U.S. domestic travel is up sharply for the Fourth of July weekend, and the big winners are Florida, California and Texas. U.S. domestic travel demand for the July 4th holiday period is pacing ahead of last year, as domestic flight reservations for travel between July 2 and July 6, 2026 are up +8.1% year on year according to new analysis from The Data Appeal Company / Almaviva Group. The study looked at flight booking performance from January to May 2026 for travel within the United States between July 2 and July 6, 2026, complemented by consolidated lodging stay data for Read more
Expedia has a new study on where Canadians are heading for Canada Day. This year, Winnipeg leads all trending destinations with a 70% increase in YoY searches. But as the nation’s capital and home of the largest Canada Day party in the country, Ottawa is not far behind at +40% YoY. The top five looks like this: Winnipeg +70% Ottawa +40% The Blue Mountains +35% London +35% Montreal +25% Meanwhile, for those looking for a getaway on a budget, the most affordable destinations to stay over the long weekend are: Regina – $165 CAD Edmonton – $180 Read more
The USA is a remarkable destination, with incredible variety. Here’s a look at 10 places around the United States to enjoy for a Fourth of July vacation or long weekend. The Oregon Coast: The Pacific Coast in Oregon features incredible beaches and wonderful towns. Top spots along the way include Cannon Beach, with its 235-foot-high Haystack Rock, as well as great towns such as Astoria and Newport. Stop in Portland for a taste of a fabulous west coast city. Milwaukee: This is very much an underrated city. The Historic Third Ward is home to buzzing restaurants and clubs, while the Read more
Canada Day is a week away, and that makes it great time to explore some of what this great country has to offer. Here are some tips from a guy who’s been to all ten provinces and the Yukon. VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – This is a tremendous and underrated Canadian city, with a lovely waterfront, beautiful parks and excellent food offerings. The James Bay neighbourhood is a fun place to check out little fairy houses that locals have built. Top hotels include the venerable Fairmont Empress Hotel and the fine Magnolia Hotel and Spa. WATERTON LAKES N.P., ALBERTA – Banff Read more
Sports Illustrated recently published a ranking of the best cities for taking in the World Cup. They looked at the quality of the games, the cities themselves, the stadiums, and the locations of the stadiums to come up with a list of the best cities of the 16 that are hosting games. Here are the results, along with some of the reasoning. 16. SAN FRANCISCO – not the best games, and too far from downtown S.F. 15. KANSAS CITY – Again, stadium too far from downtown. 14. NEW YORK NEW JERSEY – The Meadowlands stadium is “a nightmare” to Read more
Canada is blessed with dozens of top-notch hotels, and I’ve been privileged to spend the night in many, if not most of them. Here’s one travel writer’s look at some of the best options Canada has to offer. VANCOUVER: It’s not fancy, but The Burrard is a stylish and affordable spot on the edge of downtown Vancouver. Rooms aren’t large, but it’s a fun environment, and close to downtown, Davie Village and Granville Island. BC Place, which is hosting Vancouver’s World Cup football games, is only a kilometre away. BANFF: The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is the granddaddy (or grandmommy) Read more
The folks at Resonance Consultancy, one of the most respected research firms in the world, have published their 2026 America’s Best Cities report and ranking. It’s their most comprehensive study ever, with all 393 U.S. metropolitan areas ranked for the first time. THE 2026 TOP 25 1. New York 2. Los Angeles 3. Chicago 4. Miami 5. San Francisco 6. Seattle 7. Las Vegas 8. Dallas 9. Houston 10. Boston 11. Austin 12. San Diego 13. Atlanta 14. Washington D.C. 15. Orlando 16. Denver 17. Nashville 18. Portland 19. Phoenix 20. Philadelphia 21. Tampa 22. Charlotte 23. New Orleans 24. Read more
