MAUI, HAWAII – I’ve spent more time on the Lahaina-Kaanapali side of Maui over the years. But the Fairmont Kea Lani resort in Wailea might convince me to try that side of Maui more often. I spent a couple of nights at the property last month and came away hugely impressed. Not to sound all uppity or anything, but I see a lot of gorgeous hotels in my line of work and a lot of places with four or five or supposedly six stars leave me a little flat. Not this place. Not by a long shot. It’s beautiful, sure. Read more
Had a chance to catch up with the governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, while he was in Toronto yesterday talking up his great state, which technically is known as a Commonwealth and not a state. Just so you know. It was quite a hoot, actually, as he’s a hugely entertaining fellow who tells a good story and has got a lot of get-up-and-go. “Last year we had 40 million visitors. We shattered our old records last year in the Commonwealth. We noted the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War this year. Right now as we speak we Read more
This country of ours called Canada is truly remarkable. Not only do we have a great lifestyle, we are surrounded by such natural beauty. Included in that is some of the world’s most treasured fall foliage. Here’s a look at some favourite spots, and some areas that might surprise you, in my latest offering in the National Post…. http://news.nationalpost.com/life/travel/fall-colours-on-display-top-spots-for-fall-foliage-viewing-in-canada
I do love the Caribbean. Here’s my latest offering from canoe.com/travel…. http://www.canoe.com/Travel/Destinations/Other/2015/09/15/22552059.html
KA’ANAPALI, MAUI – Celebrity chef Art Smith is holding court on the patio at the popular Hula Grill, just steps from the sparkling blue waters of Kaanapali Beach. He’s sporting a black Hawaiian shirt and a gorgeous lei made of intertwined green leaves and spiky orange flowers and talking about the local food scene on day one of the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival on Maui. “They’ve always grown amazing things here” said Smith, a Florida-born, Chicago-based restaurateur and chef who works closely with Chicagoan and part-time Maui resident Oprah Winfrey. “But now there’s a pride in what’s grown and Read more
Canadians, for the most part, live busy lives. Most of us reside in big cities with big traffic jams and big noise and big headaches. It’s important that we get away now and then, especially with the last big weekend of the summer upon us. With that in mind, here are five great getaways, mostly a little different than the usual ones, for residents of some of Canada’s biggest cities to try. SOOKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA This is a small town west of Victoria that’s right on the water. There’s a pretty park that rolls down to the ocean and also Read more
TORONTO – The old guy is looking pretty fine. I wasn’t sure what to expect when the folks from Omni Hotels took over the King Edward Hotel in Toronto a couple years ago. Omni doesn’t have a strong presence in Canada. I stayed at a wonderful Omni in San Diego last year but it’s not a hotel chain (sorry guys) that conjures up any particular image other than being nice properties. I give them full marks, however, for what they’ve done to one of the city’s best-known and best-loved and most historic hotels. I had a tour of the newly Read more
