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    Unique World Heritage Site You’ve Never Heard Of: Dinosaur Provincial Park

    I imagine this is what the moon looks like; a landscape bleached and barren, rocks twisted and torn by an alien wind. The four of us stand motionless in the hot sun, sweat running down our backs, trying to make sense of the bizarre vista in front of us.

    We’re in the badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, nestled firmly in the grasslands of Canada’s lonely prairies.

    Cretaceous shale and sandstone are exposed in eerie, lunar formations wherever a rare stream slashes a deep cut into the parched soil. Each turn of our walk reveals more …

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    Snorkeling and the Beach at Hanauma Bay in Oahu

    A few months back, we had the pleasure of spending time in the Hawaiian Islands with some friends. It was a hectic and fun vacation that ended much sooner than we would have liked. The day after our epic road trip around the island of Oahu, we finally got the chance to don our masks and snorkels and check out Oahu’s premiere snorkelling destination, gorgeous Hanauma Bay. With the wind in our hair and the sun overhead, we buckled the kids in tight and drove our convertible Jeep the short trip from busy Waikiki to the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.

    At the suggestion of our hotel’s tour desk, we arrived at the park around 8:30 a.m. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve only…

  • Roundup: 48 Hours in a Car, Ice Cream, Fun in Mexico and Meat Floss

    We’ve just returned to beautiful BC after a month-long road trip to visit family in Manitoba and Alberta, Canada. In total, we spent over 48 hours in the car (darn you, Canada for being so… large) with our two little ones and our cat, Cosmo. Cosmo was lucky enough to stop for part of the trip and spend a few weeks at Grandma’s garden and luxury cat spa (aka my Mom’s house) while we drove to Manitoba to hang out at the cabin and play in the lake.

    Aside from traveling and visiting family, we’ve been busy giving interviews (how fun is that!) and writing for some great travel sites. Here are a couple of the other projects you might have missed, including a fun interview with me and an article on finding out of the way things to do in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

    I have two words of advice for anyone on a long road trip with little kids: …

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    Canadian Cottage Life – A Simple Vacation or Something More?

    To say summer in Canada is a big thing is definitely an understatement. After months and months of cold weather, the average Canadian emerges in late Spring with a vigor unlike anything they’ve felt in the past eight months. There’s a strange electricity in the air as everyone gets ready for a few great months of weather before the inevitable cold returns. As such, the majority of us tend to cram as many fair weather activities into our summers as humanly possible.

    With that in mind we head to the prairies and cottage lake country where I find not only a healthy dose of back to nature enjoyment but also a reminder of the way I spent my youth…

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    A Tacky Good Time at the Hale Koa Luau in Waikiki

    On our last night in Oahu, we stumbled onto a luau at the Hale Koa Hotel. Though the authenticity of their Polynesian cultural experience is up for serious debate, Waikiki’s Luaus can be a cheesy good time if you’re willing to let your hair down a little.

    We picked up some last minute tickets for the evening’s luau and set in for a fine night of over the top tourist tackiness and family fun.

    A luau is a great way to sample traditional Hawaiian food, watch the hula girls and fire dancers and to enjoy a …

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    Rockin the Road Trip! Beaches, Fun And Sun On Our Drive Around Oahu

    We love the road trip. There’s something about being on the road that makes anything seem possible. With the sun on your face, and the wind rushing past, any turn can bring a new adventure.

    We rented a Jeep, rolled the top down, tossed some sunscreen and swimsuits in the back, and set out to find adventure on a family drive around Oahu.

    Oahu’s coastline has crystal clear water, beaches around every turn and a backdrop of lush volcanic slopes. We spent most of our drive staring out the window going “Oooh – ahhh… look at that!” The scenery alone, which ranged from aquamarine ocean to soaring cliffs to sleepy seaside towns like Waimanalo, made our road trip…

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    Travel Photo: White Sand Beaches in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

    Sparkling, crystal clear ocean waves, long, powdery white sandy beaches and gentle tropical trade winds to cool off in the afternoon sun define Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. This Caribbean Sea community is comprised mostly of all inclusive hotels and tourists lazing the day away on their long anticipated vacations.

    Who can blame them when the weather, the water and the relaxing lifestyle all converge to give them a trip they’ll always remember. From it’s dozens of freshly manicured world class golf courses to it’s string of spas and boutique shops that Sulis Minerva herself would envy, Punta Cana has everything that a modern paradise seeking tourist could…

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    Travel Photo: Plaza de Armas, Havana, Cuba

    The capital city of Havana in the Republic of Cuba is known for its history, monuments, architecture and its culture. Founded in the 16th century and claimed by the Spanish, the city was the perfect foothold for Spain’s colonisation of the island. It was also a major stopping point for the famous treasure filled Spanish Galleons that sailed the waters in that time.

    La Habana, as it is called in Spanish, is typically divided into three areas. Vedado, Old Havana and the suburban districts.

    Old Havana is where the architecture and the history truly come alive. It’s columned buildings, grass filled courtyards and stylized gateways done in neoclassic and baroque architecture add to it’s many sights. It’s a place where pirates once dreamed of gold filled plunders and daring escapes. Where Hemingway spent long days drinking cool mojito’s at the historical El Floridita bar. Where unhappy politicians plotted to…