A lakefront that’s the envy of the world. Amazing architecture. Fabulous food. And Midwestern hospitality. Those are just some of the reasons that readers of Conde Nast Travel have voted Chicago the best big city in the U.S. six years in a row. “That means more than 240,000 readers of Conde Nast voted for us,” Lynn Osmond, President and CEO of Choose Chicago, told me in a recent interview. “No other city has been chosen number one three years in a row, but we’ve done it six times straight.” Osmond said the city’s Midwestern hospitality is another key factor in Read more
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The crack of a bat. The sun on your face. There may not be a better way to spend a sunny afternoon than lying in the grass watching Spring Training in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area of Arizona. Chances are you’ll never get this close to Major League Baseball action or players. At least not for this price. Lawn seating for Arizona Diamondback games are listed online for as low as $19. It’s almost spring training time in both Arizona and Florida, where major league ballplayers gather to hone their skills for the regular season. Games begin around Feb. 25, so we’re Read more
It seems many Canadians plan on staying close to home again next summer. With that in mind, here’s a look at seven top places to explore in Canada’s most populous province. MUSKOKA Muskoka has been Ontario’s top summer playground for decades now, with sparkling lakes and rocky shores dotted with deciduous trees and sweet-smelling pines. There’s even more reason to go in 2023, as the historic RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Segwun (built in 1866) should be ready to sail again after a three-year hiatus. The Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst is open year-round and is definitely worth checking out. The Read more
I didn’t get out to British Columbia as I had planned, but I did manage to spend time this year in Calgary, Banff, Quebec and several places in Southern Ontario. Here are some of my fave experiences in Canada this year. MOST SURPRISING ARCHITECTURE: I had never heard of the Thomas Foster Memorial in Uxbridge, Ontario, but it’s a beautiful building both inside and out. Definitely worth a visit. MOST UNUSUAL SPA: The Muskoka Beer Spa is a fun spot south of Bala, Ontario, with a nice pool, hot tubs, saunas, a beach and cottages that you can have equipped Read more
OCEANSIDE – Visitors to this southern California seaside town will still find remnants of the days when it was best known as a place for soldiers stationed at nearby Camp Pendleton to blow off steam. There are old-style movie theatres and diners, and a number of barber shops proudly flying the Stars and Stripes and offer haircuts for as little as $11. But things have begun to change. A new Wyndham hotel appeared a few years ago. SpringHill Suites by Marriott followed. And then came the Mission Pacific and the Seabird, two sparkling, boutique hotels with rooftop bars sprung up Read more
