This photograph, taken at Waterton National Park, shows what can be accomplished when photographing the night sky. | Robin and Arlene Karpan photo

Photographing the night sky an ideal pandemic pastime

Night photography can open up a whole new world. With travel advisories still affecting how far afield we should go, visiting familiar locales close to home at night is almost like discovering new places. Something simple like a tree in the pasture might seem unremarkable during the day, but photograph it against the core of […] Read more

Hiking, such as in Alberta’s Waterton National Park, is a good thing to do while staying close to home.  | Arlene and Robin Karpan photo

Travel restrictions revive interest in nearby attractions

Some of the biggest travel trends emerging recently have included outdoor activities, staying reasonably close to home and taking road trips in our own vehicles. The pandemic has been the main driver of this. While hope for greater travel freedom is on the horizon with continued vaccine rollouts, it seems unlikely that significant change will […] Read more


Winter camping is a completely different experience from camping at other times of the year.  | Arlene and Robin Karpan photo

This is a great year to discover joys of winter camping

Want to take an exotic winter holiday while still observing pandemic protocols and travel advisories? Winter camping fits the bill. It’s a completely different experience from camping at other times of the year, with a lot of advantages. For starters, you don’t need ice for your cooler. Many parks are almost deserted, making social distancing […] Read more

The BHP Enchanted Forest Holiday Light Tour draws more than 75,000 visitors a year in Saskatoon.  | Robin and Arlene Karpan photo

Light displays make Christmas holidays merry and bright

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly affected many of our plans this Christmas. One bright spot is drive-through light displays where we can safely experience the magic of the holiday season from our vehicles. Here are a few options from across the Prairies, keeping in mind that anything could be altered or cancelled on short notice […] Read more


Entry regulations around the world vary widely and change quickly, which is something travelers must follow closely.  | Getty Images photo

International travel promises to be extra challenging this winter

The official Canadian government travel advisory is clear: “Avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice.” Yet many Canadians are either making plans or thinking about a winter vacation in warmer climes. Most face a mind-boggling array of constantly changing regulations as to where they are allowed to go, where it might be safe to […] Read more

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. 
| Screencap via aeroplan.com

Complete overhaul coming this fall for Aeroplan program

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

The iconic Prince of Wales Hotel is a majestic railway hotel built in 1927 and perched on a hilltop with one of the most magnificent views in Canada.   |  Arlene & Robin Karpan photo

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


The Elbow Marina can be found on Lake Diefenbaker, just off Highway 44. | Robin and Arlene Karpan photo

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

It’s a good idea to check your travel reward program accounts occasionally to ensure points don’t expire because of inactivity.  |  Getty Images

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