North America

Canada

The breathtaking Valley of the Five lakes hike, Jasper, Canada



It was mid-October. A fresh snowfall coated the ground and blanketed the fairy tale-like Rocky Mountains surrounding Jasper, Alberta, Canada. Jasper's crisp, clear lakes, in hues of green and blue, had not yet frozen. The sky was blue, with casual wisps of clouds. The temperature was fresh enough to help yield off the previous night's slight hangover. It was the perfect combination for a ...
Mexico

Snorkeling with whale sharks in La Paz, Mexico: a bucket list WIN



It's been nearly 20 years since my affinity for swimming with large ocean creatures started. From the first time I saw sharks in the wild while diving in Australia in 2003, I've loved the excitement and awe surrounding snorkeling or diving with marine animals in their natural habitats. Snorkeling with whale sharks in La Paz, Mexico, was no exception.

In fact, "snorkel with ...
Canada

Why you should take a frosty and fabulous winter vacation in Canada



Fluffy snowflakes are falling. You catch one in your hand, look at it closely, and realize it has the most intricately perfect design. As you sip your hot chocolate beverage, you smell a fire burning, warming fingers and toes. You inhale the cold, fresh air and feel alive. This is Canada in winter. You think back to contemplating a winter vacation in Canada, when you worried about the cold. ...
North AmericaUSA

Maui with a baby: YES you should





It's hard to believe the chunky 10-month-old man in the photo is now seven. Now before you close this window, rest assured I've researched that all the information in this post is still up-to-date. Maui, Hawaii was somewhere we always wanted to visit, and it seemed like a suitable first destination to take baby number one, Cohen. Maui with a baby would allow us to dabble ...
North AmericaUSA

4 days in NYC: epic and unique things to do



In July 2019, I poured a glass of rosé and turned on Alicia Keys' Empire State of Mind. Belting it out like I was Ms. Keys herself, I paused to laugh as my husband washed the floors of our not-as-pristine-as-we-hoped Airbnb in Midtown Manhattan. We had arrived for my third trip to the concrete jungle – 4 days in NYC to celebrate our good friends Tracy and Scott's 40th birthdays.
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Nicaragua

Unfortunate YOLO experiences: backpacking Nicaragua



I can't say we weren't warned. The charming surf town of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua gets crazy busy during Semana Santa (Easter for Catholics). One April 2011 day while backpacking Nicaragua, a local woman working in a shop told us, "Be careful, bad people come from Managua (Nicaragua's capital) during Semana Santa just to prey on tourists." Awesome.

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CanadaNorth America

The best Okanagan wineries: your ultimate guide (written by a local)







I'm not writing this guide to the best Okanagan wineries as a sommelier or journalist on a press trip. I'm writing it as a long-time, passionate (translation: obsessed) wine drinker who lives in the region and has spent countless hours and days visiting more than 80 of its wineries. From Lake Country in the North to Osoyoos in the South, there are no ...
North AmericaUSA

Disneyland hacks and highlights to make your trip awesome



Confession: prior to going, I wasn't sure if I would love Disneyland. It felt like an obligatory trip one must do while their kids are young. Turns out my piss poor attitude was proven wrong, because I had SO MUCH fun there! Although my friend gave us an awesome suggested itinerary, it still took some figuring out. So here are my top Disneyland hacks and highlights, coming from the ...
CanadaNorth America

Tofino must dos (with or without kids)



On the coast of an island at the edge of a continent sits the ruggedly beautiful surf town of Tofino, B.C., Canada. One of Vancouver Island's gems, Tofino was on my "must visit" list for years. Luckily I live in B.C., so it was convenient to visit and combine our stay with other stops in the province. My Tofino must dos cover not only what to do, but also where to stay and eat, and how to ...
North AmericaUSA

10 days in Hawaii Island (the Big Island) with kids





"I wanna go back to my little grass shack in Kealakekua, Hawaiiiiii..." This catchy tune ran through my head as I momentarily woke every so often from light turbulence on our red-eye home, happy and fulfilled from our 10 days in the Big Island with kids, two little sleeping heads on my lap.

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