Revitalize Your Vacation: Embrace Movement and Wellness

I can’t lie, I am definitely more of a relaxation filled vacation type of person. Give me a beach and a drink in my hand and I will be content forever.

This summer, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and try something completely different.

I decided I wanted to have a vacation that encouraged movement, that would honour my body and thank it for keeping me going. Being physically healthy, and taking care of your body, enables you to have better overall health, including in your relationships.

Movement Getaway at the Whitewater Inn

I’ve always enjoyed cycling but have fallen out of it recently and have been looking for the perfect moment to get back into it. So, I decided that finding a place that encouraged cycling would be my plan of attack for my first movement-filled vacation.

Enter Whitewater Inn in Beachburg, the perfect place to start my cycling vacation. Cindy, owner of the Whitewater Inn, will take away all the pains of planning and creating the perfect route and itinerary, according to what you are looking for (can you say winery tour?!).

In addition to a cycling adventure, you have the chance to continue your body enrichment plan with the choice of relaxing in their onsite hot tub or trying a thermal cycle.

Walking into the Whitewater Inn felt cozy and homey – the very opposite of the feeling that you get when you walk into a sterile hotel. Each room in the inn featured unique décor with a focus on local creators and businesses.

Cindy was energetic, funny, warm and welcoming from the very first moment I met her, happy to explain all the incredible local highlights that I should visit while I was there. 

The Lorne Suite

Each room at the Whitewater Inn is named after the famous rapids on the nearby Ottawa River, giving them each a unique vibe.

During my stay I pretty much had the whole inn to myself, which gave me lots of privacy and space to relax. I chose the bright, airy Lorne Suite, that looked out onto the back yard patio, as it had a cozy couch in it that I fully planned on spending some time curled up on with a good book and a cup of tea.

The bed was comfy, with more pillows than I knew what to do with, with a TV mounted on the wall facing the bed, ready for a movie night. 

Two Wheels Move the Soul

After I checked in and explored the Inn, it was time to set out on my cycling adventure. I am not a born cyclist, but I have all the enthusiasm to get through just about any cycling trip.

Cindy recommended a scenic route that took me through winding, scenic roads, with a spectacular lookout along the way. Standing at the lookout I took in the gorgeous view of the farmland spread out before me. 

At this point, I was remembering what had brought my desire for movement, it was the desire for adventure, as tiring as exhausting as that may be.

After leaving the lookout, I headed back to the Whitewater Inn, ravenous for dinner. 

An Allergen-friendly Dinner

We made the short drive to Pembroke to do some exploring there. We stopped to eat at The Courtyard Bistro, as I heard they had a fairly expansive Gluten-free menu and were good with other allergies. This is always something I look into before travelling to ensure that there are options for places for me to eat while I am away. 

Related story: Breaking Bread

We were not disappointed by the variety of the menu. Every item could be made Gluten-free, soy free, dairy free, etc.

We sat on the patio to eat, and I ordered Pork Belly Bites, parmesan fries, and a Blueberry & Prosciutto flat bread. Everything was delicious, and the staff was competent, able to answer all of our questions about various allergies and ensured that we had an incredible time.

After dinner, I headed back to the inn and enjoyed an evening in the hot tub, before settling into to my room to watch a movie in bed. 

When Life Gives You Ice, Make it an Ice Bath 

The next day, I was excited to finally be able to officially try out the thermal cycle! I am no stranger to the sauna, but I have to say I was nervous for the cold plunge. I am not one for the cold and I knew getting over the mental block for that would be the biggest outcome.

I started off my thermal cycle slowly, relaxing in the hot tub while I waited for the sauna to warm up. Once the sauna was ready, I headed in, pouring some water on top of the rocks to produce the steam for the sauna and then laid down for my first 15-minute cycle.

I needed a moment after leaving the sauna to prepare myself for the cold plunge, so I used the hanging bucket to rinse off, and cool off enough that the cold plunge wouldn’t be a shock to the system.

Then I had no other choice, it was time to face the cold plunge. 

Forcing myself to get in was the hardest part, but halfway through, after ensuring that I was breathing properly, I was able to relax a bit into the cold and I can honestly say I may have conquered my fear of cold plunges!

After spending the day before cycling, the thermal cycle was the perfect way to start the day, and I left the Whitewater Inn feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. 

Taking Time To Wine Down

At Cindy’s recommendation, I decided to visit the local Whitewater O’Brien Winery, the most northernly vineyard established in 2014 along the shores of the Ottawa River before I finished my trip to the Whitewater region.

Jason and Lioutsia O’Brien were welcoming and happy to share their story and vineyard with me. Their passion for their work is truly inspiring and you can see how much love they put into it just by looking around the vineyard itself.

The vineyard was incredibly unique, with streams and manmade waterfalls spread throughout the area. I strolled around the vineyard with a glass of wine in hand, savouring the afternoon heat.

The O’Brien’s set up a tasting for me after I had gotten my fill of exploring and shared with me the unique history of the area, and how they came to open up one of the earliest and largest certified organic farms of the Ottawa Valley.

I left the vineyard, with a newfound respect for the winery business, and several bottles of wine to enjoy at home.