NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLORIDA – I’ve just pulled into this Atlantic coast town for the first time when I spot a place to eat that fronts right onto the beach. I step inside at The Breakers and find a super casual set-up with touches of Florida kitsch and a huge, long seating bar up against the windows for folks to check out the ocean. I pull up a chair by the window, which is open, and order a blackened mahi sandwich and a local beer from a waitress who calls me “Sugar.” I’m thinking I’ll quietly gaze out at the Read more
December 2018
A sunset cruise, fine wines and the best steaks in California: A visit to Santa Barbara and Buellton
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA – I’m geared up for my first-ever sailboat ride in Santa Barbara. But the weather isn’t co-operating. We’re supposed to take a sunset cruise with the folks from the Santa Barbara Sailing Center, but it’s a grey afternoon in mid-November and the prospects of an actual sunset are rather dim. But, hey, it’s warm enough for a ride on the water and this native Californian has 37 Canadian winters under his belt, so I’m not overly stressed. The captain and crew pull the ship out of the marina and out past the pretty Santa Barbara Pier, ,where Read more
LONDON – A classic yet modern hotel in one of the world’s great cities. Not to mention great food and a nearly perfect location. One Aldwych is a truly terrific hotel in central London, with wonderful design touches, large and comfortable rooms and an outstanding restaurant that’s creating a substantial buzz. The hotel makes an instant impression with a beautiful, light and airy lobby area that has a great bar. They have a full-time person in charge of flowers and plants, and when we there someone had cleverly taken a huge bouquet of flowers and hung them upside down in Read more
This is part II of my annual Jimmy Awards for best travel experiences of the year, ranging from great pasta at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver to an incredible wine cellar in the Bahamas and an amazing (and surprising) guitar player on the Queen Mary 2. Thanks to everyone that helped along the way! BEST SAILING TRIP: A sunset cruise with the folks at the Santa Barbara Sailing Center in California. I love Santa Barbara, but this was my first time on a sailboat in the region. They do a great job, and we had a stunning sunset. If Read more
Now there are two more great reasons to check out of Toronto’s newest and nicest hotels. Hotel X Toronto, a beautiful property I stayed at earlier this year, will soon opens its doors for its inaugural New Year’s Eve party, one of the most anticipated New Year’s celebrations in the city. Boasting a wealth of amenities unrivaled by any downtown hotel, the resort style property offers guests the perfect start to 2019 with a couple’s package designed to deliver both luxury and value. Sure to be the highlight of 2019, this New Year’s Eve Gala package early booking pricing is Read more
