I live in a cold city. Winter here is brutal. This winter has been especially hard. It’s been cold, it’s been snowy and I’ve been cooped up inside with a baby.

I needed a vacation to somewhere hot and tropical, but that just wouldn’t be possible this year. Did I mention I was stir crazy?

Being stuck inside with a new baby can really take its toll. I was feeling secluded, lonely and finding it increasingly difficult to entertain a very curious and busy baby. He was born premature so we’ve been extra careful about exposing him to germs and other children, so playdates and overly crowded places just weren’t an option early on. But I needed to get out of the house.

I was scrolling through facebook and I heard about a cafe not too far from my house called Aquatopia Cafe, located in a conservatory with lush, tropical greenery, an extensive water feature and a gorgeous ecosystem pond. The next day, I decided to pack up the babe and go on a little adventure.

We were warmly greeting and promptly seated next to a soothing stream and relaxing waterfall. It was humid and the sun was beaming down on us. It felt like summer. It felt like I wasn’t even in Ottawa anymore.

I’ve gone back three times since I discovered it. Not only is the atmosphere amazing, the food is great too!

It was exactly what I needed.