ON THE CALIFORNIA COAST – One of the world’s great drives. Sensational food. And a wide mix of places to stay. The Monterey/Big Sur region of California is one of the most magical destinations on the planet, a “pinch me, I must be dreaming” kind of place that almost defies the imagination with its mix of soft light and rugged beauty. Here are some highlights from a recent trip from Monterey to Big Sur and back, including visits to the towns of Carmel and Pacific Grove, and a stunning, hillside spot on the coast. I’m also sprinkling in some tips Read more
road trips
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
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
North Americans should be prepared for a very busy weekend. The U.S. Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and, with travel restrictions pretty much lifted around the world, it’s big. Very big. Scary big. The American Automobile Association expected 37.1 million Americans to hop in their cars this weekend, up 6% from last year. I’m surprised it’s not a little higher given that the association says car rental prices are down 17% and gas prices down 10% from a year ago. “We’re seeing strong demand for MDW with nearly 17 million passengers scheduled to depart from U.S airports this coming Read more
Sustainability is a big part of visiting one of the great national parks in Canada. And Parks Canada is making it easier than ever, with hundreds of electric car charging spots across the country. EV drivers now have access to at least 20,478 charging ports located at 8,732 public charging station locations across Canada, with more being added daily. And it’s not only urban destinations supporting EV infrastructure. Under the leadership of Parks Canada , approximately 400 EV charging stations have been installed in 43 of the most popular parks and national historic sites administered by Parks Canada with another Read more
