Nova Scotia’s maritime mélange of cultures
There are plenty of reasons to visit Nova Scotia (Latin for “new Scotland”) — one of the three Maritime Provinces of eastern Canada.Many people head for Cape Breton island in the northeastern corner of the province. They may take the famous Cabot Trail roadway, which winds along the island’s rugged Atlantic coastline — reason enough to head to that portion of... READ MORE
Cruises: big new ships, submarine trips
The Viking cruise line, best known for river cruises, began offering ocean cruises on the Viking Star last year. The ship is shown at its christening in Bergen, Norway.Photo courtesy of VikingUnderwater sightseeing in a glass submarine, shopping with a chef for dinner ingredients, and volunteering with locals: These are some of the new options this season for cruise passengers.This year,... READ MORE
‘Best value’ countries and cities in Europe
Among European countries, you get the most value for your money in the Czech Republic. And the worst value is Denmark. At least that’s what a recent study from Hotel Info (www.hotel.info) suggests. The top value city is Prague, and the worst is Rio.Normally, I’m not big on studies that steer you to “low-cost” or “high-value” destinations. After all, if... READ MORE
Join the kids in this waterpark adventure
“You want me to get on that and go down to where?” I cried from high atop the Alberta Falls waterslide, looking down to an alleged pool that was well out of visual range. My 11-year-old granddaughter nodded with a look of both consternation and resignation that I tried very hard to take in stride.Such was my introduction to a vast array of unusual children’s activities... READ MORE
Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens
Live interpreters and artisans bring the 18th century to life at Colonial Williamsburg, portraying everything from court defendants to blacksmiths to cooks. Williamsburg served as the capital of the Virginia Colony from 1699 to 1780, and many buildings have been restored to their former glory.Photo courtesy of Colonial WilliamsburgIt is the 1770s in England’s Virginia Colony as the... READ MORE
Visiting Liverpool (not to see the Beatles)
The last time I was in Liverpool, 40 years ago, the city was synonymous with the Beatles. But on a trip there last year, I decided to avoid the Fab Four commerce that has swelled since my last visit and helped the city shed some of its grittiness.For me, no Magical Mystery Tour, no walk through the Beatles Story museum, nor ticketed entry to the boyhood homes of John and Paul.With a week to ... READ MORE
West of Key West — Dry Tortugas Park
Seventy miles west of Key West is the “flip side” of that raucous isle — the slow-paced, undeveloped, near-quiet Dry Tortugas National Park, a seven-island cluster of coral reefs and sand.This 100-square-mile park gets its name from the sea turtles that greeted Ponce de Leon in 1513, and from the absence of fresh water, hence “dry.” Visitors go for a Civil War... READ MORE
Exploring Key West’s wildlife and wild life
A mother hen and her three chicks were hell-bent on crossing the street, so I stepped out and stopped the traffic on the main drag that slices down the middle of Key West, Fla. Roosters crowed nearby. No one seemed to notice. Chickens and roosters in the middle of town? Key West marches to its own drum. Chickens, roosters, six-toed cats, owl butterflies, conches, frigatebirds,... READ MORE
Where not to go — and when — this year
While you may be reading plenty of “where to go in 2016” stories elsewhere, I’ll be a contrarian and address the question of places and times you should seek to avoid.Spring breakYoung folks age 16 to 21 can be quite nice when they’re alone or in small groups. But hundreds or even thousands of them, each trying to see who can drink the most beer or smoke the most... READ MORE
How to bid for rooms at a choice of hotels
Bidding on the price of a hotel room doesn’t limit you to “opaque” bids where you don’t know the specific hotel you’ve “won” until after you’ve made a nonrefundable booking. That’s the Priceline model, and certainly the most popular.But, fortunately, it’s not the only bidding model. I know of four online agencies that allow... READ MORE