ISLAND OF KAUAI, HAWAII – A gem of a small town. The most beautiful golf course you can play for pennies. One of the most stunning pieces of geography on the planet. And a wonderful family resort. There are few islands in the world with the kind of diversity you find on Kauai, sometimes known as the Garden Island. I was staying at a lovely family spot on the bustling southeast portion of the island, the Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort . It’s got a beautiful, free form pool with a couple of slides and three Jacuzzi tubs, one for families Read more
travel
It’s spring. Well, it’s almost spring, even though it feels like frickin’ January in Toronto. And that means folks are looking to bust out and hit the road. With summer holiday planning underway, more Canadians are looking at trips to Europe. The latest information from hotwire.com shows the top 10 places Canadians who use the site are looking to book. And what they’re paying. So here you go! The first spot is Toronto. No surprise given the financial clout and sheer size of the city. Average hotel room price on Hotwire? Just $83. Obviously the average guy or gal isn’t Read more
VICTORIA – I’m shocked it took this long. But at least it’s here now. On my recent trip to Victoria, which is far more hip than you might think, I wandered into the Victoria Public Market on Douglas Ave., one of the main streets. It’s located in the old Hudson’s Bay building, just a few blocks north of the main part of downtown. And it’s a magnificent addition to the city, a fun and giant and sunny space with ceilings high enough for a giraffe and immense concrete pillars. They’ve added splashy, colourful paper umbrellas to give the place Read more
Congrats to Sherry Hildebrandt of Huntsville, Ont., whose name was drawn earlier today for my great family getaway contest. Hildebrandt picked up a one-night stay for four people in deluxe Double Accomodations at the terrific Eaton Chelsea Hotel in downtown Toronto, one of Canada’s top properties and probably the best family hotel in the country The deal is valid until Aug. 15 of this year, and also includes dinner for four people in their signature restaurant, Bb33 Bistro and Brasserie, as well as breakfast for four at Bb33. Plus free parking and a family pass to the Ontario Science Centre. Read more
VANCOUVER – A classic restaurant and a newly-old classic hotel. I spent the first couple days of this week in one of the world’s favourite cities, eating and drinking and checking out some great locations. Topping the list has to be the Rosewood Hotel Georgia , a 1927 beauty that was given a five-year renovation and re-opened in 2011. I’d seen it before but hadn’t stayed the night until this trip. And I’m happy to report it’s just as sexy and seductive and luxurious as it looks. I love hotels with a real sense of style and arrival, and that’s Read more
