Hello Darlings, After two super hectic weeks – with Toronto International Film Festival and Montreal Fashion Week – this girl needs some rest and relaxation. So next week, I am taking a few “me” days at Blue Mountain Resort in the countryside just north of Toronto! And some great news darlings is that Blue Mountain Resort and The Westin Trillium House hotel would like to host WithLoveGabrielle.com readers too!!!
Cngratulations Roula Loukk for winning the Westin Blue Mountain “Autumn Experience”. Roula’s winning comment “My dearest memory from Fall is as a child playing with my sister in our backyard,jumping in the beautiful coloured leaves and laughing so much are bellies hurted!!!!” Have fun, and post lots of photos!!!
To enter, please leave a comment below about your favorite fall memory!
Westin Trillium House is a beautiful hotel in the heart of Blue Mountain Resort. In the spring, I started my summer with a weekend getaway at the resort – read about it here! Although summer officially ends in a week (sigh!), autumn is surely the most beautiful time of the year in Canada as the leaves of our maple trees change their colors to brilliant reds, yellows, and orange!
This contest is open to everyone, but please note that you will be responsible for your own travel arrangements to and from the resort, which is roughly a 90 minute drive north of Toronto. The contest closes on Wednesday, September 19th and a winner will be chosen at random 4 pm that day.
With Love…
Marta
Fall is my absolute favourite season! I would say my favourite fall memory is visiting the apple orchard as a kid – picking apples, the hay rides and of course sipping on some hot apple cider!
My favourite fall memory has to be when I was little and my parents would rake up all the leaves in the backyard and let me run through them and jump in the piles. It took so little to have so much fun!
My favorite fall memory is from a couple years back when I spent a weekend canoeing through Algonquin Park with my best friends. Camping, bonfires, and autumn leaves – it’s the best time of the year to go up north!
Would love a getaway in the fall. The main reason: No long weekends in November, so you gotta maximize your relaxation when and where you can!
My favourite fall memory is from a few years ago, when my wife and I went with a group of friends to visit the scenic cave.
My favorite fall memory is when my sister and I went to take some beautiful pictures at James Gardens. It was a great bonding experience and I loved the colors of the leaves!
[...] 2012/09/19 — Westin Blue Mountain Resort Win an "Autumn Experience Package" package from Blue Mountain Resort including a deluxe one night stay at Westin Trillium House and free activities at the resort. Contest is open to everyone, and one winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday September 19th. But please note travel to and from Blue Mountain Resort is not included. To enter, and for contest details visit: http://withlovegabrielle.com/win-wes…untain-getaway [...]
My favourite fall memory is going to McMichael to view the many Group of Seven paintings and see all the beautiful fall leaves on the gallery property.
Favourite fall memory is the first day of classes in my first year at Uni. great times
My favorite fall memory as a kid was going up to the cottage for Thanksgiving. Just before my dad would take the boat out of the water for the year, he would take us for a ride out on the lake one last time to see the spectacular colors of the leaves mirrored in the lake waters. It was beautiful!
Last year, it was the first fall in my house as a single mom. Feeling a little blue, I took my daughter outside in the backyard to run around. To her delight, the backyard was covered in beautiful, colourful leaves from all the neighbouring trees. We raked them up, made a huge pile, and put her slide in the middle. She spent hours going up and down playing in the leaves (even with her puppy) with the biggest smile on her face and the loudest giggles which brought out the neighbours whose kids joined in the fun. Made me so happy to see her smile and I caught myself with a big one too. Fav fall memory!!!
My favourite fall memory is driving through the country and looking at the leaves changing colours.
Fall is my favorite season. I love to get out the big bulky sweaters and go for long walks. One of my memories of a fall day was bundling up my 4 year old son (at the time) and myself and heading off for a walk down our local trail. While we were walking we started to collect fall weeds and by the time we got home we had a beautiful fall bouquet, that my son was very proud of. Him and his mommy made this is what he told everyone that came to visit .
My favourite fall memory is going to the Kitchener Octoberfest parade. We got to drink hot chocolate, eat hotdogs and buy collector’s pins. So much fun!
Fall in Muskoka is amazing with lots of choices of things to do from lakes to hiking in Algonquin Park but my favourite memory is still seeing my kids hide in huge piles of coloured leaves and then jumping out to scare people walking by. Priceless……..hiking in Algonquin and kayaking with my two sons is also amazing!
My most fond memories were as a child, going to the park to collect leaves for school projects.
Autumn days, when the grass is jewelled
And the silk inside a chestnut shell
My kids used to sing this when they were little. They’re now grown up with little kids of their own who sing it.
It’s my most favourite memory because it spans the family generations and brings all the smells and signts of autumn to mind. (And if I’m honest, usually a tear or two as well)
Fall is filled with so many lovely memories for me, the most fond being simple nature hikes with my family when i was young. Would love to win this prize and recreate some of those!
My favourite fall memory was driving to Huntsville a few years ago with my partner for the day in October and seeing the fall colours on our drive
When i thought i would be leaving this town, where i had never been to any other place on earth in the fall that i found prettier than here. i went all over the town to my favorite places where my favorite memories in general occurred then thought to myself, wow they have all happened in the fall. my last stop in the cemetery before going home i was able to walk bare feet on wet leaves in a warm puddle and i could see the reflection of the colored leaves on the trees above me. fall is upon us and i still live int his beautiful town, i decided to stay so looking forward to making more favorite fall memories
My favorite memories of fall is thanksgiving weekend…getting all the family together and walking through the hiking paths looking at the colourful leaves. Playing at the park for a hour then walking home and opening the door to smell the turkey in the oven.
My favorite fall memory would have to be going to the pumpkin patch, the day before Thanksgiving in October, as a child every year with the family. We would pick our favorite pumpkins – later to carve at home, pick up some pumpkin pies, take family pictures to capture our memories and enjoy the beautiful fall weather. To this day, we still visit the pumpkin patch every year and I always look forward to it!
Fall is my favourite season for an infinite number of reasons, from the obvious breathtaking colours, to the drop off in biting insect population, and everything in between. The memory that takes the cake for me, however, is the arrival of out son on the first day of fall, and the many outtings we had along the Grand River where we were living at the time, starting with slow walks until I recovered enough to get back into running with him. The cool air filled with the rustle and scent of dying leaves takes me back….
Raking leaves, bonfires and one last swim in the bay – to be young again…
My favourite fall memory is something I constantly think about. Driving up north, Amos Lee on the radio, witnessing colours change on the leaves from the trees for acres and acres of land. The smell of wood burning in a fire, the taste of burgers fresh off the BBQ, the quiet of the lake, and the ability to cuddle up with the person you like/love with a blanket and a glass of wine.
That is something I think about, and is what I love about fall.
My favorite fall memory was about 24 years ago when I first stepped on the Vancouver land in September. It was so different than my home country especially I saw the leaves changing color.
My favourite fall memory is the annual ‘Jump in the Leaves’ Party at our friend’s backyard. We’ve been doing it for 15 years and it’s so much fun to see the kids grow each year, along with the leaf pile.
My favorite fall memory is when I would go to my grandparent’s house in Northern Quebec for Thanksgiving. All my family would gather for a delicious feast. During the day my little cousin’s and I would get tractor rides from my grandfather around the farm and play in the woods together. We would help my grandfather rake up the leaves around the house and he would always let us jump in the giant piles for hours. We had the best time playing together. Memories that will never be forgotten and have filled my photo albums with cherished photos of my family and vibrant coloured leaves in the background.
The fresh cool air and the crunching of leaves under my feet as I hike with my family!
I have lived in Northern Ireland for the past 3 years and I’m finally back in Canada. There is no fall there, no real season changes and I’ve missed autumn so much. The smell in the air of the dead leaves, the crispness of walking over them, jumping into piles of raked ones. There is nothing prettier than the leaves changing colour here in Ontario and smelling wood burning fires again. Also seeing the little kids get dressed up and excited for Halloween and Thanksgiving and the anticipation of the first snow fall. I really think fall is my favourite season!
My favourite fall memory was driving from Thunder Bay to Toronto for Thanksgiving witnessing the changing colours of the trees first hand. I never imagined that trees could produce so many different shades and hues. It was truly remarkable.
I love the fall colours and never been up north in this season…would love that! thanks!
My family has started an annual tradition – every Thanksgiving we go on a family walk on a local trail – and bring the camera of course! Our lives are so hectic now that it’s important to set some time aside to spend together as a family. The goofy self-timer photos are so corny but they make fantastic mementos!
Our children are now both adults and my favorite fall memories are when the kids were young and going to pumpkin patches to pick out pumpkins, carving them, decorating the house and of course Halloween!
One of my fave fall memories is my wedding day! October 16, it was a beautiful, exceptionally warm autumn day, the sun was shining and I was (and still am) so in love!
My favourite fall memories are spending time in my garden and seeing the leaves fall off the trees and turn colour.
My favourite fall memory is walking in the trails and observing nature, watching the leaves change colour and watching the animals prepare for Winter.
My favourite fall memories include many things, from jumping in leaves, to making houses from leaves with my cousins in my grandmothers back yard. I have always enjoyed the changing of the leaves, walks in my bush and the crisp autum air. The picture above makes me think of back home, how I miss it when living in the city.
Watching my son react for the first time to the pile of leaves that had just been raked. And you guessed it he jumped right in and just sat there throwing them up in the air and watching them fall on him and around him!
My favourite fall memories are all about being outdoors. Last year, my partner and I went to the Adirondacks to go camping, hiking, ziplining, and the like. Fall is the perfect time to spend a little more time with Mother Nature.
Almost 15 years ago, October 4, 1997, I married the man of my dreams…..we were married at Rondeau Provincial Park at the sight of the old dance pavilion my parents and grandparents used to dance at…..the beautiful Fall colours were truly a perfect setting for our perfect day……Most definitely the perfect start to a wonderful marriage and family…..15 years later, I would do it all over again….
My fave fall memory is riding through Collingwood (no really) with my hubs- each on our motorcycles. Nothing beats the wind in our face, smell of the great outdoors and the gorgeous fall colours of the trees. The country/back roads are so quiet, you can really relax and enjoy the journey
My favorite fall memory is going camping and white water rafting with my girlfriend, We had a blast, The weather was perfect and so was the location. Thunder Bay !
My favourite fall memory is watching the leaves gradually change colours on the trees in our backyard every morning while we have breakfast.
It was just before Thanksgiving that I found out I was pregnant
Centurion Canada has become a fall favorite at Blue. Followed closely by mountain biking through fallen leaves.
I love racking the leaves and watching my boys jump in the leaves.
May sound a bit strange…but hunting with my hubby last fall. Lots of wonderful time just the 2 of us in the quiet. No game anywhere to be had…but one of the best falls of my life.
My fav fall moment is the last spent with my late grand father. I was young and having so much fun with him playing outside.
there are SO MANY memories between the smells , the sights and the sounds,—however—–the one i will never get to experience again and i have to close my eyes and dig deep into the memory jar would be trick or treating on a crisp night right after dinner, and the nervous excitement of walking up the path to a neighbours dimly lit house , whether they had a door knocker or a doorbell—-taking in the aroma of burnt pumpkin faces that sat out on their steps or the ones that sat peeking thru entrance windows sitting on a stool—and when the door opened—-my eyes would light up to see the grandess of their entrances and what type of bowl, jar,or box they had all the goodies sitting in —-it was like Christmas but door to door!!….and i loved that about halloween and now i’m too oldto pull of a sheet with eyes, so I have to go to magical places like Blue Mountain and go “trick or treating” thru the village to all the great shops and eateries ..so PLEASE help make that memory come true! (wink wink)
I love the crisp air and the beautiful Fall colours. All of my favorite memories involve being outside…hiking, collective leaves to press in books, taking LOTS of photos, zooming down “the ridge runner” at blue mountain with my 5 yr old daughter who at first asked to take it really slow and then by the 6th time we were going “full speed ahead”!. Now we know she’s a thrill seeker!
A favourite fall memory? Harvesting grapes at my grandfather’s vineyard with my family in Europe… and making wine. I was barely 4 years old, but remember it so vividly! A sweet memory.
I adore the changing of the leaves; so beautiful!
My favourite fall memory is collecting colourful leaves for the Thanksgiving display.
my favourite fall memory is my wedding day, it was one of the fewest days that was bright and sunny and hot during the cold fall months.
My most memorable fall memory would be in my early years as a child where my friends and I would run outside to jump into the bright, crispy autumn coloured leaves after the first fall. It was one of my happiest and more carefree moments!
Walking on the Georgian Trail hearing the crunch of fallen leaves beneath my feet !!
Cleaning out the pumpkins to make jack-o-lanterns, times three, with the kids is my favourite fall memory.
Favourtite fall memories are those running through a local orchard with my Mom, daughters & nieces.. picking apples & pumpkins – they are in foster care so each and every chance to make a memory with them all together is precious – many wacky photos taken over the years..
My favourite fall memory is going to my parents’ cottage when I was a kid. Normally we’d only go in the summer but once in awhile we’d visit in the fall. It was always cold and the fireplace burned all day long. My step-dad made ratatouille and apple pancakes. The air was cold and crisp and the food was so delicious.
My favorite childhood memory was running and jumping through piles of freshly raked leaves! So much fun!!
My favourite fall memory is helping my dad rake leaves, then both of us jumping on the pile of leaves laughing and rolling around in them. It is a great childhood memory.
My favorite is when I was spending it with my gf.
Jumping in huge piles of leaves as a kid with my brothers! And of course, all the long afternoons spent in the tree house. I’m pretty sure we even attempted to sleep in there once!
One of my favorite fall memories was when my kids were little and we took them to the pumpkin patch and of course they both tried to pick up the biggest pumpkins! After we got them home we would spend hours carving them just right and roasting the seeds!!
Jouer avec les enfants dans les feuilles colorées de l’automne! J’adore!!!
my favourite fall memory is going to the fall fair with my parents and getting a huge crunchy candy apple. My dad would always have to take the first bite because I could never get into the thing! mmmm so delicious..
My favourite fall memory is of a few years ago when my cousin and I brought her kids to Chudley’s Farm for apple picking and small animal petting, lol. It was such a beautiful crisp, clear autumn day, and spending it with family was precious.
My favourite fall memo was when I was a kid we went camping at Macgregor Point in Port Elgin and went to the Pumkinfest in town where I got to have hot apple cider.
Amazing.
Love it!!
My favourite fall memory is riding the Wenonah II on Lake Muskoka seeing all the changing leaf colours.
My favourite memory of fall was 2010 when I just moved into an apartment building on the 18th floor, stepping out on the balcony for the first time, looking at the scenery of city for the first time in fall and realizing that Toronto in North York is rich in trees as they were in transition to turning to red, yellow and orange woven nicely into the cityscape of North York.
My fav fall memory is apple picking with the family. We used to live in the county, so the orchards were close by. I always preferred orchard apples over store bought. Apple picking also included hay rides, apple cider & time with grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles & cousins.
My favourite fall memory was my honeymoon in Italy 20 years ago, but this would be a loving new favourite and way to celebrate 20 years of marriage
I posted a minute ago but web page seemed to fail. My favourite fall moment was the day of the first date with my now wife, over 20 years ago.
My favourite fall memory is my wedding 15 years ago. My darling hubby and I were married in Niagara in the fall and everything about that day was picture perfect. My flowers had hints of fall colours, the country church was filled with autumn leaves and fall mums, the pictures were taken by the lake with lovely autumn trees. We had a wondeful fall feast for dinner with locally grown vegetables and meats. Our amazing cake was decorated with fall leaves and flowers. I hold that memory in my heart every day and remember everything. So fall to me brings wonderful memories.
My favourite fall memory is from when I was in elementary school. Our grade went to Yearly for a one night stay and did all sorts of awesome things. Went to a cemetery, learned about the autumnal constellations, went canoeing, explored the forests… The trees were gorgeous at the time – all reds and yellows and oranges. I’m from cottage country, so I am quite used to the trees being gorgeous, but this time it was special because we were taught all sorts of things about the local region!
My favorite fall memory is the roadtrip my girlfriend and I took last year to the east coast. We camped at many of the national parks out there and had the time of our lives!
My favourite fall memory has to be visiting the Strom’s Corn Maze, just outside of Guelph, Ontario. I’ve gone with friends for the past few years, and something about the combination of the pumpkin displays at the farm, large beacon bonfire, and trudging through a cornfield in the dark is both spooky and heartwarming. Last year, my friend Nathan and I spent the better part of our nighttime corn field experience hiding in the corn and scaring our friends – we had them jumping as they rounded the corners and were met with “BOO!” Getting a big mug of apple cider and driving back to the city talking about Halloween costumes and scary movies is the cap on a great fall evening in the corn.
Fall for me has always meant the start of school, and I’ve always loved the crisp air and leaves changing colour signifying a new year of learning!
They say our sense of smell is one of our strongest senses and I think this is true. I love the smell of burning leaves. It evokes memories of friends and family raking leaves, burning them and then sitting down to a hard earned dinner of turkey and all the fresh vegetables picked from the garden. Barely able to get up from the table, but still able to eat pumpkin and mincemeat pies, we would gather around the burning embers toasting another season of good times.
My favourite fall memory is when my childhood friend and I visited Downey’s Farm for the very first time. The sight of hundreds of pumpkins that filled the farm, getting lost in the corn maze, riding a tracker out onto the patch and the smell of freshly baked pumpkin pies and pastries are still things I look forward to every fall.
Choosing a pumpkin with my parents and brother at a farm. Running around the fields with the smell of fresh bread and pies baking filling the air. Having a haunted hayride at night. I used to be so scared of them but loved it all the same. Autumn is definitely my favourite season.
Favourite fall memories include apple picking with the family. We would always pick too many apples and end up having fresh baked apple pies the rest of the season. I think fall is just a great time to enjoy time with the family, eat well and really enjoy the outdoors. For myself, summer is nice but too hot! Fall is the perfect time of the year to get outdoors!
My favourite fall memory has to be for my birthday. It falls at the beginning of October and one year my two best friends drove for 4 hours to go get another best friend. It was the best surprise I could have asked for!
My favourite memory is raking the leaves with my daughter, and having her dissapear – only to find her jump out of the pile and scare me!
Autumn brings the memory of annual country drives with our small children in awe!
Spending time with my beautiful girlfriend going on cute dates at the TSO.
start of the school year, the coming of a number of holidays to spend time with family.
Fall…whats not to love? The rich colours of autumn, the crisp morning air, pumpkin farms galore and hot tea mid afternoon! My fav is to go apple picking with the fam, a day out in the country taking in Nature’s beauty and taking home some delicious home made pies!! Yumm!
My favourite fall memory is attending the Niagara Grape and Wine Grand Parade with my children.
I love going apple picking with the kids, getting to wear layers, visiting farmers markets, and using all the goodness from a fall harvest at the dinner table!
Fall is the perfect time to get away into Ontario – love the changing of the leaves. So pretty – and, of course, celebrating my anniversary is another great reason to get away in the fall!
Taking a spontaneous drive with my family to admire the beautiful autumn leaves.
My favourite fall memories are all the wonderful anniversaries we’ve spent abroad. In our five years married we’ve been fortunate to visit nine countries. It’s always nice to return home to the fall weather and scenery that comes along with it.
September is in between old loves and new loves….a packing up, getting ready, hello-goodbye month. A song of summer’s past joys and fall’s anticipation.
My dearest memory from Fall is as a child playing with my sister in our backyard,jumping in the beautiful coloured leaves and laughing so much are bellies hurted!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS ROULA
You are the winner of the Westin Blue Mountain “Autumn Experience”
Please email me your address and phone number!
marta@withlovegabrielle.com
My favourite memory of Fall is driving to the country and picking apples on a Saturday afternoon. The colours and smells are wonderful and remembering this now just makes me want to curl up with my favourite sweater and a nice cup of tea.
Growing up we had a family farm in Creemore Ont, that the entire family used to get togther at for holidays and over summer. Thanksgiving was easily my favourite holiday up there because it was so beautiful. We had a small forrest on our property that we used to collect leaves for the table, my grandmother would make the best thanksgiving dinners and my grandfather used to take us to this amazing pumpkin patch up there every thanks giving as well. It was perfect. I really miss it.
My favourite fall memory is going apple picking when I was 7 with my best friend. She wanted to take home as many apples as she could so she stuffed them in her shirt and pants. She looked pretty lumpy, it was hilarious.
My favourite fall memory is one where my children and I embarked on a family plane trip across Canada. Seeing the changing colours from that far up was amazing!
I am married almost 11 years this Oct 13 to a girl i met while my best friend and i were serving detention back in grade 8 which was also in the fall. I still remember to this day what she was wearing….a coca cola rugby shirt, and the cutest jean skirt. Her and her girlfriend helped us write out our detention papers so we could go outside and take in the fall air. fast forward 15years, and I cried lke a baby when I saw her walk up that little church isle right across the street from where we first met. and opposites sure do attract! I am a retail meat cutter and she is a vegetarian so we are always called the Butcher and the Bride from our wedding day on! (oh and what better way than to surprise her with a little anniversay getway at our second favorite place Blue Mountain!) Of course our first place is the school grounds in our little home town where we fell in love
thanks for the opportunity to share this!
My favorite fall memory is walking through high park when leaves are turning beautiful colours and seeing just a few leaves on the ground. My husband and I had brought a bag of peanuts and the squirrels and chipmunks ate right out of our hands!
My favourite fall memory is taking my children to the apple orchard on a beautiful sunny fall day. Enjoying the wonderful scenery & scents while being chauffeured by a wonderful tractor wagon ride. Coming off the ride to enjoy a great hot chocolate.
my favourite fall memory was going apple picking with my family in northern Ontario.
i didn’t enjoy climbing the ladders when i was young but i liked that we got to pick our own fruit and bring them home to eat!
Hearing my parents and Baba (Grandma) in the basement , canning cherries, sauerkraut and pickles for the winter. I can vividly hear the clinking of the mason jars coming out of the hot steaming water, freshly sterilized, the smell of shredded cabbage and the chatter amongst them. Of course my ultimate favourite memory was eating all the delicious food that they so lovingly made!
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