When you ask your kids what they want to do for summer break and one says “camping,” while the other says “definitely not camping,” what’s a parent to do other than compromise? Glamping was the obvious middle ground and we had so much fun last summer in southwestern Ontario that we decided to head down…
My unpaid MSC cruise ship review: MSC SEASHORE
I’m on a heated mosaic marble-tiled lounger with the soothing sound of jets bubbling in the background of the onboard spa’s thermal area. Rocking somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico within the 170,412-ton MSC Seashore as we head back to port after nearly a week on this mega-ship — the largest cruise ship ever built…
9 things to do in Sudbury
Whether it’s your final destination or you’re merely passing through on your way to another city in northern Ontario, there are so many things to do in Sudbury that you’ll want to stay at least two nights — preferably three so you’re not in a hurry. It had been 39 years since I’d been to…
NJ tip to tail: what to do in Atlantic City + beyond
Before a quick jaunt to New Jersey a couple of weeks ago, I had never once wondered what to do in Atlantic City — because I had no plans to ever visit, much less with my kids. But now I need to take them back with me to explore the expansive Atlantic City boardwalk and…
Sunshine Village: read this before you hit Banff
Whether you’re planning to ski or snowboard at Sunshine Village as a day trip from your hotel in Banff or you’ll be spending a week onsite, overnighting at the Sunshine Mountain Lodge — or maybe you’re just poking around to decide if this Alberta ski resort is right for you — this post has everything…
Sunshine Mountain Lodge: review, tips & tricks
Sunshine Mountain Lodge at Sunshine Village in Banff, Alberta, is truly one-of-a-kind — but is it the right kind of lodging for you and your family’s ski trip? I tried to look up reviews of Banff’s only ski-in/out hotel before our visit and found them wildly incomplete. In this post, I’m going to help you…
Add these 7 things to your Banff itineraries
Stop right here if you’re looking for things to do in Banff in winter — especially if you’re in the throes of making Banff itineraries for your trip or someone else’s (I see you, Type A sandwich generation folks, making sure your parents are taken care of on their travels!). I’ve got the seven must-do…
Watching the 2024 solar eclipse at Fort Henry in Kingston — and more!
Now that most of the school boards in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) have declared April 8 a PA Day, many of you are probably considering using it as an opportunity to take your kids, tweens and teens to experience the 2024 solar eclipse. We’re making this a multigenerational family affair and heading to Fort…
How to take the free Q70 LaGuardia airport bus
There are three airports that make it easy to access New York City: JFK and LGA in New York and EWR in New Jersey. I almost always choose the fly in and out of LGA and that’s because of the free LaGuardia airport bus, called the Q70. Pre-COVID, I rarely paid more than USD$30-40 to…
The 7 best cheap hotels in NYC
Looking for the best cheap hotels in NYC? You’ve come to the right place! After more than a dozen visits to The Big Apple, I’m thrilled to share personal reviews for seven properties in Manhattan that offer the best value in the three- to five-star range. Some include breakfast with your stay, while others have…