One of Canada’s finest hotels. A marvelous, family-run winery. A highly-rated spa. And excellent food. Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of the top destinations in North America, a stunningly beautiful Ontario town with a rich, colourful history and one of the top theatre programs in the world, the Shaw Festival. My wife and I were lucky enough to spend a couple days in town earlier this month, a stretch of November that felt more like early October. We had sumptuous meals, wonderful wine, high tea at a posh hotel, relaxing spa treatments, and a fun walking tour. Here’s a look at our Read more
wine
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
Sometimes I wonder about people. I was looking at my Threads social media account yesterday ,where I saw that someone worried about the demonstrations in Los Angeles asked if it was safe to visit Monterey, California. What?? Has this person ever looked at an atlas or a map? Did they bother to look at the map on their phone to see where Monterey is? Folks, it’s a good five-plus hours from L.A. to Monterey, which is a sleepy, tourist town known for its aquarium and lovely waterfront. Of course, it’s safe to visit Monterey. It’s like asking if it’s safe Read more
Several major U.S. destinations are courting Canadian visitors at a very difficult time between the two countries. We have seen Canadian “love letters” from cities such as Detroit and Palm Springs, and a cheeky video from California Governor Gavin Newsom. Today came a strongly worded note of support for Canadian visitors from the governor of Illinois, who also said US President Donald Trump has represented the U.S. in a “shameful” manner. ILLINOIS GOVERNOR CALLS TRUMP BEHAVIOR “SHAMEFUL” Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity ( today released a new video inviting Canadian travelers to visit Read more
This is one of the great cities of Canada; a vibrant but super-friendly spot where people aren’t in a rush and where drivers stop to let crazed Torontonians jaywalk across a busy street at rush hour. You’ll also find a wonderful waterfront, terrific food and trendy neighbourhoods to explore. Here are some of the top things to see and do in Halifax, and also some suggested places to stay and side trips to take. WHAT TO SEE Halifax Citadel National Historic Site is a former British and Canadian fort that sits on a high hill overlooking the city. A Read more
