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
wine
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
I’ve been to Australia a half-dozen times, and have been able to enjoy a wide variety of tremendous experiences. Of course, there are lots of things I’ve yet to do, and places I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing. So, here’s one Down Under lover’s list of nine great places I’ve enjoyed in Australia, and also at some fab places to stay. Okay, and a brief look at a few spots I haven’t been that might spark your interest in a future trip. LORD HOWE ISLAND This is a teensy, weensy between Australia and New Zealand. It belongs to the Read more
The crowds are gone. But the weather’s still pretty good. Fall is a fabulous time of year to explore European cities and villages. Here are some of my favorite places to check out in Europe in autumn, including Portugal, Italy, France and Austria. WESTERN ALGARVE, PORTUGAL We stayed in the village of Burgau, Portugal a few years ago with friends, and absolutely loved it. It’s a small, huggable little town with several nice restaurants, but it’s not as well-known as other villages on the Algarve and never seemed crowded with visitors. You’ll find fabulous hiking along the cliffs in both Read more
