MSN has a fine item posted on ten of the best Caribbean islands for folks who want to get away from the crowds. I’ve visited six of them: Bequia, Iles des Saintes, Dominica, Eleuthera, Anguilla, and Nevis. They’re all outstanding destinations for travellers looking to get away from it all. BEQUIA: This is a delightful island south of St. Vincent that’s easily reached by ferry. Part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the main town of Port Elizabeth has a super casual feel and is decorated with wildly colourful Bougainvillea and other flowering plants. Stroll along the Princess Margaret waterfront Read more
U.S.A.
BUFFALO – One of North America’s most beautiful art museums. Texas BBQ with a South Asian twist. Former grain silos that now house poetry readings. And some of the nicest people on the planet. I recently spent a weekend in this western New York city and, not for the first time, drove home with a smile on my face. I hadn’t been in Buffalo for eight years, but I found the same entrepreneurial spirit and pride I’ve seen in previous visits. Not unlike Newfoundlanders, they’re quick to lend a hand, and don’t seem to take themselves seriously.I get the feeling Read more
Barbados is celebrating its 60th anniversary as an independent nation. I first visited in 2009 or so, and have been at least four or five times since. It’s one of my fave places in the world; beautiful and safe and relaxed, but with many elegant places to stay. This list is mostly about food and drinks, so here’s a link to a story I wrote after a great food tour of the island a few years ago. Barbados Food & Rum Festival – One of the Caribbean’s premier culinary festivals brings together renowned local and international chefs each year. Meet Award-Winning Read more
MSN has a fun (maybe not to him) look at European travel expert Rick Steves’ fave places – and not so fave – places in Europe. Rick (I dealt with him briefly when I was travel editor at the Toronto Star) doesn’t hate anyplace in Europe as far as I can tell, but there do seem to be places he recommends more highly than others. Here’s what MSN Travel and xxx published in a story about Steves’ personal faves – and not so faves. RICK’S FAVES Bruges, Belgium Istanbul, Turkiye Rome, Italy Prague, Czechia Mosel River Valley, Germany Norway NOT Read more
Canadian travel to the U.S. slowed in June of this year compared to May, but was still a fair bit higher than June of 2025. New figures released today (July 13) by Statistics Canada show that, for June of 2026, return trips to Canada from the U.S. were up 3.2% over June of last year. Return trips by car were up 5.2%, while returning trips by air were down 3.8%. Stats Canada said the June figures mark the third month in a row that return trips to Canada from the States were up over the previous year’s figures. For May, Read more
