Globe-trotters with a passion for pumpkins!
I once struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger as the train pulled out of Victoria Station in London, England. His face was smeared with excitement. He couldn't wait to tell me the focus of his upcoming trip: garden gnomes.
It seems garden ghomes were his passion. He was en route to a tiny village somewhere on the Devon-Cornwall border to visit a countryside reserve which was home to 1,000 garden gnomes. Okay, so not my cup of tea, but at the end of the day, isn't that one of the main reasons we take vacations - to pursue one's passion?
Cheese-lovers travel the world in pursuit of the sharpest cheddar. Oenophiles cross-cross wine-producing regions of France and Italy in their quests for the perfect vintage. Holidaying foodies hit culinary trails from Quebec to Quito.
So I was delighted, though not surprised considering the time of year, that pumpkin-fanatics can entertain similarly themed vacation plans of their own - anywhere from Western Canada to the heart of Australia.
A sea of orange at the PumpkinFest, outside Waterford, Ontario (Photo courtesy: Cindy Vanderstar – Norfolk County Tourism)
Lovers of that orange Cucurbitaceae family (which also includes gourds) in my own province of Ontario can get down to Norfolk County, near Brantford, for the yearly Pumpkin Festival just outside the town of Waterford. There's everything from pumpkin pie and pumpkn tarts to the yearly Waterford Pumpkin Soap Box Derby. Norfolk County recently set a record for the largest pumpkin.
Organizers describe the region as a “sea of orange” from Thanksgiving until Halloween. Drive by area farms and you'll see hectare after hectare of pumpkins in the field. But in Norfolk, you get to gaze upon white pumpkins as well.
Believe it or not, white pumpkins (Photo: Cindy Vanderstar – Norfolk County Tourism)
These white pumpkins, the result of experts meddling with seeds in a laboratory, are also known as Ghost Pumpkins, Casper, Snowball pumpkins or Luminas. If you want to see them up close, stop by the Pumpkin Fest or check out the Norfolk Tourism web site for information on local growers.
So, here are 5 destinations to consider if you feel the urge to cross the globe in your pursuit of pumpkins:
• 1. Nanaimo Pumpkin Festival, Nanaimo, B.C. is held on Oct. 16. Don't miss the great weigh-off. Nanaimo offers incredible activities for tourists, ranging from ocean-swimming and snorkelling to rainforest hikes and ziplining.
• 2. Pumpkin Festival, Town of Smoky Lake, Alberta. You just missed the Great White North Pumpkin Fair and Weighoff (held on Oct. 1) but area fields are still full of orange -- and white -- orbs so it's worth a trip. Travel tip: Consider a visit to Metis Crossing, a short drive from Smoky Lake, which offers many opportunities to explore Metis culture - along with camping and zip-lining.
Great pumpkin weigh-off (Courtesy: Town of Smoky Lake)
•3. Goomeri Pumpkin Festival, Goomeri, Australia is held on the last Sunday of May in this sleepy Queensland town. Next festival: May 27, 2012 so you've got time to make your plans. Highlight: Great Australian Pumpkin Roll. Participants roll their pumpkins down Policeman's Hill. It's a contest to see whose pumpkin rolls the furthest.
The Great Pumpkin Roll, Goomeri, Australia (Courtesy: Thiru Murugan)
Goomeri is located in southeast Queensland, a couple hundred kilometres from Brisbane. There's a lot to entice travellers in this part of Australia. Options in the coastal area of this part of Queensland include the World Heritage listed Fraser Island , whale watching from Hervey Bay, not to mention the unspoiled beaches of the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.
And Brisbane is a must-stop, of course. If you're travelling with a wine-lover, you'll want to stay and sip for several days in the region's capital.
•4. Meandher Creek Pumpkin Patch, Oak Lake, Manitoba got rained out Oct. 10 and it's been rescheduled for the weekend of Oct. 16. There's a huge list of activities ranging from train rides and corn mazes to interactive games for the kids. And you can't miss a visit to the Oak Lake Perogy Pantry.
Meander Creek Pumpkin Patch is a family affair (Courtesy: Meandher Creek)
•5. Waterford Pumpkin Festivall, outside Waterford, Ontario is held Oct. 14 to 16. In addition to pumpkin-related events, there's a car show, a tractor show - and a snake show (yikes!).
Who knew that a passion for pumpkins could take you around the world.
A timely reminder: if you're one of those enthusiastic souls who's considering a career break to pursue your passion, check out next Tuesday's Meet Plan Go events happening simultaneously in 17 cities throughout North America. Click here for information on the Toronto Meet Plan Go event hosted by Solo Traveler Janice Waugh.
You can get pithy advice from professional travellers and talk to real people - just like you - who've packed it all in (for varying lengths of time) and realized their travel career-break dreams. Come back to this blog on Tuesday, Oct. 18 for a Q&A with Janice and her amazing travelling adventures.
Would you devote an entire vacation to a particular passion?
