MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA – We were due to hit the road and drive to the San Francisco Bay Area from this lovely oceanfront town on the Central Coast. My wife was dying for an acai bowl, and we both wanted a good cup of coffee to fuel us up for the drive north. I did a little research on my iPhone and settled on a place on the main shopping street in Morro Bay called High Tide Deli and Cafe. A few minutes later we pulled into the parking lot. I loved the place the minute I got out of Read more
restaurants.
Tina from Mexico was listening to classical music and wanted to talk about Canadian politics as she drove us to dinner one night. Mohammed was blasting out hurtin’ tunes on a country music radio station as he shepherded us from an evening meal. And a young guy whose name I forget was bopping away to Marvin Gaye and other soul artists from the 1960s and 1970s as he drove us to the Museum of Latin American Art. During a three-day visit to Long Beach, California, I found some of the nicest and most interesting rideshare drivers that I’ve met in Read more
I posted this story a couple years ago after a visit to Burlington, Ontario. Now that Canadians are seemingly determined to stay close to home for their 2025 vacations, an easy getaway like this from the nation’s biggest city is even more attractive than ever. From trails with fabulous on-high views from the top of the Niagara Escarpment to fine dining, and from one of Canada’s greatest gardens to a stylish hotel on the shores of Lake Ontario, here are some great options in Burlington. THE GREAT OUTDOORS Mount Nemo Conservation Area The Mount Nemo Conservation Area is one of Read more
It’s mid-morning on a lovely February day in Bradenton, Florida. I’m kayaking through the tranquil Robinson Preserve in the northwest corner of the city, sliding past deep green mangrove forests dotted with majestic blue herons and brilliant white ibis. I’ve lucked into a morning paddle with Ranger Randy West from Kayak Jack’s. We get to talking as we roll along, and West tells me he used to be a professional volleyball player. Among his opponents over the years was Karch Kiraly, the legendary U.S. volleyballer and two-time gold medallist often considered the finest man to play the game. “I earned just Read more
It was at the end of the NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2019. The next year’s game was slated for Chicago, and someone had to take an NBA basketball signed by the legendary Michael Jordan and escort it safely to Chicago. Lisa Nucci, who’s now Chief Marketing Officer for the city of Chicago’s tourism office, Choose Chicago, was Director of Marketing for the Chicago Bulls at the time (she was later Senior Director and Executive Director of Marketing) and was given the task of shepherding the invaluable ball to the Windy City. So, how did she handle Read more
