I’m looking around at the Whetung Ojibwa Centre, a small country store on the Curve Lake First Nation reserve outside Peterborough. I admire the colourful artwork, dozens of styles of moccasins and sparkling jewelry, not to mention the walrus skulls and old, black and white photos in the basement. As I’m heading out, I spy a large collection of jams and jellies made with local berries. To me, breakfast isn’t complete without toast and good jam, so I pick up a jar and head to the cash register. The woman handing the register looks at me and smiles. “Would you Read more

An excerpt from my new book about places to visit in Ontario includes Port Dover and Lake Erie, plus some great wineries. I also take a look at the fabulous Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate company, which makes truly incredible treats in Hawaii. My New Ontario Escapes Book: Excerpt Here This is an excerpt from my new book, “Ontario Escapes: 19 Great Places to Visit Right Now.” It’s available for $4.99 from Apple Books at this link. Thanks for taking a look. This chapter includes a visit to the fun and funky town of Port Dover and the north shore of Read more

It may not be the best time to visit California. But here’s a prior blog posting of mine to keep in mind for when you next visit. SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA – Sip wine on a patio overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains. Ride a steam train through a forest of towering redwoods. And stroll glorious, empty beaches on a perfect spring day. The Santa Cruz region of California doesn’t get the attention that places like the Napa Valley or Big Sur tend to attract. But it should. If you’re looking for a great getaway that’s an easy (and beautiful) drive from Read more

One doesn’t want to appear smug, but considering the situation we have in Canada in terms of the coronavirus, this news lands at a pretty interesting time. A report by US News has ranked Canada as the best country in the world for Quality of Life and as the number two country on the planet overall, trailing only Switzerland. We were third last year, so we moved up a spot on the podium for 2020. Here’s what their report had to say, in part: “Canada’s expansive wilderness to the north plays a large role in Canadian identity, as does the Read more

One of the most recognized landmarks in Canada re-opens to the public today, along with a wonderful shrine to hockey and a snappy museum for shoes. Starting around 10 a.m., folks will once again be able to ride an elevator into the sky high above Toronto and enjoy a visit to the renowned CN Tower. I was lucky enough to have a tour on Tuesday to see how they’re prepared to welcome visitors in this new world of ours. And I came away impressed with the health and safety measures they’ve prepared. “We’ve done everything possible to make sure the Read more

With Tahiti reopening for tourism today, here’s a post from a wondrous visit to Tahiti Iti in February. There’s no sign that says “Welcome to Another World” when you turn onto the section of Tahiti island called Tahiti Iti. I’m thinking there should be. A driver who makes the turn south on Tahiti’s main, road (there doesn’t appear to be a name or a number for this two-lane stretch of asphalt; the map I grabbed at the airport in Papeete didn’t provide a number, and the woman at the rental car counter merely called it “the road”) won’t notice an Read more