This is the second of my “Europe Shorts” posts, which are aimed at people who don’t have a lot of time but want to read about cool destinations in Europe. VIENNA – This stunningly beautiful city is known for prancing stallions, high-brow music and fancy coffee shops. But there’s also a rich, vibrant modern side to this city, with rooftop bars that blast pulsating dance tunes, wildly inventive architecture, and funky shops based on Monty Python sketches. When I was there last year, tour guide Alexa Brauner, an engaging and enthusiastic art lover, took me on a three-hour walking tour Read more
shopping
Time Out magazine has come out with a list of the https://www.timeout.com/travel/coolest-neighbourhoods-in-the-world of the world, and Canada is well represented. Montreal’s Mile End district garnered the fifth spot. “Part of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough, this pocket north of Mont-Royal Avenue is home to some of the city’s world-famous institutions as well as epic new spots,” Time Out said. In Toronto, Dundas West came 12th overall. “Nestled between Trinity Bellwoods and West Queen West, this stretch of Canada’s ‘city of neighbourhoods’ is a culture consumer’s paradise with boutique art galleries, snug bars, understated nightclubs and enough cosy coffee shops to keep you Read more
So much for last-minute Christmas shopping in the States this year. The Trudeau government today said it’s reintroducing the requirement for a pre-arrival negative PCR-style COVID-19 test for all travellers coming into Canada, even if they’re Canadians who’ve only been gone a short while. The new policy comes into place next Tuesday, December 21. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos made the announcement against the backdrop of rising Omicron-variant numbers across the country. He also said Canada is ending its much-criticized ban against travel to and from several African countries. When he unveiled the Canadian government’s new travel advisory on Wednesday, Duclos Read more
A historic home once lived in by one of the world’s greatest writers. Fabulous food. Great, local wines. And wonderful, walkable downtowns. The Tri-Valley region of California is not only easy to enjoy, but easy to get to. The valley is roughly a 45-minute drive from downtown San Francisco, and easily reached on the Bay Area Rapid Transit System. It’s not an area that gets a ton of publicity, but that’s what makes it so much fun to explore. I grew up about 10 minutes from the area, and a post at the daily Tri-Valley Herald was my first newspaper Read more
Lahaina might be my fave small city in the world. It’s a delightful, tropical town perched on the dry side of the West Maui mountains, with a colourful history and a fun, engaging charm. This was the center of the Pacific whaling industry for some time, and you’ll find remnants of old jails that housed rowdy sailors. The town center also features one of the world’s largest banyan trees, which has dozens of trunks and spreads over an entire city block. It’s a great place for kids to explore and dream about being a member of the Swiss Family Robinson Read more
