Mississippi River Cruise: Where the Ship Experience Rivals the Itinerary

International resorts like The Farm at San Benito are offering special medi-holiday care for women transitioning thorugh menopause.

The Paradise Camp Snowcat Dinner Tour shuttles hungry and thirsty tourists from the village at SilverStar Mountain Resort just outside of Vernon, British Columbia to Paradise Camp -- a distance of eight kilometres and a vertical gain of 760 metres. Paradise Camp, at the top of Powder Gulch, is SilverStar's breakfast and lunch spot by day and a candle-lit snowcat dinner restaurant by night.

A visit to an elephant sanctuary provided balance and excitement in the megatropolis of Bangkok, a mind-boggling array of contrasts – for every luxury highrise hotel and office tower there are budget digs and shacks, and for every ritzy restaurant and designer store there are sidewalk food stalls and street vendors.

It’s virtually impossible to wrap one’s head around Egypt’s 6000 years of history, but I was determined to try as I had dreamt of visiting this magical place for so long, and had a story to write. But the hard truth hit me, this place is different and I can’t weave a story as usual, but only let you experience a little bit of Egypt the way I did. Here goes…

We’re in Tulum – the Mexican Caribbean home of new-agey, eco-chic wellness and spiritual awakening, and just in time for the Full Moon Party - a monthly lunar spectacle is part Mayan tradition, part candle-and-fire lit, long table dinner party on the beach.

St. Augustine, Florida is America’s oldest city at over 450 years. A city that old has a lot of history to haunt - a lot of death and despair to permeate the landscape - and the spirits of St. Augustine are sufficient to keep ghost tour operators very busy. First ghost hunting tip: go for the stormy weather, recommended by dedicated ghost hunters to provide more energy for the “manifestations” to draw on. It was a misty night: check!

With colossal smiles on our faces and the wind in our air, we’ve hit our stride on Seven Mile Bridge. This is no normal bridge and no normal trip. The 11.3-kilometre span is part of the Overseas Highway through the Florida Keys from Miami to Key West. And, it's a prime example of how the journey is just as important as the destination.

Aside from the sense of awe at Egypt’s iconic attractions, we encountered a multi-layered society that accords equal respect to both ancient and modern, and earned a well-deserved appreciation for the people and their fascinating lifestyle and culture, which added other dimensions to our visit.

Or maybe it just refused to move forward. Serene and unpretentious, Amelia Island remains in the early 1900s -- reveling in its long, colorful history, quite aware it no longer has to prove anything to the rest of the world. Therein lies the charm of this tiny stretch of land, 13 miles long and two miles wide, just off the northeastern tip of Florida. And abundant charm it is. Most visitors come for the beautiful beaches, award-winning golf and tennis, luxurious resorts and other accoutrements of world-class vacation destinations.

Although the sea turtle art trail is what first captures the imagination, a visit to the Sea Turtle Rescue Center is a must on South Padre Island, Texas, which deserves its designation as the ‘Sandcastle Capital of the World. Sandcastle Village is a one-of-a-kind creative experience.

World’s Top Chefs are coming to Canada for the nation’s first Cultural Chef Exchange Program Chef Darren MacLean, in Partnership with Food Tourism Strategies, Presents a Year-Long Endeavour to Further Global Culinary Connectivity Through Inclusive Exploration of Culture, Food and Issues Relevant to the Industry.

Ireland is mecca for pubs and castles are everywhere, so after a couple of days in Dublin we’re caught up in the ‘craic’ on our self-designed pubs-and-castles tour, from kissing The Blarney Stone to drinks at The Brazen Head, the country’s oldest pub!

Ideal weather in Canada's only desert, on the US border, means premium wines and a beachy vibe in a small town with all the amenities that bats above its weight in tourism prowess.

Brave enough to swim with sharks? It’s safe on the North Shore of Oahu. If not, you can still enjoy the unique experience of a stand up paddle-boarding (SUP) with a canine guide in the very place SUPing originated. Direct flights make these memorable experiences highly accessible.

Whether paddling a canoe or kayak, boarding a passenger boat or traversing a body of water another way, history often comes along for the ride. In addition to enjoying the journey itself, stories of the past can enhance the experience and add to the pleasure.

Greek islands constantly enchant visitors with the juxtaposition of fairy-tale settings in a modern world. Hydra is a magical island where every moment is old-world romantic, every meal the most delicious, every day sunny and every night filled with stars. We see the donkeys lined up every time we stroll the promenade in contrast to the super yachts that bob in the harbour.

Anticipation for the reopening of Theme Parks in 2022 is at fever pitch! Whether it's Great America, Six Flags or Disney World, theme parks are among the most sought-after family attractions. Yet the hot sun, long lines and walk-weary kids can turn the most promising outing into a disaster. A little advance planning and theme park strategy can go a long way to ensuring a successful visit to the midway.

Numerous sites around the country recount pages from the fight for freedom and equality. Plantations, churches and schools are among locations where skirmishes in the effort took place. Some serve as reminders of tragedies, others of victories, in the struggle.

How different our Provence adventure was from the usual prescribed schedule offered by most tour companies. Such is the beauty of UNTOURS which puts you up in unusual accommodations in multiple cities in more than a dozen European countries.

Monogram has been at the forefront of growing Calgary’s coffee culture and their University District location was designed to really share their love of coffee with their customers. Their garage-door style front window is incredibly inviting, welcoming the University District community to grab a quality coffee as they kick-start their work day, or stroll the streets shopping on the weekend.

Staying at Tigh-Na-Mara Resort in Parksville on Vancouver Island, we're perplexed by the comings and goings of the waters of the Strait of Georgia.