Chrystiane Mallaley's Blog (16)

A Day in the the Desert - Hoover Dam and the Valley of Fire

When we had reached our max in terms of alcohol, gambling, and strip shenanigans, the girls and I decided to rent a sexy car and hit the wide open road.

It was important to all of us that we have at least one day of our trip dedicated to getting out of town to see some of the incredible…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on June 19, 2012 at 5:44am — No Comments

Girls Trip! Vegas on a Budget

While I've been saying for a while that I'm going cut back a little on expensive travel, it was neither the right time or place to do so when a couple of my best friends from St. Francis Xavier University decided to take a girls trip to Las Vegas.

This trip was definitely going to happen, but it was going to be on the cheap.…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on June 19, 2012 at 5:41am — No Comments

Mouthwatering Maple Treats in the Maritimes

Those with a sweet tooth won't have any difficulty finding delicious springtime treats in New Brunswick.

The province's forests yield more than 1.8 million kilograms of maple syrup each year, much to the delighted taste buds of locals, visitors, and those living in the global markets to which a lot of the product is exported.

There are many…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on March 30, 2012 at 10:24am — No Comments

Winter Fun in Northern New Brunswick, Canada

Growing up in rural, northern New Brunswick, I was so busy planning my escape to a bigger, more exciting location that I didn't fully appreciate the great qualities of the place I called home.

I live in the "big city" of Fredericton now, where I deal with the mild irritations of traffic and crowds at Costco. While Fredericton is generally a lovely place to live, my travel addiction prompts me to take frequent getaways to places near and…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on March 30, 2012 at 6:05am — No Comments

Hope for Sea Turtles at the Tortugranja

During a visit to Isla Mujeres it is worthwhile to rent a golf cart or bicycle to tour the island. At a mere 650 m wide and 7 km long, this is easily achieved in a day, and at a leisurely pace.

One of the must-do's along the way is the Tortugranja (turtle farm) at Sac Bajo. The farm is supported by both the Mexican government and the public, and works to increase the chances of sea turtles survival in…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on March 18, 2012 at 5:39pm — No Comments

Vastu Yoga on Isla Mujeres

I had the pleasure of attending a yoga class at Vastu School of Yoga while visiting Isla Mujeres.

Led by karma yogis Lorrie Conglose and Lal Maharajh, the school's mission is to make yoga accessible to all - regardless of physical, emotional or financial limitations; and to provide as many people as possible with the training required to provide service to their communities through…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on March 14, 2012 at 5:55am — No Comments

Flavours of Isla Mujeres

While throngs of travelers go to Mexico to feast upon the buffet fare of all-inclusive resorts, for the past two years I've opted for the a la carte culinary delights of Isla Mujeres.

Isla is a very relaxed, laid-back kind of place and the food matches the island's personality. The best dishes I've had there have been prepared quite simply, and highlight fresh, local ingredients.…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on February 20, 2012 at 6:44am — No Comments

Life's a Beach on Isla Mujeres

There are many reasons why visitors to Isla Mujeres might fall in love with the island. Its small town charm, friendliness, natural beauty, and the opportunity to experience the pulse of a real community and its people. But there is a single hook that catches people first - the beach.

With your first view of the magnificent turquoise…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on February 5, 2012 at 3:57pm — No Comments

An Early Bird on Isla Mujeres

As the sun rises over my fourth day on Isla Mujeres, I think it's about time to assemble and share some thoughts on this beautiful tropical paradise.

My writing perch is the rooftop patio at Hotel Las Palmas. It's only 7 am, but I've been up and feeling wonderful for close to 2…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on February 5, 2012 at 3:55pm — No Comments

Paradise Found on the Island of Women - Isla Mujeres

About a year ago, I began doing some research on how best to use a soon-to-be expired Aeroplan flight credit for anywhere in Canada, the U.S., or Mexico.

The winter chill had set in here in Fredericton, so I immediately envisioned a getaway to a warm and beachy destination. With the flight already covered and a plan to travel on my own, an all-inclusive, mega resort experience didn't…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on January 23, 2012 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

Disney's Magic Kingdom

While all Disney parks provide impressive theming, attractions and events, Magic Kingdom is in a league of its own when it comes to capturing the hearts of visitors.

Whether it's a princess' first glimpse of Cinderella's castle, or a little guy sporting his new mouse ears meeting Mickey himself, even the grown-ups can't help but feel a little warm and fuzzy inside. As you look around you will quickly realize that you're…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on January 20, 2012 at 12:52pm — No Comments

Day and Night at Epcot

EPCOT is an acronym for "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow", a conceptual Utopian city of tomorrow that Walt Disney wanted to build on his Florida property. Disney envisioned that the community would have 20,000 residents and become a test bed for city planning and organization.

Although Disney passed away before his dream could be realized, the park today aims to capture the essence of his creative vision by celebrating human achievement, in particular…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on January 17, 2012 at 6:44am — No Comments

A Wild Time at Disney's Animal Kingdom

With an early closing time of 6 pm, getting up bright and early is key to making the most of a wild day at Animal Kingdom.

As Disney hotel guests we were able to take advantage of morning Extra Magic Hours to access the park an hour before the general public. That meant a 6:45 am wake-up call, and on the bus around 7:30 to make it to the park for 8 am.

Over 500 acres in size, Animal Kingdom is the…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on December 15, 2011 at 8:11am — No Comments

How to Spend a Day at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Many of the reviews I read pre-trip suggested that Hollywood Studios was the least impressive of the Disney parks and could therefore be tackled in a half day, or sacrified altogether if short on time. I'm glad we didn't follow that advice, as we found that Hollywood Studios offered more than enough to keep us occupied for a full day, including evening Extra Magic Hours - minus a break…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on December 12, 2011 at 6:42am — No Comments

Disney Dining - From the Ridiculous to the Sublime

pay a lot of attention to food when I travel. Considering it, eating it, photographing it, and ultimately judging it.

While one wouldn't expect Disney World to be a really exciting culinary adventure, the free dining plan included in our vacation package (a special offer only available only on select travel dates) provided us…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on December 8, 2011 at 7:19am — No Comments

Disney World for Grown-Ups - Top 5 List

My trip to Disney World has come and and gone and it completely surpassed my expectations. The happiest place on earth offers magic for everyone, young and old. Here are my five favourite Disney experiences.

1) My first view of Cinderella's Castle.

Our flight to Orlando arrived early in the evening and as soon as we checked into…

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Added by Chrystiane Mallaley on December 6, 2011 at 10:30am — No Comments