My 2018 Jimmy Awards Part II: Sunset Sails, Rubber Duckies and Himalayan Possums

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 you’re in town, try one of the local wineries in the so-called Funk Zone. Or go for great Asian food at Tyger Tyger.

BEST ASIAN FOOD: At Akira Back, located inside The Bisha Hotel in Toronto. Marvellously inspired and inventive cuisine, including his signature ahi pizza, wagyu tacos and the “Brother From Another Mother” roll, which features fresh fish, aioli and foie gras for a strange-sounding but sensational taste treat. His mother designed the wavy piece you see hanging from the ceiling, and isn’t that cool?

BEST FISHING TRIP: A January visit to the Florida Keys had me fishing offshore near Islamorada with Captain Max Gaspeny out of Bud N’ Mary’s marina, along with Andy Newman from Florida Keys tourism. We caught a boatload of fish in an hour or two, including mackerel, snapper, grouper and a small shark.

FAVE ONTARIO TOWN: I love the casual feel of Port Dover, with its waterfront joints selling fish tacos and burgers and then the casual hot dogs and ice cream places. I also love that the owner of The Beach House brings in palm trees every summer and has them planted in the sand. It’s not all casual, however. Ryan Rivard makes wonderful food at his Port Dover restaurant, Lago. Try the pasta carbonara with chicken. For information: https://www.norfolktourism.ca/

BEST AIRLINE EXPERIENCE: I got to try the Air Canada Signature experience at Pearson, where travellers who pay for the privilege can have a BMW whisk them over to the Air Canada Signature Suite, a tremendous dining spot with a menu from celebrity chef David Hawksworth. The food is as good as any restaurant in town, and there’s also champagne on ice and tremendous cocktails. I also got to experience their Signature Service in the sky with a lie-flat seat in business class on my way to Vancouver, topped with more great food and terrific wine.

BEST ICE CREAM SHOP: The inside is nice, but the garden out behind Sweet Retreat in Leamington, Ontario is absolutely tremendous.

BEST MARTINI: Hands down the one at Musso and Frank in Hollywood; a legendary spot with tuxedoed waiters, classic steaks and a cool, old-time feel. Not sure what they do with their martini, but it’s sensational.

BEST BOAT CRUISE: A glass-bottom boat ride at Silver Springs State Park in Ocala, Florida. Beautiful spring water that’s clear as a bell and about 72 degrees year-round. The park also has cool cabins you can rent for a very good price.

BEST LIVE SHOW: Matt Goss in Las Vegas. Love his music and his stage presence. The dancing girls don’t hurt either, I guess.

BEST LOW-KEY FLORIDA RESORT: Pines and Palms Resort in Islamorada. I had a large, comfortable room with a couple chairs out front, looking right out on the sand and the water. Not fancy, but a great place to get away and relax.

BEST ROCKY MOUNTAIN VIEW: Lots to choose from, but I like this one, from the Rocky Mountaineer train trip we took in September. Glorious.

BEST ON THE OCEAN MUSICAL EXPERIENCE: My wife and I were lucky enough to take a voyage from Southampton, England to New York City on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 in November. One of the on-board musicians was Paul Garthwaite, who chatted about top guitar players in the ship’s English Pub every night and had the crowd singing along loudly to everything from Dire Straits to Pink Floyd to Jimi Hendrix. Not what I had expected on such a regal ship, but I loved Garthwaite’s music and his enthusiasm.

BEST UPCOMING WINE REGION: The Temecula Valley of California is booming with new wineries. I tasted lovely varieties at Donza Del Sol, Falkner and others. I loved the pedestrian-friendly feel of the Old Temecula downtown, and had some great food at the Pechanga Resort and Casino. Hot air Balloon ride. Information: https://www.visittemeculavalley.com/

FAVE HOTEL PHOTO: This one at Auberge Lakeview Inn in Knowlton, Quebec. It’s a quiet, informal place in a great town that I quite enjoy. So does Hillary Clinton, who comes here quite often I was told.

BEST ALIEN ENCOUNTER: I had a couple days in Roswell, New Mexico in the spring and loved it. The alien landing bit gets a little tiresome after a while, but I was struck by the friendly locals and the growing arts scene in a city that’s miles from the next town of any size. For information: https://seeroswell.com/

BEST ANIMAL ENCOUNTER: Swimming with the manatees (in a protected sanctuary) just a few minutes away from the Plantation On Crystal River in Crystal River, Florida. Magnificent creatures. For information: http://www.discovercrystalriverfl.com/

BEST PASTA DISH: The hand-cut tagliatelle with foraged mushrooms and crispy piave at Botanist, a very cool spot at The Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver. Fabulous cocktails, too.

MOST SURPRISING ACCOMMODATION: We stayed in a very cool cabin/small house at a place in Buellton, California called Flying Flags. There was a full kitchen, small living room, a bedroom and a loft so you can easily sleep four or even five people. They also had a big front porch and a side patio with a bbq.

BEST MUSICAL DISCOVERY: Somehow I’d never heard of Luckenbach, Texas prior to my visit in the fall. I fell in love with this little village north of San Antonio, with its great music and colourful characters such as Hayden Whittington. They also had a dancing rooster that got up and pranced around the dance floor while a young man played the guitar and sang. For information: https://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/

BEST BAD JOKE: As he showed me around the general store at Luckenbach, Whittington showed me a stuffed possum under glass. “That’s a Himalayan Possum,” he told me. “We found him-a-layin’ in the road.”

BEST ISLAND DISCOVERY: I loved the relaxed feel and variety on the long, skinny Bahamian island of Eleuthera. Great, casual resorts and amazing scenery. There are many quiet, gentle areas on the island, but I was taken by the wild beauty at Glass Window Bridge. For information: https://www.bahamas.com/

BEST WINE CELLAR TOUR: The wine cellar at Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant in old Nassau, The Bahamas is one of the largest private cellars in the world; a basement facility with dusty corners and winding, narrow passageways filled with some of the best wines of the world. Amazing. Great food and a beautiful hotel, too.

SURPRISE HOTEL ROOM: I had no idea the rooms at The Palazzo in Las Vegas were so big. I love a big room when I’m on the road, even if it’s just me. So this is a place I’ll try to get into again next time I’m in town. A nice pool and great food, too.

GUESS THEY WERE OUT OF THE LARGE ONES: I loved seeing this young man cart a giant rubber dock down the street in North Hatley, Quebec.

BEST US CITY ON THE RISE: Buffalo. They’ve done a great job re-inventing old industrial areas along the Buffalo River, where you can now rent a tiki hut boat and sail up and down the river. Hotel Henry is a stunner, a former mental hospital that’s now a fine boutique hotel. I could go on and on about what they’ve done in the city. For information: https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/

FAVOURITE ONTARIO RESORT: The JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka. They’ve done a great job in remaking the place in more of a smart, woodsy style. The food is even better than before, and the setting on the shores of Lake Rosseau is tough to beat.

MOST UNUSUAL TACOS: I tried one made with hibiscus flowers at a place in Winter Park, Florida called Hunger St. Tacos. They were excellent, by the way.

BEST CALIFORNIA DISCOVERY: The beach at Davenport Landing, just north of Santa Cruz. Wonderful spot. For information: https://www.santacruz.org/

BEST OAHU DISCOVERY: I loved the quiet beauty on the west coast of Oahu near the town of Makaha. For information: www.gohawaii.com/ca

BEST FOOD TRAIL: The Bacon and Ale Trail in Stratford, Ontario. Does it get any better than bacon and craft beer? For information: https://visitstratford.ca/index

BEST TREE PHOTO This one, taken near my home in Toronto this fall. Great colours this year!

BEST LONDON DISCOVERY An area along a canal called Little Venice, not far from Abbey Road studios. A terrific spot for a walk. For information: https://www.visitbritain.com/ca/en

BEST SEGWAY RIDE: The folks at Segway Fort Lauderdale took me on a great tour of Hugh Taylor Birch Park. We even got off-road for a while, navigating our way through beautiful forests with live oaks and oodles of Spanish Moss.