A new list of the 30 most beautiful destinations on earth, a fabulous grizzly bear-viewing trip to British Columbia, and new Canadian visitor numbers for Florida. All in today’s blog post.
THE 30 MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES ON EARTH: REALLY?
Condé Nast Traveller is one of the top names in the biz. It’s an excellent magazine with informed editors and readers. But I’m baffled by their latest list, which claims to show the 30 most beautiful places in the world.
There are a couple of entries here that I know nothing about or that don’t appear all that amazing in the photographs used to illustrated the story. And I like that there are some unusual places listed, and a nice geographical balance. But, for the life of me, I can’t figure out how you can put together this kind of a list and not include a single spot in French Polynesia in the top 50. no tahiti or French Polynesia is absurd. There’s also nothing in Australia. And there’s no mention of the U.S. (no Yosemite, no Grand Canyon), but perhaps the magazine was reaching beyond the borders of the United States, which I can’t really argue with.
On the positive side for a Canadian travel writer, I do note there are two places in Canada on the list.
Here are the top 30, which were not presented in numerical order.
Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Island, Bahamas
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Zhangye National Geopark, China
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Amalfi Coast, Italy
The Cliffs of Moher are a popular and stunning destination in Ireland. Jim Byers Photo
Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar
Hoa Binh, Vietnam
Sarakiniko Beach, Milos, Greece
Antarctica
Provence, France
Kyoto, Japan
Marrakech, Morocco
Peyto Lake, Alberta, Canada
Bayon, Cambodia
Wulingyuan, China
Svalbard, Norway
Lamu, Kenya
Mount Cook, New Zealand
Angel Falls, Venezuela
Mongolia
Grand Canal, Venice
Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Jaipur and the Hawa Mahal Palace, India
Emerald Lake, British Columbia. Jim Byers Photo
Scottish Highlands
Emerald Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Pamukkale, Turkiye
The Alps
Ojos del Mar, Bolivia
Jodphur, India
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME GRIZZLY BEAR VIEWING TRIP IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
This summer, wildlife and nature enthusiasts will have the opportunity to experience one of British Columbia’s most extraordinary wildlife destinations in a single day. For one day only, on Saturday, July 4, Aspire Canada Tours will host a same-day return grizzly bear viewing tour from Vancouver to the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary in Northern British Columbia.
The special one-day experience offers guests access to the edge of the Great Bear Rainforest without the need for overnight travel or managing complex logistics, combining private jet charter travel with a guided marine wildlife expedition through one of Canada’s most ecologically significant protected areas. Guests will depart Vancouver in the morning, fly to Prince Rupert, and board a catamaran for a professionally guided seven-hour cruise through the sanctuary’s tidal waterways, framed by dramatic coastal mountains, old-growth rainforest, and quiet inlets where grizzly bears forage at the water’s edge.
“This tour reflects exactly what Aspire Canada Tours was built to do, which is make exceptional Canadian travel experiences more accessible without compromising the quality of the experience,” said Ross Brown, Co-founder of Aspire Canada Tours. “This one-day adventure allows guests to witness one of the country’s most remarkable places in a way that feels seamless, comfortable, and inherently memorable. To be able to leave Vancouver in the morning, spend the day in a grizzly bear habitat, and return to the city by evening is something very special.”
Timed to coincide with a low tide cycle, the July 4 excursion offers strong wildlife viewing conditions, with bears more likely to emerge to feed on clams and other shoreline marine life. Along the route, guests may also encounter humpback whales, bald eagles, seals, and other awe-inspiring coastal wildlife. The journey was designed to maximize viewing potential while maintaining a responsible, low-impact approach to wildlife observation.
The marine expedition is operated in partnership with Prince Rupert Adventure Tours. Guests remain aboard the catamaran throughout the sanctuary experience while onboard naturalist guides provide commentary and interpretation informed by extensive training in marine wildlife education, ecology, conservation, and responsible bear viewing practices.
The tour takes place during the FIFA World Cup period in Vancouver, giving visitors a unique non-match day experience, pairing world-class wildlife viewing throughout the day with the convenience of returning to Vancouver the same evening.
The Grizzly Bear Tour: Vancouver to the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary
Same-Day Return: Saturday, July 4, 2026
Tour Details:
• Early morning check-in at Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• Private charter jet departure (6:25 am) from Vancouver to Prince Rupert Airport (YPR) with breakfast served on-board
• Transfer to a 72-foot catamaran (100-passenger capacity) for a seven-hour guided wildlife expedition through Chatham Sound and into the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary
• On-the-water wildlife viewing with opportunities to spot grizzly bears, humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, bald eagles, and other coastal species
• Wildlife commentary and interpretation provided by Prince Rupert Adventure Tours’ experienced onboard crew
• Lunch served during the marine expedition
• Return transfer to Prince Rupert Airport (YPR)
• Evening private charter flight back to Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• Dinner served on-board and return to Vancouver (approximately 7:00 pm)
Pricing:
The experience includes round-trip private charter flights, all transfers, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with Aspire Canada Tours’ coordination, hosting and narration throughout the day.
• Introductory Rate: CAD $1,470 per person (including GST) through June 15, 2026
• Regular Rate: CAD $1,575 per person (including GST)
• Great Bear Group Rate: Save CAD $50 per person for groups of six or more booked under one reservation
The one-day Grizzly Bear Tour on Saturday, July 4 can be booked online via Aspire Canada Tours: aspirecanadatours.com/en-ca/grizzly-bear-tour.
CANADIAN VISITS TO FLORIDA FAR HIGHER THAN REPORTED
A day on the beach in Fort Myers, Florida. Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau Photo
VISIT FLORIDA says a lot more Canadians visited last year than previously reported.
The state’s tourism group this week released updated 2025 visitation estimates alongside preliminary first quarter 2026 visitation data, showing Florida’s record-breaking tourism industry remains strong as the state continues to welcome steady domestic and international travel demand. Revised 2025 estimates show a significantly adjusted Canadian visitation rate. Florida welcomed 3.17 million Canadian visitors in 2025, approximately 270,000 more visitations than initially estimated, which is roughly half the decrease previously reported.
Previously, the state’s tourism department had said that visits from Canada fell from 3.4 million two years ago to 2.9 million last year. That’s a drop of 15%. Using the revised 3.17 million figure for last year, the drop from 2024 to 2025 was actually a modest 6.7%.
