It’s mid-morning on a lovely February day in Bradenton, Florida. I’m kayaking through the tranquil Robinson Preserve in the northwest corner of the city, sliding past deep green mangrove forests dotted with majestic blue herons and brilliant white ibis. I’ve lucked into a morning paddle with Ranger Randy West from Kayak Jack’s. We get to talking as we roll along, and West tells me he used to be a professional volleyball player. Among his opponents over the years was Karch Kiraly, the legendary U.S. volleyballer and two-time gold medallist often considered the finest man to play the game. “I earned just Read more

This tariff war is not an easy thing to watch, particularly for a dual U.S./Canadian citizen who has called Canada home for 43 years and 45 weeks. Canadians are booing the U.S. national anthem at some sporting events and are calling off visits to the States. Americans seem embarrassed at the way their president is behaving, but appear helpless to stop the “51st state” nonsense or the ongoing tariff battle. With that as a painful backdrop, it’s nice to see the tourism folks in Detroit reaching out across the border with a friendly nod and a firm handshake to let Read more

Major awards for three Canadian airports. A nice Air Canada sale. New hotels for Maui. Turkish Airlines becomes third busiest in the world. A new marketing plan for Fort Lauderdale. And a spiffy new Fairmont hotel/resort in Spain. Today’s blog post covers a lot of ground!   TORONTO, VICTORIA AND ST. JOHN’S AIRPORT AWARDS   Toronto Pearson Airport, along with airports in Victoria, B.C. and St. John’s, have won awards from Airports Council International (ACI).   As part of ACI’s annual Airport Service Quality awards, The Montreal-based group handed out three “Best Airport Awards” for North American facilities that serve Read more

The tariff spat between the United States and Canada may be having an effect on cross-border travel. Statistics Canada says the number of Canadians who returned to Canada from the U.S. by car last month was down 23% from February of last year, falling to 1.2 million. The number returning by air was down 2.4% to 1.8 million. “It doesn’t surprise me that we’re seeing a reduction in discretionary travel to the States,” Avery Campbell, the Director of Advocacy and Industry Relations for the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors, told me. Given that people usually book their Read more

A splashy, upscale resort with one of the best swimming pools on the planet. And a relaxing retreat that’s the epitome of old-time, Hawaiian charm. I loved my recent stay at both Koloa Landing in Poipu/Koloa and the Waimea Plantation Cottages on the lush, tropical island of Kauai. But for very different reasons. Here’s a look at two wonderful family properties with very different styles on what might be Hawaii’s most beautiful island. KOLOA LANDING RESORT AT POIPU, MARRIOTT AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION   This is an upscale yet super family-friendly spot on the edge of the popular Poipu/Koloa region of south Read more

I’ve been to Australia a half-dozen times, and have been able to enjoy a wide variety of tremendous experiences. Of course, there are lots of things I’ve yet to do, and places I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing. So, here’s one Down Under lover’s list of nine great places I’ve enjoyed in Australia, and also at some fab places to stay. Okay, and a brief look at a few spots I haven’t been that might spark your interest in a future trip. LORD HOWE ISLAND This is a teensy, weensy between Australia and New Zealand. It belongs to the Read more