Two years ago I was sitting in my back yard in Toronto when I got a text message from my sister. “So awful about the Maui and Lahaina fires,” she said. I had been busy and hadn’t been checking the news. I had no idea what she was talking about, so I was dumbfounded when I did a google search and saw the photos and read about the devastation of a town I’ve probably visited 100 times or more. It was a delightful, slightly rowdy, engaging, colourful and somewhat ramshackle town with fine food, engaging shops and an old-time feel Read more
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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
Travel + Leisure readers recently named their fave 20 hotels and resorts in Hawai’i. As someone who’s been a good three dozen times and has probably spent a year of his life in the islands, I have to say it’s a good list. But even a ranking of 20 top places to stay misses a lot of fine places to rest your head in the Hawaiian islands. With that in mind, I’ve got a list of my own places to try that didn’t make the Travel + Leisure list. I also have some thoughts on the T + L readers’ Read more
Endless beaches. Swaying palm trees. Pretty coastal villages. Expedia says the world is in love with islands, and they’ve created a special list of the best islands for everything from relaxing to affordable luxury. They also have come up with a list of the top islands for Canadians. Expedia today (July 15) released its 2025 Island Hot List, a first-of-its-kind guide to island travel based on verified data and traveler insights. The inaugural report reveals global interest for islands is up 30%. “From the cultural richness of Jamaica to the sunny shores of Koh Samui, the islands on the 2025 Read more
What began as a heartfelt invitation to American travelers has now become an international sensation. The Eastern Townships’ Come Hug It Out tourism campaign, designed to remind visitors from the U.S. that they’re always welcome in this charming Canadian region, has gone viral, racking up millions of views and even catching the attention of Hollywood icon Sharon Stone, former star of Basic Instinct. Launched in late May across the U.S. Northeast, the campaign features a humorous yet touching video of an American traveler being quite literally embraced by the warmth and authenticity of the Townships. It is a simple, powerful Read more
