15 things to do in North Macedonia–located on the Balkan Peninsula

by
15 Things to do in Macedonia CosmicAce Guest Post 2 1

15 Things to do in Macedonia CosmicAce Guest Post 2 1

In 2019, I have decided to take a leap of faith and create a space where other travel bloggers, freelance writers and storytellers contribute their travel stories to DownshiftingPRO.com.  In the last four years, I have encountered some wonderful kindred spirits that love to travel and write about it.

The first installation comes from Ace… a seasoned traveller who has returned to his native country of North Macedonia to try and entice others to visit and fall in love with small country nestled in the Balkan Peninsula! His images are enticing and his suggestions of 15 Things to do in North Macedonia will likely entice you too.  From Byzantine buildings and Roman ruins and rugged peaks to glacial lakes, there are many things of interest and adventure to be found in North Macedonia.

Read more

15 Ways to Avoid Holiday Travel Hassles

by
15 Ways to Avoide Holiday Travel Hassles
15 Ways to Avoide Holiday Travel Hassles

The holiday season can create stress but when you leave things to the last minute.  You will lose out on deals if you wait to get a flight at the last moment but more importantly, you may not have a seat or worse get really bad connections. Lastly, pick travel times wisely, flying first thing in the morning means you’re less likely to get bumped from a flight – and more likely to get on a later flight if you do.

Read more

Carry travel essentials to protect your lips

by
A beautiful smile Lipivir Prevent Cold Sores 2

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for lipivir® and I received compensation for my post. As a lifestyle and travel blogger, I am happy to share my personal experiences with my audience. #ad

A beautiful smile_Lipivir Prevent Cold Sores - A Travel Essential

“Never leave the house without lipstick”.

I can clearly hear my mother say this to me as I was growing up. There were many words of wisdom but these are ones that stuck with me forever.  When I was young, I was waiting… just waiting for the day I could put on lipstick and protect my lips.  It was not for the aesthetics or fun of putting on make-up.  There was a big reason why I wanted to protect them:  painful, unsightly cold sores which I would get every winter.   I cannot tell you how embarrassing and annoying I found this scourge.

Read more

10 Reasons to Go to Your High School Reunion & Travel Back in Time

by

2018 BHS Reunion_2

I’ve gotten over the stage fright.  I have overcome the mean girl syndrome and faced my biggest high school fears.  I’m not going to lie, I’m a high school reunion devotee.  I was back for my ‘all year’ high school reunion for the third time in 10 years.  How does that work?  Simple:  instead of having individual years celebrate annually, my high school celebrates every  5 years on the school’s anniversary.  Many people go back for many reasons but I have 10 Good reasons to go to your high school reunion.

Read more

What’s New for Ski Season in Vermont #SkiVermont

by
A Year in Review 2017 Best1

UPDATE 2021: The ski season in Vermont will look very different in 2021. With COVID-19 restrictions in effect throughout Vermont, there are specific guidelines that must be adhered to in all areas. Below is a summary from the SKI VERMONT website. At the bottom of this post, I will have a list of of individual ski mountain guidelines. Please ‘know before you go’ if you are in Vermont.
Important note: Anyone returning or traveling to Vermont must follow Vermont’s mandatory quarantine policy. Vermonters returning from an out-of-state trip must complete either a 14-day quarantine or a 7-day quarantine followed by a negative test.

Ski Season in Vermont - Covid- restrictions in Vermont
Plan for a safe Ski season in Vermont

Obviously, for my Canadian and International readers, travel to the US is restricted for recreational purposes. Use this guide for future travel plans. #DreamNowTravelLater. There is no reason you cannot plan for a future ski season in Vermont.

A Year in Review 2017 Best1

Like Santa’s workshop, ski areas in Vermont have been very, very busy off-season.  From revamping their facilities, terrain and ticket/pass options to off-slope activities and amenities. Since my epic get-back-on-skis-after-decades-off-them trip last year, I can hardly wait to get back! There have been some significant changes to Mount Snow, Killington and Stratton.   I wanted to share some of the highlights of changes on those mountains and also on the others for the upcoming ski season in Vermont.

Read more

To Kill a Mockingbird at Stratford – Outstanding Production

by
To Kill a Mockingbird at Stratford @DownshiftingPRO compelling theatre
To Kill a Mockingbird at Stratford - review by Hayden Ibbott

It’s not too late to see To Kill a Mockingbird at Stratford.  Just go!

This year was a slow start for us.  We have left going to Stratford until the end and now, I regret not getting on it sooner.  So far, we have seen The Music Man and To Kill a Mockingbird (one of the best productions I have ever seen at Stratford), and at the end of the month, we will see The Rocky Horror Show.  Our son was lucky enough to catch The Tempest in September.

Chastising myself for missing out on The Tempest and Coriolanus,  I’ve picked up the line-up for the 2019 Stratford Festival season and have started to plan which plays to go to next year.  There are no excuses not to go, Stratford is located a short one-hour drive from both Toronto and London.  If you love live theatre and you love Shakespeare, you can’t go wrong with the Stratford Festival.

Read more

Rock the Road – 5 Tips for First Time Drivers Behind the Wheel

by
OK Tire Frist Time Drivers behind the Wheel DownshiftingPRO thumb

OK Tire - Frist Time Drivers behind the Wheel_ @DownshiftingPRO

The fall is a busy time for most families.  We squeeze in the last road trip, close up the cottage and then start getting ready for school.  This year we have two of our children at university, one in St. Catherine’s and the other locally. One daughter will be riding her bike or taking public transport to school.  The other will most likely be driving the car 50% of the time and taking the bus the other 50%.  She will be a first time driver on a daily commute!  No question about it, she’ll be asking: what do I need in my car?

Read more