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National Parks

MSN has a fun (maybe not to him) look at European travel expert Rick Steves’ fave places – and not so fave – places in Europe. Rick (I dealt with him briefly when I was travel editor at the Toronto Star) doesn’t hate anyplace in Europe as far as I can tell, but there do seem to be places he recommends more highly than others. Here’s what MSN Travel and xxx published in a story about Steves’ personal faves – and not so faves. RICK’S FAVES Bruges, Belgium Istanbul, Turkiye Rome, Italy Prague, Czechia Mosel River Valley, Germany Norway NOT Read more

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Whether you’re a visitor or a U.S. resident, it’s always good to maximize your US vacation with value-stretching travel tips. Here are some great suggestions from Brand USA. Even with exchange rates that makes things tough for Canadians, Aussies and other visitors, traveling to the United States doesn’t have to break the bank. Dozens of destinations and experiences across the country are both affordable (or even free!) and, of course, unforgettable. “Unforgettable experiences don’t have to come with a high price tag,” says Fred Dixon, president and CEO of Brand USA. “Whether it’s a breathtaking road trip along scenic coastlines, Read more

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Here’s a fun chart: A look at the world’s best cities for Instagram sunset posts. New research by Heepsy analyzed 54 cities worldwide to identify the ones that have the most Instagrammable sunsets. The study considered several key factors, including the number of Instagram hashtags, average annual sunshine hours, air quality index (AQI), tourist arrivals, and popular sunset spots, to determine the cities that offer the most stunning and popular sunset experiences.  Here’s their top nine, including total score based on the above factors and key places to watch the sun go down. As a California native who grew up Read more

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This is a post from a few years ago. But I don’t think things have changed too much in these destinations. If I’ve mentioned something that’s closed, my apologies. Given today’s political climate, I thought it would be good to re-position this story on great things to see and do in Canada. It’s a great time to get out and explore great areas of Canada. Here are a few of my faves from my travels over the past few years. SOUTHWEST ONTARIO After spending most of my spare time in Ontario in regions north of Toronto, I started visiting this Read more

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It was an ambitious plan. And probably a stupid one. My wife and I had an invitation to take the Rocky Mountaineer train from Denver to Moab, Utah from April 22-24. We also had a visit lined up for Las Vegas from April 28-30. Flying home from Utah to Toronto on April 24 and then flying back out west to Las Vegas on the 28th seemed silly.  I started to think, which is often a dangerous occurrence in my household. “I’ve always wanted to see the great national parks of Utah,” I told my wife. “What do you think?” She Read more

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