What makes a girls' getaway all the sweeter? Adding in a delicious dose of maple on a trip to Montebello, Quebec.
Can there ever be too much of a good thing? Not when it comes to maple! This classic Canadian flavor is so much more than a pancake topping. And when I had the opportunity to partner with Ford Canada for a girlfriends' wellness weekend in Montebello, Quebec, I knew that my favorite autumn flavor would only sweeten the experience.
I was excited to indulge in as much of Quebec's signature condiment as possible, and I soon learned that there was more to maple than meets the eye. Traditional pancakes, step aside! Here are my favourite Montebello maple moments. Canada's most ambitious landscape art project takes several heartwarming turns in Gatineau.
A prairie buffalo looks up from his meal of tender grass shoots, looking calm and serene despite the heat of the day and the thickness of his woolly coat. He's perfectly at ease and utterly unperturbed by the proximity of a nearby polar bear, whose sleek, silvery-white fur glistens in the sun. An enormous, stately inuksuk stands between them and presides over their affairs.
Anywhere else, this would be a most curious trio but in downtown Gatineau, Quebec, they couldn't be more at home, for the buffalo, the polar bear, and the inuksuk are made entirely of plants, the latest spectacle from Montreal's innovative landscape art company, Mosaicultures. And in their most ambitious project yet, "MosaiCanada", Gatineau's waterfront Jacques Cartier Park is transformed into "a beautiful historical bouquet" for Canada's 150th anniversary. (Update: This project has concluded and I hope this post inspires you to search out MosaiCanada installations in the future). Ottawa's culinary scene is sensational.
Note from Vanessa: We're thrilled to showcase this guest post on Ottawa's foodie scene from Shannon of Shan's View from Here. I've seen Shannon's culinary chops first hand when traveled together to explore Ontario's Prince Edward County and can't imagine anyone better to report on Ottawa's best food experiences first hand.
Culinary tourism is defined as the pursuit of a unique and memorable eating and drinking experience. Whether you live in Ottawa or are visiting to celebrate Canada's 150, you will find a vast amount of culinary experiences. Some experiences will have you strapped into a race car seat and hoisted in the air, while other experiences will immerse you in an Ottawa neighborhood and its flavours. Ottawa is growing into a culinary destination in its own right and offers memorable once in a lifetime foodie adventures.
When pop art, silos, puppies, and deep fried treats come together, you have an unforgettable day trip from Ottawa.
What do you get when you combine the rural Ontario countryside, farmland, and grain silos, with massive, street-art inspired murals soaked in social commentary and diverse inspiration? Why, Popsilos, of course! This truly unique art project, unlike anything else in Canada, proves the old adage that opposites attract. And I can't think of a better way to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday. Here's what Popsilo's inaugural day looked like.
Green travel is dream travel in Ljubljana, where eco-friendly initiatives bring endless charm.
If terms like "eco-friendly" and "green" bring to mind dowdy images of damp granola and hemp fabric the color of dishwater, Ljubljana - one of the greenest cities in the world - is going to blow you away. Both the Slovenian capital and the 2016 European Green Capital, Ljubljana is filled with charm and whimsy, incorporating its environmental priorities with a deft hand and an eye for design. The result is nothing short of wondrous -a beautiful city with a perfectly preserved historic core, seamlessly integrating sustainable objectives. Even the graffiti is endearing, with a nod towards conservation! Here's what else won over our hearts.
Vienna, the opulent capital of Austria, offers great travel savings and splurges.
Chatting with newly made friends at acooking class in Prague, we eagerly compared travel notes and I was fascinated to learn that they had just spent a week in Vienna before moving on to the Czech capital. A week! We were only going to be in Vienna for a day! Had we made a mistake? Were we going to regret such a short trip?
Now I can see that Vienna is the kind of city that can easily keep guests entertained and engaged for a week, especially if you're a music or architecture fan - or a fan of fine living. But for budget minded travelers like ourselves, we were able to easily find ways to save money and balance out splurges with bargain steals. It turns out that one day and night was more than enough to see everything on our list. Here's how to save, splurge, and steal in Vienna. With a few furry friends by my side, I was ready to explore a new corner of Bern.
Everything is coming up roses in Bern! Switzerland's capital city might be less visited than its popular neighbors, like Geneva, Zurich, and the ski resorts of the Alps, but it's a prime travel destination that stands tall on its own. The city's small size is ideal for walking (translation: doing a chocolate shop crawl) yet big enough to offer days worth of exploration and encourage multiple trips.
My first trip to Bern was over 15 years ago and I fell in love with the city. Back then, I enjoyed long walks along the river - and a few swims too! - and had a wonderful time exploring the medieval city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But there were many corners that beckoned me to explore further and I finally had the opportunity recently to return to Bern, making it my final destination of a 13 country trip. It was the perfect destination to cap off an incredible journey and a visit to Bern's Rose Garden was just the thing to end the trip on a high note. Here's what I loved about our adventure. If you're looking for things to do in Zagreb in one day - or less! - we have some spook-tacular suggestions.
Legend has it that it's bad luck for a black cat to cross your path. I've never put much stock in this old fable - especially since black cats are my favourite! But when a ghostly white cat appeared on our path moments after we concluded the Zagreb Ghosts and Dragons tour, I started to ponder the legend once more. What was the significance of a white cat? And why was it looking at me so curiously as it followed us down the path? What misfortune was lurking around the corner for us in Zagreb? If you're wondering what to see in Zagreb in one day (or even less), we have some spook-tacular suggestions, starting with this fantastic tour.
Taking for a guided tour in Vatican City? Here's how to make the most of it, from post cards to gelato.
I don't keep a travel bucket list, but if I did, Vatican City would surely be near the top. It's the world's smallest country, both in size and population. It has a unique economic system almost entirely sustained by tourists - many who are clamoring to get rare Vatican City postage stamps, a big bucket list item for many travelers. I've even read that it's the wealthiest country in the world (not that surprising, considering the treasure trove of art within its walls). And, of course, for many travelers it's much more than a bucket list destination - it's their spiritual home as Roman Catholics.
It's unthinkable to come to Rome and not visit the Vatican. But you don't just stroll into such a legendary location without a plan. We started by signing up for a group tour - an invaluable travel tool - and we learned some critical lessons along the way. Here are our seven best practical tips for making the most of a guided tour to Vatican City. |
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