NIAGARA-ON-THE LAKE, ONTARIO – We’re sitting on comfy outdoor furniture in a lovely cabana in mid-August, sipping some of Niagara’s best wine and nibbling away at a tray of splendid, hot cheese puffs. There’s an attractive, blue/grey sail over our heads to protect us from the sun, and we have a close-up view of the bright green, leafy vineyards, where red wine grapes are just beginning to turn soft shades of plum. We’ve each been served a glass of the Chateau’s excellent sparkling wine and are slowly (well, kind of) sipping away as we soak in the beauty – and Read more
Canada
Canada’s domestic travel boom shows no signs of slowing down. New Airbnb data showed that domestic bookings jumped by more than 10% in the first half of the year compared to 2024—confirming the momentum in domestic travel has real staying power. Travellers are choosing to explore closer to home, spending their travel dollars locally and supporting Canadian hosts, small businesses, and communities in doing so. And that’s wonderful to hear. I haven’t had much time off this summer but my wife and I are planning three days at Elmhirst’s Resort near Peterborough, Ontario later this month. This surge in domestic Read more
A new report from KAYAK finds domestic destinations are more popular with Canadian travellers for Labour Day Weekend this year than last year, with more than a 19% increase in searches. Top domestic travel spots include Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Halifax, a city I love. Canadians also are looking for trips to Paris and London (the England one). Top trending destinations include Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, Edmonton (an underrated Canadian city) and Dublin, Ireland, KAYAK said. A NEW ATTRACTION FOR NIAGARA FALLS One of Canada’s top destinations – and one of the great vacation spots in the world Read more
One of the world’s best beaches is getting bigger. Much bigger. I recently caught up with Brian Lowack, president and CEO of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater; one of the top destinations in Florida. He told me a beach renewal project that stretches from Sand Key on Clearwater Beach to St. Pete Beach will add 2.5 million cubic yards of sand, with roughly 200 feet of width. “It’s already great, but it’s going to be the most beautiful beach in Florida,” he told me in Toronto, where Visit St. Pete/Clearwater hosted media and travel agents at a Blue Jays-Yankees game. The cost Read more
A posh room at one of Canada’s top hotels. And time to listen to the loons and inhale the sweet smell of pines at one of the country’s most popular outdoor playgrounds. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Jayne’s Luxury Rentals recently treated travel advisors and a few members of the travel media to an evening in Ontario’s Muskoka district, including a fashion show that was part of Muskoka Fashion Week, and an overnight stay at one of Jayne’s Luxury Rentals properties. Yours truly media in attendance on a night that featured cool temperatures but plenty of hot fashion, locally made art Read more
