lunchtime. We strolled down the main street of the town which, at just seventeen square miles, didn’t take long. Stopping for lunch, we took the opportunity to try a Liechtenstein beer, Brauhaus and to people watch.

Brauhaus beer

The day before, our relatives had tried to discourage our visit because, “there’s nothing in Liechtenstein.” Sitting on the restaurant patio, we did not find this to be the case. As we ate, we noticed a number of football (soccer) fans in blue and white roaming up and down the street. Upon inquiry, our waitress informed us there was a big Bosnia-Liechtenstein football match that day in Vaduz, and it was common for Bosnian supporters to visit for away games. Fans walked up and down the street, cheering, singing, and drumming. By the end of our lunch, the number of fans seemed to have doubled. This was certainly not the quiet, boring Liechtenstein our relatives had warned us against!

Walking up to Vaduz Castle

After lunch, we headed to Vaduz Castle, the castle overlooking the town of Vaduz. Though we were unsure of the route, we followed a path on a map, passing by beautiful large houses and vineyards. As long as we were going up, we reasoned, we must be on the right path. Partway up the hike, we spotted a viewpoint overlooking the town. Even from up there, we could still hear the shouts and songs of the Bosnian football fans!

View of Liechtenstein

Hot and sweaty from the hike, we made it to the top of the hill and Vaduz Castle. Unfortunately, we couldn’t go in as the castle remains home to the Prince of Liechtenstein, but we were able to admire it from afar. Apart from a few other tourists, it was quiet and still around the castle – quite the departure from the noisy streets of Vaduz!

Vaduz Castle

Back in town, we found the Bosnian football fans had congregated into one crowd. We had mistakenly thought earlier that all the fans were in Vaduz to attend the game, but learned that many were unable to attain tickets and were just there to show their support and enjoy themselves. We inadvertently joined the crowd, and a few fans even adorned us with team scarves and asked to take a photo with us. Despite the language barrier and my utter lack of sports knowledge, the excitement in the crowd was infectious and I couldn’t help but grin at the rowdy, singing, loyal fans.

Bosnian football fans

Bosnian football fans

We left not long after, as we needed to be back in Zurich that evening. We read later in the news that the Bosnian team had won the match 8-1, and we imagined the Bosnian fans must have been so happy. I knew the cheers and songs would go on late in Vaduz that night. It just goes to show that even in the quietest, sleepiest towns, there is always something to be found. We couldn’t wait to regale our relatives with stories the next day!

On the drive back to Zurich

Filed Under: All Aboard!, Around the World, Europe, Liechtenstein, Megan Ho, Our Travelers, Planes, Trains ..., Road Trips Tagged With: beer, bosnia, bosnian, brauhaus, brauhaus beer, castle, fans, football, hike, liechtenstein, prince, prince of liechtenstein, soccer, vaduz, vaduz castle

A Healing Moment in Travel

June 10, 2012 by Erica Hargreave 4 Comments

Something I haven’t been ready to write about until now, is my last year, and how I have flung myself into travel to distract myself with something fun, that makes me feel good. Now I should state that we have had the idea for Roamancing for a number of years and had been planning it’s launch for this very week a year ago. That didn’t happen, because my Dad died, the third death in my family in a month (including Sara the golden retriever and Charlie the cat). Needless to say the launch of Roamancing was put on hold, and when we did return to it, it was an outlet for fun and light-hearted laughs, at times a busy escape from dealing with a lot of loss in the last year (which included a number of beloved friends), and as we move forward an outlet for doing good and opening people’s minds and hearts up to people around the world. And along the way, it has introduced me to many new friends from around the world, that have found a spot in my heart, and returned me into the open arms of old friends. It is these old friends across Canada that inspired two road trips from BC to Ontario and back again, that and the need to reflect, cry and process.

This last Spring’s #CrossCanada road trip finally allowed me to do that, and on a day that I was driving to the hospital in Saskatoon to tell a very dear woman that I loved her one last time, I happened on the most beautiful scene on Saskatchewan’s Yellowhead Highway. It was exactly what I need in that moment. I pulled over and sat in the quiet, watching the beauty that lay before me for the next hour. It brought a sense of calm and peace to what was a difficult day.

Saskatchewan Beauty

Now as the tears for Dad finally flow for me, my mind keeps taking me back to that sunny afternoon and the peaceful beauty at the side of the road in Saskatchewan.

Focusing through the cattail.

Spying pelicans through the cattail.

A healing moment.

Many of our tales are about the people we meet in our travels, but it will always be quiet moments, like this in nature that will allow me to reflect and bring me peace. And it will be through the music, that I will remember Dad with joy, even if tears are flowing down my face.