My Travel Guide to the South West Coast Path

Posted on October 19, 2016 by debbysdepartures — 1 Comment ↓

They say that with all the cumulative elevation gain, walking the entire 630 miles of the South West Coast Path in England is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest four times! That’s approximately 115,000 feet elevation gain total! Earlier this year, my husband and I walked 100 of those miles. That’s a cumulative elevation gain of 19,000 feet!

Of course without the snow, ice, glaciers, crevasses, altitude, oxygen tanks, climbing ropes, cold, or Sherpas of Mount Everest, summarizing all the blogs I have written about our 19,000 feet of elevation gain, I present “My Travel Guide to the South West Coast Path,” including links to all my previous blogs.

The beautiful scenery. Each foot of the South West Coast Path alternates between the ups and downs of the high cliffs and low valleys, the quaint villages and relaxing beaches. You constantly view the vast sky and the Atlantic Ocean or English Channel, and the wildflowers, plants and farmland. Each and every foot of the scenery is beautiful.

The fishing villages. Including the seas, the fish, the boats, the sailors, the fisherman, and the coastguards, the fishing villages are part of what the South West Coast Path is all about. According to the South West Coast Path Association, historically the Path was “originally created by coastguards, patrolling the south west peninsula looking for smugglers. The Path has also been used by fisherman looking for shoals of fish and checking the sea conditions.” Today you can eat fresh fish caught by the fisherman from some of these fishing villages.

The lighthouses. Also part of what the South West Coast Path is all about is the lighthouses, used to keep those at sea as safe as possible. In our 100 miles, we saw nine lighthouses, including a few harbour lights, sometimes from a distance, sometimes up close, other times through the fog, and even taking a tour. In the entire 630 miles, I believe that there are no less than 15 lighthouses, and perhaps even more.

The churches. Seeing nine historical, spiritual, peaceful churches along our 100 miles of the Path, I experienced a mix of emotions. One such emotion was feeling the significance of another part of what the South West Coast Path is all about as I read memorials to those who unfortunately lost their lives at sea. The older art and architecture of the interior and exterior of each church always fascinates me, as well as the modern embroidery of kneeling pillows, with images of the villages, lighthouses, and churches of the Path itself. And messages of world peace. There must be countless churches to see in all 630 miles of the South West Coast Path.

The senses. Listening to the sounds of the oceans and waves, the birds chirping, the whisper of the wind in trees. Seeing the vibrant colors of the wildflowers, the varying hues of blue skies and waters. Smelling the salty sea air, and even the fish. All these senses allowed me to experience a calming walking meditation along the South West Coast Path.

Seeing and doing fun things. (Aside from walking all day every day.) Some random photos of our journey included when we needed to summon a ferry by changing a sign from blue to yellow. Seeing old sundial clocks from various churches. And feeling welcome with signs such as, “Walkers, Muddy Boots & Dogs Welcome.” (Even though we didn’t have a dog with us.)

Visiting landmarks. We were able to visit two landmarks that are not only significant on the Path, but also in all of England. The most westerly point in England, Land’s End. And the most southerly point in England, Lizard Point on the Lizard Peninsula. Even in the fog.

Windows and Doors. My favorite subject to photograph when I travel is windows and doors. Turns out I appropriately took pictures mostly of nautical themes in the windows and doors on our 100 miles – boats and ships, fishing and sailors, beaches and shells, toy pails and shovels, anchors and buoys, crab pots and lobsters and turtles, and lighthouses. All which are representative of what the South West Coast Path is all about. Even some humorous words of wisdom were displayed in some windows and doors such as, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him to fish and you can get rid of him for the entire weekend.”

Directional acorns and arrows. Following various aids to navigation for walking the Path, the National Trail symbol of the acorn, and colored arrows, including the yellow arrow which indicates a path for use by walkers, helped us find our way. Of course, we also used guide books, booklets, and maps. But if there is a discrepancy, the “Complete Guide to the South West Coast Path” advises, “follow any such directions on the ground rather than relying on literature – things change over time, even including the route of the South West Coast Path, literature can become out-of-date.”

Three inspiring books. Two humorous books by men, “The Man Who Hated Walking” by Overend Watts, and “500 Mile Walkies” by Mark Wallington (even though he probably actually did the entire 630 miles), were two of the three inspiring books about walking the entire 630-mile South West Coast Path that I read. The third and the most inspirational book was created by a woman who walked the entire path solo (well, with her dog). Sasha Harding’s book, “A Brush With The Coast,” is filled with her heart-felt writing and her adorable drawings.

I hope you enjoyed “My Travel Guide to the South West Coast Path,” including links to all my previous blogs, based on our 100 miles of walking and our 19,000 feet of elevation gain!

Sweet Travels!

Here are some links to more of “My Travel Guides”:
My Travel Guide to the Camino de Santiago
My Travel Guide to the Cotswolds
My Travel Guide to Île d’Orléans – Québec City

My Travel Guide to the Camino de Santiago

Posted on January 27, 2016 by debbysdepartures — Leave a reply

502 miles, 47 days, and 25 blogs later, I present to you my travel guide to the Camino de Santiago. There are many routes to take to arrive at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, the destination that hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have been walking to for over 1,000 years. I chose to walk the 482-mile Camino Francés from the border with France, across northern Spain. Then I chose to walk an additional 20 miles up the Atlantic coast in Spain on the Camino Finisterre to Muxía. I include links within each section of this travel guide to my blogs for further reading.

Tips for Planning and for When you are on a Camino:

These blogs contain information based on my experiences for backpacks, accommodations, footwear, food, water, mileage, hiking poles, The Pyrenees, guidebooks, helpful websites, and more.
My Recommendations and Tips for Walking
From Carrying a Backpack to Mochila Transport Services
Hiking Boots, Sandals, or Sneakers
Reserving Private Accommodations

Navigation:

The symbolic scallop shell, yellow arrows, cement markers, and other various signs aid in navigation along the Camino. These blogs have more information on these, as well as some fun pictures.
Directional Symbols and Signs
Directional Cement Markers
Scallop Shells and Yellow Arrows

Food and Dessert:

You will eat well along the Camino. Whether you are a vegetarian or a meat eater. And the desserts, well, all I can say is, “Life’s Short. Eat Dessert First.”
Vegetarian Food
Desserts

Landscape and Town Scenery:

You will experience some amazing scenery anywhere and everywhere along the Camino. I took over 5,200 pictures. It was hard to narrow it down to choose 22 of my favorite landscapes pictures, and 13 photos of the street scenes from the 166 towns and villages along the Camino Francés.
My Favorite Landscape Photos
Street Scenes from Some of the 166 Towns and Villages

Chapels, Churches, and Cathedrals:

The Camino de Santiago routes are pilgrimages for religious reasons. My pilgrimage was more spiritual, yet I went inside each and every open chapel, church, cathedral, and even a few monasteries during my Camino.
Chapels, Churches, and Cathedrals
Churches and Flowers
The Burgos Cathedra l
Dome Ceilings of Some Churches

My Unique Experiences:

Sometimes when you travel, even on a Camino, you happen upon some unique adventures. For me, this included spending a few hours volunteering at a 12th century Abbey, and seeing a local festival. My birthday happens to be on Groundhog’s Day, so I also took a picture of Punxsutawney Phil with me in order to enter a photography contest. I wonder how many other people had that unique experience?
Volunteering, and a Love Story, at The Abbey/La Abadia
Floral Carpets of the Corpus Christi Festival in Sarria
Punxsutawney Phil “walked” the Camino de Santiago

Santiago de Compostela:

After 482 miles, 42 days, 2 blisters, 6 pairs of shoes, 14 pounds in my backpack, 2 shirts, a sweater, rain gear, 2 pairs of pants, 4 pairs of socks, and a 1 ounce tube of toothpaste, I made it to the destination that hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have been walking to for over 1,000 years. The place where people pay homage to the shrine of Saint James the Great, one of Jesus’ 12 apostles, the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. The other blog in this section is information on how peregrinos obtain their Compostelas by filling their Credencials with sellos as they walk the Camino.
The Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela
Sellos, Credencials, and Compostelas

Camino Finisterre to Muxía:

After the Camino Francés, I took a bus to Finisterre, “the end of the world.” I spent a day there exploring the town, the beaches, and the lighthouse. Then I walked a beautiful 20 miles up the coast to Muxía, filled with views of the ocean, more beaches, and a another lighthouse in Muxía. I also hired a taxi driver to take me to a two extra lighthouses not on the Camino!
Ocean and Beach Scenery of the Camino Finisterre to Muxía
Lighthouses along the Camino Finisterre to Muxía

Word of Wisdom and Souvenirs:

“Don’t worry. Keep Walking. Love always.” And other words of wisdom found along the Camino. And a collection of some of the small chachkies I purchased along the way.
Words of Wisdom from the Camino de Santiago
Souvenirs of the Camino de Santiago

My Travel Photography Book:

My favorite subject to photograph when I travel is windows and doors. Out of my 5,200 pictures total taken on my Caminos, 1,300 of them were of windows and doors. This book contains 285 of the best of the best of the best pictures. Translated into Spanish as well, whether you have walked some or all of the many Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes; or are preparing to make a journey; or even if you have an interest in the Camino de Santiago, Spain, or windows and doors, I hope the pictures in my book either bring back enchanting memories, or are inspiring to you.
“Windows and Doors of the Camino de Santiago”

Conclusion:
Despite a few blisters, my 502 miles and 47 days were more than I could imagine. If you have taken the Camino Francés, the Camino Finisterre to Muxía, or any of the other Camino de Santiago routes, I am sure your life has changed, as mine did. If you are thinking about taking a pilgrimage, I hope my blogs have provided you with some helpful information, and inspired you to go. If you have just enjoyed reading any, some, or all of my blogs, perhaps they have inspired you to decide to go, to go somewhere else, or perhaps you just enjoyed reading them and looking at my pictures. In any of these cases,

Muchas Gracias! Buen Camino! Ultreïa et Suseïa!
Sweet Travels!

My Travel Guide to the Cotswolds

Posted on March 26, 2015 by debbysdepartures — 3 Comments ↓

A Cotswold Prayer
We thank thee, Lord of heaven,
For all that thou hast given to help us and delight us.
For friends who gladly greet us, For flowers of field and garden,
For bees with sweetness laden, For swift and gallant horses,
For dogs with friendly faces, For homely dwelling places,
For song and kindly voices, For food and sleep and ease-
We thank you, Lord, for these.

My husband and I spent 12 glorious days walking around the Cotswolds last May. Of the 3,000 miles of public footpaths and roads, tracks and trails, that take you through farmland and pastures, fields and crops, rolling hills and valleys, open grasslands and gardens, forests and huge flowering trees, parks, nature reserves, wildflowers, and rivers and streams, we walked 100 miles. We visited no-less-than-39 historical churches, and an equal number of timeless villages, small hamlets, and medieval market towns.

Cotswolds England Scenery

Designated as an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,” the Cotswolds are located in south central England, and consist of an area approximately 2,250 square miles. The word “Cotswolds” itself is a combination of two old-English words which literally translate to “sheep hills.” Historically, during the Middle Ages, the Cotswolds were “the heart of England’s vast wool trade” due to its abundance of sheep. With this great prosperity from hundreds and hundreds of years ago, because of the sheep and the wool business, manor houses, tithe barns, abbeys, and “wool churches” were built. Many of these buildings still stand today.

Cotswolds England Scenery

I present my travel guide to the Cotswolds based on our walking, and on the 19 blogs that I have written from these travels. I include links within each section to my blogs for further reading.

Navigation
The land in most of England is considered “public rights of way,” meaning that land that we might consider private and trespassing on in the United States, is free to walk through in England. There are established and well-marked footpaths and roads, and tracks and trails throughout the countryside and towns, some even literally going through someone’s property.

Cotswolds Road

Cotswolds Grass Path Big Trees

My husband and I were provided with Ordnance Survey maps, a guidebook, and pages and pages of laminated, very detailed written instructions from Footpath Holidays, who organized our travels. With these we were able to navigate our way around. Written signs along on the paths and roads that said for example, “public footpath” or “public bridleway,” or a naming a specific route or “way,” also helped our navigation. There were directional arrows, and distinctive symbols as well, such as the acorn, which is the symbol used for all National Trails in England and Wales, to point us in the right direction. Along with our written instructions, maps, and guidebook, it was these signs and symbols, acorns and arrows that helped us find our way in the Cotswolds.

Cotswolds Wardens Way

Cotswolds Path Through Crops

To connect the dots between the footpaths and roads, tracks and trails, and the signs and symbols, acorns and arrows, we passed through gates, kissing gates, and stiles which joined one landscape to another. One very important rule to follow is to very carefully please close all gates and kissing gates, and leave them as you found them.

Cotswolds Kissing Gate Green

Cotswolds Gate Grass Trees

Colorful Scenery, Cotswold Stone, and the Villages
We spent our days walking through some beautiful scenery, including all that I described above in the first paragraph. Green was the dominant hue, but flowers, trees, water, and sky added a rainbow of color. There was such a variety of scenery during our walks, including some big trees that I have never seen before, and some bright yellow fields of rapeseed in bloom.

Cotswolds Rapeseed Fields

The buildings of the Cotswolds are known for their “Cotswold Stone,” a Jurassic limestone, rich in fossils, which it gives the historic homes, hamlets, and villages their honey-colored and golden-colored look. Some of my favorite buildings were those that have flowers and plants that literally grow on and climb the walls, such as wisteria or roses. This made for a nice color combination between the Cotswold stone and splashes of purple, pink, red, and other colors.

Cotswolds Homes Villages Honey Colored Roses

We strolled from towns called Stanton to Chipping Campden. From villages called Guiting Power to Temple Guiting to Snowshill. From Coln St. Denis to Coln St. Aldwyns. Names such as Broad Campden, Batsford, Blockley, Bibury, Bisley, Burford, Buckland, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Broadway. Even the names of the towns were colorful.

Cotswolds Honey Colored Stone

Animals

I loved the sheep! I loved walking through pastures with them right at my feet. I loved hearing them “baaaaa,” and seeing the little lambs frolic.

Cotswolds Sheep

My husband loved connecting with the horses, as we walked through their fields, or near their stables and corrals.

Cotswolds Horses

And together we had some interesting experiences, needing to “take the bull by the horns,” as we walked near some cows and bulls!

Cotswolds Bull in Field

Historical Churches
My husband and I loved the churches. We would spend no less than an hour at each one of the 39 we visited. I was fascinated with the architecture, art, stained glass, religious relics, and the interior of each historic church. My husband was interested in reading practically each and every old legible tombstone surrounding the exterior of the churches. Together, we appreciated the religion, spirituality, and grand thousand-year-old history of these “wool churches.”

St Lawrence Church Bourton on the Hill Cotswolds England

St Marys Church Temple Guiting Cotswolds England

Even the kneeling pillows in the churches reflected the beauty of the Cotswolds. I adored the creative embroidery and needlework that included not only religious symbols, events, and holidays, but also a variety of other subjects, including flowers and nature, designs and patterns, birds and wildlife, the churches themselves…and the sheep.

Cotswolds Kneeling Pillows Sheep

Fun Things to Look For
Throughout England you still see remnants of the classic red telephone box and red post office box. With the advent of cell phones, the telephone boxes have other uses these days, even in the Cotswolds, such as a Public Access Defibrillator. Or my favorite, in the hamlet of Calcot, the red telephone box was a combination of the “Calcot Visitor Information” area, complete with the hamlet’s history and some photographs, as well as a miniature library/book exchange.

Red Telephone Box Calcot Information Library Cotswolds

We came across a few classic old petrol pumps as well.

Old Petrol Pumps Fina Cotswolds

Windows and Doors
My favorite subject to photograph when I travel is windows and doors. The Cotswolds was no different. I have turned my photographs of the Cotswolds into a travel photography book, with over 375 photographs in 192 unnumbered pages, including pictures of windows and doors of the homes and buildings, and pictures of interior windows and exterior windows and doors of the churches.

Cotswolds Windows and Doors

The photographs in my book reflect the quintessential contrasting and complementary colors of the flowers and plants that literally grow on and climb the walls of the honey- and golden-colored “Cotswold Stone” of the homes, buildings, and churches. My pictures are my representation of the beautiful and timeless Cotswolds as seen through its windows and doors.

Windows and Doors of the Cotswolds

And a few other Fun Favorites in the Cotswolds
I won first place in the International Category of the “Worldwide Adventures of Punxsutawney Phil” photography contest with one of my pictures taken in the Cotswolds of Phil sitting on a bench at Saint Michael’s Church in Buckland! The premise of this contest is that the Groundhog Club provided me with a picture of Punxsutawney Phil that my husband and I took with us on our travels, both nationally and internationally. The background as to why I wanted to take Phil with us on various adventures is because, well, my birthday is on Groundhog’s Day.

Saint Michaels Church Buckland Cotswolds Punxsutawney Phil

Three years ago, I walked 150 miles the Camino Francés pilgrimage route across northern Spain, and will soon be going back to walk the entire 500 miles of this Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. During our walk in the Cotswolds, I ended up discovering a few commonalities between the Cotswolds and the Camino de Santiago.

Cotswolds Saint James Church Cranham

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our 12 glorious days walking around 100 miles of the Cotswolds. I look forward to someday returning to explore some of the other 2,900 miles!

Sweet Travels!

The Cotswold Prayer at the beginning of this blog “is displayed in loving memory of Ted and Barbara Milvain of Ford, who worshiped in St. James, Cutsdean for over 60 years, and died in April and May 2006, within 3 weeks of each other, aged 93 and 91 years respectively, and are buried in the churchyard.”

My travel photography book, “Windows and Doors of the Cotswolds: A Collection of Photographs of the Quintessential Colorful Flowers and Honey-Colored Cotswold Stone in the Land of Market Towns, Wool Churches, and Sheep Hills in England’s Countryside” is available on Amazon.com and on Amazon.co.uk.

Footpath Holidays organized our journey to the Cotswolds, and provided a small discount on our total fees. Opinions in this blog are my own. Their blog is More Than Just Walking.

For more information on traveling to the Cotswolds, here is a link to “Visit the Cotswolds-Your Visitors Leisure Guide.”

And please visit Cotswolds.Info – “Tourist Information and Travel Guide to the unique Cotswolds region of England – Where time has stood still for 300 years.”

My Travel Guide to Île d’Orléans – Québec City

Posted on December 19, 2013 by debbysdepartures — 4 Comments ↓

Ile d'Orleans Travel Guide

Île d’Orléans is a small island of only 76 square miles, but with nearly 20 boutiques and galleries representing over 80 artists and craftspeople, and with over 40 businesses and restaurants representing the agritourism industry on the island, Île d’Orléans is large in what it offers the visitor. It is an island where there are no fences between the homes and farms, and where people leave their clothes hanging out to dry on a line in the fresh air. Products are locally made and businesses are locally owned. The one road that encircles the island, the 42-mile Chemin Royal (Royal Road), is referred to in a song as “forty-two miles of quiet things.” There is only one stop light on the entire island.

Ile d'Orleans Landscape Farmland

Located approximately 15 minutes from Québec City, Canada, about 170 miles from Montréal, and 525 miles from New York, Île d’Orléans has a 300-year old religious and cultural heritage. Whether you tour this island by car, bicycle, or even walking, the architecture of the 600 historical buildings and monuments, including churches and homes, and the landscape of farmland and the Saint Lawrence River, make Île d’Orléans an amazing place to visit, whether for a day or for a week.

I present this Île d’Orléans travel guide based on my experience of walking the Chemin Royal in four days, and from my creation of a series of blogs on the “42 Reasons to Visit Île d’Orléans.”

Food – Dining, Drink, and Dessert
From bakeries to boulangeries to bistros, and from restaurants to cafés to pubs, there is a wide variety of delicious food on Île d’Orléans. You can find anything from local, regional, and Québécoise style cuisine, to a variety of European style foods, including French, English, and Italian. There is also Asian cuisine, and one restaurant offers international cuisine made from local products. A countryside grocery store, a fine selection of wineries and breweries, and three chocolate and candy shops on the island, all round out any meal. Many restaurants offer terrace seating to enjoy the panoramic view while you dine.

Fine Dining
Chocolate Shops

Ile d'Orleans Restaurants

Ile d'Orleans Desserts

Lodging and Accommodations
There are many options for sleeping on Île d’Orléans, with nearly 40 choices including beds and breakfasts (gîtes), inns and auberges, tourist homes, and hotels. You can also rent an entire fully-equipped cottage, or go camping in one of two campgrounds, one of which is rated “five-star.”

Accommodations

Ile d'Orleans Lodging

Transportation to and on Île d’Orléans
Québec City is the gateway to Île d’Orléans. Most likely you will visit this city first, and then travel to Île d’Orléans. You can get to Québec City by airplane, car, bus, or train, and from there, you can get to Île d’Orléans via car (either your own or renting one), or via taxi or a limousine service. Once on the island, transportation is via car, bicycle, or walking, as I did.

Tips for Walking

Ile d'Orleans Transportation

Arts and Crafts
Île d’Orléans is an art-lovers paradise. The island is home to over 80 artists and craftspeople, with a complete range of art forms exhibited in nearly 20 galleries and boutiques. These shops display and sell anything from paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and silkscreen, to stained glass, leather, jewelry, weaving, woodworking, and blacksmithing. One gallery alone exhibits arts and crafts created by nearly 60 local Québec artists, and there are even a few antique stores on the island.

Recycled Folk Art and Textile Weaving
The Art in the Garden and The Garden of Arts
Woodworking and Blacksmithing

Ile d'Orleans Arts and Crafts

Agritourism
Known as the “Garden of Québec,” most of Île d’Orléans is devoted to agricultural and horticultural activity, producing a wide range of fruits and vegetables, vineyards, dairy, honey, maple, poultry, and fish. As you travel along the Chemin Royal, there are plenty of opportunities to stop at roadside stands to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, and you can pick your own fruit and vegetables in the orchards. A large number of businesses create a wide variety of products based on what is grown on the island. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, grapes, and blackcurrants, just to name a few fruits, are created into jams, jellies, vinegars, wines, ciders, and pies, just to name a few products.

Wineries, Cidreries, Vinaigreries
Strawberry Season
Strawberries and Raspberries and Blackcurrants
Maple Syrup and Cheese

Ile d'Orleans Agritourism

Things to do Outside
Strolling through gardens and parks, playing a round of golf, climbing an observation tower, and fishing are just a few of the things to do outside on Île d’Orléans. There is even one garden in particular where you can experience a 10-acre field filled with over 75,000 lavender plants, as well as a fruit garden, a five senses garden, and an Amerindian, Japanese, and Zen gardens all in one location. Children can enjoy a petting zoo, and a summer and day camp, and the entire family can enjoy taking a boat excursion on the Saint Lawrence River to surrounding islands. Walking and bicycling around Île d’Orléans are two ways to see the island at a different pace.

The Aroma of Lavender

Ile d'Orleans Outdoors

Religious Heritage
There is a great religious patrimony on Île d’Orléans. Each of the six parishes on the island has a church as a focal point, many dating from the early 18th century into the 19th century. In addition to eight churches total on Île d’Orléans, there are also six procession chapels, five calvaries, 19 roadside crosses, an oratory, and a cemetery. They are all places to visit not only for the religion, but also for the history, and their grand art and architecture.

The Churches
Procession Chapels and Roadside Crosses

Ile d'Orleans Churches

History and Culture
Île d’Orléans has a 300 year-old New France history, and an even longer native history. With over 600 buildings and monuments considered to have significant heritage value by the Government of Québec, and a rich maritime history, there are plenty of places to visit to get the feel of all the historical and cultural heritage of the island. You can visit historical homes, a place to learn history of the island, a genealogy center, a maritime park, and a museum honoring the French-Canadian singer-songwriter Félix-Leclerc who wrote the song Le Tour de L’ Île, The Tour of the Island, which describes Île d’Orléans as “forty-two miles of quiet things.” There is also a Memorial to the Founding Families which honors the genealogy and centuries-old ancestral heritage of the 300 founding families of Île d’Orléans.

Parc Maritime de Saint-Laurent and the Maritime History

Ile d'Orleans History

Landscapes, Homes, Porches, and More
In addition to all the food, arts and crafts, agritourism, things to do outside, religious, cultural, and historical heritage on Île d’Orléans, there are many other reasons to travel to the island. The landscape of farmland, with its farmhouses, barns, fields, and crops, and the river scenery of the Saint Lawrence River is beautiful. The views beyond the water include Québec City, Canada and the Laurentian Mountains to the north, and part of the Québec Province to the south.

The architecture of the homes is fascinating as well, especially with their grand porches. Based on the historical and cultural heritage of the island, the porches of the homes are quite unique in-and-of themselves, and offer one of my favorite reasons to visit Île d’Orléans.

Ile d'Orleans Culture

I always like to find something unique about a place when I travel there, something that I can photograph as a different way of describing a place. In addition to the porches, one such subject is the mailboxes of Île d’Orléans, which in my interpretation, are a small-scale representation of the island itself.

Ile d'Orleans Architecture

Another reason of mine to visit Île d’Orléans is the “quiet,” as described in Félix-Leclerc’s song. Even though there are many activities on the island, it is also a place to enjoy the scenery, and the slow pace. Instead of the hustle-and-bustle, traffic, and noise of a big city, Île d’Orléans has a small, quiet, country feel.

Finally, my blog on the porches of Île d’Orléans also talks about my “final” 42nd reason to visit the island.

The Farmland and The River Scenery
The Mailboxes
The Quiet – 42 Reasons to Visit Île d’Orléans
The Porches and My “Final” Reason (out of 42) to Visit Île d’Orléans

Contact Information
In addition to this Île d’Orléans travel guide, for more information, if you need help with planning your trip, or if you have any questions about the island, please visit the Île d’Orléans tourism website, or contact the Île d’Orléans tourism office who will be more than happy to provide assistance. You may call them toll free at 1-866-941-9411, local phone at 418-828-9411, fax at 418-828-2335, or email them at accueil@iledorleans.com. You can also write them via their website on their Useful Information/Contact Us page.

Sweet Travels!

Some information in this blog was obtained from the Île d’Orléans tourism website.

My walking tour of Île d’Orléans was sponsored by Tourisme Québec (Québec Original) and Québec City Tourism (Québec Region). For more information, please visit:

Tourisme Île d’Orléans
Quebéc Region
Quebéc Region-Québec City and Area-Île d’Orléans
Quebéc Original

Here is a list of my 42 reasons to visit Île d’Orléans, as well as a few other blogs, including My Travel Guide, My Tips for Walking, My Walking Tour, and My Book!!

My Travel Guide to Île d’Orléans.
Tips for Walking Île d’Orléans.
My Windows and Doors Photography Book, “The Porches of Île d’Orléans.”
My Walking Tour.

#1. The Quiet.
#2 through #4. The Chocolate Shops.
#5 through #10. The Wineries, Cidreries, and Vinaigreries.
#11 through #16. The Churches.
#17. The Aroma of Lavender.
#18 and #19. Recycled Folk Art and Textile Weaving.
#20. Strawberry Season.
#21 and #22. Strawberries, Raspberries, and Blackcurrants. Oh my!
#23. The Mailboxes.
#24 and #25. The Art in the Garden and The Garden of Arts.
#26 and #27. Procession Chapels and Roadside Crosses.
#28 and #29. Maple Syrup and Cheese.
#30. Parc Maritime/Maritime History.
#31 and #32. Woodworking and Blacksmithing.
#33 and #34. The Farmland and The River Scenery.
#35 and #36. Fine Dining.
#37 through #40. Accommodations.
#41 and #42. The Porches and My “Final” Reason.

Debby's Departures

Sweet Travels!

Category Archives: My Travel Guides

My Travel Guide to the South West Coast Path

My Travel Guide to the Camino de Santiago

My Travel Guide to the Cotswolds

My Travel Guide to Île d’Orléans – Québec City