Carmel and Carmel Valley California are blessed with more wonders than any area should be allowed. The food and wine are superb, the hotels exceptional and the scenery – and golf – unsurpassed. Carmel Beach is a luscious, white sand affair that goes on forever. The fact that Pebble Beach Golf Course is on one end doesn’t hurt. The 17-Mile Drive is one of the great drives of the world. Be sure to stop at the Lone Cypress for an iconic photo. And be sure to drive all of the coastal route. The inland portion is lovely but can’t compare Read more
U.S.A.
The city of San Francisco never fails to impress. But she’s even prettier at Christmas, with decorations galore and plenty of holiday spirit. The “bridge to bridge view” rooms at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in San Francisco have stunning vistas, with guests able to take in both the Golden Gate Bridge (in the background here) and the Bay Bridge, with its fantastic lights. Rooms at the Mandarin Oriental, located in the financial district, also offer lovely designs and supremely comfortable beds. You’ll also find huge, well-appointed bathrooms and a renowned spa. Some of San Francisco’s famous cable cars get gussied Read more
Canadians don’t hear a lot about the Gold Rush country of the Sierra Nevada foothills, but it’s a marvellous part of California, with pine-scented hills, great driving trips, fantastic wineries and fun towns such as Angels Camp, Murphys and Sonora. Ironstone Vineyards is a popular winery in the Sierra foothills in Murphys, California. The vineyards turn lovely shades of yellow in the fall, as you can see in the photo above. The floral displays at Ironstone Vineyards are part of the draw. They have a small deli making good sandwiches and soup, and the wine shop/wine tasting room is a Read more
I’m constantly getting scrunched up faces from people at cocktail parties or dinners. I shower a lot and try to get to the laundry when I can, so it’s not that. No, what surprises some folks is that not even travel writers and former newspaper travel editors get to go everywhere they want. When I tell folks all the places that are still on m to-do list (Portugal, Poland, pretty much all of Africa, all of Central America and definitely all of South America) they look at me like I’m a little crazy. Some of it I can explain. Some Read more
Situation with Canadian couple that faces $1 million bill for premature birth of baby in Hawaii brings up an important issue, which is that half of all Canadians don’t buy travel health insurance. I’m guilty, too. But I won’t be in the future. The story in the Toronto Star the other day about the Saskatchewan couple who gave birth to a premature baby in Hawaii and now face a potential medical bill of $1 million is incredible. And very sad. It remains to be seen what will happen. I hope the insurance company will cut them some slack. But from Read more
