Travel: A Day Trip to Friday Harbour

A Day at Friday Harbour Resort

I love exploring Ontario and we make a point to visit some local gems year long. We love visiting the local businesses and exploring new towns.

Even when you only have a day, there's so many stunning places to see so close to home!



This weekend, we decided to explore Innisfil, Ontario. What brought us there was the prospect of a beach day and some whispers of a beautiful subdivision called "Friday Harbour."

We were looking for a fun, family friendly day out and a change of scenery and that's exactly what we found!

What is Friday Harbour?

Friday Harbour is a small harbour that was designed to be a destination. Their motto? "Live everyday like it's Friday." I think they have definitely captured that feeling.

Flanking the harbour are modern condos and waterfront properties. Originally the area was meant for residents only but now they welcome visitors for the day as well.




There is also a great boardwalk with some storefronts, restaurants and patios. You could easily spend the day or hours here if you catch that Friday vibe.

Here's what you can do:

• Walk the board walk all the way to the beach (the beach itself is for homeowners only but you can access the waterway and shoreline)
• Grab an iced coffee or ice cream and sit to watch the boats come in
• Take sailing lessons
• Enjoy a delicious meal (if you're visiting on a weekend, make reservations ahead of time)
• Rent bicycles, kayaks, paddleboards or canoes
• Go for a hike in the nature reserve

Note: At this time, face coverings are required in all establishments and many stores do not accept cash.

We enjoyed a delicious meal and some drinks at Fishbone Kitchen and then also bought some ice cream from a food truck. Each Saturday, different food trucks are on site for the day. While we were there, we noticed a Jamaican food truck, The Food Dudes and a Dole whip truck.



Some other restaurants you could check out on the boardwalk:

Avenue
The Beach Club now open to non-residents)
Food Trucks (only on Saturdays and changes weekly)

We enjoyed strolling the boardwalk (it's stroller friendly and kids would enjoy watching the boats and learning their names). There is also a playground but it is currently closed to the public due to COVID-19.



If you're looking to make a weekend out of it, I'd suggest renting a bnb or hotel room in Innisfil, doing one day at Friday Harbour and one day at a local beach.

We grabbed some take-out and headed to Innisfil Beach Park. Currently the on-site parking is only for residents of Innisfil, so you may have to drive around a little to find a place to park.


It's a great spot right on Lake Simcoe, the beach areas are small but they have implemented "Active Beach" rules right now. This means there is no sitting or standing on the sand, but visitors can use the beach area to access the water.

This means there's always space for social distancing when you are going for a swim. The water was warm when we went and the beach was lively! We felt comfortable as the grass had social distancing circles sprayed on it so everyone was a safe distance apart. There's also a stroller friendly boardwalk here and a splash pad for little ones.


Hope the current situation doesn't prevent you from getting out for some local day trips. If you're feeling comfortable, it's a great way to relax, clear your head and explore. Just don't forget your mask!

LIfestyle: 3 TV Shows to Broaden Your Perspective

3 Must-Watch Shows 

Sometimes you just want to kick back, relax and watch some TV.

In our family, we don't watch very much, but when we feel like it, there's nothing more annoying then getting to "tv time" and not being able to find something that we agree on. I guess there's too many options!

Some nights, we waste so much time pointlessly scrolling that I thought I'd put together a list of shows that we have enjoyed lately so hopefully you can stream line your selection process.

What's interesting is that all of the shows that we've really liked lately have had a similar theme. They all feature topics related to diversity, whether it be related to culture/ethnicity, socio-economic status, race or even physical ability.

These shows all bring to light issues relevant in society today and gave us lots to think and talk about.

With so much learning and unlearning happening in relation to the concept of 'privilege', these are all shows that will broaden our perspectives.  They allow insight into the human experience from angles that we aren't used to seeing on television. And bonus- they were all very entertaining and addictive once you are a few episodes in.

Below, I share my top three favourites.

RAMY (Hulu)

My favourite on the list is Ramy. Created by and starring comedian Ramy Youssef, the show is a hilarious depiction of the struggles of an American Muslim man trying to navigate religion, love and life as a millennial.

You can't help but fall in love with his flaws and his family - who are all struggling to balance both Egyptian and American sides of their identities.

Personally, I loved seeing Egyptian cultural norms depicted on television. Coming from an Eastern background myself, I could definitely relate to some of the social expectations and challenges of balancing two different cultures as a first generation Canadian.  

I also loved that Ramy cast his real life best friend, Steve Way in the show. Steve has Muscular Dystrophy and is an advocate for disability awareness.

The show brings to light some of the issues both Ramy and Steve face in an entertaining but still educational way. I was so grateful to see marginalized communities get a voice through this show. 

And side note: Ramy won the Golden Globe for best Actor in 2019. 

You can watch a clip of his stand-up comedy here

LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE (Hulu/Prime)

I saw this show just as news about George Floyd hit. It was a poignant show and the timing was spot on. It served as another form of education for me, as the drama brought to light just some of the inequalities and social injustices that Black people face daily.

Reese Witherspoon (also a producer of the series) and Kerry Washington showcase the concept of privilege so clearly - I'd recommend this show to everyone who has embarked on their own journey of unlearning and relearning with regards to race and inequality. 

NEVER HAVE I EVER (Netflix)

A hilarious and entertaining comedy about a young Indian girl coming of age in the United States.
This one was created by comedian/actor Mindy Kaling and is loosely based on some of her own experiences growing up.

While much of the cultural nuances are exaggerated for comic effect, I still appreciated the fact that Indian culture is being showcased at all on a mainstream television  show.

Growing up this was not the type of show I would have even had access to. It's amazing to have the option to enjoy diverse stories about families and people of colour.

Have you seen any of these shows? Let me know how you like them if you decide to check any of them out.

@angeliesood