The Royal Mail Ship Segwun, the oldest operating steamship in North America and a symbol of Muskoka, has been named “Ship of the Year” by the Steamship Historical Society of America. The award was given to officials of the Muskoka Steamships Discovery Centre on Aug. 8 in a ceremony on the dock in Gravenhurst, Ontario. “On behalf of the Steamship Historical Society of America (www.sshsa.org ), I am delighted to announce that R.M.S. Segwun has been selected as our ‘Ship of the Year’ for 2026, our most prestigious award,” said society president Pat Dacey. “As a result of a nomination Read more
Muskoka
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
The first match of the World Cup in Toronto will be held in less than a week (June 12). I’ve lived in the city for 45 years, so here are some great things to see and do if you’re in town to catch the action in person or on TV. WHERE TO CATCH THE GAMES If you can afford a ticket, or maybe if you’re uncle is the Prime Minister or the head of FIFA, you’ll be attending matches at what’s being called Toronto Stadium; known to most of Toronto folks as BMO Field but changed for the tournament for Read more
A look at where Canadians will be travelling this summer, as well as a new list of the best family beach vacation spots in the U.S. That and more in today’s blog post. BEST U.S. FAMILY BEACH VACATION SPOTS With the U.S. Memorial Day weekend pretty much here (it’s the unofficial kick-off to summer in the States), here’s a nice U.S. News list of the top 18 places in the US of A for a family beach vacation. Florida took home the top two spots and had a remarkable five places in the top 10. South Carolina has three spots Read more
Another day, another travel list. I can’t take too much issue with MSN’s recent list of 29 beautiful views in Canada. I like that the writers/editors included places in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, rather than sticking to the tried-and-true places. I’m not sure that these are meant to be in order, from best to “worst.” But I assume that’s the case, which makes me wonder, because I have no idea how you could argue that Cape Breton belongs below the Okanagan Valley or downtown Toronto. I haven’t seen it but I also can’t see Cape Breton being behind the Read more
