November will bring so many changes to Aeroplan, Air Canada’s points program, that it essentially becomes a new program with new rules. It is difficult to say if the new Aeroplan is better or worse than the old one. It will depend on how you use it. A major difference is that the number of […] Read more
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Waterton Lakes’ major attractions have now reopened
While all national parks went through tough times due to COVID-19, Waterton Lakes National Park in southwestern Alberta had to contend with a double whammy. The pandemic struck while it was still rebuilding after the massive Kenow Fire of 2017 that burned more than one-third of the park. The townsite was spared, barely, but the […] Read more
Try taking the road less travelled between Sask. cities
With most long-distance travel on hold, many of us are staying closer to home this summer and doing driving trips. Leaving the major highways where we can slow down to enjoy the scenery provides the most rewarding type of road trip. In Saskatchewan, we’re fortunate to have some great off-the-beaten-path routes linking our major cities. […] Read more
Will your travel reward points survive the pandemic?
With COVID-19 stopping most travel in its tracks, few of us these days think about wonderful places that our travel rewards programs promise to take us. So what about all those points we’ve been collecting? What will they be worth when we start travelling again? How well will airlines, hotel chains, and other businesses tied […] Read more
Small family farms dominate Colombia’s coffee country
If you’re reading this while sipping your morning coffee, chances are that the coffee beans came from a farm like the one run by Nicolas Spath. We recently visited the heart of Colombia’s famous coffee region where Spath showed us around his small farm with 2,000 coffee trees. We were in the town of Filandia, […] Read more
British Columbia’s Kootenay National Park turns 100
Kootenay National Park celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. In 1920, the federal government agreed to build a road linking Banff and the Columbia Valley in return for British Columbia donating land on either side of it to be preserved in a national park. When the Banff-Windermere Highway opened three years later, it became the […] Read more
Human rights museum is a top attraction in Manitoba
If the Canadian Museum for Human Rights looks familiar, it may be because the unusual-looking building appears on our $10 bill. The distinctive architecture is not the only unusual feature. Unlike other museums that primarily display artifacts, this one is more about ideas. It’s the first of its kind in the world dedicated to human […] Read more
Phoenix has a natural side that is worth exploring
The most surprising part of Phoenix, Arizona, is the easy access to nature and outdoor activities, even though it is one of the larger cities in the United States. Phoenix is in the Sonoran Desert, a striking landscape dominated by huge saguaro cactus. The best place to get oriented is at the Desert Botanical Garden […] Read more
How to receive the best value from your Aeroplan miles
If you’re confused over what is happening with Aeroplan, you’re not alone. Aeroplan started out as Air Canada’s frequent flyer program. Then Air Canada sold it, bought it back again early in 2019, but announced that it will roll out a new program to replace Aeroplan in June 2020. They made a few changes in […] Read more
Thunder Bay rich in history and natural attractions
Thunder Bay has long been an important Canadian transportation hub. In recent times it has been best known as the western-most port on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system, where grain and other products are loaded onto ships bound for export markets. However, this strategic location for transportation dates back to the early days of […] Read more
