Spring has sprung, the grass has risen - but where are all the visitors?

It appears the economic blues have had a strong impact on the tourist trade this year. Normally, the Parry Sound attractions and 40 Bay Street Bed & Breakfast are in full swing with people from the UK and Europe keeping us busy during the week, and visitors from the GTA on the weekends. That's not the case this year.

So, we got together and decided that we'd rather have fun with you, then sit here twiddling our thumbs. So, for the next month, we have put together some really great packages to encourage you to come and visit. These packages are going to go fast, so call us now at 1-866-371-2638 or click here to send an e-mail to book your getaway now!

Our "Power and Pamper" package is a great getaway for couples - Bearclaw Tours are providing the Power with a full or 1/2 day ATV tour. A Honda 420 or 400cc Canadian Trail edition, 4 wheel drive, fully automatic ATV, with helmet, goggles and gloves are all included. You receive a 20% discount on their ATV tours (that's a savings of up to $55/person!) until June 21st. Once you've booked that with Andrew, give us a call! You can spend the night at 40 Bay Street Bed & Breakfast, and after a fortifying breakfast the next morning, spend 3 hours being pampered with pedicures, back and neck massages for both of you at Perfectly Pampered! Cost for the pamper portion, including accommodations and breakfast, is only $275.00 plus taxes per couple! Book now to ensure you can reserve your favourite room at 40 Bay Street B&B!

For 2009, we have a "Stay and Play" golf package to help launch the opening of the Ridge at Manitou to public play. Book a minimum one night stay at 40 Bay Street Bed & Breakfast and then enjoy the savings at the Ridge! Until June 18th, stay and play golf rates (based on double occupancy) are $158.00/person (weekdays) or $173.00/person (weekends) plus taxes, and includes a power cart, one night accommodation and an incredible breakfast the next morning. The course has golf clubs available for rental, and there is an incredible bistro-style restaurant to enjoy a meal before or after your game. Call us at 1-866-371-2638 or check our availability calendar on the web site for possible dates.

If you've attended a performance at the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts, you know what a spectacular venue it is! There isn't a bad seat in the place, the acoustics are phenomenal and the sunsets from the deck are breath-taking! On June 20th, there is "The Summerside" Surf & Turf Kitchen Party, a fundraiser for the Stockey Centre and Sail Parry Sound. 40 Bay Street Bed & Breakfast is supporting this fundraiser by offering a great package! Book before June 1st and pay only $113.00/person plus taxes (based on double occupancy), for a steak and lobster feast, oyster shucking contests, original east coast entertainment and one night's accommodation with a full breakfast the next morning! Remember - call us before June 1st to ensure tickets to this great event!

These time sensitive packages are available for less than a month! Don't miss out! Call us at 1-866-371-2638 or click here to send us an e-mail. We miss you!

Black bears

In the Georgian Bay area, and particularly in the town of Parry Sound area, the kind of Canadian wildlife we occasionally get are black bears - you don't find grizzly bears here. And while generally we don't get bears here in town, it is getting that time of year when bears come out of hibernation, and are looking for food. With our cool spring, there isn't a lot for them to eat yet...and here's a picture of one that visited 40 Bay Street Bed & Breakfast last fall!

I've had guests ask what they should do if they are out hiking and do encounter a bear - first off, bears do not like surprises. Try to avoid meeting up with a bear by being alert and making noise. Here's a few good tips from the Government of Canada's Self-Help Advice booklet called Prepared for the Woods:

• Make a noise when you walk in the bush to advertise your presence
• Stay calm. Most bears don't want to attack you; they usually want to avoid you and make sure you are not a threat
• Stay away from a mother bear and her cubs
• Don't drop your pack - it might help provide some protection
• Stay still and talk calmly, so the bear knows you are not a predator
• Always leave the bear an escape route - back away slowly - never run.

What's the difference between a B&B and hotel?

When I was doing research for setting rates this year, I checked out the rates for Parry Sound hotels. I was very surprised to find that none of the hotels, motels or other B&Bs have king sized beds! They seem to be very popular with guests, so we are extremely lucky here at 40 Bay Street Bed & Breakfast that both the Garden and Retreat Room are large enough to hold beds that size.

Happy Mother's Day from Chef Simon

My gift to my mom for Mother's Day is to blog once a month. I'm not really great with computers; we use them in restaurants to place meal orders, but that's about all I use them for (and to check Facebook).

One of the questions we get asked a lot is how noisy it is at night being located on the main street of Parry Sound? I mostly live in downtown Toronto, and I can tell you, Parry Sound is so quiet compared to that that I generally can't sleep for the first night when I stay at 40 Bay Street Bed & Breakfast. You can hear all the nature sounds - crickets and frogs, the occasional car driving down the street, sometimes people talking as they walk by and the trains coming by. I'm used to sirens, constant traffic, street car bells and buses using their air brakes, car alarms and car doors slamming.

So is it noisy being on the main street? I guess that depends on what you define as noise - or not!

Talk to you next month!

Spring (and rhubarb) has sprung!

I'm glad to report that the rhubarb patch has already broken into leaf; it won't be long until we can include it in our B&B breakfast menus again. To maintain the patch organically, when we pull the rhubarb, we put the leaves down on the ground to keep the weeks away, and dress the plants well with our homemade compost every fall,

There are lots of people who think they don't like rhubarb, but I have a marvellous recipe for rhubarb muffins with a streusel topping, several recipes for jams, and if you're lucky (and like pie for breakfast!) our sour cream rhubarb pie is definitely worth the calories!

Rest assured, we won't make you eat it if you don't want to; I can certainly understand if you have a long drive ahead of you!

What's the diffference between a B&B and hotel - Part VI

This post was originally going to be about how a closer relationship with a B&B host is more beneficial to guests than one would typically have with the reception desk staff in a hotel. However, just last week I was reminded once again that it really is a two-way street!

Yes, I have been on almost all of the tourist attractions in the area and can give guests a detailed explanation of what they will see and how to maximize their experience. I can pick up the phone and make dinner reservations, get your car fixed, squeeze you onto a boat cruise at the last minute (sometimes!), provide maps and alternative routes and ideas of things to do in the area.

In turn, I've learned a lot from my guests! From how to fix a troublesome tile problem, to helping people with hip problems get into and out of cars easier (my mother thanks you for that solution!); from recipe ideas to parenting suggestions; to advice about how to promote 40 Bay Street Bed & Breakfast and our services, we have benefited just as much!

One of the unique features in Parry Sound is the rail road and the CPR train trestle; and I have been trying to develop a tourism package for use in Parry Sound that would appeal to "rail fans". Last week I had two dedicated rail fans here who gave me terrific advice and information that others would appreciate knowing, and save us a lot of time looking for information that is readily available (if you know where to look!)

It's true what they say - you get out of life what you put into it - and by helping people, I'm helped just as much!

Ridge at Manitou now has public tee times!

For those golfers' coming to stay at 40 Bay Street Bed & Breakfast, we have great news! The Ridge at Manitou is a 7,027 yard, par 72 golf course that was designed by Tom McBroom. It was designed to offer golfers' privacy, offering glimpses of Canadian wildlife, spectacular views of Canadian shield rock, forests, meadowlands and beautiful Lake Manitouwabing.

This course is less than an half-hour drive from Parry Sound. Originally opened two years ago as a private equity golf club, in the spirit of the current economic climate, the Ridge decided to offer the public the opportunity to play the course, with prices starting as low as $100.00 for 18 holes (weekdays, spring and fall) including a power cart. I would strongly encourage you to make a reservation - they can be made up to two weeks ahead of time.

Even though I'm not a golfer, I have had the opportunity to visit the gorgeous club-house. It is a timber frame building with soaring ceilings, incredible seating areas inside and out, offering stunning views of Lake Manitouwabing, and an incredible menu and service. I can't think of a better place to spend a sunny day!