How to Host an Amazing Summer Party
How to Host an Amazing Summer Party
The summer season is the perfect time of year to throw a fun party for your family and friends. Most people will be able to easily take time off from work, and they’ll also make it a point to get outside and have a blast during the weekends because the weather is ideal for doing just that. But how can you go about hosting an amazing summer party that everyone will remember?
Check out the tips below for some guidance, and then enjoy the process of planning your very own event.
Turn Your Backyard into a Carnival
One of the most unique summer party ideas is to transform your backyard into a carnival. This is definitely not something that your friends will experience every day, so it’s a great theme for those who are hoping to throw a party like no other. There are a lot of carnival rentals, including a dunk tank rental, that will allow you to quickly and easily turn your average backyard into a fun environment for adults and children alike.
Have a cotton candy machine, a popcorn machine, ice cream, fruity beverages, desserts, and plenty of games that everyone can play throughout the party.
Play Some Music for Everyone to Enjoy
Regardless of what theme you end up going with for your summer party, play some music for your guests to enjoy. Just be sure that you do not play the music too loudly, as your guests won’t want to stand near the speakers if that’s the case, and they won’t be able to easily hear one another speak if the music is too loud either.
Also, try your best to stick with classic songs that everyone will enjoy listening to, regardless of their personal musical preferences, so steer clear of the rap and heavy metal and instead stick with songs that you’d hear while shopping in public.
Keep the Bugs Away
Even though the summer is the perfect time of year to throw a fun party in your backyard to enjoy the great outdoors, it’s also a hassle having to deal with all of the bugs. Therefore, make it a point to deter bugs and mosquitoes from biting your guests by making your own citronella oil candles that are super stylish, or invest in pre-made citronella candles and citronella oil that you can burn to provide a glowing ambiance without any pests.
Have Plenty of Food Ready to Grill Up
Finally, make sure that you have plenty of food ready to grill. Summer is the perfect time to cook outside, and your guests can indulge in the season’s delicious flavors by having a few different menu items to choose from. Just be sure to consider the various dietary needs and restrictions of your guests so that everyone can leave the party feeling full and satisfied rather than hungry.
By following the easy tips above, from coming up with a great summer party theme, to focusing on things like music and comfort for your guests, you’ll definitely be able to host an amazing and unforgettable event.
This is a guest post
Author Bio: Bill Clark
Bill is a freelance journalist who specialises in writing about culture and the arts, however will write about anything that piques his interest including business, travel and lifestyle. @BilboClark01
Memory Lane 1940s Heritage Village
Memory Lane 1940s Heritage Village
Lake Charlotte, Nova Scotia
*Disclosure: Our family received a free pass to visit the museum. It just gave us a great excuse to explore somewhere new and tell you all about it!*
This is probably one of our most favourite places we visited this summer!
In the preceding week, I had two people write to me and tell me all about Memory Lane Heritage Village, telling me we needed to check it out. I took this as a sign and planned a trip to check it out.
Memory Lane Heritage Village is an award winning living history museum depicting coastal rural life in Nova Scotia during the 1940s, including life during and after the Second World War.
“This is so cool already!”
Those were Daniel’s (10) first words as he walked through the main doors of the museum and looked around at the old-fashioned shop. It was going to be a great day.
When we arrived, the friendly staff gave us an overview of the village and pointed us on our way.
There are 18 buildings that can be explored at Memory Lane. They are all relatively close together, making it accessible and easy to navigate.
Map
Cookhouse
We started our tour at the cookhouse for lunch.
Cookhouse Chow is served buffet style in the 85 seat replica of a 1940s cookhouse between 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. every day.
All food is prepared in the cookhouse and features baked beans, fresh soups from scratch, homemade brown bread, gingerbread, cookies and coffee, tea, or lemonade.
Cookhouse Chow (without admission) is $12.00 per person. (Child’s Meal is $6.00).
The food was all homemade and fresh and so delicious. The kids loved the real lemonade, and you can’t beat the gingerbread!
From there, we toured around the various buildings from boat shops to garages, and a gold mine!
The tour was self-guided and we followed the brochure which told us all the things we could do and try at each of the locations.
The best part was that there were no signs that said DO NOT TOUCH!
You could walk in and touch everything! There were tools available for you to try, as well! There was complete freedom for exploration.
Nervous parents or parents with younger children, just make sure you closely supervise what your children are doing.
The kids could use 1940s tools in the boat shop.
They used a sledge hammer to smash rocks.
They were allowed to pick a rock to take from the mining pile!
They could play the organ in the church.
They could pick up ice with tongs in the ice house!
They could cuddle kittens and pet the sheep.
They were in heaven! They are so used to standing behind a rope in a museum and not being allowed to touch anything, that this was such a treat!
For me, it really was a trip down memory lane. Walking into the garage and woodworking room, I was instantly transported back to my grandfather’s basement.
Walking into the farm house, I could have sworn I was in my great-aunt’s house with the pump organ and doileys on the furniture. I only wish my parents had gone with us!
Planning your Trip
We stayed at the museum for about 2.5 hours, and this included lunch.
We had the dog with us. Although they are not allowed inside the gate (because of the farm animals), there was a great shady spot where we could tie her up safely.
Daniel loved this museum so much, he made another YouTube video.
Hours and Admission
Open Daily, June 15 – Sept. 15,
11 AM – 4 PM (or by appointment)
Off-season, by appointment.
A family pass is $20.
Other admission prices are here.
Location
5435 Clam Harbour Road
Lake Charlotte,Eastern Shore
Nova Scotia, Canada, B0J 1Y0
It took us about 2 hours to drive there from home, so you might want to make a full day of exploring the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia.
Here are a few other ideas of things to check out:
Memory Lane Heritage Village was a definite highlight for us this summer. It’s a great place to take kids to learn about life in the 1940s. I can’t wait to go back!
Windsor Playland Safari
Windsor Playland Safari
It has been a tradition for the last 5 years. Every year on July 16, on my son’s birthday, we go to the Windsor Playland waterslide!
Windsor Playland Safari is in Windsor behind the exhibition grounds at exit 5 from the 101. You can see it from the highway as you drive by. It’s definitely worth a visit!
There are 4 main activities on site
Mini Golf
Go Karts
Go-Karts with “Fast Karts” offer 5 lap and 10 lap options. Regular Karts provide 5 laps.
Remote Control Cars
RC Car Track and RC Car rentals are now available at the Windsor Playland Safari!
Waterslides
The best part, though, is the waterslide! That’s actually all we have ever done there!
You can purchase tickets for individual slides, but the best option is to go for unlimited rides with a bracelet.
Kids love this waterslide because it is the tallest one around, and the water is warm at the bottom. The water is deep with a fast current at the bottom, so be aware if you need to catch your child at the bottom.
Also, adults and children are often allowed to go together, so if you have a nervous child, you can go down with them.
There are no height restrictions for the waterslide. Lifejackets are available and a lifeguard is on duty.
The park is open from 10am to 6pm daily. Sometimes, the waterslide just opens at noon, so phone ahead to find out.
windsorplaylandsafari@gmail.com
Windsor Playland Safari now offers debit, visa and MasterCard as payment options and a full canteen on site.
Read more about other waterslides in the Valley in my Advertiser column!
Also on site are a few picnic tables with shade.
And a mini play space.
Cool off this summer at the Windsor Playland Safari!
Kings County Museum, Kentville
Kings County Museum, Kentville
Kings County is so rich with culture and history, and unfortunately, we often take it for granted.
The area was home to Natives, Acadians and then English settlers, all of whom have made a mark and influenced our life today.
The Kings County Museum, located in downtown Kentville, does a great job of showcasing the importance of each of these groups of people.
The museum is located in a turn-of-the-century brick courthouse that was the seat of justice and municipal government from 1903 until 1980.
About the Museum
The Town of Kentville’s website describes the museum perfectly.
On the first floor of the museum are two permanent exhibits. The New England Planters exhibit is a Parks Canada Commemorative exhibit exploring the history and legacy of the New England Planters. A half hour film produced by Parks Canada recounts the dramatic story of the Planters, available in English or en Français. The Planters Exhibit also includes games for children to illustrate various aspects of Planter life.
The Victorian Parlour is an ornate room depicting what fashionable parlours looked like at the turn-of-the-century. A mannequin in the corner displays period textiles.
The Acadian exhibit demonstrates the dyke system. There is a piece of an aboiteau that children can play with to better learn how they work.
In the same room, there is a display with information on the Natives of the area.
Upstairs is the Courtroom. Refurbished by the King’s Historical Society in 1980, this area is the focal point of the Museum and features hand grained wood work by local craftsman Brad Forsythe.
The wood is stained to simulate oak and has seven drawings etched into panels around the room.
Learn about some of the cases that were tried in this very room!
On the main floor, the exhibits change every few months.
Currently, there is one about underwear through time!
Another section has a display dedicated to WWII snipers.
We have also been to exhibits about Japan and board games through time.
There is always something new to see at the Kings County Courthouse Museum!
Visiting with Kids
There are a few things for kids to play with and touch at the museum to keep them engaged.
Our boys love playing with the blocks to build a Planter-style house without nails.
There is also puzzles to put together that feature Planter architecture.
In the Acadian room, children can manipulate and play with the aboiteau to see how the dyke system worked.
There are lots of things that children can search for in the museum with their eyes.
Each temporary exhibit comes with a scavenger hunt featuring pictures of artifacts in the museum for kids to look for.
There is also a scavenger hunt that covers the entire museum.
On the main floor, children can have fun looking for the hidden cats!
But, the best part for kids is up in the courthouse. In the wood grain paneling, there are several animals hidden. See if you can find them all!
Plan Your Visit
It took us about 45 minutes to an hour to go through the museum. A lot of time was spend building the Planter houses and looking for the animals in the wood grain.
Hours and Admission
April and May: Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm.
June to August: Monday-Saturday, 9am – 4pm
September-mid December: Monday-Friday, 9am – 4pm
Admission is by freewill donation.
The Kings County Museum
37 Cornwallis Street, Kentville
Phone: (902) 678-6237
e-mail: info@kingscountymuseum.ca
Website
The next time you are going through Kentville, spare a few minutes to step into another time period at the Kings County Museum. You will be surprised at all the hidden treasures and the rich history we are surrounded by!
Eastern Shore New Brunswick
East Coast New Brunswick Family Fun
Put your hand up if you have really only ever driven THROUGH New Brunswick.
I’m guilty of it. We go through to get to PEI or to the States, or to head across Canada, but, I have to admit, did we every really take time to stop and explore the province!
That is until this summer, we decided to explore the Eastern Coast of New Brunswick. What an incredibly beautiful place, and are we ever glad we did!
Day 1: Hopewell Rocks
It all started when our son Thomas decided he wanted to see the Hopewell Rocks because it was listed in his book about the top 10 most amazing places in Canada.
The Hopewell Rocks is a natural wonder with formations called The Flowerpots carved out of the cliff walls.
Before going, check the tide times because you can visit 3 hours before or after low tide (or go at high tide for a totally different experience!)
The Hopewell Rocks is about 3.5 hours from the Valley and is 30 minutes from Moncton on the Fundy Shore.
Read more about our family adventure.
That night we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express by the Moncton airport so we could easily be on our way the next day.
Day 2: Kouchibouguac National Park
I remember camping here as a child with my family, so couldn’t wait to get back here again. Although it would be the perfect place to camp (or stay in a cabin/lodge outside the park) and explore Kouchibouguac for a few days, we feel we got the highlights in just one day.
Kouchibouguac is about an hour north of Moncton.
We arrived early in the morning and checked in at the Information Centre so the kids could get their X-Plorer Kits.
These booklets gave the kids lots of activities to do throughout the park, and at the end of our visit they could turn in the completed booklet for a prize.
We did a few trails in the park.
We started with the bog trail (1.9km).
I have vivid memories of seeing a moose up close when we were here as children. Although that moose was not there 30 years later, it was still a great trail that gave us a good luck and some information about what much of the terrain of eastern New Brunswick is like – a bog!
We also did the Mi’kmaq Cedar (loop) (0.9km).
We finished off with the Pines trail (0.9km).
It was great that there were lots of shorter trails to try and each in a different type of environment – from bog to different types of forest. Shorter hikes mean less complaining from the kids, too!
We spent the afternoon at Kelly’s Beach. The water was chilly but the boys didn’t seem to mind! There is a 1km boardwalk walk to the beach across the lagoon.
They spent the afternoon exploring the shore, hunting for crabs and playing in the waves.
I spent the afternoon reading my book on the beach. Life doesn’t get much better than that!
We loved our day at Kouchibouguac and would definitely go back and explore it some more.
Accommodations
After our day at Kouchibouguac, we headed further north to Black River Bridge (between the park and the Miramichi) to stay at Camping Miramichi.
This place was recommended to us by a friend, and I’m glad we took her up on it!
Here, we stayed in a cabin in the woods that was literally in the trees! There are no kitchens in the cabins, so you need to bring your camping outdoor cooking gear.
Our cabin was very basic without power or washrooms. It came equipped with a bunkbed and a double bed. There are other cabins with more amenities, but these book up quickly, so BOOK EARLY!
There is also a playground and a pool onsite so the kids were happy.
Our cabin met all our needs, and was a great stopping point for 2 nights of our journey.
Day 3: Miramichi
The Miramichi is an area that I have always wanted to spend more time exploring. We could have spent many happy days up here, but picked a few highlights.
French Fort Cove
We (David and I) like to do hikes, and we like to make the kids do them with us, despite the complaining. My friend had suggested this area to check out.
French Fort Cove is a multi-season park with walking, hiking and biking trails.
After looking at the map, we picked the Fish quarry loop trail (3km). Thinking that 3km wasn’t very long, this should be an easy trail.
This was one of the hardest trails we had done in a long time. Steep terrain, lots of rugged hills. It was a tough, but very rewarding trail!
It took us at least an hour to complete the trail.
Beaubears Island
Meet characters from early French fur traders, to the Marquis Charles Deschamps de Boishebert, to the various shipbuilders who inhabited the island for over 100 years. Experience the multicultural history of the Miramichi.
We had a wonderful afternoon on the boat tour, meeting characters from the past who told the story of the island.
There are so many unique ways to learn more of the history of the Miramichi area and Beaubears Island. Definitely add this to your hit list.
Read more about our visit in our blog post, including Daniel’s YouTube video about our time at the museum.
Days 4 & 5: Miscou Islands
Way up in the top right-hand corner of New Brunswick lies the Acadian Peninsula and the Miscou Islands.
This coastal island is home to spectacular beaches, fascinating trails just waiting to be discovered and vast peat bogs that turns scarlet red in the fall.
We wanted to spend the last two days of our Eastern New Brunswick trip relaxing on the white sand beaches and exploring the series of islands. However, Mother Nature had a different plan. The weather was cold and dreary (although it threatened to rain, it didn’t), so we found other things to do instead.
Ambiance
The Acadian Peninsula is made up of several islands. French is the primary language and all the signs are solely in French. Mostly everyone can speak English, though, so we never had to use our pigeon French to get by!
The area is a great place to explore outside. There are so many bike trails that go around the islands. The bird watching is incredible – there are osprey nests on practically every pole.
There are beaches everywhere with warm water, and many trails to discover.
We did find that the area really catered to tourists. Although, not over-run by tourists, and it not being a tourist trap, everything had a fee. We found this out the hard way when we went to do some of the trails and found there was a fee to walk them. These fees prevented us from doing more exploring, but we did find plenty to do for free, or that we were willing to pay for.
Here are a few of the things that we checked out.
Ecological Park of the Acadian Peninsula, Lameque
From the website: The “Eco-Parc” is an incredible complex. Start at the Interpretation Centre, where screens with animation explain the fragile nature of the ecosystem around you. Then make your way outside where there are so many things to do. you’ll want to try everything.
There’s an observation tower, a footbridge, and a boardwalk, which stretches across an estuary and into the forest.
Stop at the lookout along the way and use the telescope to do a little birdwatching. The trail you’re following crosses an arboretum where you’ll see about 30 species native to the area. The nature trail wanders through the forest, a place so peaceful it’s easy to feel like you’re all alone on the planet.
When we arrived, we discovered there was a $25 family fee to walk the 2km trail. Having gone that far, and the money going towards the eco centre, we decided to check it out.
Although we could have a guided tour, we opted to go by ourselves. However, one of the guides did come out to the board walk with us to show us some of the fish.
The kids had a great time playing and learning about how they lure the fish with cat food!
The trail through the woods was beautiful and there was a great viewing point to watch the osprey.
A trip up the observation tower gave us a great view of the area.
Miscou Lighthouse
The Miscou lighthouse is probably one of the most famous landmarks in the Acadian Peninsula.
When you are out at the point, you are very close to Quebec’s Gaspe Peninsula. So much so that our electronics were picking up cell towers from there and changing our clocks back an hour!
We walked around the Miscou lighthouse but did not pay the admission fees to climb it.
There are not many places to eat on Miscou (most amenities are on Lameque Island before) but there is a great café by the lighthouse!
Miscou Peat Bog Boardwalk Trail
This trail is featured in most of the tourist information for the islands because it is so beautiful! Off the side of the road near the Miscou lighthouse, this is a 0.6km boardwalk loop around the bog.
Along the path there are interpretive signs to teach you about the bogs and the peat industry that makes up so much of Eastern New Brunswick.
This trail is free, so don’t miss it!
Beaches
There are so many beautiful beaches in the Acadian Peninsula!
It was too cold for us to go swimming, but we did explore a few of them. On a nice day we would definitely go back to some of the beaches on the Western coast of Miscou.
New Brunswick Aquarium and Marine Centre
This was probably one of the trip highlights for the boys. They are obsessed with aquariums and marine life, so it was sure to float their boat!
Located in Shippigan, the entrance town to the Miscou Islands, it has a rich collection of fish and invertebrates that inhabit the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the lakes and rivers of Atlantic Canada.
We got to see so many cool marine animals!
There was a touch tank.
There were lots of hands-on activities for the kids.
Then, we got to watch a short presentation of the staff feeding the harbour seals. Before you go, check the feeding times on the website and plan your visit around the feeding times. When we went, it was at 4pm.
Daniel loved the aquarium so much he made a YouTube video of all he learned.
Bees
One of our favourite stops was near Caraquet (off the islands but nearby) at Happy Bee. A man in this small village has his own bee hive and uses the honey to make everything from health products to candles.
He gave us a full tour of the hive and we learned so much and had fun looking through the glass walls at the hive.
If you are our exploring, definitely stop by this hidden gem.
Accommodations
There are quite a few places to stay on the islands. There are lots of cottages and B&Bs to pick from. However, we found that many places only allow for a week’s stay, or book up very early.
In the end, we decided to stay off the islands, about 20 minutes away in the lovely town of Caraquet.
We stayed at the Super 8.
This was perfect for us because it was right on the water. There was a huge playground next door, and trails to a gazebo on the waterfront.
All the amenities were right there. Plus, it had a waterslide, which kept the kids happy when the weather wasn’t great. It was only a 20 minute drive from all the main attractions on the Acadian Peninsula, so this was a great compromise!
Day 6: Drive Home
It was about a 6 hour drive from the Acadian Peninsula back to the Valley. We made a few stops along the way including back to the hotel in Moncton where a stuffie had been left behind!
It was a long drive, but definitely doable.
Overall
We had a great time on the eastern coast of New Brunswick, and we would definitely recommend that people take the time to explore it.
There were so many small towns along the coast, lots of museums and wineries where we could have stopped, so there is no shortage of things to do and see!
