solo traveller perfecting her selfie one destination at a time
As we dive into a new decade though, we look not at alternates but at completely new destinations. Where can we go, what can we see, that we haven’t seen before. From indigenous birds to the elusive and VERY endangered black rhino, here’s our short list of up and coming destinations for 2020.
Edinburgh, Scotland is a vibrant, modern city with a rich history and cultural heritage. It lies at the southern edge of the Firth of Forth, on Scotland’s east coast. Edinburgh’s history dates back to prehistoric times. The modern city sprung up in the Middle Ages, as a small settlement on Castle Rock. It became a…
It’s 7:15am when the disembodied voice comes over the intercom in my room. The expedition leader informs us we have a bowhead whale just ahead, which is a rare sighting in these waters, let alone anywhere else. I throw on jeans and a sweater, a heavy jacket, my sunglasses, wool socks, and hiking shoes, then…
The leaves are changing already. (Still, I’m eagerly awaiting when my lawn is littered with golden leaves.) Seeking out fall foliage is a time-honoured American tradition up here in the Northeast. New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York all showcase the vivid colours of autumn. Trees burst with golds, reds, and browns, often so seductively…
The final season of “Game of Thrones” is upon us. There are a lot of questions to be answered. Who lives? Who dies? And who sits on the Iron Throne when it’s all said and done? Will it even matter because everything’s been taken over by the Night King and his army of White Walkers?…
Consistently ranked as a top adventure destination, well-known for wine and for hobbits, New Zealand ranks somewhere on almost everyone’s bucket lists. While long a backpacker destination, New Zealand now also has a cult following of luxury travellers. Many of them stay in one or more of the 30+ luxury lodges, enjoy helicopter flights over…
Central Portugal is everything from the Douro Valley south to Lisbon and from coast to the Spanish border. Visit for castles and fortresses, charming towns with wonderful history, and delightful food and wine.
Porto, Portugal lies on the steep, steep hills above the Douro River. Vila Nova de Gaia, the new town, is on the opposite bank. The Atlantic coast is a few miles away, and within minutes from the city there are sleep fishing villages with fantastic restaurants, a new cruise terminal, and top notch surfing.
Someone once told me to pay attention when I kept hearing about a destination from multiple people. Over the last year, that destination has been Portugal. From the sunny beach-strewn Algarve and the hilly, colourful streets of Lisbon, to the rugged northern hill towns and the steeply terraced Douro Valley, Portugal beckons.
Back in February, CN Traveler published a post about the best places to go on a strong US dollar. This list included Norway, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia, to name a few. Eight months later, is that list still accurate? Where should you be looking at going now, in order to maximise your money? Let’s take…