Festivals Archives - Wanderboomer

February 28, 2017 by wanderboomer Leave a Comment

Bird Lovers Flock to Wings Over Water Festival

Bird lovers, rejoice! From March 10th – 12th 2017, Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival celebrates the Spring arrival of migratory birds to the Pacific Northwest.

Set in scenic Blaine, WA. near the Canadian border, the festival attracts advanced and novice bird lovers of all ages.

Toast this year’s 15th annual celebration with a day trip or weekend getaway to experience exceptional birdwatching. From opening festivities, to birding and wildlife cruises, guided bird-watching tours and workshops, Wings Over Water has you covered. Spring into Spring here with your fine-feathered friends.

Start Your Weekend at the Blaine Community Pancake Breakfast.

Bird lovers need food to sustain birdwatching activities. So why not kickstart your day with a hearty breakfast? Pancakes and waffles, French toast, biscuits and gravy, sausage and eggs abound. This is a fun way to connect with locals, engage with like-minded bird enthusiasts, and plan your day ahead.

Visit the Vendor Expo.

Food, crafts and plenty of activities for kids make this a popular place to spend time during the birding festival. Check in here for festival information, exhibits and special events.

Go on a Guided Bird Walk.

What kinds of birds can you expect to view in their protected habitat? Snow geese, Great Blue Herons, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, Belted kingfisher, to name a few. Nearly 300 species call the Northwest home here.

See for yourself on an all-day guided field trip to Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta, B.C., Canada. The Sanctuary is located on over 850 acres of managed wetlands and natural marshes in the Fraser River Estuary.

Reserve your spot in advance. And pack your passport, camera, binoculars and sunflower seeds for chickadee feedings. Dress in layers and be prepared to walk on gravel, grass and wet trails. If you forget your binoculars, not to worry. You can borrow a pair or pick up snacks, birdseed and books at the gift shop on-site.

For shorter visits, naturalist Paul Woodcock, vice-president of North Cascades Audubon, leads birders on a leisurely two-hour stroll along Semiahmoo Spit.

Take a Nature or Wildlife Cruise.

Hug the shore for a short ride aboard the historic MV Plover Foot-Passenger Ferry. Look for birdlife as you tour Drayton Harbor and Semiahmoo Bay with your own on-board wildlife naturalist.

For a two-hour, open-water wildlife cruise, hop on board the 50-foot Salish Sea to view seabirds in Boundary Bay and the Georgia Strait. See if you can spot the birds before your ship naturalist does. Bonus points if you’re the first one to also identify the birds.

Attend a Presentation.

Extend your fun festival escape by attending featured speaker presentations. Pick up wildlife photography tips from this year’s keynote speaker, Paul Bannick, author of Woodpeckers of North America, A Naturalist’s Guide. Additional featured speakers add their expertise in such topics as bald eagles (David Hancock), trumpeter swans (Martha Jordan) and local birding field trips (Joe Meche).

Extend Your Stay at Semiahmoo Golf Resort & Spa.

Pacific Northwest hospitality awaits at this recently-restored Northwest iconic treasure. As our resort receptionist advised upon check-in: “Take one day to settle in, or two to change your life.” After reveling in spellbinding sunset views, fine dining, an outdoor bonfire and beachcombing, we got the message. We came away relaxed and rejuvenated from just an overnight stay.

And in case you need a little special pampering after all your birding activities – and you know you do – there’s a full-service spa on site. Before check out, enjoy a delicious brunch in Pierside Kitchen or head over to nearby Semiahmoo Marine Café for a more casual-style breakfast.

Explore Birch Bay.

Not ready to leave quite yet? Visit Birch Bay just a short drive away from the Wings over Water festivities. While the beach town is best experienced during the summer months for outdoor activities, there’s something special about wandering quiet beach towns in the off-season.

Thanks to my hosts for the opportunity to attend the Wings over Water festival and for my stay at Semiahmoo.

For more information, visit:

Wings Over Water.
Semiahmoo Golf Resort & Spa.

Wander on, bird lovers!

Nancy

What’s your favorite Spring festival in the Pacific Northwest, wanderboomers?

February 21, 2017 by wanderboomer Leave a Comment

Mardi Gras Revelry in Mobile, Alabama!

All Aboard for Mobile’s Magical Mardi Gras Tour!

Where better to celebrate the fun and festivities of Mardi Gras than in the city that claims its rightful birthplace in the United States? If you’re guessing New Orleans, cher, guess again. We’re in Mobile, Alabama, “The Little Easy,” where moon pies, music and merriment abound in the city “born to celebrate.”

Dining with a View of Mobile at Dauphin’s Restaurant

It wasn’t hard to coax this Pacific Northwest wanderboomer to a land of sunshine, southern hospitality, grace and charm in February. Add good old-fashioned family fun for Mardi Gras, and my bags were packed.

Ready to plan your own Mobile Mardi Gras adventure? Here’s how to make the most of your visit:

Start Your Day with Traditional Southern Foods.

Breakfast at Royal Street Café

Nothing says “Rise and shine!” in the South more than a breakfast of biscuits, gravy and grits. Order the cheese grits and cathead biscuits at local favorite Royal Street Café. Cathead biscuits? Fluffy, light-as-air, these delicate concoctions seem so-named because of their size, about as big as a cat’s head.

Have a hankering for hot beignets instead? Head to Panini Pete’s to experience Mobile’s version of this New Orlean’s classic. Tip: Ask about Panini Pete’s wet vs. dry baking process and adding a twist of lemon to your beignets.

Miss Ruby

How about an order of bananas foster French toast? You’re in good hands at Miss Ruby’s Spot of Tea downtown where exceptional service is a way of life. “Everybody eats two meals a day and we never know when someone comes to our door what they walked away from and what they’re walking back to. My thrust in life is that people are fed well and have gotten information about what Mobile has to offer.”

Miss Ruby makes the rounds at each table in her role as part concierge, part Mobile ambassador, asking patrons about their interests. It’s also her way of keeping up to date on what’s happening in the city. “If at the end of the day, my customers ask themselves what they experienced, they would say at Spot of Tea someone looked me in the eye and paid attention.”

Stroll the Downtown Commercial District.

Mobile is home to seven historic districts within 600 square blocks, each with its own distinct character. Before jumping into your fun Mardi Gras events, take time to get acclimated in your Southern surroundings. Walk off your hearty breakfast with a leisurely tour of Royal and Dauphin Streets for an overview of popular restaurants, restored Art Deco, brick and stone buildings and museums.

Notable stops on Royal Street (besides the Royal Street Café) include: Fort Condé, where visitors can explore the city’s colonial past; the History Museum of Mobile, with its permanent collections and rotating exhibits; and the beautiful Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa.

Rest up from your shopping excursion on Dauphin Street in one of Mobile’s public parks, Bienville Square or Cathedral Square. Or stop in to view the beautiful art glass windows and hand-carvings at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Take a Driving Tour of Mobile’s Historic Homes and Districts.

A grove of century-old oaks welcomes visitors outside the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion in the Midtown Historic District. Inside, a grand circular staircase, immense double-parlor ballroom, crystal chandeliers and treasured antiques, hint at Southern-style entertaining of times gone by. A fainting couch prompts our guide’s comment: “If you think about the corsets they had to wear, you know why they needed them.”

Soak up more Southern ambiance in the Greek-revival architecture that defines the Oakleigh House in the Oakleigh Garden Historic District. In the home’s authentically-restored period rooms, visitors can step back in time to 1833 when James Roper began one of the first homes built outside Mobile’s city limits.

Visit the Mobile Carnival Museum.

For a preview of coming Mardi Gras attractions, learn about its history at the Mobile Carnival Museum. From intricate costume designs to elaborate float constructions, you can view past parades and balls through videos and exhibits. By the time you have finished your museum tour, you’ll be ready to join in the neighborhood parties and line the parade routes, if you haven’t already.

Rent Your Ballgown or Tux.

If you receive an invitation, or purchase a ticket when possible, to one of the Mardi Gras balls, you will need to dress the part to attend. “Costume de Rigueur Strictly Enforced” means white tie and tails for men and floor or ankle length dress for women. No military uniforms allowed. No exceptions. Otherwise, you will not be admitted.

To avoid getting turned away at the door, pack your formal wear or visit Francia’s Formal Wear for your tux or gown fitting.

Line the Parade Routes.

So many Mardi Gras parades, so little time! To join a parade, you will either need to be born into one of the groups hosting one or pay for the privilege.

Party Reveler at Joe Cain’s Parade

The good news is you don’t need to be in a parade to enjoy the revelry. Plan to see as many parades as possible during your stay. The more the merrier! From the Floral Parade with its MCA Juvenile Court, including a king and queen for children, to Joe Cain’s “People’s Parade,” one of the oldest and most secretive krewes (group hosting a parade, ball or social events), each has its own unique history and festival theme. Look for the schedule, a list of balls and parade routes in Mobile Mask, The Reveler’s Guide to Mardi Gras.

Along the parade route, partygoers throw bushels of Mardi Gras beads, small toys and moon pies from their floats. Before long you will be toe-tapping, screaming and reaching for throws along with everybody else. Trust me. Just be sure to stay alert to avoid getting hit in the eye.

Party On!

Mystics of Time Ball

By the time you wrap up your Mobile Mardi Gras adventure, you’ll be a party-goer pro. Memories of good-time parades, coronation balls, delicious Southern dishes and warm hospitality will dance in your head for years to come.

For more information:

Mobile Mask
Alabama Travel
Visit Mobile
Hunter Livery

Many thanks to Alabama Travel for the opportunity to join in the revelry for Mobile Mardi Gras!

Wander on!

“Miss Nancy”

What’s your favorite Mardi Gras memory, wanderboomers? Please share with us here.

February 26, 2014 by wanderboomer 7 Comments

10 Best Boomer Women Bonding Trips

Solo trips and romantic escapes have their place. But sometimes we boomer women want a little more girlfriend bonding time. The next time you’re ready for a gal pal getaway, here are 10 Best Boomer Women Bonding Trips to satisfy your wanderlust for a day, a weekend or an extended vacation:

#1 – Spa Travel

Boomers have led the pack in spa travel for decades and we’re not ready to change that anytime soon, are we? Not only do spas offer pampering treatments, saunas and hot springs; increasingly, spa travel takes a 360 approach to health and wellness in exotic locations. Whether you tend towards yoga classes by the sea, hiking through old-growth forests or weight loss boot camps, you’re bound to come home relaxed and rejuvenated.

#2 -Foodie Fun

Food and wine are meant to be shared with friends. So why not sign up for a tasting tour, 5 course progressive dinner or cooking class to discover new flavors and gastronomic traditions? Browsing local farmers’ markets will whet your appetite and inspire new culinary concoctions. Learn from master chefs as you eat and drink your way around the world, or even your own neighborhood.

#3 – Cultural Immersion

Unique, authentic experiences remain high on the boomer women’s favorite travel list. The desire to connect with a place through its people and customs leads to learning a foreign language in the country where it’s spoken. Or renting an apartment so you can mix & mingle with local residents instead of staying in a hotel.

#4 – City Slicker Escape

Take advantage of the many girlfriend getaway hotel packages, offering everything from champagne & chocolate greetings to scenic city views and tickets to special events. Go to a show in your hometown or explore a new destination together through its art and architecture. Investigate the city’s history on foot, by subway or trolley for your own urban renewal.

#5 – Bucket List Adventure

What places are still on your Bucket List? Where in the world do you want to go next? Make a plan with a gal pal to start taking turns on annual getaways. This year you get to choose and cross one more destination or travel experience off your list. Next year she gets to choose. But why wait to another whole year? How about twice or even four times a year instead?

#6 – Writer’s Retreat

A writer’s retreat is just the thing for wanderboomers who want to explore self-expression through poetry, memoir or the next best novel. Pick up tips of the trade from guest speakers and enjoy dedicated time to pursuing your craft with a girlfriend. By the time you return home, you will be well on your way to achieving your writing goals.

#7 – Festival Tour

Find your inner fun at a traditional festival anywhere around the world. Dance the samba at Carnival in Brazil. Or celebrate the rites of Spring at the colorful Holi Festival in India. Enjoy the annual Songwriting Festival in Gulf Shores or listen to jazz in Montreal. Don’t forget Quebec’s Winter Festival or the Sundance Film Festival which honors the best in independent films.

#8 – Trip Down Memory Lane

Through Facebook I’ve reconnected with a childhood girlfriend. We each moved on to different parts of the country long ago. But we plan to meet up again in the place where we spent our early days as best buddies. Or maybe we’ll just skip that part and sign up for the annual Beatles cruise, basking in our shared childhood memories of the Fab Four.

#9 – Voluntourism

Want to make a difference in the lives of the people you meet in your travels? Volunteer tourism provides wanderlusters with rewarding opportunities to help with hiking trails maintenance, housing projects, tutoring or care for the elderly, often in exchange for discounted travel costs. You can see the world, help the planet and build cross-cultural relationships all on one trip.

#10 – Thelma & Louise Road Trip

For the ultimate boomer girlfriend escape, plan your own road trip together with or without GPS. Though you might want to visualize a different ending from the movie . . . Road trips provide just the right balance of destination discoveries, thoughtful conversation and self-reflection. Get off the beaten path and enjoy your shared adventure.

Disclosure: Some, though not all, of my travel experiences seen here were provided by Idaho and Quebec tourism hosts.

Wander on!

Nancy

What’s your favorite girlfriend bonding trip, wanderboomers?

February 7, 2014 by wanderboomer 2 Comments

Friendly Faces of Québec Winter Carnival

Bonhomme

The friendly faces of Québec Winter Carnival begin and end with Bonhomme. Besides his numerous appearances around Québec City, Bonhomme’s image appears everywhere about town.

Bonhomme Image

His smile and good cheer ripple through the region.

From the staff at the renown Ice Hotel (Hôtel de Glace), just 10 minutes from downtown,

Ice Hotel

to the more than 1500 Carnival volunteers,

Quebec Winter Carnival

vendors

Sugar Shack Godin Family

and artisans

Wendake Artisan

the Carnival spirit creates an infectious, joyful energy that spills over into the surrounding neighborhoods.

Aux Anciens Canadiens Restaurant

Friendly faces greet visitors at local restaurants like Aux Anciens Canadiens on Rue Saint Louis

J.A. Moisan

and shops like J.A. Moisan, the oldest grocery store in North America (1871) on Rue Saint-Jean.

Even the delivery man for La Bôite à Pain boulangerie stops me on the street to offer the gift of a freshly baked loaf of bread.

La Boite a Pain

It’s hard to resist the Québecois hospitality.

Quebec Carnival

Merci, Québec!

Wander on!

Nancy

Thanks to sponsors Québec Tourisme and Québec City Tourism for hosting.

For more fun Friday photos, be sure to check out Delicious Baby.

How do you celebrate Winter, Wanderboomers? Share with us here.

February 6, 2014 by wanderboomer 4 Comments

Beat the Winter Blues at Québec Winter Carnival!

If you can’t beat winter, why not embrace it?

Quebec Winter Carnival

That’s the philosophy behind the Québec Winter Carnival, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2014.

Host Paule Bergeron with Québec City Tourism explains: “Winter is something we are born with. We forget that we are taking some of you out of your comfort zone, but we hope you leave here with a new vision of what winter can be like.”

Opening Ceremony Quebec Winter Carnival

Here are a few highlights of my visit to this year’s festival:

Bonhomme – Winter Carnival’s Beloved Roving Ambassador

Bonhomme Images

With his perpetual smile and positive energy, Bonhomme (“Good Man”) embodies joie de vivre (“joy of living”), the heart of the city’s fun festivities. Cheerful and expressive, he frequently tells children around him: “I love you so much!”

Ever the diplomat, he deftly side-steps my question, “You’re cheering for the Seattle Seahawks against the Broncos in the Super Bowl, aren’t you?” He responds gently, “That’s a delicate question.”

A good and wise man it turns out.

Bonhomme

Ice Palace

Bonhomme's Ice Palace

As a genial host, Bonhomme warmly welcomes visitors to tour his new home, the Ice Palace, for a glimpse into his private life. He knows that people are curious about what he likes to eat (“Cold things”),

Bonhomme Food

where he sleeps and showers

Bonhomme Shower

and what he does for fun inside the 40 foot tall structure constructed from 300 tons of ice. Here guests can walk through his living and sleeping areas, including the kitchen and dining room, plus view photos taken with famous celebrities from past Winter Carnivals.

Maple Taffy Sticks

Maple Taffy Stick

What’s not to love about a taffy stick treat made with boiling maple syrup and clean snow? After the syrup is poured onto the snow, we let it cool briefly before pressing the stick in the syrup. Rolling the maple syrup around our sticks, voila!

Maple Taffy Stick Snack

We have a tasty taffy snack to go.

Carnival Streets

Quebec Carnival Lumberjack Ax Throwing

Winter Carnival expands to eight neighborhood streets in addition to the main site on the Plains of Abraham in 2014. Happenings include street performers, lumberjack ax throwing and curling demonstrations that add to the Carnival atmosphere throughout the city.

Winter Carnival Activities

Quebec Winter Festival Snow Sculpture

Whatever winter activities you can imagine, you will find them here at the Québec Winter Carnival. From dog-sledding to carriage and Ferris wheel rides, hockey tournaments to ice fishing, snow sculpture competitions to spa treatments – and don’t forget snow-shoeing, canoe racing, human-size table soccer, winter camping and the world’s largest snowball fight –

World's Largest Snowball Fight

well, you begin to understand why Québec is well on its way to achieving its vision of becoming the “Snow Capital of the World by 2020.”

When You Go

Wondering how you can join the fun? Purchase a Carnival Effigy (small, plastic Bonhomme figure which you can attach to your outerwear) for $15.00 (or $45.00 for a family of four) as your passport to 17 days of Winter Carnival activities. Such a deal!

For further information, be sure to check the official Carnaval de Québec website.

Thanks to Bonhomme and sponsors Tourisme Québec and Québec City Tourism for showing me how to have fun and stay warm this winter.

Keep on moving and dancing, Wanderboomers!

Wander on!

Nancy

What’s your favorite Winter Festival, wanderboomers?

Bird Lovers Flock to Wings Over Water Festival

Start Your Weekend at the Blaine Community Pancake Breakfast.

Visit the Vendor Expo.

Go on a Guided Bird Walk.

Take a Nature or Wildlife Cruise.

Attend a Presentation.

Extend Your Stay at Semiahmoo Golf Resort & Spa.

Explore Birch Bay.

For more information, visit:

What’s your favorite Spring festival in the Pacific Northwest, wanderboomers?

Mardi Gras Revelry in Mobile, Alabama!

10 Best Boomer Women Bonding Trips

Friendly Faces of Québec Winter Carnival

Beat the Winter Blues at Québec Winter Carnival!

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