In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)  launched a fun contest to find the top 150 hidden travel gems in our country. IHG sponsored this hotel stay and my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are my own.

For Mother’s Day, I wanted to do something fun with my mom but sadly I didn’t have the time to get to Ottawa. I solved this problem and met my mom half way in the beautiful city of Kingston which is half way for both of us.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Kingston – Waterfront which has both an indoor and outdoor pool. Sadly there was no sun. Sniff. But this gave us more time to enjoy the room!

We loved the pillows, which indicated if they were firm or soft. What a great idea.

Not sure if you know this but IHG® Rewards Club is currently running a unique 150th Hidden Gems Contest!!

IHG®Rewards Club will be celebrating Canada’s 150thBirthday with a Contest to Curate Canada’s Top 150 Hidden Travel Gems. The top 150 hidden gems from coast-to-coast will be selected by IHG through a contest just in time for Canada Day!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Visit their website:
2. Follow the three easy steps!

PS Love how this contest is so user friendly!

I took the time to find this this hidden gem called “Martello Alley” in downtown Kingston. Naturally I’ve submitted into this contest. Wish me luck!!

Hope you get a chance to enter the contest too.

Its not a surprise that IHG® Canada is a leader in hospitality, travel and leisure and the go-to destination for Canadians!

For more information:

Website: www.150canada.IGHrewardsclub.com

Instagram and Twitter: @IHGRewardsClub, #IHG150

Disclosure: My hotel stay was complimentary however all opinions are my own

For many years, every time I travelled to Ottawa we would stop at SUBWAY for lunch in Kingston. It was right off the highway and offered us a quick and healthy meal.

My relationship with SUBWAY continued as I recently turned 50 and served my guests a 6 ft subway. It was a HUGE hit with my guests (sorry..couldn’t resist the joke). Take a peek at this enormous box that it’s packed in!!

Not sure if you know this, but there’s a Build a Winner contest that is taking place now, that invites SUBWAY Canada fans on Facebook to build out their unique sandwich combination!

There’s weekly draws for a $100 SUBWAY cash card, and a grand prize of $1000 up for grabs.
Please click on this link for further information http://bit.ly/1Gbmdzx.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SubwayCanada

Twitter: @SubwayCanada

Hashtag; #BuildAWinner

Hope you get a chance to enter this contest soon as the contest ends May 31st, 2015!!

Disclosure: This blog post is sponsored however all my opinions are my own

 

My mom lives in Ottawa and I live in Toronto, therefore to meet in Kingston for  a weekend, is ideal. We did it last year and said we would do it again so we did. Exactly one year later!!

We stayed at the lovely Four Points Sheraton both last year and this year. We love the location, the service and the spacious updated rooms.

As for the meals. We repeated the same meals too.!!

We had dinner at Lukes Gastronomy again and have no regrets about eating there two years in a row. We love his creativity, his commitment to using local ingredients, the presentation, and his use of flavors. Luke is a 20 year old self taught chef and he is certainly a chef to be watching!!

I had a main course that was out of this world called “Fields of Jamnagar”: curry, mango, lassi, coconut, tomato, rasam, lentil, rice and lime pickle.

For dessert, we split the “testosterone”: vanilla tobbaco, scotch, coffee, and honey dates. I received a tweet from @mattkantor saying I should try the “estrogen” but we had the testosterone last year and I’m simply in love with this dessert. It’s nothing short of brilliant.

On our trip to Sandbanks we make sure to stop off at Schroeder’s Bakery for some home made donuts. I read about it on Chowhound and put this on my list of  “where to eat”. LOL.  We also made sure to stop into Buddhas Dog where we were treated to some whoopie pies and where we bumped into @laurenendorphin and her hubby. Small world.

On the beach, we needed dinner, so we picked up some sandwiches from Panchancho Bakery on our way out of Kingston and we werent disappointed. (we did the same thing last year….do you see a pattern here?). Not to mention, we had a pain au chocolat for the drive to Sandbanks, that was perfect. (i.e I’m so glad I dont live in Kingston..LOL)

After a long day at the beach, we were in despearate need of  a beer. The Sizzle Restaurant and Bar, which was convenientely located at the bottom of the Four Points Sheraton…came to our rescue. We both enjoyed a Shock Top Belgian White Beer. Infact I enjoyed it so much, I had two!!

On our last day, we enjoyed a sit down breakfast at Panchancho. We both ordered the same thing (like mother like daughter). A fennel/apple salad that was accompanied by a horseradish egg salad with smoked salmon on top of a slice of St. Johns bread. We demolished it.

My mom and I, plan to repeat the same weekend next year. Same hotel. Same restaurants. There is no need to mix things up!!

Info:

Lukes Gastronomy:  26 Princess, Kingston

Pan Chancho Bakery: 44 Princess St, Kingston

Buddhas Dog: 172 Main St, Picton

Schroeder’s Bakery: corner of hwy 62 and country road 1 (just outside of Picton)

Four Points Sheraton: 285 King St. East, Kingston