Those of you who have been following my new series, the Year of Geography, know that I’m trying to learn a little about every country on the United Nations’ official list of countries by the end of 2011. But, every so often, I know I’ll come across a place that would be fun to cover […]

Does Al Gore know about this? The often-windy Iles-de-la-Madeleine in eastern Quebec are a hotbed for the sport of kite-buggying: basically, zipping along the beach in a buggy, powered by a parachute-like kite. The driver holds a set of lines made of super-strong Spectra. A tug on the left turns you left; a tug on […]

Quick, now: Name a use for nutmeg. I’m willing to wager the vast majority of the people reading this post immediately answered, “Eggnog!” And while the spice is indeed a vital topping for the Christmas beverage, it’s used in lots of other things, too, from cookies to sausages. You’ll even find nutmeg and its sister […]

I’ve been in the U.K. for a few days now, and my likes and dislikes are becoming clearer by the minute. My likes are legion and my dislikes are few, and I’m passionate about them all. First, a few of my favourite things. 1. Teakettles I’m a tea drinker, partly because I can’t abide coffee. […]

I just got back from a European trip that included two stops in the Netherlands. And, once again, I’ve found myself captivated by Dutch cycling culture. Not only are there dedicated bike paths just about everywhere; there are also huge bike garages at many railway stations, where you can have a mechanic tune up your […]

Okay, I’ll admit that part of the reason I was excited about visiting Gibsons, British Columbia, was the chance to check out the place where a hoary old CBC-TV series called “The Beachcombers” was filmed. Weirdly, I didn’t even like the show when it aired from 1972 to 1990. It’s just that Canada has precious […]

I’ve just discovered three excellent blogs offering insider travel tips: Brazil for Insiders, Montreal for Insiders and New York for Insiders. When you’ve been there and seen that–or even if you haven’t–you’ll find inspiration for off-the-beaten path adventures. Sao Paulo by night. Creative Commons photo by Andre Deak. Brazilian-born, Montreal-based food and travel writer Alexandra […]

For all of those who (like me) stood up and cheered when Slumdog Millionaire won the best picture Oscar, here’s a weirdly compelling little video about life in Mumbai made by three boys, aged 8 and 9. They call themselves The 3 Musketeers, which I suspect is a shout-out to the film. The video, which […]

So you’ve been to the Empire State Building, seen the Metropolitan Museum of Art and gone to Carnegie Hall. But you’ve just scratched the surface of everything New York has to offer–Manhattan is just one borough, after all! This video by Peter Greenberg offers good tips on some offbeat things to see and do, the […]

OK, this post deviates a bit from my standard “like a local” fare, but a press release just crossed my desk that made me laugh. The world has officially gone mad. The spa at Jake’s, a boutique hotel in Jamaica, has just launched “Reggaelates”: Pilates classes set to reggae music. Somewhere, Bob Marley is sighing […]