The best way to explore an off-beat destination

O n a recent trip to Whistler BC, I was invited to enjoy an afternoon at the Scandinave Spa. This mountainside getaway is obviously ideal for those that have had a long day on the slopes. Massage therapists are on hand to soothe sore muscles that have been put into action for the first time in years. The baths are there to ease that hard worked body back to normal. In This Post... And then there is me. A Day at the Scandinave Spa Whistler BC Hot. Cold. Relax. Repeat. Cool Pool Relax And then there is me. I don’t ski, snowboard, or overly exert myself for fun.  This doesn’t mean I don’t hurt or do not deserve a relaxing break…right?  I may not push the limits on the hills but I do know how to relax. If there is one thing I learned in Vegas it is how to enjoy a spa. A few years ago a friend tipped me off on how to recover from a late night in Vegas. Instead of pulling the blackout curtains and feeling like death in your stuffy hotel room, drag your sorry as...

From Milwaukee – October 2009 Ehhhhhhh…. 6 months. Gone. Seriously. What HAPPENED? I  blacked out. I must have. Last thing I remember is putting my home of 6+ years on the market. Now I’m sitting on a cafe patio in Vancouver (in February) scratching my head trying to figure out how I got here. Chicago – October 2009 Chi City Usually at this time of year I look back at the past 12 months and reflect on the good times had and prepare for what’s to come. Right now I’m having a hard time piecing that together. The last 6 months have been an absolute blur. Did I really pose with a statue of the Fonz in Milwaukee? Was i really there when Erin’s father landed a 48 lbs lake trout on Great Slave Lake? The Millers? Did I have the swine flu?? Do I really own this amazing new place in Vancouver? Did I really get hit on by a tranny in Seattle?? What the eff is going on?? I blacked out and now I can’t really recall any of this. The Millers October ...

Eating Our Way Across the Globe When I was traveling people often asked me what it was like living in Edmonton to which I always replied, “I don’t know.” I had lived here for almost 7 years and yet it felt like I didn’t know what the city was like. Traveling to great cities all over the world opened my eyes to what other places have however I had always heard that Edmonton has a lot to offer. From this I promised myself to give Edmonton a shot and try and see what living in Edmonton is really like. For one, I have now found many great restaurants and a few good cafes and as Edmonton is known as a festival city, I attend the Heritage festival. Erin was in town to help take in the festivities which basically consisted of eating food from around the world. Pictured above are the meal tickets we purchased. I am happy to say we ended the day with only 2 left over. It was cool visiting tents from countries we had been to. It brought back many a memory. We feasted o...

Did you know that the Bay of Fundy is one of the seven wonders of North America? The area is home to the highest tides in the world, rare geological discoveries, and diverse marine ecosystem. Fundy National Park encompasses 80 square miles (206 km) of rugged coastline and Acadian forest, where you’ll find more than 60 miles (100 km) of hiking trails, cascading waterfalls, freshwater lakes, and even a heated, saltwater swimming pool. Where is the Bay of Fundy and Fundy National Park? A lone seal relaxing near Fundy National Park in New Brunswick. The Bay of Fundy is located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on the east coast of North America. It is more than 200 miles (320 km) long, and there are lots and lots of natural areas, provincial parks, and geological wonders to explore. Fundy National Park is situated near the small coastal community of Alma, New Brunswick. A Quick Overview of the Bay of Fundy Tides Gabe watching the sunset and the Bay o...

Actually, despite the title, in this post I am going to tell you how I’ve spent an afternoon in Toronto, in a stopover on my way to Cuba. The total time of the stopover was 20 hours, but that also included the night. The easiest way to fly to Cuba, from Europe, is via Toronto/Montreal or via Madrid. I chose the first option because the price was much cheaper and because I was happy to know that this flight will give me 20 hours to spend in Toronto. I’ve booked a hotel for the night, bought the Lonely Planet, sorted my visa and happily waited for the departure date. Due to the fact that my luggage was lost, it took me less than 15 minutes since I got off the plane until I cleared immigration and found myself in the arrivals hall from Pearson International Airport. The hotel shuttle showed up in half an hour and by 1PM I was in my room, at the Star Express Inn, in Mississauga. I’ve staid in many, many hotels and hostels during my trips around the world but none was di...

Share or save this post Pinterest Twitter Facebook Quebec is famous for its pretty buildings, its historic Old Town, and for being the capital of the French-speaking province of the same name. It dates back to 1608 (pretty old for the New World) and features a load of historic buildings, one of which is Château Frontenac – a huge castle hotel that dominates the skyline. There’s no doubt that this is a super charming city to get lost in. (Though be sure to wrap up warm if you visit in winter!) However, when it comes to where to stay, are there any hostels at all in this heritage town? The answer is YES! And lucky for you we’ve sorted through all of them to narrow ...