Sitting on the smooth rocky outcropping jutting into the tiny lake, we looked over North Falls pouring out of Otter Lake and framed by brilliant green forest. Behind us, we could hear the roar of another set of rapids emptying into Mountain Lake, the next in the long chain making up the Churchill River. It […] Read more
Robin And Arlene Karpan
Stories by Robin And Arlene Karpan
Death Valley springs to life
A sea of Desert Gold wildflowers lined the valley slopes on both sides of the road. Farther on, we drove past Golden Evening Primrose, mixed with bluish-purple Phacelia and dotted with wispy white blossoms of Gravel Ghost. For a closer look, we took a wildflower hike guided by a park ranger who pointed out 10 […] Read more
Spaced out in Florida: visiting the Kennedy Space Center
While we have all seen news coverage of rocket launches, space shuttles and moon landings, visiting the place that made it all happen brings it to life. The Kennedy Space Center sits near Florida’s Atlantic coast, less than an hour’s drive east of Orlando. Even those with only a mild interest in space can’t help […] Read more
Laos attracting more tourists, but remains laid back
We silently rose above the rice fields just before dawn, the only sound an occasional blast from burners on the hot air balloon. Our pilot made fine adjustments to the heat until our almost vertical ascent caught the high gentle breeze that took us slowly along the Nam Song River Valley. We looked down over […] Read more
Low dollar doesn’t have to mean staying home this winter
Canadians planning a winter vacation are likely learning that the fastest thing heading south is the Canadian dollar. However, it is possible to travel well internationally without breaking the bank by taking time to research the options. We’ve been through this before when, 15 years ago, the loonie was even lower. The big difference now […] Read more
Southern Bolivia a world apart
The full moon cast a soft light over the world’s largest salt lake, then as it dipped below the horizon, the rising sun suddenly washed a warm glow over the brilliant white salt that had crystallized into strange polygon patterns stretching to the horizon. While impressive, this was only one of a series of mesmerizing […] Read more
Prepare for the unexpected or expect to pay
Researching your insurance coverage is every bit as important as researching other aspects of your travels. News headlines sometimes relate a horror story of travellers getting stuck with a huge bill because of an emergency. They bought insurance, but the insurance company won’t pay. We seldom know the full story of these disputes, but it […] Read more
Explore Manitoba’s caves and crevices
Prepare for an adventure among the moss-covered rock formations formed more than 400 million years ago
The forest path brings us to the rim of a rocky cliff overlooking the vivid blue waters of Clearwater Lake. We have to be careful where we step, since the flat-topped cliff suddenly drops into deep, narrow crevices. Closer to shore, we gaze over a jumble of massive boulders, remnants from a cliff face that […] Read more
Bears rule in Alaska’s Katmai National Park
“Two bears are coming down the path toward us,” warned the park ranger. “We had better move back and wait on this rise until they pass by.” As we stood on the small knoll right beside the path, two well-fed brown bears (larger cousins of the grizzly) ambled by, seemingly ignoring us. Just when we […] Read more
History abounds along picturesque Battle Creek
Battle Creek may be one of the shorter waterways on the Prairies, but few can match it for the mix of history and scenery around every corner of its meandering course. Located at the northern extent of the Gulf of Mexico watershed, the creek begins in the Cypress Hills, just east of Elkwater, Alta. While […] Read more
