Message: I am looking for suggestions for a surprise family gathering to celebrate my husband's 60th birthday, which is on Friday October19,2001. The group would consist of our son-in-law age 33, our daughter age 31 and their daughter age 2, who live in Boston, our other daughter age 29 who is in the process of getting her Phd in London England and our 21 year-old son who is at university in Toronto. We live in Ottawa. My plan is that we would all leave for someplace on October 17th or 18th and stay at least until Sunday, October 21st. Our son would have to get back for Monday classes. The others would be more flexible. <BR> <BR>My husband likes cities and warm places by the ocean. I had thought of either New York City or London, England, but those are probably not so great with our granddaughter. <BR> <BR>Maybe the Caribbean, but is October a good time to be there? We have been to Bermuda, which would be easy to get to, but we were not crazy about it. <BR> <BR>We have never been on a cruise, so that might be a possibility, but with that group and for so short a time? <BR> <BR>My latest idea is someplace in Nova Scotia. Just today he said that he really would like to visit Cape Breton sometime. But I don't think we would like a cold rainy place out of season. What might it be like there in October?

How about Quebic? It's a great city.

Quebec would have been a great suggestion, except for the fact that we used to live there and go there all the time, so it would not really be anything special. <BR> <BR>I am now thinking that it is going to be Halifax, which is where my husband was born 60 years ago, so there is a connection. Also, it is very accessible with non-stop flights, perhaps even the train. <BR> <BR>I'm wondering about where we would all stay, site of the birthday dinner, activities for our granddaughter, etc. <BR> <BR>Any suggestions would be appreciated as we do not know Halifax at all.

Go "downeast" to Maine! It's accessible for all coming from Canada, the UK and my favorite place of all - Boston. Ogunquit would be just lovely in October, or Camaden or Bar Harbor or Kennebunkport (there's a lovely inn there that's quite world famous, but alas I've forgotten its name! it's got "goose" in it somewhere.) Or go to Portland. It's quite the up and coming place!

Would that be The Inn at Goose Rocks? http://www.gooserocks.com/