I've been camping now for 30 plus years. Growing up it was all about cottages - but when John and I moved to Colorado, camping and hiking became our focus. We were broke and camping was cheap. All we needed was the initial investment in camping gear and a tank of gas every weekend and we could get ourselves into some fabulous Rocky Mountain scenery. With high unemployment, under employment, tanking stock portfolios and a…
Today, February 22nd is World Encephalitis Day (#WED), dedicated to raising awareness of encephalitis across the globe. Even the healthiest people can be affected by encephalitis: read the incredible story of how one Canadian family was affected by Japanese encephalitis - and how an active, athletic 62-year-old father succumbed to the disease after contracting it in Thailand. What do travelers need to know? Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain caused by one of two things…
No one likes to get sick, especially while on a vacation away from home, even more so in a country where you don't speak the language. Perhaps you've planned the holiday six months out, anticipating time on a beach, not beside a hotel room toilet. If you don't get many vacation days, getting sick is even harder to stomach. Is Canada a No Vacation Nation? As a Canadian I think of myself as lucky when…
The original list of 10 hiking essentials came from the Mountaineers, a Seattle based organization for climbers and outdoor adventures and the people behind the bible of mountaineering - Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. The idea then as it is today, is that people be prepared for emergency events outdoors, even if it's miles from civilization. The 10 hiking essentials list has since been slightly modified, primarily to keep up with technology. I try…
What is ETIAS? Traveling to Europe after 2021 Canadians love traveling to Europe and enjoy the luxury of visa-free entry. There is no need to apply for a visa or any form of travel authorization for trips of under 90 days. However, in 2021 this will change with the introduction of ETIAS. ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) will be very similar to the ESTA visa waiver which many nationalities need to apply for…
To be comfortable and safe in bear country you need to have a good grasp of bear safety tips. There are a number of things you should know including how to distinguish between black and grizzly bears; what you should do if you encounter a bear and what preventative measures you should and can take. The following bear safety tips could save your life if you follow them. If you're in bear country always take…
I don't know if any of you have been in a road cycling accident. I have. It was back in the days before bike helmets were even a thing. I was biking to St. Michael's Hospital in downtown Toronto where I worked as a dietitian. Because of the traffic, I cycled very close to the curb, so close in fact that my front tire got caught in a sewer grate and threw me head first…
For anyone who is passionate about travel and is keen to experience new places like a local, house-sitting is an awesome option. While there are loads of companies out there that match homeowners with house-sitters I particularly like Nomador, a European house-sitting market leader that started in 2007. Nomador describes themselves as "a trust-based community platform putting house-sitters and homeowners into contact. As a homeowner, a house-sitter will look after your home when you’re away. As a house-sitter, discover new…
Jump start your travel plans by tapping @KAYAK, one of the world's leading travel search engines and its vast reservoir of data. Not only can they help you find the best deals on flights, trains, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages but they've also made it easy to sign up for price alerts. Other useful features on their site include personalized recommendations for trips starting from your home airport to anywhere you want to go…
When you’re looking for travel tips online, what do you usually search for? Most likely it’s how to get the cheapest accommodation, which landmarks you should visit, what are the traditional foods you should try - that sort of stuff, right? But consider the following. You’ve done all your research, you have the best itinerary, you’ve even planned out what to eat and how much everything will cost. Then you get to the hard part:…