Outdoor Travel – The Outdoors Guy

January 4, 2020

Discovering Orlando’s Discovery Cove

Orlando, Florida, remains one of the world’s top family travel destinations and as this outdoors guy discovered, Orlando’s Discovery Cove is the perfect place for adventurous types like me.

I have visited Central Florida so many times I consider it almost a second home, as it offers a welcomed diversion for Canadian travellers when the weather turns chilly. On my most recent trip, I had the opportunity to visit Orlando’s magnificent Discovery Cove with the VIP Package no less, and what an opportunity it was. Outdoor enthusiasts are in heaven interacting with dolphins, snorkeling in crystal-clear waters with sharks and rays all around, or hand feeding tropical birds in the free-flight aviary.

I even had a chance to try Sea Venture for the first time, and what a blast it was. Feeling like Jacques Cousteau on a magnificent undersea voyage, my wife and I donned our 70-pound dive helmets for a 45-minute stroll of Discovery Cove’s Grand Reef. It was like walking on the moon but surrounded by sea creatures, much different than snorkeling and a unique experience to be sure.

Exotic paradise in the city
Relaxing with Mrs. Outdoors Guy in the spender of this exotic ‘paradise in the city’ was just what we needed, and the all-inclusive meals and drinks, private cabana and VIP tour host (also named Jeff) was icing on the cake. Discovery Cove’s Jeff made sure our needs were met and questions answered. He guided us through an incredible interactive dolphin swim and ushering us to an ‘up-close-and-personal’ wildlife encounter called Animal Trek, where we handled exotic creatures like macaws, screech owls and even a sloth.

Cabana time
After bobbing and weaving along the expansive lazy river, it was time to chill. We enjoyed a tasty breakfast and lunch, both included in the package and then kicked-back in a private cabana – once the hang-out spot for Mr. August Busch himself, back when the Busch family owned SeaWorld/Discovery Cove. One aspect that really amazed about Discovery Cove is how the property never felt crowded at any point. They restrict attendance to 1,300 people per day which certainly offers a more intimate, resort-like experience for its guests, something rarely experienced in other attractions. Mrs. Outdoors Guy and I were a tad melancholy when our adventure came to end, but departed with memories to last a lifetime. Thanks so much to Randy Anger, Suzanne Pelisson-Beasley and Abraham Lopez.

Do yourself a favour during your next Orlando vacation, visit Discovery Cove: https://discoverycove.com/orlando/

Winter vacation plans
Living in one the coldest, most northerly national capitals in the world, folks like me from the Ottawa Region generally head south for vacation during the colder months. After the hunting equipment has been placed in storage, where do you like to spend your winter travel time? You read how I enjoy Orlando, but I enjoy the Caribbean as well. There is a plethora of tropical locales calling-out at any given time. Drop me a line with your family winter vacation plans. I will feature reader’s travel tips and ideas right here in the next Outdoors Guy. Message me at: [email protected]

Safety first this winter
For those brave outdoor enthusiasts who plan to stick around the great white north for some winter angling, there are things you should remember. Appropriate clothing and equipment are vital to safety and comfort. Some winter anglers prefer to wear survival suits and carry a set of ice picks, while others go so far as driving modified ice vehicles with all the doors removed, in case of an untimely plunge. Remember that ice does not freeze at a uniform thickness across most lakes and rivers; especially at the start of the winter season when near-shore ice is always thicker than ice further out. Safety first, please!

September 17, 2015

New local hunting, fishing magazine to launch this Fall!

Well, I’ve been stringing everyone along for nearly 3 months now regarding some BIG announcement and time has finally come to let the (cougar sized)cat out of the bag!!

Cue the symphony!

Send out a warning shot(or two)!

Let the pigeons loose!

Light the celebratory fireworks because here it is!!

Following several months of (mostly) surreptitious planning and intense toiling, the time has finally come to announce the official launch of FISH, HUNT & RIDE (FHR) Magazine – featuring yours truly at the helm as Editor-in-Chief.

FHR Mag will be widely distributed this coming November (in print & online) reaching an estimated 125,000 readers throughout Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, and the only publication dedicated to the outdoor pursuits of hunting, fishing and ATV’s!

And the best part is: it’s FREE!

The brainchild of veteran magazine publisher Dave Brown, FHR picks-up logically where Dave’s current publication; Ottawa Outdoors Magazine (OOM) (now entering its 15th year) leaves off. In the words of Publisher Dave himself. “FISH, HUNT & RIDE Magazine will complete the outdoor picture for me”.

As the ‘next chapter’ unfolds for my new boss and he builds on the success of OOM, Dave feels confident that with me as Editor-in-Chief of this new ‘hard-core’ hunting, fishing and riding mag, we may achieve our objective of providing the most comprehensive coverage of its kind!

This is one exiting time my friends and not just for me and Dave Brown, but for every avid sportsman and woman out there. In a climate where we’re forced to defend the right to enjoy our renewable natural resources in an ethical and sensible manner, in the face of adversity, FHR Mag is a VICTORY for anyone who calls themselves a true conservationist.

I was more than honoured this spring when Dave presented me the offer of the Editor-in-Chief position in this exciting new publication. It truly was/is like a dream come true! Even with my current ongoing hunting & fishing coverage, that material barely scratches the surface when it comes to promoting and defending our hunting and fishing heritage – activities enjoyed by thousands of avid folks on both sides of the river.

As with the big Provincial and National publications; FISH, HUNT & RIDE will delve into crucial aspects of the hunting, fishing and riding-world such as the latest in techniques, how-to’s, where to’s, product and lodge reviews, reader contests, cooking tips, trophy fish & game bragging boards, outdoor news, hunt camp spotlights and copious other assorted tidbits that make a sportsmen’s heart go pitter patter.

Unlike other publications however FHR will retain a more local charm and flair with a fresh focus on subjects and material that readers in the Upper Ottawa Valley, Outaouais, or say the St Lawrence Valley can relate to. It will be Eastern Ontario & Western QC’s only hunting, fishing & riding magazine.

I have already assembled a crack team of contributors composed of some of the most dedicated and experienced guys and gals in the field – from seasoned outdoor writers & journalists with decades of experience, to contributors who live to hunt and fish and are totally passionate about what they do. Some you may even recognize from right here at the Outdoors Guy Blog!

Passion and commitment to conservation and the Great Outdoors are aspects we all share and I cant wait for you to catch a glimpse of our first issue!

Speaking of which:

The coveted inaugural Fall/Winter ‘launch’ issue of FISH, HUNT & RIDE Magazine will arrive late November in an abbreviated form along with Dave’s winter issue distribution of Ottawa Outdoors Magazine. We’re hoping our FHR ‘teaser’ launch issue will have you all chomping(or champing) at the bit!

In the meantime, tell your family, tell your friends, tell uncle Pete up the valley, tell anyone and everyone about FISH, HUNT & RIDE – an exciting new magazine coming soon to an outlet near you.

Be sure to check out our website: http://www.fishhuntandride.ca/

Yours fully committed to the Great Outdoors,

Jeff Morrison

Editor-in-Chief – FISH, HUNT & RIDE Magazine
Follow me on Twitter: @ThatOutdoorsGuy

December 29, 2014September 5, 2017

Living the great outdoor Truck experience!

Ahhh, the pointedly perfect pickup truck, where would we outdoor aficionados be without thee?

Not living the Great Outdoor experience to its fullest, that’s for sure!

So many incredible hunting, fishing and camping trips would never have been possible without the trusty, and now ubiquitous, pickup truck.

I recall with fondness my early day as an impressionable youth, perched proudly inside my Dad’s bright yellow 1975 Chevy 3/4 quarter ton, or later-on flaked-out in the back between sleeping bags, grabbing a catnap on a long road trip into the Canadian north woods.(It had a camper top btw)

For me (& most other sportsmen) excitement and adventure were always part and parcel of the old reliable pickup truck, and little has changed.

I’ve been travelling in trucks since the early 70’s as a passenger and then, by the late-80’s, I finally purchased one of my own – a slightly rusted but totally rad two-tone Ford Ranger – a mediocre ride at best but to me it was like a country boy Cadillac!

Since that time, I’ve owned several other trucks, a couple more Fords and now a Toyota. As a traditional fish & wildlife conservation writer; recently expanded into more mainstream recreational activities like camping, outdoor travel and adventure, I’ve had the pleasure and opportunity of road-testing several new truck models in recent years.

Each truck manufacturer seems to have its own schtick or selling point, if you will, so how ever to choose the one that’s right for you?

Ford instills their legendary reputation and a new Ecoboost engine, Toyota brings quality, reliability & residual value, Dodge Ram boasts the hardest working trucks in America and General Motors delivers a solid one-two punch of Vortec power plants and Allison transmissions.

Although I have experience with Ford, Chrysler and Toyota; having owned products from each of these manufactures over the years, the last time I actually drove a Chevy pickup was some 25 years ago. Being a proponent of fair competition and a lover of trucks in general, I educated myself, went online to do some research and as it turns out, Chevrolet still makes a darn good heavy duty pickup!

Chevrolet’s new 2015 Silverado 2500HD, for example, is what I would describe as a substantially updated version of my Dad’s 1975 Chevy 3/4 ton. With a max towing capacity of 17,900 pounds, combined with an Allison transmission and several Vortec engines to choose from, this certainly isn’t the same vehicle I rode in three decades ago.

As an avid camper and fifth wheel owner, I can see the new 2500HD being as well-suited an RV hauler as it would be for any hunting and fishing trip.

http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/vehicles/chevrolet/silverado-hd-2500/overview

Call me a redneck at heart, but what would we outdoor adventurists do without our beloved pickup trucks, regardless of the manufacturer?

Travel and adventure in the Great Outdoors would seem rather bland and colourless would it not?

Vive le Pickup truck!!

Outdoorsguy

November 27, 2014September 5, 2017

2015 Toyota Tacoma tackles the Laurentians!

(2015 Tacoma 4X4 Limited Edition – test vehicle – BEFORE heading off-road into the mountains)

Fresh air, clean water and nature’s wondrous beauty all at your doorstep in Quebec’s Majestic Laurentian Mountains.

I consider myself fortunate to be a country boy; fortunate to have an upbringing which brought me deep into God’s country and back, on more outdoor adventures than you can shake a stick at.

Hunting, fishing and exploring nature were always a huge part of my life and pursuing wily mountain whitetail deer was at the top of that list!

This fall, thanks to Toyota Canada, I had the pleasure of taking the 2015 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 Limited edition double cab on two separate trips, off the beaten path high into the fabled Laurentian mountains of Quebec.

The 2015 Tacoma, as I discovered, is not unlike the Tacoma of days-gone-by, nor is it remarkably different from the 2000 Tacoma 4X4 sitting in my own driveway at home. (I am already a Tacoma owner)

Ok, so there are a few subtle differences between the 2015 and my 15 year old (yet still solid as a rock) pick-up truck. First off, the overall footprint has changed considerably compared to days of old, and this full double cab version I tested offers more than ample room in this small but scrappy Mid-size truck category.

The already slim mid-size truck market grew even narrower when the Big 3 all but pulled-out. Tacoma sales now account for nearly 70% of this market competing mostly with Nissan, GM’s re-entry with the Colorado & Canyon, and to some extent the Honda Ridgeline; although with the Ridgeline’s unibody construction I would place it more in the crossover category. Tacoma’s have maintained a traditonal pick-up truck ladder frame construction.

But that certainly doesn’t mean Toyota should rest on their laurels and a reputation of producing perhaps the best small truck ever made.

Or does it?

So what has Toyota offered the mid-sized truck buyer for 2015?

Despite a few changes such as regular cab being discontinued, and the introduction of Toyota’s popular(albeit somewhat pricey) TRD Off-road package, this solid pick-up has remained pretty much status quo in recent years.

In my opinion, there was really little that needed changing. The Tacoma remains one of the most sought-after used vehicles on the market with an unprecedented residual value. (I was shocked by market value of my 2000 Tacoma)

The 2015 Tacoma 4X4, I tested, came equipped with the 4.0 litre V6 which kicked-out a more than ample 236 horses and 266 ft-lb of torque.

With a towing capacity of 6500 pounds and a 1500 pound payload, this truck is about the most conveniently-sized pickup you can ask for, and an ideal choice for an hunting trip into the historic hills of southern Quebec.

This truck is not the big powerhouse and workhorse of a full-sized Tundra, but by virtue of its more modest proportions serves as a nice compromise when maneuvering into parking spaces in town.

My deer hunting excursion was certainly off on the right foot once the truck was packed and loaded on a 5-day adventure to my family hunt camp near Mont Tremblant, followed closely by another voyage to Kenauk Nature in Montebello, an hour or so away.

While on the road, I found time to enjoy the entertainment options the new Tacoma had to offer which included an awesome Entune™ Premium JBL Audio system with Navigation and satellite radio!

The interior layout and comfort level was something to behold. Bright and roomy and I actually felt a bit guilty for getting the truck dirty.

The Limited Edition model boasts a lot of great amenities including full grain leather, Sirius satellite radio, backup camera, a generous number of drink holders and comfortable SofTex-trimmed seats, heated front sport seats with 4-way adjustable driver’s seat and lumbar adjustment support. (My lower back didnt complain)

Controls were upfront and clean and as far as seating and storage space, the Tacoma came with a folding rear bench seat that tucks neatly away against the back wall.

The Limited Edition also boasts such standard features such as these 18-in. chrome-clad alloy beauties, with P265/60R18 tires, chrome grille surround and rear bumper, color-keyed front bumper and overfenders, chrome fog light housing, chrome door handles, chrome power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators.

You might say chrome is running amok in this truck, and I had no complaints about that.

Another feature of the 2015 Tacoma I enjoyed was the convenient 110V outlet located along the back wall of truck bed near the tailboard. A smart idea for plugging-in an extension light while working around outside.

Once we arrived at our lakeside paradise in Montebello, the Tacoma fit right into the surroundings with its rugged outdoor appeal. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of style and class when you’re roughing it in the wilderness.

Kenauk’s Chalet Hidden was our home for the second half of the deer season.

The mood certainly was melancholy as we checked-out of our hunting retreat for another year!

All in all, the 2015 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 Limited turned out to be a more than worthy hunting companion and a head-turner to boot! The truck performed flawlessly, got decent gas mileage and held up like a charm to the punishment of many hours on some tough mountain roads!

The new Tacoma was a huge part of this year’s hunting season and from I’ve seen, would be perfectly suited for any hunting or fishing trip you can think of. (And I can think of a lot)

After having tested and reviewed several trucks over the years, by different manufacturers, in my opinion the new Tacoma is the pick of the litter!

The Outdoors Guy

For more information on trout fishing in La Belle Province, please contact Tourism Quebec: 1 (888) 883-8801 or online at: www.tourisme.gouv.qc.ca

September 6, 2014September 5, 2017

2014 Toyota Tundra Adirondack adventure

My two weeks spent this summer with the 2014 Toyota Tundra 4 X 4 – TRD off-road package included an outdoor jaunt through New York’s incredible Adirondack mountains on a 5-day camping excursion to Lake George.

After having reviewed several pick-ups in this size class, I can honestly say the new Tundra is about as comfortable a truck I have ever had the pleasure of driving. From front to back and from side to side, the new Tundra exudes class, comfort and luxury.

As a pivotal ‘re-design year’ for Toyota’s entry into the full-size truck market, inspected the truck for changes and improvements over previous models. Upon first glance, the redesigned Tundra doesn’t appear a lot different than its predecessors; until you analyze the subtleties.

Among the changes in the 2014 model include an all-new gauge cluster and center stack, which have been reconfigured and are quite sporty-looking indeed. The interior layout is also greatly improved over previous designs. My father owns a 2012 Tundra and perched inside is a bit more bland feel than the new, more convenient layout of the 2014 model.

More cup holders, slots for holding gadgets and an expanded center console make for the perfect cockpit for any outdoorsman. I found the seats on this new truck to be more snug and form-fitting with improved lumbar support.

My first impression with the new Tundra 4 X 4 TRD was the power and torque, and there’s good reason for that. Every Tundra comes equipped with a standard 4.6 litre V8, or the man-sized iForce 5.7L V8, as the one I tested, which produces a formidable 381 horsepower with 401 pounds torque. I am told there is also a ‘supercharged’ version available with a whopping 504 horsepower which sounds to me like an exercise in excess.

The iForce 5.7 L V8, in my opinion produces more than enough power and torque than most truck owners would ever require.

The ride quality of the new Tundra is very nice; firm and solid with smaller bumps soaked up like a sponge in the vehicle’s ample suspension. Hauling my small tent trailer was no challenge for this beast, and there was scant little drop in fuel economy with my 1200 pound pop-up in tow, which was a long stretch from the truck’s 10,400 pound towing capacity.

Engineers at Toyota put some effort into the suspension for this redesign year with changes to the springs and the TRD package; which included high-performance Bilstein shocks. Evidently meant for hauling much heavier loads than mine, the TRD package also offers several great options that cater more to towing & off-road enthusiasts.

As I motored up Lake George New York’s famous Prospect Mountain, the Tundra made short work of the ascent like an eager mountain goat! Several look-outs along the way offered a great vantage point over the Adirondack’s scenic lake known as the ‘100 mile view’.

The TRD package includes not only high-end Bilsteins, but other off-road necessities like skid plates, off-road-tuned suspension and back-up camera. The TRD upgrade will set you back around $6000, but is worth every penny to those who spend more time in God’s country than the urban jungle. The back-up camera, which I initially thought to be extraneous actually proved quite handy when hooking or unhooking the trailer; like having eyes in the back of your head.

Fuel consumption with the truck hovered, on average, between 15 – 16.5 liters per 100 km’s which is not what I would describe as fuel sipping, however in-line with other full-size pick-ups in its class. Interesting observation was how fuel-economy actually improved while driving in the US, and dropped-off slightly running on Canadian fuel.

No explanation for this just an interesting observation.

For those who aren’t used to a full-size half ton pick-up truck, the 2014 Tundra does carry a Sasquatch-sized footprint and requires extra caution when parking and maneuvering into tighter spaces. The new front grill profile and stance is actually closer in size and appearance to 3/4 ton trucks like Ford’s F-250.

As far as a camping vehicle goes this new truck fit-in quite nicely, although I see it to be even better suited to a big-game hunting trip in the mountains.

In the end, the 2014 Toyota Tundra TRD provided a great family camping and travelling experience. Anyone looking for top-of-the-line luxury in a full-size pick-up combined with some of the best off-road capability on the market, this is the vehicle for you.

For those who do not plan on hauling a 24-foot cabin cruiser; however, I would opt for the standard 4.6 L V8 and benefit from improved fuel economy.

For more information on the Toyota Tundra: http://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/language#/toyota/en/vehicles/tundra/overview