Boston
Our first stop was Boston, Massachusetts. It was my first time in the state of Massachusetts making me excited to experience a new place and add another state to my list of states I’ve visited in the US.
Tag: Traveler
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Our next port stop in Nova Scotia was Halifax, where we experienced breathtaking ocean scenery and a tour around the entire city.
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Our next stop on the cruise was Sydney, Nova Scotia. I desperately want to visit Scotland one day, so it was exciting to visit some cities in New Scotland (aka Nova Scotia). Sydney was our first stop in Nova Scotia.
When we arrived to the port of Sydney, we were greeted by the world’s largest fiddle. It’s a reminder of the musical heritage and Celtic music that is continuously played on Cape Brenton Island. Side note, Cape Brenton is one of the few places in North America where Gaelic is still spoken!
For our stop in Sydney, we decided to do the Fortress of Louisbourg shore excursion with our cruise line. The journey started by getting on a bus and having an introduction to Sydney as we made our way through the historic north end and back in time to 1744 at the Fortress of Louisbourg.
Louisbourg was once the capital of Cape Brenton Island and a seaport. Looking out at the ocean, I could envision giant ships sailing towards us. The history is still alive and the fortress continues to provide an entertaining experience with costumed actors reenacting the lives of specific individuals from the pre-siege era. Our guide told us we could stop and talk to the actors to ask them anything about daily life in 1744. End of June to the beginning of August is when you’ll see the most costumed interpreters walking around since it’s peak season.
Other Thing To Do Around Sydney: Village of Baddeck, Alexander Graham Bell Museum, Bras d’Or Lakes, Cabot Trail, Whitney Pier, Historical Museum, Pub Crawl
Have you been to Cape Breton Island? What was your favorite thing to see? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Any advice for planning a trip to Scotland would be nice too!
-Ayla ♥
Charlottetown
Charlottetown, the birth place of Canada, is the capital of Prince Edward Island. It’s difficult for me to think of a word other than quiet to describe it. I’ve been to tropical islands and rugged islands. P.E.I. felt like a nearly uninhabited small town island. Driving through Charlottetown we saw tiny villages, harbors, rolling farmlands, and stunning seascapes. It felt like I’d been transported a hundred years into the past.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens | Photo Diary
The Huntington
Strolling around gardens is one of my favorite things to do. You’ve probably noticed this if you followed my blog a while ago. It’s a wonderful way to spend a few hours of your day relaxing and taking photographs. And that’s exactly what we did when we went to The Huntington.
We sort of skipped the Library and Art Collections and went straight to the Botanical Gardens. I didn’t mind whatsoever. The gardens were actually much larger than I was expecting, so skipping some of the indoor activities allowed us more time to see all around the gardens.
Address 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108
Hours 10am – 5pm. Closed Tuesdays.
Admission Adults $25/$29. Youth $13.
Before going to the Huntington, I never carried for cactus plants or succulents. However, this botanical garden showed me how gorgeous these incredible plants can actually be. I’m so glad I got to finally notice their true beauty because now I love them!
Do you guys have a favorite botanical garden? Let me know in the comments! Maybe I’ll visit them soon.
-Ayla♥
