Winter Fun 2025

I'm a little late posting this but it is officially winter time. Like I've always said, I enjoy doing these seasonal lists as they are a way to give me something to look forward to. Hopefully I can get a lot of these checked off this year. 

Look back later to see what I've completed.

Decorated train at Santa's village
Mic Mac Mall

Winter bucket list 2025 (Dec. 1-Feb. 28)

• Ring in 2026 at the Grand Parade 
• Make a snowman 
• Hot chocolate bar & movie night with cousins 
• Take more pictures around the province 
• Do some ice skating again 
• Look at Christmas lights 
• Play games at The Board Room Game Cafe 
• Go on a winter nature walk 
• Figure out hockey memorabilia display 
• Winter movie marathon 
• Bake some cookies 
• Visit with Santa 
• Enjoy family time at Cape Breton Christmas 
• Spend a weekend in a log cabin 
• Have a no screen day 
• Try three new restaurants in the city 
• Learn how to walk in snowshoes 
• Make two new recipes 
• Get full time hours at work 
• Watch a women's pro hockey game

Things to do in the Acadian region

Back in early October, I went to a new area that I had only really driven through before. I decided to take a weekend trip to the Acadian Shores region of Nova Scotia, mainly to Clare. Being from a province that is surrounded by water, I enjoy all the lighthouses we have here and there were a couple that I wanted to see. I forgot how long it really takes to drive down there and I went by myself so I didn't get to my first destination until about noon. I saw the Belliveau Cove Lighthouse, took a few pictures and it's actually at a municipal park so there was a trail which I walked. The park is also where they have their weekly farmer's market but since it was October, it was shutdown since it is an outdoor one. 

After I was done, I drove to Cape St. Mary's Provincial Park and are my lunch at the picnic table there before looking around and taking some pictures of the lighthouse. Since it's a provincial park, it had a nice parking lot, some amenities (bathroom/picnic tables/etc) and nice signage explaining the history of the area. There was a memorial for fisherman that had been lost at sea in the area. I think you can go into the lighthouse but only during the summer months. The last lighthouse I visited was at the Universite of Saint Anne, I wouldn't really recommend going to this one as there is hardly any parking and it isn't that interesting. However, the university is pretty so I explored around the campus a bit. I also took a few pictures at a church that was down the street. 

For supper, I went to La Cuisine Robicheau in Saulnierville and had their seafood chowder. I went because the restaurant is part of the Chowder Trail so I wanted to get my 'stamp' but I forgot to sign in to the passport website *face palm*. The chowder was good, I was surprised by how much seafood there was. I couldn't eat it all as I had lunch at 3pm and got supper around 5 but I did ask for the rest to go. Before I headed to my grandfathers for the night, I went to Fort Anne to see it during sunset and take more pictures. 

I thought I would share a few more things to do in the Acadian region if you are looking for ideas. 

• Port Royal National Historic Site and Annapolis Royal - not part of Acadian Shores but was once a settlement of New France
• Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park 
• Mavillette Beach Provincial Park
• Rendez-vous de la Baie Visitor Centre 
• Eglise Sainte-Marie Church - the largest wooden church in North America
• Joseph et Marie Dugas Municipal Park - includes Belliveau Cove Lighthouse, community farmer's market and an interpretive trail
• La Cuisine Robicheau - has rappie pie, creamed lobster and fish cakes plus more on the menu
• Le village historique acadien de la Nouvelle-Ecosse - experience Acadian culture and heritage in an early 1900's living history village
• Deep Sky Eye Observatory in Tusket - sleep under the stars and see the galaxy during a guided night sky viewing
  
  

A few events that happen in the region

• Le Festival acadien de Clare - late July, early August
• Gran Fondo Baie Sainte-Marie - cycling race held in September
• National Acadian Day - every August 15

35 Goals before 35th Birthday

I'm not sure many people do a 35 goals before they turn 35 but I'm going to since I didn't do a whole lot on my 30 before 30 list. It has been difficult with COVID and not having a job most of the time during the last 5 years. Anyways, I did finally think about what I want to accomplish before my 35th birthday and have created the list below.

Flowers in Halifax Public Gardens
Taken during a photography class

A lot of these were on my 30 before 30 post (on which I only completed three goals), but I did take a few things off that list for this one as I decided they weren't goals anymore. Ones marked with an * can be found on my previous list. Some of these goals will be done at the same time as others and a few are also on my Life Bucket List so will be nice to check them off. 

Feel free to use this list as inspiration for your own list. An age list isn't just for people who are younger than 30, you can make a 50 things to do before 50, 12 things to do in your 65th year, etc. Follow along on my blog as I complete these goals or follow me on Instagram or TikTok (@adventuresofansgirl) for updates. 

(I started this list in January 2021 so everything completed has been done since then; 3 were done before my 30th while I have done three more between that milestone birthday and today Sep 2025.)

Without further ado: 

1. See the icebergs in St. John's
2. Read seven new books*
3. Do the polar bear plunge*
4. Go on a road trip outside of NS for a weekend*   (✔ Jul 2022)  
5. Buy a new to me vehicle
6. Watch the sunrise and sunset in one day*
7. Journal more regularly*
8. Take a photography class*  (✔ Jul 2025) 
9. Learn how to cook 20 new recipes*
10. Have a European spring or summer trip
11. Start a retirement fund*
12. Ride in a limousine*
13. Pay for a strangers meal at a real restaurant*
14. Donate at least $150 to a good cause*
15. Attend a concert or music festival*     (✔ Aug 2024)
16. Get into ice skating again*
17. Be financially independent*
18. Walk my fastest 5K*  - current is 58 minutes
19. Finish watching a hockey game in each of the Original 6 cities*
20. Travel to a new country solo*     (✔ Nov 2022)
21. Sleep under the stars*
22. Cook and host a dinner party*
23. Explore the Western part of Canada in a RV
24. Invest in a really good camera
25. Play boardgames I used to love as a child*
26. Achieve my ideal weight and maintain it*
27. Do a digital detox for 24 hours*
28. Book a family photo session*
29. Grow my adventures blog*
30. Organize and hang pictures
31. See the blue waters of Lake Louise
32. Take a trip with my sister
33. Visit my family in other provinces
34. Walk across a suspension bridge     (✔ Aug 2023)
35. Finally, plan a great 35th birthday party* 

One note about #19 - the Original Six cities are Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Chicago, Detroit and New York. I have been to Toronto three times already for a hockey game and have already seen one in New York so I am saying finish. If I can get to see the Rangers again before I'm 35, I will. Visited the Bruins, Red Wings and Blackhawks in November 2022 so just have the Bell Centre. 

Adventures for Fall 2025

Another year is close to being finished which is crazy. With the turn of the calendar to the month of September, my fall fun list has begun and I'm looking forward to doing some of these adventures. I thought I would share what I would like to do during Fall 2025. 

These are more geared towards events and things to do in Nova Scotia, not just basic fall activities. I may do a separate post at some point about basic seasonal activities you can do through out the year.

Leaves at Cole Harbour Heritage Park

Fall 2025 (Sept. 1-Nov. 30)
- Look at lighthouses in the Acadian region

- Walk the Rails-to-Trails path near Bike & Bean
- Get lost in a corn maze

- Search for murals in your city

- Have a Hallowe'en movie night

- Update your wardrobe

- Participate in the Cabot Trail Food Truck rally

- 21 days of healthy habits

- Make two new recipes

- Visit my bestie and explore Fredericton

- Burn a fall scented candle

- Read a new book

- Watch the sunrise and sunset in one day

- Donate to a local food bank

- Pick apples in an orchard

- Eat at three Chowder Train restaurants

- Hot chocolate bar & movie night with cousins

- Take more pictures around the province

- See a Halifax Tides soccer game

- Attend a fall festival

I plan on doing some posts about the adventures after I do them so look back over the next few months for those. I'm going to try to keep my social media accounts more regularly updated which now includes TikTok. Follow me at @adventuresofansgirl.