Those who know me know I’m an absolute foodie and I love discovering new spots in my province in between my international wanderings. That’s how I got around to Montebello, a place that had often been recommended to me time after time that I had not yet set foot in.

Well-renowned because of its imposing Château Montebello, the city, or town I should say, is bustling and its popularity isn't slowing down! More and more local producers are opening shop to complement those who have been around for ages, for the great pleasure of my taste buds.

I do my best to embrace winter. I've recruited my blogging friends to help me write about all the amazing things you do when you travel in the heart of winter. I've eaten Beavertails on the Rideau Canal - the world's longest skating rink. And I've traveled to amazing winter destinations around the world. But I'm also a proud Canadian - and that means dreaming of a warm escape is in my DNA! And for most Canadians, there's no winter avoidance destination quite as affordable as Florida. 

Whether you're heading to Orlando, Miami, Tampa, or further afield, Canadians can find cheap flights to Florida, plenty of value priced (and delicious!) food, great road trip opportunities, and bargain basement priced attractions. There's just one catch - none of it is in a theme park.  My friends have always given glowing reports about Disney, except for one thing: the price. Even basic theme park passes can make your budget soar. So with all due respect to Cinderella and Snow White, this girl's recommending four Florida vacations that are completely cartoon free.

I think I look pretty cute here, chasing pigeons outside Athens' Archaeological Museum. It's all thanks to my jaunty outfit - a beaded, embroidered tunic top and wrinkle resistant, slim fit trousers. It was the perfect outfit for traveling in Greece's warm autumn weather. I was comfortable and everything fit well. So why did I throw it away at the end of the day? No, I wasn't traveling with specialty disposable clothing for travel and, no, I didn't have a disastrous spill. Well, at least not this day! So what's going on?

Welcome to the world of throw away packing. Your carry on kit is about to get a lot lighter!

A little bit European, a little bit Mediterranean, a little bit Balkan - Thessaloniki has always been a hub of politics, history, religion, commerce, and transportation for the region. As Greece's second largest city and northern hub, Thessaloniki has been a critical port for centuries, even millennia. And as Greece slowly reestablishes its international rail routes,  it now seems that all trains, ships, and even boats and planes lead into Thessaloniki. 

But in spite of all the international travelers that pass through its train station (and airport, bus station, or port), few are making the most of their layover and taking the time to explore the city. Few travelers take the time to leave the station and explore the city -and it's time that changed. 

If I told you I stayed at the dreamiest hotel imaginable, what comes to mind? Frills and lace? Lots of pink bows and frou-frou design? The Dream Hotel in Mons is a travel lover's dream come true, but there's not a bow or frill in sight! Instead you get an incredibly unique property, an ultra chic design, and the perfect base for exploring the city of Mons. This character-full hotel is the ideal compliment to the European Capital of Culture!

Housed in a centuries old former convent and chapel, the exterior facade melts into the city-scape. Inside, however, things are nothing but modern and chic. There's such a great marriage of the old and new and I especially loved the funky detail like the cool main floor bar, the bright red murals, and the funky black printed carpets and walls in the hallways. 

It's hard to imagine travel or vacation without instantly picturing a beautiful beach somewhere - and I must confess to being a fan of warm weather myself. But there are amazing travel experiences all around the world and all around the calendar. Cold weather is no reason not to enjoy travel to the fullest. Even deep winter experiences, where the snow goes up to the roof and the thermostat plunges down to -20 (or even -40!) can be incredibly enriching and surprisingly comfortable experiences - provided you know what you're getting into!

I asked nine experienced travel writers to share their best tips and happiest memories from their frostiest travel experiences and I know their advice will warm your heart - and maybe even your toes! 

I am absolutely obsessed with tiny places and spaces with plenty of hidden nooks and crannies. Folding camping gear, hidden drawers in RVs, nifty gadgets for organizing luggage - these are just a few of my favourite things! So it only made sense that I visited Amsterdam's Houseboat Museum at Prinsengracht 296K. Visiting a houseboat is like the Disneyworld of organization and I couldn't wait to check out how every square foot of space is used to the max. 

There was just one problem. Exactly how would my notorious seasickness fare on a houseboat?

Almost everyone dreams of having a warm winter escape, but sometimes the best travel experiences aren't necessarily a flight or time zone away. When I spent an un-girly girls' weekend in the Ontario Highlands and the town of Haliburton, I found blazing red flames, pink and purple beets, a warm workout, and the perfect place to sizzle and fry the catch of the day.  In short I found plenty of things to heat up the winter weather- and to warm my heart!

If you’re searching for an idyllic seaside retreat with a hearty dose of unspoiled Nova Scotia wilderness, you couldn't ask for better than Malagash, along Route 6 in Cumberland  County. Situated on a small spit of land in the Northumberland Strait, Malagash is sandwiched between the villages of Tatamagouch and Wallace, the two major service providers in this rural area. While it is short on amenities, it is full of natural beauty and Malagash makes for a fantastic detour for anyone driving between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.