Collingwood
For our anniversary, I booked a night at Somewhere Inn in Collingwood, a cozy hideaway near Blue Mountain. We started the drive with a stop at Cavan, our favourite Guelph café and the place we visit every Sunday without fail.
I curated a playlist and got to choose the pit stop. We landed at The Tin Roof Café in Erin, a hidden gem I was surprised to have never visited before. Josh ordered a classic BLT and a flat white. I got a chickpea smash and hibiscus tea, sticking to my one coffee a day resolution. We sat upstairs in the warm, rustic atmosphere. The perfect interlude before heading toward the snow.
The playlist made for a lovely soundtrack to our quiet drive, but that didn’t stop us from talking. Some memorable moments from the car conversations:
We passed a model home, and both of us shared childhood memories, like wandering through model homes with our parents, convinced they were the height of adventure. I laughed, recalling how my mom and I would grab hot chocolates from Second Cup and spend afternoons exploring model homes.
Josh introduced me to the term “shoegaze” when Luna by The Smashing Pumpkins came on. I was fascinated as he explained how guitar players mess with different effects and pedals, looking down at their feet where the pedals are.
We spotted a horse in a snowy field, standing alone. I pointed it out and wondered what it was thinking and who its friends were. Josh laughed at how my brain works, but not in a mean way.
We arrived at Somewhere Inn just in time for the Après party. A DJ next to burgers on the grill, fire pits and outdoor heaters, dogs in coats, people dancing with beers and organic wine, kids eating snow. It looked like a scene from a movie.
We grabbed our complimentary beers from the lobby bar and headed outside. I hadn't expected this to be my thing. I'm not much of a winter person. But the chilly air felt magical and I loved every second of it.
2024 taught me a lot, including that I'm a beer girl. It took years of drinking whatever everyone else was drinking before I figured out I had my own preferences. We tried three different beers during our stay and I rated them all like a true connoisseur.
After tacos at Bent we braved the cold for the thermal experience. I had promised myself I'd try the cold plunge again. Last year I lasted two minutes. This year, a shaky 20 seconds, balanced like a spider monkey on the edge of the tub while Josh cheered me on in his housecoat and boots. Strangely addictive. I couldn't stop laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.
We fell asleep early, then woke up to bagels and coffee in bed.
I got sad at the end, as I always do. "24 hours ago we were heading here and now it's all over." My sweet guy reminded me we still had good coffee to look forward to on the way back.
We stopped at Good Grief Coffee Roasters, where we found a quaint neighbourhood. The colours of the café were just right - my eyeballs were in heaven. We strolled around with no agenda, embracing a kind of slow living that my overactive brain rarely allows. I locked in the sensation of the sun on my cheeks, feeling grateful for the simplicity of the moment.
We've both been listening to Pinegrove for a while but I'd only just found Rings and couldn't wait to play it for Josh. We always feel cool when we bring something new to each other. We decided this was the first ever Song of the Trip. We're keeping the tradition.
A short trip. A sweet one. A reminder of how much more fun life feels when you just lean into winter a little. On the way home I asked Josh if he'd try skiing or snowshoeing with me. My new goal is to be outside more, even with blue lips, even bundled up, even shivering! Still feeling joy, with my best friend by my side.
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Somewhere Inn
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Misfits Bodega
Bello Pizza
Bent Taco
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Brooky’s Wine Bar (Somewhere Inn Lobby Bar)
Bar Gondola
1858 Caesar Bar
Georgian Bay Surf Club
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Gibson & Co
Good Grief Coffee Roasters
