Booking flights as an intern is high risk. Just when you think you know your clinical schedule, you receive an email telling you that you need to be back to start overnight call one day earlier than you initially planned! So, it’s time to rearrange that vacation week! Welcome to the life of a medical resident. Luckily we booked our flights to Maine through Southwest, and we’re able to refund the flights with future credit! Southwest has been so helpful in traveling for interviews and trying to plan travel around hectic, changing work schedules.

Given the change of plans, we canceled our flights looked around for the trip destinations with driving distance. This lead us to explore Toronto, Canada! If it were up to me I would’ve spent all the time in the woods. If it were up to Paul, he would book a high-rise hotel the heart of Toronto (but, it would have to be a deal and madly discounted). So, we split the difference and did three days of city adventures paired with today’s in a minimalist cabin in the wilderness!

It was such a memorable vacation!

We put all of our stuff into the pilot, including the kids bikes and went off for an adventure, first stop downtown Toronto!

We checked into our Airbnb after much run around trying to find a key in the lock box in the back side of a sketchy gas station which led to a parking pass. It was the adult version of a scavenger hunt. All while trying to avoid a parking ticket.

We booked our condo because it had an indoor pool, only to find out it was closed for cleaning, ha ha! Go figure!

We started exploring on foot and we had an amazing time walking around the city checking out the sites. I took our oldest for a bike ride down by the docks, captured in the first picture in this blog post. I loved spending this time with him. We found the bay in the middle of the city. There is something so beautiful about freshwater. I know others may be partial to the salty ocean waves and sand beaches, but I am a midwesterner! We live for freshwater.

While in the city, Paul and I went out on a date to a local food scene and tried a bunch of new cuisine. We all went on a boat tour of the area. It was crammed with people, on a hot day, but our boys (and the adults too), love a good boat tour. Boot tours are one of the activities we look for in most cities, including Minden, Germany and our backyard in Pittsburgh! It’s a wonderful way to relax and see the city from a different angle!

We had a wonderful time in Toronto city. After three days of high rise living, we packed up and started up north. Paul was working his magic on Groupon and we decide to stop at a Trampoline park in the suburbs on our way out of town. A very random addition, but the kids enjoyed it and it helped to get the wiggles out! We ate our sandwiches in the car (a trick to save money) and off to the north woods we went! A few hours later we pulled into the perfect little cabin.

Enjoy some of Our favorite photos..

Our Air B&B cabin the woods was absolutely adorable. A log cabin remodeled and simplified into a rental cabin. The main cabin had a room with a queen bed and a foot or so all the way around it. The main living space was a small area (probably the size of our bedroom at home) complete with fridge, stove, small table and butcher block. Despite the small size, the TV was massive, haha and the cute little cabin was equip with WiFi and Apple TV!

The cabin also had a bunkie or Bunkhouse across the yard with two twin beds. Given the time of year, the bunkhouse was sure to be cold, but our Au Pair (Sophia) and our oldest took it like a champ! Our youngest was in a pop up crib in the shower room. Its so fun to get creative and squeeze in a cozy cabin. I was in heaven.

We spent time walking around the woods, chasing the kids on bikes and even had a campfire and cook out. We explored some nearby small towns with populations <1000 residents. We shopped in their overpriced connivence stores and bought a few souvenirs from the local market, including mittens for the boys since we were not prepared for the Canadian chill!

One day we went up to a local park and look out tower. It was a blast. The tower was terrifying and ascend at your own risk. I opted to stay with the kids while Paul and Sophia were brave enough to walk up the stairs.

After exploring the lookout and taking in the colors, we hiked from the hilltop of the local park down into the village below and met Paul at a local small town museum. It reminded me of home.

The nights were filled with whispering (so we didn’t wake up the kids, relaxing with a glass of wine, and HGTV! Real life.

This family vacation was our version of minimalist. We prioritized exploring, experiences, and time together as a family.

That’s not to say that everything was perfect. Our kids were crying, just as they do at home. Our week together was a time to enjoy a new city and nature. Our goal was to refresh and renew. Our car didn’t come back full of new toys or things, only some Canadian ketchup and mittens. We ate local, embraced our neighbors. It was a blast. Our version of “going up to the cabin” for the weekend.

Where are you planning to go next?! City or wide open spaces?!

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