I turned 60 and made a special trip to D-Day beaches

We asked Star readers to tell us about trips they have taken and to share their experience and advice:

Where: Normandy, France; Flanders Fields, Belgium

When: June 2025

Trip rating: 4.5/5

What inspired you to take this trip? I turned 60 in January and I wanted to do something special for my milestone birthday. My wife, Kelly, and I are both retired, and we were excited to return to Europe after a 27-year absence. We started planning the trip last summer, and our travelling party was eight people (family and friends). We were in Europe for 18 days.

Our objectives were to visit new countries and sites but also to return to places we hadn’t been to in nearly three decades. The keys for us were first-time visits to Normandy (Juno Beach and Gold Beach) in France; Flanders Fields in Belgium; and Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Denmark). We also returned to London and the Netherlands. The trip was a combination of overland, with walking and guided bus tours, as well as a cruise to take us to several ports.

What was the best sight? It was incredibly moving and powerful to be at Juno Beach and Gold Beach, sites of the Canadian and British D-Day invasions during the Second World War. We arrived a few days before the 81st anniversary of the invasion. Both locations were preparing festivities to commemorate the occasion and Canadian, British and American veterans were arriving to take part in the ceremonies.

To walk along Juno Beach and think of the sacrifice so many young soldiers made for our country is a memory I’ll never forget. I tried to envision this beautiful location as the site of such an important battle and turning point in the war. To comprehend the carnage, death and destruction that occurred here is difficult. Juno Beach has gently rolling hills next to the beachhead. This is where the German army created concrete trenches and machine gun nests to defend against the Canadian forces coming ashore. Walking up the beach and into the trenches was emotional as I followed the path of so many Canadian soldiers, many of whom died here.

The Juno Beach Centre, a short walk from the beach, was an outstanding museum that captured Canada’s preparation and involvement in the war through detailed displays and audio-visual presentations. I could have spent a day here.

Flanders Fields, in Belgium, was equally moving. Seeing row upon row of Canadian grave sites was humbling.

What was your favourite activity? Gold Beach, one of two landing sites for the British army on D-Day, had spectacular scenery. Gold was similar to Cape Breton, with steep rocky cliffs rising up from the shore. I couldn’t imagine how difficult it was for the soldiers to get out of the boats, run about 200 metres across the beach for cover, then begin the ascent up the rock face to take out the German guns. Walking the beach, looking up at the cliffs, then climbing up the rock face through stairs and paths was incredible. It gave me the perspective of the attacking British soldiers on the shore and of the defending German army on top of the cliffs.

What was the most delicious thing you ate? The food on the cruise ship and at our European destinations was terrific.

What was the most memorable thing you learned? I have a friend in Newmarket, Jim Parks, who turns 101 in September. A decorated Canadian military veteran, he was at Juno Beach and wounded by shrapnel in the June 6 invasion. When we visited the Canadian Second World War graveyard near Juno, there were several names of fallen soldiers from the Winnipeg Rifles Regiment Jim belonged to. When I talked to him after returning home, he remembered several of them. They were friends he lost during the invasion that day.

As a retired high-school physical education, history and geography teacher, I was able to get immersed in all three disciplines on this trip. The numerous historical sites and the varying geography throughout Europe provided invaluable learning experiences and topics of conversation.

What is one piece of advice you’d give? If you take a cruise to Europe, do some comparison-shopping to find the most economical way of taking shore excursions.

Grant Campbell, Queensville, Ont.

READERS’ TIPS

We’ve launched a series that invites Star readers to share places they’ve visited recently and would recommend, whether it’s a weekend getaway in Elora, a Banff canoe trip, or a jaunt to Paris or Rome. If you’ve been, loved it and want to tell us about it, we’d like to hear from you.

Email us with “TRAVEL TIPS” in the subject line at [email protected].

Please include brief responses to these questions. If your holiday experience is chosen, we’ll be in touch. 

1. Where did you go and when was it?

2. Where did you stay?

3. What was a highlight of your trip? Why?

4. Any travel tips?