NEGRIL, JAMAICA – It’s my last morning on the shady, warm patio at Sunset at the Palms resort on the west coast of Jamaica. I’ve just ordered an omelet at the breakfast buffet and am taking photos of the pretty tropical flowers and reach-to-the-sky palm trees that surround my table. Suddenly a young woman who was cooking my breakfast rushes over and hands me my omelet. “You didn’t have to do that,” I say, looking at the breakfast station a mere 20 feet away. She just smiles and heads back to work. A second or two later another young woman Read more
April 2025
MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA – We were due to hit the road and drive to the San Francisco Bay Area from this lovely oceanfront town on the Central Coast. My wife was dying for an acai bowl, and we both wanted a good cup of coffee to fuel us up for the drive north. I did a little research on my iPhone and settled on a place on the main shopping street in Morro Bay called High Tide Deli and Cafe. A few minutes later we pulled into the parking lot. I loved the place the minute I got out of Read more
There’s an old saying that all roads lead to Rome. It appears the same goes for airplanes and Internet travel searches. With the funeral for Pope Francis taking place this weekend, and the election of a new pope coming in a few weeks at the Vatican, Expedia says global flight searches for Rome are up 125% for travel this week versus the same period last year. US residents are seemingly looking to make it to Rome soon, as flight searches are up 250% on Expedia.com and lodging searches up 35%. For Canada, flight searches to The Eternal City on Read more
We all love beautiful water photos, so here’s something to think about, and perhaps even plan a trip around. A new analysis by GoPro Alternatives, an action camera comparison site, examined the world’s top water destinations based on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube posts. Here’s their top 10: 1. Mauritius 2. Maui 3. Niagara Falls 4. Amalfi Coast, Italy 5. Kauai 6. Curacao 7. Bora Bora (Tahiti) 8. Florida Keys 9. Blue Lagoon, Iceland 10. Phi Phi Islands, Thailand As a Canadian, I love seeing Niagara Falls on the list. As a passionate Hawai’i fan, I love seeing Maui and Kauai Read more
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – Glamorous and casual hotels seconds from the beach. A farmer’s market where some of the country’s best chefs pick through selections of super fresh, lemons and Genovese basil to serve that night at local restaurants. Super cool neighborhoods, art galleries, and perhaps the most famous pier in North America. Santa Monica is a gem that embodies all the best things about the California lifestyle, an open-minded city that welcomes visitors of all types and embraces sustainability and inclusiveness. It was only three months ago that fires ripped through parts of southern California, destroying hundreds of homes. Read more
