The vibrant capital of Finland is a perpetual “most livable city” candidate and benefits from a progressive, cosmopolitan and erudite populace. Helsinki is the premier metropolis in Finland by a wide margin, with a population of 1.3 million people spread out over peninsulas, bays and islands. Scenic and fortuitous geography then, plays a massive role in Helsinki’s overall appeal. Photo credit When To Visit If frigid Nordic... 

Time yet again to dole out mad props (or is it prøps ) to another superb city in Scandinavia. Bergen, the exquisite European Capital of Culture in 2000 (one of nine that year) and venerable “Second City” of Norway, suffers, like many other Nordic destinations, from a lack of mainstream attention. This is my humble opinion. To be blunt, most of my friends and family want to go to Spain, France, Australia and the Caribbean. I hear... 

For some people in North America, years out of middle school, Labor Day (Labour Day in Canada) still brings with it a sort of queasy back-to-school anxiety. Call it anti-nostalgia. Yes, a few of us definitely have a love-hate relationship with summer’s swansong. Sure, for countless parents everywhere Labor Day signals a thankful final end to summer vacation. With the back to school bell, mom and dad no longer have to stress over day camps,... 

It’s a city too often neglected in favor of London, Manchester and Liverpool but one well worth a visit for travelers in England with enough time on their hands. Birmingham is the United Kingdom’s “Second City” and England’s famous Industrial Revolution engine. Those “workshop of the world” days were a long, long time ago however and now, contemporary …  Read More →

There will always be a travel market for the most niche, inhospitable places in the world. Polar opposites of where mainstream tourists prefer to go, you could even say. Enter tourism in Antarctica. Oh it exists. Thousands of people visit Antarctica every year, most notably in the warm(ish) summer season between November and March. Outside of that and people would have to huddle …  Read More →

Florianópolis is one of the most blissful beach resorts on the planet, let alone South America. For those who know the capital of the state of Santa Catarina well, the name “Floripa” evokes all the inherent romance and sex appeal of Brazil. While undoubtedly a prime-time tourist destination, the city with a metro populace of 1 million people is also a vibrant hub of information technology, finance and commerce. Indeed, Floripa’s... 

Canadians are famously self-deprecating, a trait most recently put on international display during the closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. The decidedly laid-back end to the Games featured satirical send-ups of all things stereotypically “Canadian”, from Mounties to moose, maple syrup to canoes. The enthusiastic willingness to poke fun at themselves has definite geographical implications. There are particular sets... 

I love a good train ride. Take for example, the Mountain Railways of India. Together, they form a venerable UNESCO World Heritage Site and provide visitors with a peerless way to appreciate the country. People too, are more than a little familiar with the heritage railways of England and Germany (more on both in features to come). But what about other legacy lines across the globe? Where do they rank in beauty, history and importance? La Trochita... 

The Calvados department of Basse-Normandie is a prim, unobtrusive pocket of France that I particularly enjoy. For Calvados apple brandy of course (a spirit I drink from time to time) but also for seaside resorts, manors and picturesque scenery. The Calvados capital of Caen captures all these features in one fabulous package. The city of William the Conqueror and first city of Lower Normandy has a population …  Read More →

I didn’t anticipate the need to serialize a piece about smoking laws around the world but alas, here we are! It’s an interesting topic (at least I think so). Think for a moment on how national, or even regional laws, that regulate tobacco and alcohol consumption reflect a particular culture, perhaps in stark contrast with another. It’s a seldom thought-of niche issue. But again, tourists are eventually forced to confront it... 

People have lived in Aberdeen,  a city with a colorful history, for more than 8,000 years.  Old Aberdeen took shape at the mouth of the River Don and New Aberdeen grew on the banks of the River Dee.  The two towns became one in 1891.  Aberdeen is now Scotland’s third largest city and home to more than 210,000 residents. Since the discovery of oil and gas in the North Sea a few decades ago, Aberdeen has been nicknamed the ‘Oil... 

Mendoza is the nerve center of wine and adventure tourism in Argentina. If you like to raise a glass of bold red and paraglide off a mountain, this is the place for you. The city has a metro population of more than 850,000 people, fourth in Argentina and is on Ruta Nacional 7, a branch of the Pan-American Highway. As a result, Mendoza is easy to visit from Buenos Aires or Santiago, Chile. Well worth the effort too, especially in light of what... 

It’s a barely noticeable, almost insignificant feature of traveling around the world. Yet without notice, it creeps up on us and can gravely impact our enjoyment of a particular place or establishment. I’m referring to smoking laws of course. For smokers and non-smokers alike, the laws of the land don’t often factor into our collective thought-processes when we’re planning an itinerary or packing for a trip. Smoking bans... 

A friend of mine spent several months in Buenos Aires for fun, just like that, a few years ago. Eager to plan a return visit, he recently extolled the virtues of the Argentine capital and hinted that he definitely wanted to go back sooner rather than later. “What about Cordoba?”, I innocently inquired. After all, my friend pretty much knew Buenos Aires like the back of his hand. Wouldn’t it be worth discovering another city... 

Geneva is a Swiss gem.  A compact cityscape unfurls a dynamic array of cultural attractions, museums, stylish shops, chic restaurants and world class hotels . Best of all, Geneva is manageable in a few short days. When to Visit Geneva May through September offers the most comfortable weather, with temperatures between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius. All in all, summer is the best time to sun on Geneve Plage and waltz around the city at night. Make...