There’s something about May Long Weekend that feels deeply Canadian. We collectively clock out mentally by Thursday afternoon, buy hot dog buns with reckless optimism, and convince ourselves that this will be the year we sit on a dock in shorts all weekend. Then Mother Nature humbles us immediately with sideways rain, 4-degree temperatures, and the occasional emotional support snowflake.

Ah yes. Tradition.

Now if you’re like me, I’ve stopped putting pressure on May Long to be this huge, picture-perfect kickoff to summer. Why set myself up for disappointment during what I lovingly call “Fool’s Summer”? You know the one. The fake spring teaser that tricks you into putting your winter coat away before dragging it back out 48 hours later.

So, this year, I kept it simple. No packed itinerary. No dramatic camping setup. No trying to force “summer vibes” while wearing mittens beside a BBQ. I just rode the wave of a go-with-the-flow weekend, and honestly? It was perfect.

I spent time with family, celebrated a beautiful and inspiring woman turning 92 years old (which, frankly, is iconic behaviour), went for walks with my love and one of my best friends, and somehow stumbled into one of the most unexpected highlights of my adult life…

My first Lego set.

Now hold on. Why did nobody tell me Lego is essentially therapy with tiny plastic bricks? Why was I out here fumbling stress when I could’ve been building miniature architecture in cozy silence? I don’t know what came over me, but suddenly I was fully invested. Organized piles. Deep concentration. Mild emotional attachment to my chaos. Though I will not be discussing the “system organization fiasco of 2026” at this time. Some wounds are still fresh.

But my favourite part of the weekend was a slow morning that turned into an afternoon adventure to Kakabeka Falls.

Have you ever been? First off, if not… why?

Known as the “Niagara of the North,” the falls stand roughly 40 metres high and are powered by the mighty Kaministiquia River. The rushing water is loud in the best possible way — the kind of loud that makes your brain finally quiet down for a minute. We walked the paths, took in the views, and despite the dreary weather, it felt peaceful in that classic northern Ontario way. Mist in the air. Grey skies. Everyone pretending they aren’t cold.

And honestly? That’s kind of the magic of weekends like this.

Not every May Long has to be packed with fireworks, cases of beer, or chaotic camping stories involving wet socks and someone forgetting the propane. Sometimes the best weekends are the slower ones. The ones where you linger over breakfast and coffee. The ones where you wander without rushing. The ones where you make room for family, fresh air, ice cream, and tiny moments that somehow become the parts you remember most.

Speaking of important moments: we ended the day visiting dear friends in the area and naturally capped things off with ice cream from The Shake Shoppe because if I could legally make ice cream its own food group, I absolutely would.

It was the perfect kind of weekend. Slow, but still moving. Relaxed, but still full. The kind that doesn’t scream for attention on social media but quietly fills your cup anyway.

And honestly? It made me even more excited for summer to come.