Europe can get hot and crowded in summer. So why not try a trip in winter? Air fares and hotels will be less expensive, often wildly so. And you won’t have the crowds. Which means more time to delve deep and really explore. Here are some great spots to try. IRELAND A bit cool, you say? Well, it’s not like summer in Ireland is a guaranteed heat furnace. So why not explore Dublin’s Temple Bar when you don’t need a reservation for the best bar stool? And why not try a night at a sumptuous spot like Ashford Castle in Read more
There’s nothing quite like arriving refreshed after a 14-hour flight to Asia. And I can’t think of a better way to manage that than with a business class ticket on Cathay Pacific. All of us who fly economy, and that’s by far the majority of what I fly, have trudged to our seats at the back of the plane and looked enviously at the folks ensconced in those dreamy pods in the front section. I was lucky enough to fly from Toronto to Hong Kong a couple weeks ago in the biz cabin on Cathay Pacific. And I’m happy to Read more
Beautiful scenery, tasty oysters, friendly people and excellent wines. Virginia is a hugely diverse state that now has a wonderful Oyster Trail that folks can check out. Here’s a link to my story in the National Post this week… http://news.nationalpost.com/life/travel/on-the-oyster-trail-in-virginia
In case you missed it (and I was away for the big event, unfortunately), there’s been a pretty major development in the travel biz here in Canada. The folks at National Geographic, who’ve been quietly adding a TON of travel trips and excursions to their well-respected portfolio, have joined forces with Toronto-based G Adventures to offer a wide package of enticing trips to historic and unusual parts of the world under the name National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures. It’s a pretty interesting mix, as G Adventures provides a younger, more vibrant audience than an established group like National Geographic Read more
NEW YORK – There’s Mario Batali leading a New York Jets cheer in his trademark orange sneakers. Oh, look, it’s Giada Laurentiis and her nuclear powered smile. And, BAM, there’s Emeril Lagasse boiling up some southern-style magic in front of a high-powered crowd. The city that never sleeps doesn’t do things on a small scale. They recently staged a truly massive New York City Wine and Food Festival that took up acres of empty piers on the Hudson River and featured hundreds of events with some of the biggest names in the biz, including Rachel Ray, Michael Symon and actor Read more
Hawaii puts on a great annual Food and Wine Festival, thanks in part to a rise in Hawaiian cuisine that features fresh local fish and locally grown fruits and vegetables. The food scene in the islands has come an enormously long way, making it one of the most exciting food destinations around. Here’s a story I did for the Sun Media chain in Canada a couple weeks ago, featuring top celebrity chefs such as Art Smith, Nancy Oakes and Hawaii’s own Roy Yamaguchi. http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/09/09/hawaii-food-and-wine-festival?token=4ae95a594b2d37dc6a8d73e411b85b13
I did a great trip to Gros Morne National Park in western Newfoundland back in early August. The story appeared in the Toronto Sun and other papers in the Postmedia and Sun Media chain. Rather than post the whole story again, here’s a link to the piece. I love Newfoundland! http://www.torontosun.com/2015/08/25/discover-wondrous-gros-morne-national-park
