Muchmor Canada » Holidays

A dude’s guide to roaming the highways

Guest Writer — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:20:09 +0000

Work, kids, working out, taking care of the house, and a hairline that’s heading for the back of your collar – it’s enough to make a guy understand why some men feel the urge to buy an outrageously impractical sports car at this stage of life. But you don’t need a mid-life crisis. What you need is a road trip.

Road trips are a rite of passage for young men everywhere, but college dudes shouldn’t be the only ones who get to enjoy this uniquely North American kind of adventure. If skinny neckties and big hair were in style the last time you took a road trip with your buds, it may be time to toss a duffel in the truck bed, round up your amigos and hit the highway. A few practical measures can help ensure your more mature road trip is still fun and works for everyone:

Packing it in

Your days of cramming six guys and all their gear into a barely drivable, high-mileage sub-compact are probably over. A reliable yet fun-to-drive pickup is perfect for your grown-up road trip with the guys. And since your stuff is probably going to be worth more than what you toted around during your college days, be sure to protect it. A lockable roll-up cover, like the tonneau cover will keep your belongings protected from the elements – including criminal elements – while you’re on the road. Plus, a truck bed cover can help improve your vehicle’s gas mileage.

As for what to pack, be sure to include an emergency roadside kit, first aid kit and any medications that you regularly need. Bring along a GPS device and your trusty mobile phone so you can stay on track and in touch. You might also consider a set of dressier clothes if your dining tastes have matured since your fast-food days.

Finely tuned machines

In the old days, you might have motored through the night with just a few hours of sleep and several cups of coffee to keep you going – and that was part of the thrill. These days, however, you probably appreciate a more relaxed pace, which includes sleeping well and eating right. Keeping yourself “well tuned” can help ensure you enjoy your road trip as much as possible.

You’ll also want to make sure your vehicle is in top condition. It’s a good idea to change the oil, and check the tire pressure and coolant system before you get on the road. If your vehicle is due for some routine maintenance, have it done before you start your trip.

Have a plan, man

How many road trips of your youth ended up at a destination other than the one you had in mind when you started out? Meandering can be fun, but having a plan can be rewarding too. Your taste in destinations has probably matured, so consult with your traveling partners and consider spots that appeal to your current interests and finances.

Use a GPS or online resource to pre-plan your route and make sure the people you love know where you’ll be along the way.

The mechanics of your mature road trip may be a world away from the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants style you favored in your college days. But a road trip can be a great way to relax and reconnect with friends no matter what stage you’re at in life.

Original article ARAContent

Five ingredients for a memorable family vacation

Guest Writer — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:17:39 +0000

There’s a reason families continue to cram the whole crew into the minivan and look forward to summer getaways. With everyone short on time, from PTA meetings to soccer games and everything in between, a family vacation is still the best way to soak up the time you have to share with your loved ones. The family vacation is something that creates lasting memories, and stories that get passed down the generational ladder.

But what is it that makes a family vacation so great? Reasons range from special attention given to each family member, to activities you all do together that bring you closer. Wherever you choose to travel, here are five ingredients that are sure to make your trip memorable for everyone.

1. Get active together. Choose an adventure the whole family can enjoy during your trip. Maybe it’s seeing the area you’re visiting by bicycle or horseback. Or perhaps there’s a theme park nearby where you can all enjoy a thrill. Taking a unique class offered by the resort where you are staying or a nearby activity center can also be a great way to bond. Choosing a resort with family activities is a good idea if you like the simplicity of having everything in one place.

2. Give everyone the star treatment. Before you leave, make sure to ask all family members what types of things they’d like to do during your vacation and plan so everyone is considered. Try to stay somewhere that goes out of its way to make all family members feel welcome.

3. Get outside. One of the best ways to enjoy a beautiful destination is to explore its natural areas. Taking a hike with the whole family can expose your children to the wonders of the outdoors, and they’re sure to enjoy a natural experience that is different to what they would see at home. Also, a day at the beach is sure to be a hit with everyone.

4. Make time for alone time. If you’re spending a whole week together, each family member will want some time for themselves to explore their own interests. Allow time for afternoon relaxation and consider designating one day for individual activity.

5. Make meals special. Vacation is a great time to try new foods together. Whether you’re grilling at your cabin, or dining at a family-friendly establishment, encourage family members to branch out from their normal eating habits. If your vacation is long enough, let each family member have a night to pick what the family should do for dinner.

Family vacations are truly memorable when each family member feels special and enjoys not only the shared activities, but has the choice to participate in individual activities that fit their interests. Whether that’s being outdoors, adventuring into a new culinary territory or taking a few minutes to oneself, family vacations are most appreciated when the destination offers activities to fit everyone’s interests. Making sure each person feels included in this summer’s vacation ensures everyone will have stories to tell for years to come.

Original article ARAContent

Canada’s March break, things to do

Features — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:34:13 +0000

School’s out, but do you really want to head south with the frat pack? Whether you’re into architecture or Arctic adventure, Canada has just the March break package for you.

March Break in Canada is a week off (in a few cases, two weeks off) for students grades JK through to 12 sometime from the end of February to beginning of April. The March Break in Canada may also be referred to as Spring Break, Winter Break or Mid-Winter Break, but March Break is most common, with Spring Break more of an American term.

Most families with school age kids make special plans of some kind over the March Break. Many parents take time off work and head for sunnier climates during March Break. Others plan special getaways closer to home, such as ski resorts, or enroll kids in local camps and special programs, which are offered in abundance during this week. March Break dates differ across Canada. In 2011, the dates are as follows:

British Columbia: March 18 – April 4, 2011
Alberta, Manitoba: March 25 – April 4, 2011
Saskatchewan: April 21 – May 2, 2011
Ontario and Nova Scotia: March 11 – 21, 2011
PEI: March 18 – 28, 2011
Quebec: Feb 25 – March 7, 2011 (Commission scolaire de la Capitale: March 4 – March 14, 2011)
New Brunswick: March 4 – March 14, 2011
Newfoundland / Labrador: April 21 – May 2, 2011
Northwest Territories, Yukon: March 18 – April 4, 2011

These dates are for the most part, but some specific schools may differ, especially in the Northwest Territories. Check specific locations or school websites if you need confirmation on the dates.

Northern delights:

It’s an experience in itself to arrive at Yukon’s Tagish Wilderness Lodge – the final stretch across a vast frozen lake can only be completed by snowmobile, dogsled or ski plane. The Yukon Winter Sampler is a five-day action-filled package, available throughout March, with cozy log-cabin accommodation for when it’s time to zonk out. After a mushing lesson on day two, you’ll race confidently through the forest, pulled by your own effervescent huskies. You’ll also learn to get about like a local on a powerful Ski-Doo. The reward for making it to a nearby mountaintop? A campfire cookout – think smoky homemade beans and lightly charred organic steaks. And when you feel like slowing down, you can pad around so quietly, in snowshoes you made yourself, that you won’t even startle the snowshoe hares. Or maybe you’d rather ice-fish through a sawed-out hole in the frozen lake? At the end of the day, there’s nothing more relaxing than hitting the hot tub to bask in the alien-green glow of the northern lights.

Highbrow holidays:

Aesthetes can plan smart by booking the OPUS Design Package between March 17 and 27, when the International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA) is running in Montréal. The OPUS Montréal boutique hotel is as striking for its 1914 main building – the first poured-concrete residential structure in North America – as for its recent slick black addition, designed by Dan Hanganu. The Design Package includes a self-guided walking tour of the city’s architectural highlights, tickets to the Canadian Centre for Architecture and Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, as well as martinis in the chandeliered Grand Salon of Koko bar, where you’ll get a kick out of the larger-than-life Moooi horse sculpture and electric-green runway. And at FIFA, you can chow down on popcorn at one of nine cinema and museum venues and catch movies and discussions on a fascinating array of topics from the world of art.

County fare in Prince Edward County:

From March 23 to April 16, you can take a break in Ontario’s Prince Edward County and work your way around the select restaurants participating in Countylicious – a celebration of the local bounty with three-course, prix-fixe dinners for a friendly $30 or $35 rate. Claramount Inn and Spa offers an all-inclusive package of room, breakfast and a meal from their Countylicious menu showcasing the county’s tasty heirloom and organic veggies, as well as local cheeses and wines – be sure to sample more than one of the crisp, steely Rieslings, which have helped to forge the local wine industry’s reputation. A walk around Claramount’s sprawling grounds by Picton Bay will help you work off dessert before you retire to one of 10 uniquely styled rooms. Tip: Between dinners, follow the “Taste Trail” and stock up on gourmet souvenirs like Sandbanks Estate Winery’s award-winning Baco Noir Reserve or Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company’s strangely delicious Goat Cheese Chocolate Truffles.

Getting there:

Tagish Wilderness Lodge, Box 17, Tagish, YT, 867-332-2113, tagishwildernesslodge.com
Opus Montréal Hotel, 10 Sherbrooke St. W., Montréal, QC, 1-866-744-6346, opushotel.com
Claramount Inn and Spa, 97 Bridge St., Picton, ON, 1-800-679-7756, claramountinn.com
Yukon Tourism, 1-800-661-0494, www.travelyukon.com
Ontario Tourism, 1-800-ONTARIO (1-800-668-2746), www.ontariotravel.net
Tourisme Québec, 1-877-BONJOUR (1-877-266-5687), www.bonjourquebec.com

Article courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission Media Centre

Writers Bio: Valerie Howes as the senior editor of Pure Canada, I’m on the lookout for stories about new and interesting lodgings, restaurants, spas, events, packages and experiences. Pure Canada is the Canadian Tourism Commission’s unique travel-lifestyle magazine. It is published by Spafax Canada Inc., publisher of enRoute, Air Canada’s award-winning inflight magazine. We represent Canada and it is our mission to take our readers on a sensory journey. Pure Canada is an invitation to the reader to discover Canada and experience it in a whole new way – it is an invitation to explorers.