Alright. Many of you have asked me "where in the heck is Manitoulin Island anyway?". Well, it's a tiny island in the middle of Lake Huron, in the province of Ontario in Canada. The Island, as Islanders call it, is located approximately six hours from Toronto by car.

The funny thing is that a lot of Europeans seem to know about this hidden gem of a place--or what many call "a piece of heaven on earth", but so few Canadians know this place exists. I won't lie--I had never heard of the island before I moved up here. We just happened upon an internet site one day while perusing properties for sale. Some of my friends in Toronto have said, "Oh, I didn't know you were moving to British Columbia!". Ummmm...the island's not quite that far from Toronto!! Amazing how little we know about our own country, but I guess one rarely does do much sight seeing in one's own backyard, right?

In the summer season, the island is crazy busy with tourists from all over the world--mostly Germans, Belgians, Dutch and Americans though. Last year we had quite a few Italians and French tourists stay at our humble abode. There's tons to do here in the summer. This place is really gorgeous with its white sand beaches, sand dunes, hiking trails, cycling, stargazing, wildlife viewing, and if you're lucky, you can even experience a pow wow at one of the many First Nations reserves. Breathtaking sunsets, friendly people, and hospitality beyond compare- the island is truly an ideal vacation spot for those who love the outdoors and just want to get back to nature and enjoy some peace, quiet and relaxation.

Do I sound like a travel brochure or what?

Hope this helps some of you in getting an idea of where I live :) You can also check out www.ourmanitoulin.com