INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS
Osoyoos is primarily known as a summer destination thanks to the hot temperatures, beautiful golf courses, and vineyards and orchards that surround Canada’s warmest lake. Yet, it’s also becoming a popular winter destination among “snowbirds”, retired Canadians looking to escape to warmer climates without having to leave the country. My parents are spending winter in...
The Tybee Island Light Station is Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse, at 144 feet (44 metres). Originally constructed in 1736 under the order of General James Oglethorpe, it has been rebuilt and altered several times. The version you see today was completed in 1916. The Tybee Island lighthouse is still used as a navigational aid...
One of my favourite things about visiting Savannah was seeing the abundance of large oak trees shading Savannah’s squares and walkways. Their moss draped branches contributed to the mystery and intrigue of a city well known for its haunted tales. Yet, as I walked below these aged oaks, stared up at their mighty limbs, I...
After a weekend of hiking to Larch Valley and horseback riding to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House, we ended our visit to Lake Louise with a delicious meal at The Station Restaurant. As a train lover, I was immediately impressed. Located in Lake Louise Station, the oldest building in Lake Louise, the restaurant...
Vienna’s Karlskirche, or St. Charles Church, was built from 1716-1737 after being commissioned by Emperor Charles VI. The emperor had promised to build a church after his namesake, St. Charles Borromeo, if the Black Plague that was infecting Vienna in 1713 left the city. Borromeo was an archbishop of Milan in the 16th century who was known...
The Tokyo International Forum is one of the most unique and distinctive buildings in central Tokyo. Forget your typical city skyscrapers, the International Forum resembles a large ship! Its glass atrium features elegant, curved walls reaching 60 metres high, all supported by metal columns and bars. The inside of the atrium was filled with natural...
An unmissable monument in Paris’ cityscape is the glittering gold dome of the royal chapel at Les Invalides. Dôme des Invalides was first inspired by the dome at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Designed by Jules Hardouin Mansart, the dome is considered one of the finest examples of French Baroque architecture. The dome was finished...
This week I’m featuring a photo taken at Mycenae during my 2007 trip to Greece. The aptly named Lion Gate is the main entrance to the citadel of Mycenae, an archaeological site in the north-eastern Peloponnese area of Greece. Mycenae was a major centre of Greek civilization and powerful kingdom way back in the second...
Vienna is known worldwide as a centre of culture and art, but is perhaps most famous for its roots in classical music. A long tradition of classical music attracted many notable musicians to the city. Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven all played music in Vienna. Not all musicians in Vienna moved...
I am not always a fan of public art but there was one specific piece I was itching to see since it was installed in 2013. Wonderland is a bent-wire portrait of a young girl’s head created by Jaume Plensa, a highly regarded Spanish sculptor. The 12 metre tall sculpture features prominently in front of...
Füssen is the ending point (or starting point, in our case) for one of Germany’s most famous drives- the Romantic Road. It’s a picturesque town with colourful architecture, charming old town squares and even a hilltop castle. Füssen is not only beautiful, it has a lengthy history dating back to Roman times. Interestingly, it was...
One of our favourite things to do in Budapest was walk along the Danube to see the bridges and famous landmarks lit up at night. We started our walk at Margaret Bridge, which links Margaret Island with both Buda and Pest. Margaret Bridge is the second oldest permanent bridge in Budapest. Construction started in 1872,...
After visiting Tokyo’s Sensoji Temple, we walked through the Asakusa district towards the Sumida River. Arriving at the riverbank, we were met with this view of unique and intriguing architecture. On the left, is one of Tokyo’s most modern and well known landmarks, the Tokyo Sky Tree. On the right, is a more perplexing structure...
I had never heard of Japan’s Miyajima Island until I started seeing photos of its famous floating torii gate. Once we booked our two week trip to Japan, this iconic torii was added to my list of must-see places in Japan! The Great Torii (O-Torii) stands at the sea entrance to Itsukushima Shrine and is...
I took this photo early in the morning when we were racing up the hill to Neuschwanstein Castle. We were on a mission to get there before the fog rose and completely covered the castle, which was the case the day before. I didn’t stop long to admire the view, just quickly took this picture...
During our time in Alaska, I kept seeing these beautiful pink wildflowers, growing just off the sides of the road. The colour was so eye-catching, they almost appeared to glow in the sunlight! I usually only share one photo for my Photo of the Week series, but I couldn’t decide which picture I liked best,...
On my previous trips to Europe, it has always been dark when I’ve flown over Greenland, so I was thrilled to finally get to see it from above coming home from our 5 week honeymoon in Europe. This is the spectacular view we got from the window of the plane. As we were flying over...
I may not always be the biggest fan of my home city, but there is one thing I can’t deny- Edmonton has a beautiful river valley, especially in the fall. Edmonton’s river valley is the largest stretch of urban parkland in North America- 7, 400 hectares! This gives us Edmontonians plenty of space to get...
St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or Stephansdom, is one of Vienna’s most visited sites. As the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna, St. Stephen’s is the most important religious building in Vienna. The Stephansdom was initially completed in Romanesque style in 1160, but expansions continued until 1511, many which were Gothic in design. The...
As a huge animal lover, I am always on the lookout for wildlife when I travel. While I don’t always have the best of luck in some destinations, I never fail to see wildlife in Jasper National Park. This is probably one of the cutest animal moments I have witnessed- a mother Mule deer grooming...
We are Rhonda and Mike, a Canadian couple who make it a priority to travel every chance we get!
We describe our travel style as "laid back luxe" and enjoy a mix of outdoor adventures and historic sites.
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