With two Pan Pacific hotels in Whistler Village, you may wonder how to choose the best place to stay. Each of the properties offers an award-winning experience, but there are a few differences between the hotels. I’ve stayed at both resorts and wrote this article to help you choose the best Pan Pacific hotel in Whistler based on your needs and priorities.  Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside Named Canada’s Best Ski Hotel for the 10th consecutive year in the 2022 World Ski Awards, Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside is centrally located in the Village. Located steps from the Whistler and Black ..read more

Named North America’s best resort by Condé Nast Traveler readers, Whistler Blackcomb attracts local and international visitors with expansive terrain and more than 200 runs ranging from gentle beginner slopes to steep and deep for experts. And there are loads of things to do in Whistler if you don’t ski or snowboard. Here are a few suggestions to help you plan your Whistler vacation both on and off the slopes. Relax at Scandinave Spa Whistler Relax and soak up the sound of silence at Whistler’s Scandinave Spa. The tranquil, cell phone-free environment is a perfect place to unplug. Hot and ..read more

With flowers in blooming year-round, Victoria, Canada, is a desirable place to live and vacation. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, visitors can fly, ferry, or cruise to British Columbia’s capital city. One you arrive in Victoria, the Inner Harbour, considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world, is an excellent place to begin exploring the city. After wandering along the Inner Harbour’s multi-level walkway, follow this guide -— Where to Eat, Drink, and Shop in Victoria — and discover a few of the best spots in British Columbia’s capital city.  Use the Google map a ..read more

Like the palaces along the Ringstrasse Boulevard, the handmade Imperial Torte is a symbol of Vienna’s rich history. Legend has it that this remarkable torte was created to celebrate the opening of the Hotel Imperial in 1873 and to honour his Imperial Highness, Emperor Franz Joseph. When it comes to sweet treats, the Imperial Torte is a big deal. What began as a special confection created over 150 years ago, is still prepared in the Hotel Imperial kitchen using only the finest ingredients. After sampling the heavenly Imperial Torte, I wasn’t surprised to discover that the recipe is a close ..read more

From Feb 16-26th, 2023, Palm Springs will celebrate all things midcentury during the annual Palm Springs Modernism Week event. I experienced “mini-Modernism Week” in October 2022, a sneak peek at what is to come – and the upcoming midcentury architecture, art, design, and cultural celebration is going to be fabulous. Photo credit Mood CreativePalm Springs Modernism Week 2023 Overview The 11-day Modernism Week event encompasses notable homes, including Frey House II, Sunnylands, and residences formerly owned by Frank Sinatra and Kirk Douglas. Modernism Week highlights include the Premier Double ..read more

The Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, known as the “Queen of the Skies”, is the world’s longest passenger airplane. After a few flights between Chicago and Frankfurt, I can tell you that the Lufthansa First Class 747-8i experience is fabulous. Dine After pre-flight champagne and macadamia nuts, flight attendants offer caviar with traditional garnishes. Confit of Artic Char with red quinoa salad, watermelon radish with wakame and seasonal greens followed the caviar. I chose zucchini wrapped monkfish with chanterelle mushrooms accompanied by lemon and almond couscous as the main course ..read more

The Josie, the winner of Canada’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel (and other notable recognitions and accolades), is located at the base of RED Mountain Resort in Rossland, British Columbia (B.C.). This year-round resort offers 106-rooms, including 20 suites and is a member of the prestigious Autograph Collection Hotels. I had the pleasure of spending a few nights at The Josie in early July, and I was planning a return trip before I checked out! Location – The Josie Hotel at RED Mountain Resort The luxurious Josie at RED Mountain Resort is about a seven-hour drive from Vancouver or Seattle, almost thr ..read more

The Fairmont Pacific Rim is the newest addition to the Fairmont hotel portfolio in Vancouver, and the luxurious Fairmont Pacific Rim Gold Floor is a favourite place to stay for many reasons. Architecture and Design Designed by James K.M. Cheng, the Fairmont Pacific Rim is elegant, luxurious, and located in a prime position on Vancouver’s waterfront. If you look up at the South East corner of the building, you will see a line of repeated letters between floors 5 and 22. It’s hard to know where artist Liam Gillick’s passage begins and ends, and my children and I often gaze up at the letters and ..read more

Italy is one of our all-time favourite countries for summertime family travel. Apart from kid-pleasing cuisine – pasta with butter & Parmigiano-Reggiano, rainbow-hued gelato, and irresistible Italian pastries – the country’s geography is spectacular. We’ve spent the past decade exploring rural Italy from the Maremma in Southern Tuscany to the Dolomites in the country’s northeast. Within this part of the country, here are some of the best rural places to visit in Italy with kids in the summer, along with suggested activities and places to stay. This article contains three sections – Seashor ..read more

I have flown between the North American mainland and Hawaii at least fifty times and on many different commercial airlines. My recent flight between Honolulu and Seattle in the new Hawaiian Airlines A330 First Class, also known as the Premium Cabin, was the best air travel experience so far. Hawaiian Airlines A330 First Class Cabin and Seats Hawaiian Airlines A330 First Class is a nod to the airline’s history and namesake island chain, with sky blue accents, curved seat backs reminiscent of ocean waves, and coffee-coloured leather seats. One of my favourite features is the Constellation Divid ..read more