I love camping. I really do, especially for the landscapes it allows me to explore that would otherwise be too far from a trailhead to visit. But I also enjoy the full glamping experience where I have a secure to semi-secure roof over my head and I don't have to worry about being woken up by a bear sniffing around my tent. I also enjoy the simple things like being able to stand up (my…
For a romantic getaway near Calgary, plan a visit to The Crossing at Ghost River. It's located on 145 rolling acres along the picturesque Ghost River, just 20 minutes west of Cochrane, and only an hour's drive from Calgary. Over the years the property has primarily been used for corporate and team building meetings, weddings, and retreats. It's just recently that they've been allowed to open to individuals and couples. In fact, John and I…
If you've driven the Trans-Canada Highway between Golden and Revelstoke, British Columbia then you've passed Heather Mountain Lodge & Cabins - but perhaps unknowingly. I know I've seen a sign pointing to heli-skiing in the winter but not once on the multiple times I've driven the Trans-Canada, did I clue into the fact that there was a beautiful lodge, just off the highway. But there is, and though it does cater to the heli-skier in…
If you're looking for unique places to stay in Alberta, check out the Charming Inns of Alberta - a collection of 12 distinctive properties covering a swath of the province from Jasper National Park in the north to Waterton Lakes National Park in the south. Choose from romantic small inns, log cabins, B&B's, boutique hotels, and even glamping tents in a world-class mountain setting. Most of these properties are family and pet-friendly. Many are locally…
As a Calgary resident, I often hear people say that summer is such a nice time to be in the city that they don't want to leave. I don't mind some city time - more to stay on top of my garden than anything - but what I really love to do is get into the mountains. Even with COVID in our midst, I feel like I'm leading a close to normal life while I'm…
A visit to Rossland BC has been on my radar for years. While I didn't appreciate what a cute mountain town Rossland is until my summer visit, I did know that the town is a dream destination - albeit an out of the way one - for skiers. In fact it was at RED Mountain Resort where Nancy Greene, Canada's female athlete of the 20th century, cut her teeth skiing. The ski hill is well-known…
Since its opening in the fall of 2017, the Fairmont Amman has set the bar for luxury hotels in Amman, Jordan. Its prestigious location in the 5th Circle of Amman, ensures its a convenient 30 minute drive from the Queen Alia International Airport. From the moment you step out of your car at the entrance of the Fairmont Amman, the five star hotel experience begins. As you walk to the check-in desk through a magnificent…
Ask a Canadian where they’d send their friends and/or guests to experience Ontario’s great outdoors and many would suggest Algonquin Park or perhaps Muskoka or the Kawartha Lakes. They’d recommend swimming, canoeing and kayaking since Canada’s most populous province is blessed with oodles of warm lakes and sparkling rivers. While cottagers and tourists flock to these popular destinations, a growing number are now seeking out Northern Ontario’s French River. French River - a Canadian Heritage…
I was already a fan of Mount Engadine Lodge before I tried their new glamping tents. I'd been to the lodge twice before. The first time I visited was on a winter trip before we'd even moved to Calgary where we lucked out with a weekend of live music. and the second in September a few years ago when we took my elderly mother-in-law, promising her moose sightings. "We" delivered with at least four moose…
How do you know a stay away from home is memorable? When you enjoy yourself so much despite the pouring rain and incessant cloud cover that you’d go back in a heartbeat. That’s how my husband and I feel about my time at the stunning Long Beach Lodge Resort in Tofino, British Columbia. If you need a break from work, life or just want to be inspired by the beauty of the west coast, Long…