BC Tourism

Breadcrumb Trail Links Shopping Essentials From Egypt to Costa Rica and fjords in Iceland Stealing a Sicily, Italy moment. Photo by Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content Sticking close to home? That's so last year. Advertisement 2 Article content Although recent years have seen many Canadians up for travel itineraries that don't involve pulling out the passport, the world's a-waiting..  And as travel is increasingly on the agenda, given the relaxation of pandemic restrictions that stymied it for far too long, foreign destinations and unique experiences are getting a lot of attention.  Wherever you want to go, if you are looking for someone else to do the heavy-lifting when it comes to the finer details of your travels, you can get that by booking i...

I recently traveled to the city-state of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of UITP (Union Internationale des Transports Publics or International Association of Public Transport), a worldwide network that brings together all public transport stakeholders and sustainable transport modes – think APTA, but global. I was invited to speak and moderate a panel for its first in-person international event since the pandemic hit in 2020 – the UITP MENA (Middle East/North Africa) Transport Congress and Exhibition held in the Dubai World Trade Center. I also wanted to host a live CEO roundtable at our Trapeze stand and film an episode of our new Transit Unplugged TV show featuring the UITP Conference, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority and the Dubai World Expo – plus record a couple of podcasts with exciting guests. I got to do it all and so much more. This is my story. After a 12.5-hour flight from Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., I thought I would set...

On his first trip out of the United States since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Sebastian Modak takes the long way north. The rain returned just as I crouched down by the curb to fix my fourth flat bicycle tire of the day. The sun was inching toward the horizon, casting a thick gray-gold blanket over the nondescript suburb of Montréal I now found myself in. "It's not the bike's fault — it's bad luck," I insisted, as my partner Maggie threatened to throw the tire in a nearby dumpster and call a cab. We cursed in unison, a steady crescendo of progressively more creative expletives, as the rain resoaked our soggy clothes and I went through the all-too-familiar motions of changing a bike tube. My cuticles bled as I struggled to push the tire into place with whatever strength I had left. Mosquitoes closed in as the clock crept closer and closer to sunset.  This largely improvised journey from New York to Québec by rail and bicycle wasn't supposed...

Rock formations and trails are found at Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton. Photo by Stephen Pingry, Tulsa World Magazine Robbers Cave State Park gets its name from a void among some boulders where bad guys may have once hidden out, but it is in fact much more than that. Located about 120 miles southeast of Tulsa in the Sans Bois Mountains, the 8,246-acre enclave has just about everything an outdoor enthusiast could want, whether spending an afternoon or a week. Among the miles of mountain trails is one to fit just about any hiker's level of endurance, and the three lakes are available for fishing and boating. Some areas are open to seasonal hunting. Campsites for everything from pup tents to RVs are available, as are group camps, cabins and a 20-room lodge. Other accommodations include equestrian campsites and yurts. Now, about that name. There is some reason to think a little marketing may have been involved. The park was originally called Latimer Sta...

For more than five years, Washington state, Oregon and British Columbia have collaborated on studies of a possible Cascadia bullet train to run between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, Canada. This winter, the Washington Legislature approved money for yet more studies. But state lawmakers also set aside a much bigger sum to attract federal support that could advance the bullet train dream toward being shovel-ready. Project supporters envision a train with a top speed of at least 250 mph operating on a dedicated track. That could whisk travelers from Vancouver, B.C., to Seattle in one hour and from Seattle to Portland in another hour, in a climate-friendly manner to boot. The current top speed of Amtrak trains in the Pacific Northwest is 79 mph. Those passenger trains are routinely delayed by congestion on a mainline shared with freight trains. "Look at Spain. Look at France. Look at Germany. Look at Italy. Look at China, look at Japan," said Washington Senate Transporta...

Ice climbing which is one of the many unique winter experiences at Grafton Notch State Park. (Photo credit: Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands) As the most rural state in the United States, Maine is one of the best destinations to reconnect with nature. "Vacationland" has been the slogan on Maine license plates since 1936 and serves to promote the state's reputation as the premier vacation destination. Visitors to Maine discover a unique natural setting with seemingly endless outdoor recreation opportunities. Maine's outdoor economy is estimated to add more than $3 billion annually to the state economy as well as 41,000 jobs. Between 2005 and 2021, total visitation to Maine State Parks increased from just over 2 million to 3.2 million visitors. Also named "The Pine Tree State," Maine's extensive forests are transformed into a winter recreation paradise once the snow begins to fall. Maine's heavily forested landscape supports these outdoor recreati...

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Grand Rapids City Council approves final plat for future My Place Hotel    Herald Review

Why Hopper, Atlys, Deem, Life House, and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada are among the most exciting travel companies of the year. By Stirling Kelso 8 minute Read Explore the full 2022 list of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, 528 organizations whose efforts are reshaping their businesses, industries, and the broader culture. We've selected the firms making the biggest impact with their initiatives across 52 categories, including the most innovative style, design, and social media companies. The most innovative companies in travel this year are not only tackling pandemic-triggered travel challenges, they're also addressing pain points that have long afflicted the industry. Take Atlys, which makes it easier to secure required visas and health documents for international travel. And Deem's new corporate travel tool, called Etta, prioritizes things like client security and hotel sanitation practices. Airspace Intelligence, meanwhile, uses AI-powered...

Marriott International is getting into the safari business. The company announced this week that it will open the JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge within the Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Marriott expects the lodge to open sometime in 2023. "As a brand rooted in mindfulness, we cannot think of a more perfect retreat for the mind, body, and soul than the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya," Bruce Rohr, vice president and brand leader for JW Marriott, said in a release. The lodge will be located on the banks of the River Talek on the edge of the reserve. It will offer views of vistas, plains, and wildlife. It will include 20 private tents, one presidential canvas-topped pavilion, and two interconnecting canopied suites, each with a private terrace overlooking the river.  The lodge will also include a restaurant, lounge bar, spa, and a large outdoor terrace with fire pits that will host traditional Masai dance performances in the evening. "JW Marriott...