Best things to see and do

Exploring Ontario: Our Favourite Day trips from Thunder Bay

| Christie

Thunder Bay is the largest city in northwestern Ontario and was composed of two formerly separate towns: Fort William, a French fur trading outpost on the banks of the Kaministiquia River, and Port Arthur, the eastern terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the major transshipment point for lakers carrying goods from across the Great Lakes.

Thunder Bay centre boasts a small variety of buildings, but no one really visits this area for the city. The panoramic view of the Sleeping Giant and Marina Park are the main attractions of the Waterfront District and an afternoon spent there will give you an idea of the other activities available.

Sleeping Giant from Marina Thunder Bay

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The best Ontario road trip you need to experience at least once in your lifetime

| Christie

The scenery changes once you get to Sudbury (5 hrs north of Toronto), but the truth is that the 700-km stretch from Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay offers the most picturesque coastlines and rocky cliffs that will take your breath away. The rugged Precambrian red granite, the forested hills, and the deep blue or turquoise waters create the perfect backdrop you could wish for.

From pebbles to the finest sand beach, you will never tire of finding your special spot. From lazy rivers to white-waters rapids, there is something for everyone! Oh, and did I mention the waterfalls?!

Agawa Bay

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Strolling through Porto: A walking guide to the most historic landmarks

| Christie

Perched along the north bank of the Douro River, Porto is best known for its Port wine, but also for its historic centre, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage since 1996.

Porto (also known as Oporto) was called Portus Cale in Roman times, which eventually gave the city its name. An important trading port and commercial site, Porto was targeted by many tribes and powerful forces over the centuries, including the Visigoths and the Moors. The kingdom of Portugal expanded between the 12th and the 14th centuries through what was called the Portuguese Reconquista, a Christian reconquest after more than 700 years of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula. As new shipyards contributed to the city and country development, Porto became more and more famous. In 1415, Price Henry the Navigator embarked on the conquest of the Moorish port of Ceuta, in northern Morocco, followed shortly by sponsoring maritime expeditions, initiating the Portuguese Age of Discovery.

Cais da Ribeira viewed from Miradouro da Serra do Pilar
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10+ things to do for free this summer in Peterborough, ON

| Christie

If you’re looking for things to see or do on your ‘staycation’, here are some things that won’t break your bank. In fact, they will not cost you anything!

Known as the gateway to the Kawarthas, the Ontarians’ cottage country, Peterborough if often overlooked as a vacation destination. Located in Central Ontario, between Toronto and Ottawa, the city and the county of the same name have quite few things to offer to their visitors.

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Exploring Newfoundland: The best things to see and do along Discovery Trail

| Christie

Home to some of the oldest settlements and picturesque scenery on the island of Newfoundland, Bonavista Peninsula is the perfect place to explore the beautiful Newfoundland’s countryside. The road going around the peninsula is called Discovery Trail, and has access to some of the most famous landmarks and places of interest.

Natural arches, Dungeon Provincial Park
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How to spend a week in Madeira

| Christie

With a subtropical climate, and a unique setting, the island of Madeira, nicknamed the Pearl of the Atlantic, is a little oasis made of the ancient forests, high mountains, and beautiful beaches. The island is located at 1.5 hours – flying distance from Lisbon, and offers a huge array of activities. If you like being outdoors, this rugged and picturesque island is for you!

Miradouro do Fio, Madeira
Miradouro do Fio, Madeira
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10+ reasons why you should visit Newfoundland at least once in your lifetime

| Christie

The island of Newfoundland and the mainland of Labrador form together the easternmost province of Canada. Known as a place with a deep and ancient history, but also as one with the most spectacular rugged coastlines, Newfoundland has long beckoned us. All I wanted was to drive along the rocky coastline, with nothing but the ocean on one side and colorful houses on the other.

We did not plan much for this trip. I was thinking of going back to Alberta, and doing some hiking that we didn’t have time for on our visit there several years ago. Instead, the decision to go to Newfoundland came up shortly, the 10th, and the last Canadian province we still had to visit (and with three more territories on my bucket list).

Newfoundland really has it all, from incredible scenery, cute little colourful towns, to famous recipes and rich history. Not to mentions scenic drives, wildlife, museums, and fantastic hiking trails.  Here are just a few reasons why you should visit Newfoundland at least once in your life, but remember that depending on the time of the year you want to go, the province can unfold its wonders differently.

Trinity
The town of Trinity

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Exploring New York: The best things to see and do in Finger Lakes region

| Christie

Finger Lakes region takes its name from eleven long and narrow lakes spread like fingers across the region, and it’s located within four to five-hour drive from metropolitan cities, such as Toronto, New York, Philadelphia, or Pittsburgh. Over thousands of years receding glaciers carved this landscape, giving place to an idyllic home to generations of people. No wonder why, as sparkling lakes, breathtaking waterfalls and rolling pastoral hills dominate the landscape, making Finger Lakes Region a hidden gem.

European settlers found one of the most powerful Native Americans Nations in this area, who believed that Finger Lakes were the fingerprints of the Great Spirit. It is said that the Great Spirit reached down and, in touching the earth, transformed this land into sacred ground. But the geological term finger lake refers to a long, narrow body of water occupying a glacially over deepened valley, and the most notable ones are Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. Within about 9,000 square miles, there are miles of lakeshores, countless waterfalls, and vineyards; from biking, hiking, boating, fishing, to visiting museums, or quaint towns and villages, there is an activity for everyone, you name it.

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Exploring Florida: The best things to see and do in Fort Myers

| Christie

A gateway to the Southwest Florida region, Fort Myers is a major tourist destination on the banks of Caloosahatchee River. Established as a Seminole War Post in 1841, Fort Myers was known originally as Fort Harvie. Being transformed from a farming and cattle community in the late 1860’s into a commercial one, Fort Myers gained by the mid 1880’s a national notoriety for local recreational fishing.

From a small community, Fort Myers (nicknamed the City of Palms) has changed its look over time, new brick buildings replacing the original wooden ones. Today, the landscape of Southwest Florida has changed dramatically from what it used to be; however, the historic neighbourhoods and landmarks continue to bring some colour to the city.

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