I grew up in Toronto, Canada. While Toronto is a tremendous city - boasting eclectic neighbourhoods, lush city parks and a vibrant cultural scene - it's also a place people get really practiced at leaving. Every Friday night in summer, the 400-series highways leading out of town are jammed with cars crawling towards the promise of fresher air and a lakeside cottage up north. I've left Hogtown for good and for the past six years have called … [Read more...]
Canada Experience Part 1: Entering British Columbia and Victoria
It was the summer of 2010 and we wanted to escape our city life in Austin, Texas and visit the Pacific Northwest. We had ten days off and decided to drive from Texas, to Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia (3000+ mile car trip). We had just bought a new VW and thought it would be fun to drive it across country and have an adventure along the way (and, boy did we ever)! We entered BC the "round-about" way by ferry from the NAS base on … [Read more...]
Notes from Dave’s India Journal
Here in India, where there is land there are people. Where there are people there is trash. Where there is trash there are cows. Where there are cows there is cow shit. Where there is cow shit there are people collecting the shit and making cow pies. Such is the state of the outskirts of Agra. We drove through fields where we saw many cow pies drying in the sun today on our way to an old Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri 40 clicks from Agra. … [Read more...]
The Nanaimo 50-Kilometer Holiday – It’s Smart to Travel Locally
GoNanaimo.com announces the creation of the Nanaimo 50-Kilometer Holiday with seven self-guided tours within a 50-kilometer radius of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. As gasoline prices continue to rise, vacationing locally becomes more attractive and Vancouver Island has so much to offer. The 50-Kilometer Holiday includes two walking tours within Nanaimo and five driving/bicycling tours to nearby mid-island destinations. Each tour is carefully … [Read more...]
Mount Benson Signature Mountain of Nanaimo
Magnificent Mount Benson is one of the scenic wonders of Nanaimo, British Columbia, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. Mount Benson is the city's backdrop rising 1,019 meters above the Strait of Georgia. The mountain's green forested slopes are favorites of hikers and wildlife, and there's a sweeping view of the Coastal Mountain Range across the water from the rocky summit. Unfortunately, this paradise is threatened. Forestry … [Read more...]
Go Nanaimo, British Columbia
Boomtown Nanaimo, British Columbia, is currently one of the hottest housing markets in Canada. Baby boomers all across the country are casting their aging eyes west in their quest for a retirement haven, and the many advantages of Nanaimo, BC, are becoming known. First off, there's the mild climate moderated by warm Pacific currents arriving from Japan. Nanaimo only gets a couple of weeks of snow a year, quite a contrast to central and … [Read more...]
Saigon, Vietnam – Lodging
There are numerous hotels in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), ranging in price from around $15/night all the way up to the 4 and 5 star hotels well above $100/night. Many hotels will include breakfast for free. Most will keep your baggage for a little while if you plan on returning or take side trips. The author has stayed in and or visited all of the following hotels. If you have additional hotel recommendations for this page, please email … [Read more...]
Spokane, WA – Shopping
Northtown Mall is located four miles north of the 90 freeway at Wellesley and Division Streets. Take exit 287 off of the 90. This mall contains a JCPenney and a Sears among numerous other stores. www.northtownmall.com Schade Brewery Public Market is located at 528 East Trent. This market is held in and near the recently renovated Schade Brewery Building. Features a variety of artisans, craftsmen, antiques, and other vendors. This indoor … [Read more...]
Vancouver, Canada
This article highlights parts of Washington state, and western Canadian provinces including Alberta & British Columbia. Details and travel tips about our time in the Canadian Rockies is also covered as this is clearly one of the primary highlights of Western Canada, however, the overall focus of this guide is about Vancouver, British Columbia. Seventeen days is an ideal time to see all the sites and attractions mentioned in this guide. This … [Read more...]
Vancouver, Canada – Vancouver City
Vancouver was founded in 1886; today this very cosmopolitan city anchors the west coast of Canada and attracts visitors from around the world. Those who have never been to Vancouver will be surprised by its size when viewed from a distance. Vancouver can be defined by its surrounding natural beauty but more so by its international population. Vancouver is thriving and continually pursuing the future. This is evident when one sees all the modern … [Read more...]