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Outaouais? Oui, You Must Mean Quebec! With a Side of Ottawa.
I’ve had the luxury of viewing Québec’s spectacular fall foliage in three different regions: Charlevoix, the Eastern Townships and most recently in the Outaouais. What, you’ve never heard of Outaouais? Pronounced ooo-tah-way, it’s located at the southwestern tip of Québec along the Ottawa River. I started my journey in Montreal, taking a two-hour train ride…
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Sonoma Wine Country :: Autumnal Delights
Several years ago I made my first visit to Sonoma County Wine Country. It was autumn, and it was beautiful. The crowds were gone, the leaves were turning and the temperatures were just right. This year, Wine Country Inns of Sonoma County have put together Experience the Harvest Adventures including fall menus, special winery tours,…
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Steelhead Diner Is a Fresh, New Spot :: Seattle
My son was recently visiting from New York City and we were looking for a nice little restaurant after watching the Seattle Mariners play the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field one sunny afternoon. One of Seattle’s finest concierges, James Mulvaney of the Washington Athletic Club (named Seattle Hotel Concierge of the Year), recommended the…
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Girlyman :: Great Name, Cool Acoustic Sound
Girlyman. What a great name for a group. And what a fun, fresh sound. I so wanted to hear this band in Seattle next month. But I’ll be headed to the SATW (Society of American Travel Writers) national convention in Manchester, England that evening. I recently heard the trio’s new CD, Joyful Sound, and loved…
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A Magical Getaway :: Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
Sometimes a story really needs pictures. And in the case of Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, I’ve decided that more is better. Salt Spring is the largest and most populated of BC’s Gulf Islands. But don’t let that fool you. With only 12,000+ permanent residents, you’re not going to feel crowded. It’s a bucolic paradise,…
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2007 World Airline Awards Announced
Singapore Airlines has been named Airline of the Year in the 2007 World Airline Awards. More than 14 million nominations were received by the London based survey organization Skytrax. It’s the longest running and largest passenger survey ever conducted. Among the other awards were Air Canada for Best North America Airline, Malaysia Airlines for Best…
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“Taste the Mediterranean” Packages :: Starwood Hotels & Resorts
[EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS IS SUE’S 100th VAGABLOND ARTICLE. CONGRATS, SUE!] Starwood Hotels & Resorts of Italy, Malta and Croatia has launched an interactive Web campaign, Taste the Mediterranean. Designed to promote the distinct and unique flavors of this popular region, Taste the Mediterranean is a Web-only travel package for food and wine lovers. The Taste…
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Spend a Heart-Filled Weekend in Manitoba
The Fairmont Winnipeg and Habitat for Humanity® have teamed up to offer a travel experience with plenty of heart. Guests at the hotel may volunteer during their next getaway by helping to build homes for families in need of decent shelter. Starting at $219 a night, the hotel’s Home Sweet Home package includes overnight accommodation…
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50 Best Girlfriends Getaways in North America
We women are on the move! With 32 million trips taken last year, U.S. women are predicted to spend more than $125 billion on travel during 2007. Travel expert Marybeth Bond has written a book geared to all of us who want to treat ourselves to “gals only” trips — whether it’s celebrating a milestone…
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Amtrak Adds Luxurious Rail Rides To Its Menu
I love ridin’ the rails. And now Amtrak has introduced “luxurious” rail rides with The GrandLuxe Limited. Formerly known as the American Orient Express, it’s a premier, separate, seven-car train attached to regularly scheduled Amtrak trains. It comes complete with private dining, lounge and sleeping cars.
