by Irene Butler A monkey swung on a vine above our heads in metronome-fashion, as if counting the humans entering his domain with each side-to-side movement. I set off into the tangle of jungle with my husband Rick and our guide Yui (U-ey) … [Read More...] about Isan, the Thailand of Old
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Christkindling Joy and Goodwill
by Susan Deefholts As my husband and I hurry through Kitchener's Victoria Park, I breathe in the crisp smell of winter. The bare branches of the trees and bushes are festooned with cheery lights that glow against the new-fallen snow. We cross … [Read More...] about Christkindling Joy and Goodwill

The Titanic: Forever Lost, Forever Remembered!
by Margaret Deefholts When tense I'm inclined to clench my teeth, and right now I'm grinding my molars big time. The reason? I'm travelling on MIR I, a submersible that is searching through the debris of the sunken wreck of the Titanic. Should … [Read More...] about The Titanic: Forever Lost, Forever Remembered!

A Victorian Christmas – Past And Present
By Margaret Deefholts I am standing at the entrance to a splendid castle, its fireplace decorated with boughs of mistletoe and ivy, its hallway aglow with lights, and its grand staircase banisters wreathed in garlands of holly. The rich aroma of … [Read More...] about A Victorian Christmas – Past And Present

Okanagan Get-A-Way: Some of Kelowna’s Many Sides
by Chris Millikan Electric bikes kick off our whirlwind Okanagan escapade in style. On the first glorious day, my hubby and I mount these steely chargers and blissfully explore along Kelowna’s scenic bench lands. Up the street from our lakeside … [Read More...] about Okanagan Get-A-Way: Some of Kelowna’s Many Sides

A Golf Getaway Deep In The Fraser Valley
by Julie H. Ferguson The view gobsmacks me as I wheel into the Pretty Estate Resort in Harrison Mills, an easy day trip from Vancouver. Why hadn’t I stopped here before? “You’re early,” the man at the pro shop tells me. “Is it your first … [Read More...] about A Golf Getaway Deep In The Fraser Valley

Pure Escapism at Arizona Inn
By Jane Cassie It's late Thursday afternoon and the gray ribbon of highway before us is cloaked with bumper to bumper gridlock. We inch along in our little red rental, butting up to suburbia vans, luxury Lincolns, and rust-bucket half tons, all … [Read More...] about Pure Escapism at Arizona Inn

Istanbul – The Old City
by Chuck Wightman Perched at the convergence of Europe and Asia, bridging cultures and histories, Istanbul keeps the propulsive rhythm of a bustling metropolis. Once the centrepiece to an empire spreading from Iraq to Algeria, ancient … [Read More...] about Istanbul – The Old City

Avoid the Crowds at the Un-Yosemite, Lassen Volcanic National Park
by Joan Fitting Scott In 2004, some 3.2 million visitors made the pilgrimage to the 1,200 square miles of stunning, protected wilderness that is Yosemite National Park, high in California's central Sierra Nevada range. Contrast this to about … [Read More...] about Avoid the Crowds at the Un-Yosemite, Lassen Volcanic National Park

Roman Pompeii: Suspended in Time
By Chris Millikan A day trip from Naples, Italy introduces us to one of Europe’s best-preserved archaeological sites. The catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD entombed Pompeii under six meters of volcanic ash. Entering this sophisticated … [Read More...] about Roman Pompeii: Suspended in Time

Through the Andes Atop an Autocar
by Judith Doyle Expect the unexpected in Ecuador. One day began when I climbed onto the roof of a railcar at Riobamba and rattled through the mountains of the Andes. It ended 10 hours later after our minibus circumnavigated two road blocks on the … [Read More...] about Through the Andes Atop an Autocar

A Foodie’s Guide to New Orleans Beyond Bourbon Street
New Orleans, Louisiana, is a city that has always been synonymous with vibrant culture and lively music. But when I first visited, it was the food that left the deepest impression on me. Most people head straight to Bourbon Street, seeking the famous … [Read More...] about A Foodie’s Guide to New Orleans Beyond Bourbon Street