“No one gets an award for having the most PTO.” – Sarah K., Ashley’s good friend
That quote hit me hard the first time I heard it. As a forensic professional, I’ve lost count of how many colleagues brag about their unused vacation time like it’s a badge of honor. Heck, I used to be one of them! But here’s the truth: burnout is real, and rest is necessary.
Last summer, we finally did something we’d talked about for years. We booked the trip, Erin used her PTO, and we gave ourselves the mid-year reset we desperately needed. Welcome to our honest, unfiltered June Motel review—complete with business brainstorming, rain-soaked hikes, tiny rental cars, and a big ol’ glass of rosé.
How Netflix and a Pandemic Inspired This Trip
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Erin discovered Motel Makeover on Netflix. If you haven’t watched it yet, it’s a reality series about two best friends, April and Sarah, who take on a huge renovation project and transform a rundown motel into a boutique getaway. They’re bold, creative, and scrappy—the kind of women who remind you of who you were before the to-do lists took over.
Erin said, “You have to watch this. These two remind me of us.” April’s the dreamer and designer like you, and Sarah’s the spreadsheet master like me. And just like that, a seed was planted.
We said, half-jokingly, “One day, we’re staying at The June.” Fast forward to 2024, and that dream made it to our Big Ass Calendar.
Planning with The Big Ass Calendar
This year, we committed to actually doing the things we say we want to do.
At the beginning of 2024, we committed to following Jesse Itzler’s “Big Ass Calendar” system—a life-planning method that encourages scheduling six intentional “mini adventures” throughout the year. That meant putting the important stuff—rest, travel, celebration—on the calendar first.
So when we sat down to map out our year, a visit to The June Motel immediately made the list. We blocked it off not just as a vacation, but as:
- Our 5-year business anniversary celebration
- A strategic mid-year check-in for our goals and vision
- A chance to pause and reconnect with our “why”
Here’s what else made our adventure list:
- A company retreat on a Royal Caribbean Cruise
- A color analysis experience in Oklahoma City
- Seeing Taylor Swift live at the Eras Tour!
- And of course, a visit to The June Motel in Sauble Beach, Ontario
We’re always teaching other forensic professionals the importance of self-care, reflection, and setting boundaries—but living it out ourselves was long overdue.
The Journey Begins with a Comedy of Errors and Niagara Falls
The trip did not start off smoothly. In true travel chaos fashion, Ashley realized she forgot her passport. Not in a “it’s in my other bag” kind of way—no, it was back in South Carolina. And we were flying out of Florida.
Cue Ben, Ashley’s husband, the real MVP. He met her halfway in Georgia with the passport just in time for our international flight, and off we went to Canada. Crisis averted.
Our first stop: Niagara Falls. We explored the tunnels beneath the roaring water, had lunch at the revolving restaurant with panoramic views, and wandered along the edge of the falls.
Touristy? Sure.
Worth it? Absolutely.
We drove to Sauble Beach in the tiniest rental car imaginable. Cute, but comically small. We did not capture this in a photo, so you’ll just have to take our word for it.
Also worth noting: this was our first time using a Canadian pump—and let’s just say we were not prepared for the metric system.
You had to pre-pay and guess how much gas you needed… in cents. We stood there, confused and cracking up, doing conversion math on our phones. Eventually we figured it out, but this added to our comedy of errors.
First Impressions of Sauble Beach and The June Motel
Driving through rural backgroads to Sauble Beach felt like heading into the middle of nowhere. But once we reached town, The June Motel stood out in the best way possible—pink neon signs, beachy vibes, and a laid-back energy that felt instantly welcoming.
The check-in process was delightful. We were handed glasses of rosé the second we arrived. The room? Adorable. It overlooked the pool, was decorated with fun and funky details, and had just the right amount of retro flair. Every detail was so thoughtful.
Check-In Process Checked All the Boxes:
✅ Rosé at reception. A welcome glass, chilled to perfection? Yes, please!!
✅ Instagram-worthy design. Every corner looked like it belonged in a magazine.
✅ Pool view from our room. The perfect mix of cozy and cool.
Heydays Restaurant = Worth the Hype
From brunch to late-night cocktails, Heydays was a highlight.
We ended up eating at Heydays multiple times—and not just because it was steps from our room. The food and drinks were genuinely amazing. On our first night, we tried a charcuterie board and lobster mac and cheese that was rich, creamy, and totally worth the splurge.
Ashley ordered a gin and tonic that came with the cutest pink tonic—presentation definitely matched the vibe. We also loved that they had gluten-free options clearly marked on the menu. Every dish felt like it had been made with care, and the service was friendly without being overly formal.
Heydays managed to strike the perfect balance between laid-back and elevated, making it the kind of place you want to return to—whether for cocktails by the pool or a full dinner.
The Hike That Tried to Kill Us
Ashley planned an outing to a “famous” turquoise lake based on what we thought was a 30-minute hike. Turns out, it was a 30-minute drive to the trailhead, followed by a several-mile, uphill adventure.
It rained. It fogged. We weren’t sure if we ever actually made it to the Lion’s Head Lookout because we could barely see 50 feet in front of us. Erin even slipped and fell in the mud just .1 miles from the car. (Yes, we laughed. A lot.)
Moral of the story: Ashley doesn’t pick the hikes anymore.
Local Adventures in Sauble Beach
In between hikes and Heydays dinners, we had some smaller local adventures that made our trip extra special:
- Beach yoga: We started one morning with a peaceful yoga session right on the sand. It was the perfect way to ground ourselves and stretch after travel.
- The Wellness Refinery: This was our favorite breakfast spot. Erin ordered waffles and a latte, while Ashley had the yogurt bowl and the blue tide elixir—a vivid, ocean-blue drink made with blue spirulina, coconut, orange blossom, lemon, vanilla, raw honey, and milk. It tasted just as magical as it looked.
- Fire+Dough Pizza: One evening we grabbed a pizza to-go from Fire+Dough (known for their Flame Fired pizza prepared in a traditional oven) and ate it on our back deck overlooking the pool. It was low-key and perfect.
- Luscious Bakery: Before hitting the road on our final morning, we stopped by Luscious Bakery and picked up some delicious pastries for the drive. Each one was incredibly delicious.
These little moments made Sauble Beach feel like more than just a beach town—it became a place we’d genuinely love to return to.
Mixing Business with Poolside Drinks
In between beach walks and cocktails, we actually got some work done. We used the downtime to reflect on our business—we brainstormed, journaled, and mapped out where we wanted the next six months to go. But we didn’t force it. We let the inspiration come between coffee, swims, and sunset chats.
Here’s what we tackled:
- Annual virtual summit brainstorming
- Planning content and strategy for our membership, The Vault
- Reflecting on what’s working (virtual training!) and what’s not (logistics-heavy in-person training)
- Big picture vision casting
There’s something powerful about getting out of your usual environment. You think clearer. Dream bigger. Remember why you started in the first place.
Self-Care for Forensic Professionals: Why This Trip Mattered
Here’s where we get real. In forensics, it’s not uncommon to work holidays, be on call at 2 a.m., or miss weddings and birthdays because of court. We’ve met professionals with 150+ PTO hours who haven’t taken a true break in years.
We’ve heard it all…
“I’ll take a vacation once we’re fully staffed.”
“I can’t leave my team hanging.”
“I don’t even know what I’d do with time off.”
But here’s the truth: you can’t pour from an empty cup. Your body, mind, and spirit need rest. Not just sleep. True, uninterrupted rest. The work will always be there. Your life won’t wait.
This trip reminded us why stepping away matters:
- We reconnected with our why
- We gave our minds space to think differently
- We had fun, which gave us energy to keep going
Using your PTO isn’t selfish—it’s self-preservation. And no, the unit won’t crumble without you for a few days.
Final Thoughts: Book the Trip. Use the PTO.
If The June Motel review taught us anything, it’s that you don’t need a huge reason to travel. A mid-year reset is reason enough. Celebrating five years of business is reason enough. Wanting rosé by a pool is reason enough.
Whether you’re in forensic science or any other demanding field, give yourself permission to pause. Your work doesn’t define your entire life—and your creativity, energy, and joy will thank you for stepping away.
So book the trip. Use the PTO. Go see that place you’ve always wanted to visit. Make memories. Hike in the rain. Laugh until you cry. Drink poolside rosé and remember why you love your job—and your life—again.
Because no one gets an awared for unused PTO. And when we rest, we return better. For our work. For our teams. For ourselves.
And if you ever find yourself in Ontario? Make sure The June Motel is on the list.
