A new list of the 50 best restaurants in North America gives the title to Chicago, but two Canadian restaurants also made the podium. Smyth in Chicago came out on top, rising from number five on last year’s list. Second was a new entry to the top 50, Eight restaurant in Calgary. Taking the bronze medal was renowned Pearl Morissette in Lincoln, Ontario (Niagara Region). Pearl Morissette was named Canada’s best restaurant a few weeks ago. The U.S. had 36 spots in the top 50, while Canada had a very solid 14 (and five of the top ten). In the Read more
Bora Bora
A record 28.2 million visitors came to Toronto in 2025, generating a record $9.1 billion in spending. Destination Toronto figures released today (Jan. 28) show overnight visits rose two per cent over last year despite a softening U.S. market. Large entertainment events such as concerts and sporting events like the Toronto Blue Jays helped the city set its new record, officials said. The $9.1 billion in direct spending exceeded the previous year’s record by four per cent, reinforcing tourism’s role as one of the city’s most important export sectors. Toronto is the most visited city in Canada. Domestic visitation remained Read more
We all love beautiful water photos, so here’s something to think about, and perhaps even plan a trip around. A new analysis by GoPro Alternatives, an action camera comparison site, examined the world’s top water destinations based on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube posts. Here’s their top 10: 1. Mauritius 2. Maui 3. Niagara Falls 4. Amalfi Coast, Italy 5. Kauai 6. Curacao 7. Bora Bora (Tahiti) 8. Florida Keys 9. Blue Lagoon, Iceland 10. Phi Phi Islands, Thailand As a Canadian, I love seeing Niagara Falls on the list. As a passionate Hawai’i fan, I love seeing Maui and Kauai Read more
Nice to see some places I know and love in Oceania come home with World Travel Awards. The World Travel Awards for Oceania were held recently, with awards being handed out to hotels, airlines and destinations in Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, and more. New Zealand (I’ve been twice and hope to go again in early 2025) was named Oceania’s Leading Destination 2024. It’s a remarkable country with an outstanding variety of things to see and do, and a wide variety of climatic/geographic zones that range from rugged mountains and fjords to wide, sandy beaches. Air New Zealand, which I Read more
Inflation remains a problem for many Canadians. And it’s definitely an issue when it comes to travel. A new report from Flight Centre Travel Group shows that flight fares to major Canadian cities have increased by an average of 14%. The report shows flights between Edmonton and Vancouver are 82% more expensive than a year ago, while flights from Montreal to Toronto cost 36% more than they did at this time in 2023. On the other hand, at least one route – Vancouver to Toronto – showed a slight decrease in price. Here’s Flight Centre’s top Canada Read more
