There’s still nearly two months left of summer (fall doesn’t arrive until Sept. 21), which means there’s plenty of time to get out on a road trip and enjoy great places in the U.S. and Canada. Here are a few personal faves. COOL SPOTS IN THE U.S.A. PITTSBURGH I grew up near Oakland, California and our family had season tickets for the Oakland Raiders football team. I hated the Pittsburgh Steelers with a passion. Years later I was working in the sports department for the Toronto Star, and talked my editor into having me drive to Pittsburgh to Read more
Eastern Townships
What began as a heartfelt invitation to American travelers has now become an international sensation. The Eastern Townships’ Come Hug It Out tourism campaign, designed to remind visitors from the U.S. that they’re always welcome in this charming Canadian region, has gone viral, racking up millions of views and even catching the attention of Hollywood icon Sharon Stone, former star of Basic Instinct. Launched in late May across the U.S. Northeast, the campaign features a humorous yet touching video of an American traveler being quite literally embraced by the warmth and authenticity of the Townships. It is a simple, powerful Read more
The end of summer is more than three weeks away, but the unofficial end of summer weekend is coming up fast. Labour Day Weekend is a great time to get out and enjoy fabulous destinations near major Canadian cities to try wine tasting, great hikes, small-town shopping and more. Here are suggestions for easy getaways for residents of Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Halifax. HALIFAX The Eastern Shore is an easy drive from Halifax and features wonderful Lawrencetown Beach, as well as beautiful bays for kayaking or canoeing. Taylor Head Provincial Park has a lovely beach and rugged hiking trails. Wolfville Read more
I didn’t get out to British Columbia as I had planned, but I did manage to spend time this year in Calgary, Banff, Quebec and several places in Southern Ontario. Here are some of my fave experiences in Canada this year. MOST SURPRISING ARCHITECTURE: I had never heard of the Thomas Foster Memorial in Uxbridge, Ontario, but it’s a beautiful building both inside and out. Definitely worth a visit. MOST UNUSUAL SPA: The Muskoka Beer Spa is a fun spot south of Bala, Ontario, with a nice pool, hot tubs, saunas, a beach and cottages that you can have equipped Read more
It looks like a lot of Canadians are looking to stay close to home again this fall and winter. Which means it’s a great year to explore this great country of ours. Here are some great things to see and do in Quebec. An installation outside the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. JIM BYERS PHOTO MONTREAL Truly one of the world’s great cities, with fabulous food and wonderful neighbourhoods to explore. Saint Henri is one of the hottest areas of town, with great restaurants and bars and independent shops. Mile End has been one of the most vibrant regions of Read more
