Irving Nature Park is hands down one of my favorite parks in Saint John, New Brunswick. Each time I visit, I head there in the evening so I can walk along the Marsh Boardwalk to enjoy the absolutely stunning sunsets. The last time I was there, I spent two hours on the boardwalk simply sitting and taking in the breathtaking scenery. Sometimes I manage to see a few Great Blue Herons in the distance. This time around, I saw a chunky little raccoon.

On my way to Fundy National Park, I decided to stop in Hopewell Cape to visit the beautiful Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park. While I have been here before, this park is worth multiple visits at both low and high tides. Depending on how much time you dedicate here, you can follow the tide schedule and see the remarkable changes that take effect when the Bay of Fundy advances and retreats. At low tide, you can walk for 2 kilometers along the shoreline to get breathtaking views of the 20+ sea stacks that stand tall along the coast. At high tide, you can take a guided kayaking tour and watch how these sandstone rock formations quickly become engulfed by the bay.

After my semi-successful attempt at solo camping in Kouchibouguac National Park, I decided to travel a bit further from my hometown to visit the world-renowned Fundy National Park. With the Bay of Fundy known for having the highest tides in the world, this national park had no shortage of local and international visitors. However, this park is certainly worth the crowds and price of admission. I mean, once you enter, you almost don’t need to go any further to witness its beauty. Of course that would be a shame but you get the point.

A few weeks ago, I underwent my first attempt at solo camping at Kouchibouguac National Park. Only 30 minutes away from my hometown of Miramichi, I thought it was a great place to test my aptitude for solo camping. As a beginner solo camper, I have decided that, for now, I want to stick to front-country camping because it provides me with the luxuries that I need to feel safe and comfortable. These luxuries include washrooms, showers, kitchen shelters, and fire pits. Therefore, the majority of my Canadian provincial and national park posts will focus on this type of camping.

Well, you can definitely add Colonel Samuel Smith Park to your list of must-see places in the General Toronto Area (GTA). Located along the beautiful shoreline of Lake Ontario in Etobicoke, this park offers stunning views of the Toronto city skyline and is a haven for bird watchers, hikers and cyclists alike. Offering many amenities for families, such as a picnic area, playground, large playing field and wildlife observation deck, Colonel Samuel Smith Park is another top choice for experiencing Toronto’s beautiful landscape and wildlife.

Last week, I went to High Park for the first time. It’s hard to believe that I live in Toronto and have never explored such a beautiful park. For those needing reference, High Park in Toronto is much like a smaller version of Central Park in New York City. Under normal circumstances, you can visit the zoo, enjoy the baseball diamonds, soccer fields and tennis courts, take a ride on the trackless train, and walk under the cherry blossom trees blooming in the spring. Although many activities are currently closed as a result of the pandemic, there is still so much to see and explore.

Prior to the pandemic, I was always traveling. I was averaging 8 flights a month, partly due to living part-time in Massachusetts and partly because I had the constant urge to explore new places. Although I loved every minute of it, I was ignoring the one place that I truly called home - Ontario, Canada. Therefore, I have recently made it my mission to start exploring Ontario and its numerous city, provincial, and national parks and conservations areas. Each week, I will be posting about a new place in the province that I think is worthy of visiting. I’ll be honest about my experiences so you have a good idea of what to expect if you decide to explore.