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
National Parks
Since we all seem a little short on time, I’ve begun a series of brief travel items called “Canada Shorts.” Today I take a not-too-time-consuming look at Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta. Waterton Lakes National Park might be the most under-appreciated national park in Canada. Located only three hours south of Calgary, Waterton simply took my breath away when I was there, with an outrageously beautiful lake and several smaller ones nearby, towering, snow-clad mountains, spectacular canyon drives, gushing waterfalls and a very laid-back feel to the main town, which is so small it makes Banff look like a Read more
A Canadian parliamentary committee is calling for sweeping changes to Canada’s air passenger rights rules, including better compensation regulations for those facing delayed or cancelled flights, and tougher enforcement of the rules. Canadian Press reports that the recommendations, tabled in Ottawa on Tuesday (April 18), comes after chaotic travel seasons over the summer and winter holidays brought on by soaring demand, labour shortages and winter storms. The House of Commons standing committee on transport offered 21 recommendations, including stronger monetary penalties, smoother processing of compensation claims and automatic payout offers after cancellations, significant delays or denial of boarding. The Globe Read more
MUSKOKA – We’ve just finished a fabulous picnic lunch at a table set two meters from the shore on Beausoleil Island in Georgian Bay Islands National Park. We’re watching small waves lap against a sloping, deep orange rock under a sky so blue it would make a robin’s egg jealous. We suddenly hear the cries of small children, and see a gentleman and three young boys walking along this massive slab of exposed Canadian Shield. We learn he’s the grandfather and that he and his son are taking the boys, a six-year-old and two four-year-old twins, camping for a couple Read more
