I recently read that a new high-speed train route had opened in Laos at the end of 2021. The Lao-China Railway can get you the 150 kilometres from the ancient capital of Luang Prabang north to the Chinese border in just 90 minutes. It carries more than 1.5 million passengers a year, a game-changer for a country with very little transportation infrastructure.As someone who has visited this remote corner of Laos, I wondered: What fun is that sort of speed when you can take three days to do pretty much the same trip by boatnever knowing if youll actually get there?It was the spring of 2017, and m ..read more

Andrea and Josh in Yoho National Park.A Road Trip to Remember My first attempt at capturing the perfect photo of Peyto Lake, a glacier-fed lake located in Alberta’s Banff National Park, was a couple of years ago. My girlfriend, Andrea, and I took a road trip across North America in which we travelled through 28 states and three provinces, covering a total of 20,919 kilometres!Luckily, we didnt have any car trouble throughout our trip, other than figuring out who was going to drive to each destinationit was mainly me. In the States, we purchased a pass that gave us access to all the national pa ..read more

The Best Things to Do in Surrey Take a nature break With more 6,000 acres of parks and green spaces to choose from, youre never far from a rejuvenating nature break in Surrey. If you’ve only got time to experience one, make it Green Timbers Urban Forest Park. Back in the 1920s, this land was clear-cut for logging. Luckily, it became the site of B.C.s first reforestation effort, and now boasts over 20 kilometres of multi-use trails through forests, wetlands and meadows. The idyllic spot offers the chance to see hawks soaring above the lake while anglers cast their lines along its shores.Read o ..read more

Wenkchemna Peaks Reflection on Moraine Lake in Banff, Alberta. The Best Restaurants in the Canadian Rockies Amid towering peaks, stunning turquoise lakes and formidable glaciers, awe-inspiring landscapes have long been the star attraction of the Canadian Rockies. But in the alpine towns of Banff and Jasper, a culinary revolution is quietly brewing. Embark on a culinary journey through the Canadian Rockies with these must-try restaurants, where creative farm-fresh food meets the grandeur of nature. Brazen, Banff If youre looking for adventure you can fit in your mouth, head to Brazen, one of t ..read more

The Best Things to Do in Victoria Tea at Fairmont Empress There are many types of afternoon tea, but youd be hard pressed to find a more regal take on the experience than at Fairmont Empress. This century-old Victoria tradition is so popular, in fact, more than 500,000 cups of tea are served here each year. Enjoy loose leaf tea dispensed from fine china, accompanied by three tiers of freshly baked scones, mini-sandwiches and petit fours. You can even kick it up a notch with a glass of champagne. Cheers!Read on for more essential things to do in Victoria. Tour Craigdarroch Castle You wont fin ..read more

Cliffwalk at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Vancouver. The Best Places to Visit in B.C. Famed for its jaw-dropping scenery, abundant wildlife and pristine parklands, British Columbia proves an irresistible draw to visitors from far and wide. From remote and wild corners to sophisticated urban centres, theres such diversity in this province it can be hard to know where to begin your travels. Luckily, weve done the research for you. Check out these incredible places to visit in B.C. Sidney by the Sea Located on the Salish Sea near Victoria, youd be hard pressed to find a more charming seaside ..read more

One of my favourite recreational and photographic destinations is not a plane ride away, a trip across an ocean or a cruise down a distant coast, but is merely a few kilometres drive from my home. St. Columbas Cemetery in Pembroke, Ontario, is an old cemetery dating back more than 130 years that still remains in useand its one of my regular weekly ports of call.I began haunting graveyards when I first began to research my own family history. I was always intrigued by the names and carvings, as well as the variety in the styles of the tombstones, and the stories that they told about social hist ..read more

As a nature photographer, it is the best time of year to get out and photograph the beautiful colours that nature has blessed us with. I am lucky to live in a place that is so abundant with trees that produce leaves of bright reds, oranges and yellows. Among the first leaves to change are those of red maple trees. This begins in September, and the spectacular progression of changing colours continues right through October.A scenic view from the Gatineau Parkway.I wait until the leaves are ready to peak to their fullest colour, then I plan my route around the area, starting with a drive along Q ..read more

A stunning view of Reesor Lake in Cypress Hills. Our Southern Alberta staycation In the summer of 2019, my husband, Carman, and I headed off on a short Alberta staycation. We left on a Sunday, and the day before, I spotted a local sign here in Lloydminster that read, This Will Be The Best Summer Everand indeed it was!We arrived at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, where wed be camping, late Sunday afternoon. It was a bit of a drizzly evening but not enough to keep us in. We roamed around the park to view Horseshoe Canyon Viewpoint and Willow Creek Burnmagnificent vistas to say the least! Col ..read more

The Best Things to Do in Waterloo Region St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market Canada’s largest year-round farmers’ market, the St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market hosts hundreds of vendors from across Ontario. Browse the fresh fruits and vegetables, crafts and clothing every Thursday and Saturday year-round, and on Tuesdays from June to August.Devastated by a fire in 2013 that reduced the main building to charred timbers, the owners rebuilt and the market continues to go strong. The West Montrose Covered Bridge Just 20 minutes outside the City of Waterloo, the covered bridge of West Montrose (also called the K ..read more