This was supposed to be an article about skydiving in Ottawa but as often happens, the story I intend to write and the story that gets written is often wildly different. And oh my god, doesn’t that last sentence just sum up the last twenty years of my life. So, apologies in advance if you came here to learn about skydiving in Ottawa, because this is actually about skydiving into a life. I recently published a list of 50 things I wanted to conquer in honour of my upcoming 50th and you …
Need Peace? Go East – Five Reasons to Go to Cape Breton NOW
I just returned from the east coast and from the bottom of my heart I believe that everyone needs to go to Cape Breton now. If there was ever a travel prescription for obtaining inner peace it's this emerald island just off the coast of Nova Scotia. Full disclosure, I didn't always feel this way. I actually hated Cape Breton for a long time. My family roots run deep on this island, so every single summer vacation growing up was spent there visiting family. By the time I was a surly …
Six Key Takeaways from a First Time Staycationer
I’ve never really understood the concept of a staycation, going so far as to poo-poo the idea for years thinking they were rather lame. I always felt that in order to get the benefits of a vacation you must first travel some great distance that requires you to complain at length about the journey. Then, and only then, will you reap the rewards of a holiday. Oh, and let’s not forget that the journey home must also be as arduous, meaning that by the time you arrive home, you’ve lost much of your …
Ontario Parks – Ten Camping Gems You Don’t Want to Miss
I'm going to straight up admit that in the past, when it came to Ontario Parks,I was a camping snob. I'm not proud of it, particularly after a recent trip to check out four of them this past fall, but there it is, my camping elitism laid bare for all to see. The good thing though is my views have completely flipped, and I am looking forward to checking out even more of them this coming summer. Ontario Parks not only sit on some of the most scenic and beautiful real estate in the …
The Journey Is the Destination Aboard Rocky Mountaineer
The best advice I could give to anyone before they step onboard the Rocky Mountaineer, is to put the camera down and enjoy the ride. I have 810 pictures from my three days travelling with Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff, and not one of them do it justice. It is simply impossible to capture the beauty that surrounds you along every stretch of track on this magnificent journey, which is why the Rocky Mountaineer consistently hits the top of bucket lists the world …