Le Nordik Spa — Nature in the Outaouais Region

Story by Katharine Fletcher

Is winter getting you down?

Consider treating yourself to a day of indulgence at Le Nordik Spa in Old Chelsea.

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Learn about more West Quebec activities and destinations from local writers by browsing Tourisme Outaouais’ blog.

Daytripping to celebrate Sir John A Macdonald’s bicentennial

Italianate Bellevue House is a fanciful historic home.
Photo by Eric Fletcher.

Story by Katharine Fletcher, photos by Eric Fletcher

Jan. 11 marks the 200^th anniversary of Canada’s first Prime Minister’s birthday. Why not celebrate at Bellevue House National Historic Site, his Kingston home, writes Katharine Fletcher.

“I made our final move to our new habitation, on Friday evening last, and we are now trying to make ourselves comfortable in Pekoe Pagoda as we call it.”

So wrote Sir John A. Macdonald to his sister-in-law Margaret Green on Aug. 28, 1848.

. . .

Read the full story at the Ottawa Citizen online.

Happy B-day, Sir John, Eh?

Italianate Bellevue House is a fanciful historic home.

Story by Katharine Fletcher, photo by Eric Fletcher

Sir John A. Macdonald was our first prime minister and a Father of Confederation. The Glasgow-born Scot dreamed grandly of a national railway to link our great country together – and realized the goal in his tenure as PM. For these and many other reasons he’s a beloved, often controversial Canadian politician.

From Jan. 6 to 11, the City of Kingston, Parks Canada, Department of Cultural Heritage and other organizations are celebrating the 200^th anniversary of his birthday. So it’s a great time to venture to Kingston, to take in the bicentennial celebrations.
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Read the full story at Young at Heart online.

SOIF – Véronique Rivest’s Wine Bar

Story by Katharine Fletcher, Photos by Eric Fletcher

With so many wines available these days, how can you decide what to buy for that special occasion?

Read how I solved that particular problem by visiting Soif, a wine bar that opened in Gatineau in 2014.

. . .
Learn about more West Quebec activities and destinations from local writers by browsing Tourisme Outaouais’ blog.

Ski and Snowshoe Tracks Trace Winter Pleasure

Click to read article as a PDF

Close to home and really varied

 

Story by Katharine Fletcher; photo by Eric Fletcher

Because Ottawa gets tons of snow and few thaws, it makes sense to get out there. Otherwise, winter can seem awfully long if you’re just staring out the window.

Where to go? Here are some favourite trails that could fit on anybody’s destination list. See you there?

Click to read entire winter issue.
My article is on p. 36.

The scoop on snow!



Read my column on Capital Parent’s blog,
where you can also read the full current issue.

The first snowfall is the perfect time to chat with kids about the science of snow. Just like human beings, no two snowflakes are precisely the same shape. There are many intriguing questions about snow, and some equally fascinating answers.

By Katharine Fletcher

Who was “Snowflake” Bentley?

In the late 1800s, Wilson Alwyn Bentley wondered about snowflakes. So he got a microscope, looked at snowflakes, and discovered beautifully shaped, miniature ice sculptures.

Inspired, he got a camera and, over the next forty or so years, took approximately 5,000 photographs of snowflakes. He identified more than 80 different categories of them – which is why he’s nicknamed “Snowflake” Bentley!

. . .
Read the full story on Capital Parent’s blog.

Life Under the Snowpack

Click to read article as a PDF

There’s an active “subnivean” world down there

 

Story by Katharine Fletcher; photo by Eric Fletcher

While people snowmobile, hike, snowshoe, ski or ride horses across the winter landscape, few give much thought to what’s going on beneath them. It’s a fascinating environment called the subnivean, a word derived from Latin, where “sub” means “under” and “nives” means “snow.”

Many animals use the snowpack as shelter from harsh conditions above ground In the Ottawa Valley, mammals like voles, mice, red squirrels and shrews build tunnels, enabling them to...

Click to read entire winter issue.
My article is on p. 35.