Chickenburger diner serves up nostalgia

HALIFAX — The Chickenburger could very well be the only restaurant in Atlantic Canada where you’ll be asked — in the dead of winter — whether you’d like to enjoy your order in the parking lot.

Even when the 1950s-style landmark isn’t packed, nostalgic patrons often are happy to dine a la dashboard.

“Are you eating inside, sir?” asks a girl working behind the counter during the lunchtime rush. “Would you like a takeout tray?”

Off hungry customers go to their warm vehicles, small red trays filled with fries and burgers balancing precariously on knees and steering wheels.

This joint isn’t chic. It’s Chick.

“It’s like in Newfoundland when they kiss the cod. When people come to Halifax, the first thing people say is, ‘You gotta go to the Chickenburger,”’ says Mickey MacDonald, its owner.

Dubbed “the Chick” by regulars, the decades-old restaurant is considered a rite of passage by many.

MacDonald, a well-known Halifax businessman, bought the eatery in March 2007 from its original owners, the Innes family, amid rumours developers planned to tear it down to build a hotel or condos.

Opened in 1940 as a takeout counter called the Shadyside, the Chickenburger bills itself as the oldest drive-in eatery in Canada. Over the decades, it’s grown into a full-fledged restaurant, serving up onion rings and milkshakes on the same plot of land in the Halifax suburb of Bedford — a history chronicled in black-and-white photos that adorn one of the diner’s walls.

While there’s no lack of dining options in Halifax, those looking for a fast-food fix often flock to the Chick with its big, neon sign featuring a rooster perched atop its roof. “Hotdogs, hamburgs,” it boasts.

In the summertime, a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass doors is opened, exposing most of the large, L-shaped counter to the outdoors. The restaurant also has a year-round dining room in the shape of a semi-circle with tables, stools and bar-type seating added in the 1980s.

Yellow, green and pink neon lights draw the eyes towards a domed ceiling in the centre of the seating area, which is also decorated with vintage-looking signs imploring patrons to drink Coca-Cola.

There was even a brush of cinematic fame in the 1990s, when Canadian actor Jason Priestly shot scenes for the movie “Love and Death on Long Island” at the Chickenburger.

Inside, the smell of deep-fried french fries and onions make stomachs growl. The chatter and laughter of customers cuts through the sound of beef patties sizzling behind the counter and workers shouting out order numbers to waiting customers.

A teenage couple shares a ketchup-drenched order of fries in the dining area. A young girl pops a quarter into the CD-playing jukebox and soon Bobby Darin’s poppy Queen of the Hop fills the space.

Vince Wentzell used to pull up to the Chickenburger in a ‘57 Chevy with his sweetheart, Beverley, now his wife of 47 years. He recalls a time when a meal for two would set him back a buck.

It’s a little different now. A pair of chickenburgers, two orders of fries and Cokes cost about $14. And the Wentzells now eat inside, leaving their Chrysler Neon in the parking lot. But they keep coming back for a couple of reasons.

“The food and of course the memories we have here,” says Vince, 71, perched on a green stool after eating a hotdog. “It’s almost a must at some time or another that we stop here.”

His favourite item on the menu remains the restaurant’s no-frills namesake, the chickenburger: chunks of boiled chicken served on a plain white, store-bought bun.

Ordered as is, it comes with no condiments. But the restaurant is happy to oblige bored palates with cranberry sauce, relish, mustard, ketchup or onions, if customers cluck about the lack of flavour.

MacDonald’s 29-year-old son, Colin, the restaurant’s general manager, says he is fiercely faithful to the chickenburger. He chows down on one every day.

“I can’t get enough of the chickenburgers,” he says, grinning. “It’s nothing fancy at all. You either love it or you hate it.”

From the Chickenburger’s large windows, the golden arches belonging to a certain global chain can easily be seen. But Colin MacDonald says there’s no pressure to conform to the competition.

The Chick follows the old adage of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The eatery, including its menu, has scarcely changed except for a few additions and a fresh coat of white, glossy paint on its interior walls once a year.

The only forseeable change coming to the Chick’s legacy is a second location that could open this year or next in downtown Halifax off bustling Spring Garden Road.

“We don’t want to change for the sake of change,” says Colin MacDonald. “We don’t want to try and keep up with the other guys.”

———

If you go . . .

How to get there:

The Chickenburger is located at 1531 Bedford Highway in Bedford, about 20 minutes north of Halifax.

Cost:

Food ranges from about $1.89 (hamburger or hotdog) to $7.30 (fish and chips), plus tax.

On the web: http://chickenburger.com/main.php

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Sweet start to spring break

Spring will soon be sprung so here are some events to get in the spirit of the coming season.

The sap is running in the maple forest and the fun begins for another season at the Kinsmen Fanshawe Sugar Bush.

Not only that, but the sugar bush pancake house has been a family favourite since 1972, said Kinette Club president Carol Cooper.

The sugar bush is open every weekend this month and daily during March break at the edge of the Fanshawe Conservation Area in London.

Today's traditional opening ceremony features Dan and Mary Lou Smoke with the Walking Eagle Drum group from Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation performing the blessing of the forest ceremony.

"Join us on our horse-drawn wagons featuring the famous Singing Brook Farm Belgian horses on our historical tour of how maple syrup was discovered and made over the years," Cooper said.

Visitors can also walk through the forest and enjoy a "mouth-watering" serving of flap jacks drenched in fresh syrup.

Spring Cottage Life Show

Thoughts will soon turn to opening the cottage and tips and tricks can be learned at the Spring Cottage Life Show.

Presented by Cottage Life magazine, the show runs from March 26 to 28 at the International Centre in Toronto.

With more than 475 exhibitors, there's "everything you'll need for the cottage, including architects, builders, boats and marine accessories, alternative energy and environmental products," organizers say.

There's a large area all about cottage real estate to check on the latest trends in prices and availability.

The Cottage Dock Party returns with samples of cocktails and summer tunes while there will be plenty of how-to-do-it seminars.

Wayne Lennox will demonstrate how to build a canoe rack while chef Anna Olson will bake some of her "perfect" butter tarts.

Canadian Fly Fishing Forum

Learn from the experts at the Canadian Fly Fishing Forum on April 10 and 11 at the Holiday Inn in Burlington.

"Fly fishing is no longer just a sport but a lifestyle and getting started is not as easy as it looks," said John Fox, forum chair.

From tying a first fly to casting techniques, the forum has a beginner's program "tailor-made to teach people how to start in this fascinating hobby," he added.

For women, there's a beginner and intermediate workshop led by Heather Jones and Sherri Steele while workshops and seminars are planned for beginners to experts, and fly tyers will show off their creations.

Biologist and guide Trevor Nowak will speak at the sponsoring Izaak Walton Fly Fishing Club's annual awards and fundraising banquet on April 10.

Toronto Sportsmen's Show

Outdoor enthusiasts ready for the change of seasons will attend the Toronto Sportsmen's Show in droves.

After 62 years at Exhibition Place, the show moves this year to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from March 17 to 21.

This is where the country's top authorities in fishing, camping, hiking, hunting and boating will set up camp, said show manager Heather MacRae.

Bob Izumi, host of Real Fishing, will show the tricks on how to reel in the big ones while visitors can cast their rods at the Toronto Sun casting pond for a chance to win a share of the $75,000 in cash and prizes.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters hosts a wild turkey seminar and the birds of prey exhibit will show a peregrine falcon, barn owls and bald eagles.

This "rite of passage" into spring features some 400 exhibitors with the latest gear for the great outdoors.

Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

IF YOU GO

Kinsmen Fanshawe Sugar Bush is at 21201-C Lakeside Drive (follow the signs east from Huron Street and Clarke Road). Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 13 and 14 and March 21, 27 and 28. Admission: $3; $2, children to age 12; $10 a carload. www.kinsmenfanshawesugarbush.com; 519-461-1073.

Cottage Life Show is at the International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd. (at Derry Rd.), Toronto. Hours: March 26 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; March 27, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and March 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $15; $8, ages 13 to 18 (no charge to age 12); $22, weekend pass. Parking is free. www.cottagelife.com

Toronto Sportsmen’s Show is at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre,

255 Front St. W. Hours: March 17-20, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; March 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: $17; $11, “juniors” and “seniors”; no charge, children to age six;

$40, family pass; $5, after 5 p.m. www.torontosportshow.ca

Canadian Fly Fishing Forum, April 10 and 11, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., is at the Holiday Inn, Burlington, 3063 South Service Rd. Admission: $10, no charge children to age 16; $12 per seminar; $75, two-day package with all seminars. www.iwffc.ca or call (905) 276-6345.

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Arresting experiences

ORILLIA, ONTARIO - For an arresting experience, check out police museums for an entertaining look at how crime doesn't pay.

View early law-enforcement devices such as the Stoelting Utrascribe lie detector, the 1954 Electro-matic Radar Speed Meter Transceiver and an illegal Super Fox "fuzz buster" radar detector at the Ontario Provincial Police Museum.

The expanding collection housed at the general headquarters in Orillia, includes Car 1, a replica of its first patrol car - a 1941 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Coupe.

There's also Car 7-500, a 1989 Chevrolet Caprice, the last year with the traditional black-and-white colour scheme re-introduced in 2007 under Commissioner Julian Fantino.

The OPP's earliest known vehicle, a 1931 Henderson motorcycle ridden by Constable Jack Hinchliffe, is on display along with a 1977 Harley Davidson.

The force marked its 100th year of policing last October and the museum has extended its exhibition "Frontiers: A Century of Policing" until March 31.

It highlights key moments in OPP history, both early and recent, through a selection of compelling images, artifacts and personal stories to mark the century of policing.

The OPP was formed as a "direct response to the province's need to deal with increased lawlessness - an inherent part of frontier development," the exhibit says.

Travelling around Ontario is an exhibition called "Arresting Images" where you can learn about pickpocket "Sly Joe (Collins)," Rebecca Shanley arrested for elopement and bunco artist "Grand Central Pete (Lake).

"This late 19th-and early 20th-century collection of 474 police identification photos is tremendously significant both in historical and human terms," said Jeanie Tummon, exhibition curator.

The exhibition is at the Wellington County Museum in Fergus until April 5 and moves to Museum London from June 5 to Sept. 12.

At the museum, there's an expansion of the popular "dress-up" area, said Ellen Blaubergs, acting collections coordinator.

"In addition to trying on old uniforms and duty belts, we have also created wooden cutouts featuring some of the earliest OPP uniforms and one of the OPP's early mascots, Trevor the Safety Bug," she said.

There's also the popular interactive forensics exhibit while visitors can compare and contrast the equipment used by early officers with those of today.

Check out the life-size model of Beatle Paul McCartney in military uniform with an OPP shoulder flash as seen on the inside cover of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

The uniforms, photographs and stories of several early and more contemporary officers are also featured.

These include William Stringer, who was OPP Commissioner during the Second World War years, and Pat Bromley, one of the first female officers hired in 1974.

There are also displays marking this year's 50th anniversaries of the OPP Auxiliary and OPP Veterans Association.

***

The history of policing in the "big city" is represented at the Toronto Police Museum and Discovery Centre.

Visitors learn such things as Toronto was the first police force in North America to put officers on bicycles.

Back in 1975, it was also a rule that police officers couldn't marry without getting the approval of the board of commissioners.

The museum is in the atrium of the Toronto police headquarters building and "reflects the rich tradition and history of policing."

Created from private donations, the exhibits "offer a vibrant blend of the new and old, with interesting interactive displays dedicated to expanding the community's understanding of policing in Toronto."

***

Planning a trip out west? Then check out the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Heritage Centre in Regina.

Opened in 2007, the centre is on the grounds of the RCMP Academy where cadets are trained and the story begins with the creation of the original North-West Mounted Police in 1873.

It tells how the Mounties have been an integral part of Canada's historical and cultural landscape while playing a significant role in creating the Canadian identity.

There are "state-of-the-art exhibits, multimedia technologies and engaging programming and tours."

The current exhibition is about the RCMP's role in deploying officers for UN peacekeeping missions.

Jim Fox is a freelance writer based in Kitchener. He can be reached at onetanktrips@netscape.net

IF YOU GO

 The OPP Museum (777 Memorial Ave., Orillia) is open year-round Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except statutory holidays). Admission is free. www.opp.ca/museum; E-mail: opp.museum@ontario.ca; (705) 329-6889.

 

  The Toronto Police Museum and Discovery Centre (40 College St.) is open year-round Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free (call before visiting) and a "charitable donation of $1 per person" is suggested. www.torontopolice.on.ca/museum; (416) 808-7020.

 

  The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Heritage Centre (5907 Dewdney Ave., Regina) charges $12 for admission ($10, seniors and ag es 13 to 17; $6, six to 12; and $3, three to five). Current hours through May 22 are Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. www.rcmpheritagecentre.com; 1-866-567-7267.

 

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Planes, trains and phone apps

News of beefed up airport screening, thorough pat-downs for U.S.-bound travellers, and a possible new security tax for Canadian fliers have dominated headlines recently. Here are some developments in air travel you may not have heard of:

- Mexico will introduce new entry requirements March 1 for Canadian visitors. Citizens will require a valid passport. Permanent residents will need either a permanent resident card, identity certificate or refugee travel document.

This move will align Mexico with security measures set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

- Air Canada is charging more for seats with extra legroom, such as bulkhead seats and those in emergency exit rows. Fees vary depending on the length of flight, fare class and the customer's Aeroplan status, and range from $14 to $100, one way.

- Duty-free goods can be pre-ordered through Sunwing Vacations' website, sunwing.ca. Customers click on "e-tickets" and use their booking number to access an online catalogue. Purchases are delivered to them on the plane.

- Porter Airlines is introducing year-round flights between Sudbury and Toronto City Airport on March 31, with one daily nonstop roundtrip flight and one-way fares starting at $99, plus taxes. Visit flyporter.com or phone 1-888-619-8622.

- WestJet will begin flying from Toronto to Bermuda on May 3, and from Toronto to Samana, Dominican Republic, on June 5.

- Finnair will operate five nonstop flights per week between Toronto and Helsinki between June 6 and Sept. 9.

- A WestJet flight attendant shared this funny bit with me: During the cold snap in Florida in early January, a WestJet flight had to sit in the sun until frost on its wings melted because there was no deicing equipment. While they were waiting, an airport worker trundled out a garden hose and started spraying the plane, thinking that might help. The flight attendant said the flight crew was in stitches.

MORE TRAVEL NEWS

- Guests at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts can be introduced to new skills and activities through its Apprentice-Trips by Fairmont program.

Some examples: A French immersion package at Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City; dessert-making at Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver; ski help from a team led by World Cup champion Lauralee Bowie at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Visit fairmont.com/promotions/apprenticetrips for a full list.

- An eight-day wine-tasting trip through British Columbia's Okanagan Valley will be introduced by Rocky Mountaineer starting in June, 2010. The price tag is $7,499 per person, befitting a trip that begins and ends with limousine transfers. In between there are wine-paired dinners at fine hotels in Vancouver and Banff, and Gold Leaf service on board the train. Rocky Mountaineer is also launching a seven-day golf-themed excursion from Vancouver to Calgary, via Vernon and Banff. Phone 800-665-7245 or visit rockymountaineer.com.

- Visitors to Vancouver are now able to download a free application called CitySmart for their smart phones that provides a guide to the city. Tourism Vancouver says this is the world's first completely interactive tourist and sporting event mobile application, providing live, updated tourist and event information, plus an advanced GPS system that gives detailed street navigation and breaking news on traffic situations. To download CitySmart, visittourismvancouver.com/download.

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Hamilton a fascinating place

HAMILTON — If you have limited dollars and are looking for something to do with your children this March Break, then read on. A one–hour drive to Hamilton will fill the bill.

There are plenty of things to keep the entire family occupied for the day. Don’t forget to take the neighbourhood kid who doesn’t often get to go on a holiday.

Hamilton Children’s Museum

This fascinating place at 1072 Main St. E., housed in the former 19th-century Gage residence in the nearby Gage Park, offers a safe and secure environment where children and their families can discover the world around them. Children can touch, build, and experiment with the creative hands-on exhibits. Mom and dad are encouraged to explore a variety of topics with their young ones, including physical and natural sciences, senses and the arts.

“My daughter has been happy the whole time she’s been here,” said Marissa Polanco, a Hamilton resident who was making her first visit to the museum with her two-and-a-half year old child Rebecca. “The 1930s Kitchen Works is her favorite. I don’t think it’s going to be easy to get her to leave. I’m having a ball.”

Admission: Children 1-13 years-$3, all others $1. The museum is open March 13 to 21, Monday to Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hamilton Farmer’s Market

Not far away is the 173-year-old farmer’s market (temporarily located in Jackson Square at 2 King St. W. while the old spot is spruced up to the tune of $11 million).

Indoors, there are about 62 vendors that provide fresh produce, cheese, baked goods, meats, fish and flowers. The smells and sights are like a breath of fresh air on a dull winter day. Marilyn and Fred Bristol, both in their seventies, from Bristol Farms of Ancaster, have been bringing their produce to this market for more than 30 years.

“It’s the friendships we’ve built up that keeps us coming back,” Marilyn said. “Customers know they are buying food from people like us that produced it.”

This market has many cultures under one roof: Italian, German, Hungarian, Greek, Caribbean and Asian. Give the kids a piece of paper and a pen and have them mark down the names of the many different fruits and vegetables they can find. It will not only keep them occupied, but they’ll be learning something. Parking is a bit tricky. Enter the underground parking garage ($3 for the first hour) at Jackson Square and park in the centre area. There are no signs indicating where the market is located. Look out for where the folks with the bags of fresh vegetables are coming from. There is also a parking garage on nearby York Boulevard (across the street from the ongoing construction at the original market site) where parking is free for the first hour, provided you have your ticket stamped at the market office.

The market is open year-round. Hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6p.m.

Dundurn Castle

Tell your kids you’re going to take them to a castle for the day and watch their eyes grow large. Dundurn Castle is a mid-century home located at 610 York Blvd., just west of the downtown. Interpreters dressed in the garb of the day take visitors on a guided tour of the home, which was once occupied by Sir Allan MacNab (he was premier of the United Provinces of Canada from 1854-56). Several other families occupied the home until it was purchased and renovated by the City of Hamilton as a centennial project and opened in June 1967.The museum is open from noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday (normally closed on Mondays, it will be opened March 15 for the March Break). The cost for adults is $10, seniors and students $8.

Historic Locke Street

This is a favorite haunt of the locals and not a lot of visitors know about this quaint little section southwest of downtown Hamilton. You won’t find it on any tourist maps. It’s just off Main Street, about 10 minutes from the castle. This neighbourhood oozes with charm. Park your car on the street (it’s free) and wander this heritage area dotted with antique shops, quirky stores and yummy kid-friendly places to eat. Check out West Town Bar and Grill (don’t let the Bar and Grill scare you away, it’s an old fashioned Ma and Pa restaurant during the day) where they serve one of the meanest breakfasts in town until 2 p.m. You and the family will feel right at home. Another sure-fire winner is The Locke Street Bakery where you might have to wait to get a seat. The owner Peter Giorgini, is Mr. Personality. His sandwiches and bagels are big enough for two.

When it’s time to travel back to Niagara take the lazier way, on old Highway 8E. It hugs the bottom of the Niagara Escarpment and takes longer than the QEW, but it’s worth the drive.

Contact George Bailey at wonderful.life@sympatico.ca.

For More Info ...

Tourism Hamilton 1-800-263-8590 or www.tourismhamilton.com.

Hamilton Farmer’s Market 905-546-2096

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On the green in Mexico

Okay, for the record I don’t golf.

Nice sport. Interesting sport. I just don’t play. So when I found myself heading to Punta Mita, a new gated resort development about 30 km up the coast from Puerto Vallarta and home to two new Jack Nicklaus Signature courses, friends and colleagues, looked at me quizically.

Especially with word that Nicklaus himself would be on hand to inaugurate the second, Bahia.

Truth is, I have golfed — and that tree in Bermuda probably still has the scar from my three-iron to prove it.

And the larger truth is, I love Mexico, not unlike the 1.2 mil ion other Canadians who become enraptured every year. Drug wars and swine flu notwithstanding, there is little substitute for its warmth – literal and figurative – culture and just plain fun.

In contrast to the almost tiresome Cancuns and Acapulcos, Punta Mita is the new kid on the block.

The developers — DINE, one of Mexico’s largest — arrived about a dozen years ago and haven’t so much built Punta Mita as they have sculpted it out of a 1,500-acre spear-shaped peninsula. The master plan calls for some 1,000 residences — currently there are about 250 — shops, restaurants and, yes, probably another golf course and resort to go along with the dazzling five-star Four Seasons and St. Regis.

The architecture, atmosphere and clientele are decidedly upscale, which come to think of it might be another reason for a non-golfer to feel slightly out of place.

But this lasts for, oh, about 35 seconds — enough time to look out over the shimmering Pacific from the expansive open lobby on a sultry fall day and be handed a cocktail by an even warmer face.

Around me I hear chatter about — argh! — golf. But already my mind is elsewhere, like wading along some 15 km of sandy beach meandering its way along the coast of Banderas Bay.

The often heavy surf can be intimidating at first, although its hypnotic cadence and enticing mix of blue and green, soon wins you over.

Besides, waves like this draw an element you’ll never find on the country’s Caribbean side: Surfers. Youths and adults tote their boards atop cars all California-like in search of the biggest pipes, usually a little further up the coast in the intoxicating village of Sualito.

(In contrast to pristine Punta Mita, Sualito is positively Bohemian and oozes old Mexico).

The temperate waters are also home to an abundance of marine life, species that are both mundane and rare, and usually a few sizes larger than what you’ll find in most Caribbean outposts.

They don’t get much bigger than humpback whales, calves in tow, who reside in the bay through the winter months before migrating north. That means nearly four full months of whale watching; Their flumes visible from both the beach and sundry boat expeditions.

Then there’s the marlins and sailfish — this is, after all, world record country — and the uniquely Mexican false killer whale, slightly larger and, er, carnivorous than your every day Orcas.

Fortunately, they steer well clear of snorkellers and scuba divers — and vice versa.

Divers may be surprised to learn the area is what Nick, our guide on one snorkelling trip, calls “almost word-class.”

What the area lacks in bountiful reefs and colour it makes up for in visibility and marine life; what it lacks in wrecks it makes up for in caves and tunnels, some of which, Nick says, go on for hundreds of metres before turning into an air pocket.

A 15-minute boat ride to the tiny Marietta islands is a haven to the usual suspects — grunts, angel fish and sea turtles — and visibility nearing 50 metres.

The craggy coral cliffs, dotted with sandy caves, are a designated nature preserve and consequently a steady stream of nature chasers come and go by boat.

For it is here that the famed blue-footed boobies, an ungainly bird with, yes, blue feet, calls home. The water was a little too choppy to get close on this day but not enough to prevent you from spying hundreds of blue feet nesting atop the cliff and in rock-sheltered havens.

But you can only spend much time on the sea — or golf course — and the brains behind Punta Mita know this.

Toronto-based Four Seasons was first on the scene. Never mind the exquisite landscaping, three pools and waterfall, you really know you’re in a luxury resort when it boasts Richard Sandoval — Mexico’s version of Jamie Kennedy — as its executive chef, and has its own tequila sommelier (Raymundo Vazquez), one of only a half-dozen in the world.

And, oh yes, just for fun the resort also boasts its own 17-metre luxury yacht available for charter.

Rates begin at about $550 per room a night but for a limited time the resort is offering a $1,249 resort credit for every five nights. That ought to cover your meals and drinks.

Just along the cobblestone road from Four Seasons is the year-old St. Regis, which, with its lush vegetation, water treatments and stunningly adorned rooms, is to hotels what Rolls Royce is to cars.

It should come as no surprise then, that a few of society’s wealthier sun-lovers have come to call Punta Mita home, including nearly two-dozen Canadians.

One of the transplants is a personable 37-year-old from Timmins named Phil Ferrari, the resort’s golf pro.

After bouncing around the Canadian Tour and working as head pro at Devil’s Paintbrush in Caledon, a “total fluke” saw him turn down a job in Hawaii and end up a few months later working at the Four Season in Great Exuma, Bahamas. Four Seasons then brought him at Punta Mita.

He and his wife Deb and their bichon frise landed two years ago and have little inclination to return to the snow, cold and seven months-a-year golf.

He does, however, return home occasionally to visit his former golf pro dad, John, and other family and friends.

Smart thinking, he figures.

“If people come down to visit us here, we’re afraid they wouldn’t want to leave.”if you go

to Mexico

More information

For details on travel to Mexico, see visitmexico.com. For information on accommodations, see fourseasons.com and stregis.com. For more on the Punta Mita luxury villas, see puntamita.com.

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Disney World for adults

Walt Disney World makes a great family vacation destination.

Children will love being made over to look like a pirate or Disney princess in Downtown Disney. Their mouths will drop when they meet Cinderella at the Magic Kingdom. Having a real-time conversation with Nemo's turtle friend Crush in Epcot will keep them entertained for hours.

Is Disney a great vacation destination for adults, though? What is there to love for the childless couple who wants to take a Disney trip? Can Mom and Dad sneak away from the family vacation for a few hours to find peace and grown-up entertainment?

My mission on a recent Disney World media trip was to discover if the park would make a great vacation spot for adults. I can now say, yes, adults can have an enjoyable time at Disney World, though they'll want to pack plenty of patience for the trip.

Grown-ups will be playing dodgeball with strollers when venturing through any of Disney's four theme parks, especially in the Magic Kingdom. Activities for adults in this particular park are limited (though everyone should take the iconic "It's a Small World" voyage once) and, because of this, you may leave more frustrated than not.

Instead, stick to areas of Walt Disney World designed for adults, like Downtown Disney, or for the child within, like Epcot.

Epcot offers rides and attractions with a scientific edge, such as Mission: Space (an interactive journey to Mars) Ellen's Energy Adventure (where the popular talk show host explores the dinosaur era) or Test Track (a fast paced trip through a GM test drive centre). Any curious adult will enjoy and appreciate these offerings.

Epcot's Showcase Plaza is another terrific find for adults. Small villages representing 11 different countries are arranged in a horseshoe and feature iconic buildings, landmarks, and restaurants serving regional cuisine. In the Mexico area, for example, dine on tacos and churros, and drink margaritas inside a building that looks like a Mayan ruin. In the Canada area, eat steak next to a replica of the Rocky Mountains.

Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney is the most adult area of Walt Disney World and the place to be when the sun goes down. Here, grown-ups will find plenty of restaurants, bars, an Irish-themed pub, a Cuban cigar shop, and even a comedy club. If bar-hopping gets a bit old, though, the next-door AMC 24 theatre is a great place to relax and enjoy current movies on the big screen.

It's nearly impossible to see all Disney has to offer in one trip, even when focusing on more mature activities, but there are a few must-visit restaurants, attractions, and rides grown-ups should consider when planning their trip to the Happiest Place on Earth:

Restaurant: Paradiso 37. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, try this Downtown Disney eatery. The food here is inspired by Central and South American countries and the bar, stocked with 37 varieties of tequila, is impressive. Try the pisco sour mixed drink with your enchiladas, Chilean-style salmon, or Argentinean skirt steak.

The California Grill was also highly recommended to me. Located at the top of the Contemporary Resort, guests dine on a gourmet menu, which includes sushi, tenderloin, and oven-fired flatbreads, while enjoying a great view of the Magic Kingdom and Cinderella's Castle.

Ride: Soarin'. I had every intention of riding Epcot's Soarin', but an ill-fated visit to Mission: Space nixed that and left my stomach seriously queasy (when ride attendants say Mission: Space's orange level adventure is more intense than level green, they really do mean it). However, every adult I spoke with on our trip recommended Soarin' as one of Disney's top rides.

Soarin' simulates a ride on a hang glider over the city of San Francisco and other areas of California. A 360-degree IMAX screen surrounds you as you take in the sights, feel the wind, and smell the scents of the ocean and orange groves.

Attraction: Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba. After you wine and dine in Pleasure Island, head to Downtown Disney's circus attraction from the Canadian troupe. Located in a big top designed for the show, this is the only place you'll see this specific Cirque performance. Whether you're a fan of Cirque or new to performance art, adults will love being swept away in the colours and acrobatic feats of La Nouba.

Night spot: Jellyrolls. Located among the restaurants, dance halls, and midway of Disney's Boardwalk, Jellyrolls is a dueling piano bar for guests age 21 and older. Sing along - Jellyrolls invites guests to stump their pianists with song requests - or just sit back and have a drink while the pianists battle on stage.

Resort: Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Some of Disney's resorts, such as Animal Kingdom Lodge or Pop Century, are playgrounds for children. The stately Grand Floridian, though, is a place where adults get to feel like a king or queen.

The demographics are different, more grown-up at the Grand Floridian, said Patrick McDirmit, general manager of the Grand Floridian Spa. The spa, located in a stand-alone building next to the resort, plays a part in this, especially for parents.

"Here, if you have two hours, you'd come here to get a massage," McDirmit said. "Guests are in a time crunch, they want to come and relax, so they don't have to plan another vacation to relax."

If a Disney wedding is in your plans, consider the whimsical ballrooms at the Grand Floridian to add a touch of elegance and class to your event.

On the Web

For more on Disney World, visit blog.canoe.ca/travel

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