All posts filed under: Destinations

Baha Mar luxury resort - NASSAU, The Bahamas, TravelBloggers.ca

Baha Mar Resort In The Bahamas Aligns With Musical A-Listers For A Star-Studded Partnership

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NASSAU, The Bahamas, Aug. 20, 2014 /CNW/ — Today, Baha Mar, the grand and greatly anticipated luxury resort located in Nassau, The Bahamas, announces an exciting partnership with two of the leading names in the world of music and entertainment — Jamie King and Emilio Estefan — who will be teaming up for the first time to develop, produce, choreograph and score the resort’s Grand Opening Gala alongside executive producer Bernie Yuman. Slated for late Spring 2015, the Baha Mar Grand Opening Gala will be a grand experience of sophisticated luxury and leisure spanning multiple days and encompassing every corner of the 1000-acre property, set alongside 3,000 feet of uninterrupted white-sand beach and crystal-clear waters. “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with award-winning visionaries such as Jamie and Emilio, who both have successful track records and are extremely well-respected in the entertainment industry,” said Sarkis D. Izmirlian, chairman and CEO of Baha Mar Resorts, Ltd. “I’m sure that their creative forces will combine to provide our guests with an unforgettable event that is nothing short of amazing and truly combines the glamour of the New Riviera with the soul of …

TravelBloggers.ca, Honda Indy of Toronto, Indy Car, Grid Girl

July in Toronto … Is IndyCar Time!

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One of the highlights on the IndyCar Series circuit is the July stop in Toronto. Each year the race in Toronto turns out to be one of the most exciting on the calendar. There are always bumps, crashes and controversy, a driver can still win the race even if he starts from the back – and that’s why the fans love it. But wait, there’s more! That’s right, there’s 2inTO! 2014 marks the second year in a row that Toronto will host two, back-to-back IndyCar races that are part of a fantastic annual Canadian Summer Festival by the shores of Lake Ontario. Having covered the Toronto Indy photographically for various media outlets since the year 2000 we were ready to experience it all from the other side of the fence. Last year (2013) we decided to cover the event from a fans perspective for our own website – TravelBloggers.ca. It was great to actually enjoy the festivities simply as real race fans –

TravelBloggers.ca

The 2014 Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide Now Available

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The guide showcases 107 wineries and makes travel planning easy NIAGARA, ON, May 16, 2014 /CNW/ – As the wine-touring season swings into high gear, Wine Country Ontario has just released its highly coveted 2014 Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide. Featuring a record 107 wineries, along with insider tips on how to make the most of an Ontario wine country experience, this must-have travel tool takes the guess work out of planning your next wine country outing, whether it be for a day, a weekend or a longer stay – a task that can sometimes seem daunting to visitors. With a detailed listing of Ontario’s finest wineries, the guide serves as the complete wine country resource for visitors to the region. It showcases the wineries in Ontario’s four primary wine touring destinations – Lake Erie North Shore, Niagara Escarpment & Twenty Valley, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Prince Edward County, provides factoids about the appellations and includes in-the-know information about the emerging regions, where innovative vintners are pushing the boundaries of Ontario’s wine country. It also includes a directory of charming accommodations, world-class restaurants, popular events and the region’s …

TravelBloggers.ca, Exuma Bahamas, Iain Shankland, Gail Shankland

10 Things To Do In Exuma, Bahamas

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When you think of the Bahamas, you naturally think of Nassau. However there are many more islands in the Bahamas you can choose to visit. Exuma (or Grand Exuma as it is officially known) offers many direct flights from Canada and the U.S. With 365 islands in the chain, there’s one for every day of the year! If  you’re ready to give up crowded streets full of tourists, huge cruise ships and casinos then you’ll really love the peace and quiet of Exuma – one of the Out Islands of the Bahamas. 1) Rent a car! You don’t want to fly to this gorgeous group of islands and plunk yourself on a beach at an all-inclusive club – what a waste that would be!! Rent a car for at least a couple of days so you can get out, explore and immerse yourself in the local culture. At $350 to rent a car for the week it’s well worth the money as well as the freedom it affords you to get out and see more!

TravelBloggers.ca, Niagara Ice Wine Festival

Early Icewine Harvest in Ontario’s Wine Country

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NIAGARA, ON, Dec. 16, 2013 /CNW/ – The Icewine harvest had an early start this year as the temperature began to dip to below -8˚ Celsius in late November. Icewine harvest varies from year to year as growers are dependent on nature, but one thing that remains cool and dependable is the Niagara Icewine Festival – an annual celebration in January, that turns the region into an unforgettable wintery wonderland of Icewine-inspired experiences. The Icewine Festival, a one-of-a-kind celebration, is a time when consumers have the best opportunity to discover and enjoy Canada’s most cherished product. For three weeks in January, wine enthusiasts, cocktail fans, foodies and music lovers can all choose from a collection of Icewine related events reflecting the authentic and local flavours of Ontario. Events will be hosted throughout the Niagara region and at the outdoor street festivals in the towns of Jordan Village and Niagara-on-the-Lake, where visitors can admire sparkling ice sculptures, warm up to cozy open fires and enjoy live entertainment. New this year is Niagara-on-the-Lake’s ‘Sparkle & Ice.’ During the evening of Friday, January 17th, Icewine makers will be sharing …

www.stone-hedgefinancialgroup.ca, TravelBloggers.ca

For Canadians Living Near The U.S. border, It Can Take Less Than 5 Minutes To Cross Over Into A World of Hurt

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A recent poll conducted by BCAA (British Columbia Automobile Association) showed that the majority of B.C. travellers crossing the border for short trip take risks – insurance risks from unexpected medical emergencies. In a recent cross-border travel poll it was revealed that 77% of British Columbians who have travelled to the U.S. without travel insurance, do so because they believe that short trips don’t justify getting insurance. With many Canadians making travel plans to the U.S. for Black Friday shopping, travellers should consider the risks with leaving their province – even for a few hours, without adequate medical coverage. “It’s a huge gamble to leave B.C. [Canada] for any length of time without any, or adequate, travel insurance,” says Hubert Rau, BCAA’s vice president of Insurance Marketing. “Learning from our survey that people are travelling unprotected is troubling. Even a minor, unexpected medical emergency, especially in the U.S., could cost thousands of dollars to treat, let alone all the other expenses associated with a medical incident.”

A Hearty Breakfast of Bacon, Eggs and…Giraffe at the Manor

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Giraffe Manor A relative sent us some pictures of this unique property in Africa and we just had to do more research and share it with our readers. Although the chances of us ever getting to Kenya, or Africa for that matter are slim-to-none, we can certainly appreciate the beauty of Africa and especially the unique animals along with this one-of-a-kind hotel. The Giraffe Manor is a unique property and boutique hotel located in the Lang’ata suburb of Nairobi, Kenya. The property is famous for its resident herd of endangered Rothschild giraffes that live on the extensive grounds. Set on 12 acres of private land within 140 acres of indigenous forest, the hotel is only 20 kilometres from Nairobi city centre. Giraffe Manor offers visitors an unparalleled experience with the giraffes. Guests can feed the giraffes from their breakfast table, photograph them and interact with them through open windows, at the front door and even at the second floor bedroom window! This is the only place in the world where one can share breakfast with …

TravelBloggers.ca, Maid Of The Mist, Niagara Falls

Three New Boats Ready to Showcase the Infamous Niagara Falls In 2014

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  Last year (2012), Hornblower Niagara Cruises [NiagaraCruises.com], won the contract to operate cruises from the Canadian side of the Niagara Gorge to the base of the Horseshoe Falls. Maid of the Mist Steam Company has been operating the tours since 1854 (originally they were ferries between Canada and the U.S. as far back as 1846) – and will continue to offer tours from the U.S. side of the river. For anyone familiar with the sights of the Maid of the Mist boats, it’s going to be quite a surprise to see the new catamarans running alongside the traditional-looking boats. The catamarans’ features include: improved manoeuvrability in the water, enclosed viewing areas for those who don’t want to get wet, an outdoor deck with tiered viewing areas to provide maximum sightseeing and they’ll also have seating, on-board washrooms and licensed concessions for new evening and night time cruises. The catamarans, (26 metres long and 10 metres wide), will arrive in Niagara Falls sometime in January 2014. One has already been built, with the second one …

TravelBloggers.ca

Dress for the Fest – Oktoberfest!

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A few months back, Gail and I were telling her BFF about our trip to Germany and our Oktoberfest experience when she said: “Let’s get dressed in the German outfits and go to Oktoberfest in Kitchener this year!” Having gone to Oktoberfest in Stuttgart, it was seeming kind of odd that we’d travelled some 5,000+ kilometres to Germany, but had never bothered to drive an hour up the highway to visit Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario for Oktoberfest – especially since it’s said to be Canada’s best Bavarian Festival! Gail & I looked at each other…and thought, hmmm not a bad idea, but we’re not German – wouldn’t we be insulting them if we bought authentic Bavarian outfits and went to Oktoberfest as frauds? What to do!? … Google it (of course)! After a bit of quick research we found that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with dressing up as Bavarians – quite the opposite in fact! Information we found indicated that lots of people get in the spirit and “fake it ‘til they make it” at Oktoberfest – …

TravelBloggers.ca

10-Year ePassport Now Available For Canadians

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CALGARY, July 2, 2013 /CNW/ – Canada’s new and more secure 10-year ePassport is now available to Canadians, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. “The new, 10-year ePassport provides more convenience for Canadians, and facilitates safe, secure travel which, in turn, helps create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for Canadians,” said Minister Kenney. “The Canadian passport is not only a privilege of citizenship, but a reflection of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.” ePassports are  the international norm in travel documents. They contain technologically-advanced features, including an embedded electronic chip, to prevent fraud. The chip stores the same personal information as that which is recorded on the second page of the passport (except for the signature) as well as a photo and a digital security feature that proves that the passport was issued by the Government of Canada. To combat fraud, once the personal information is stored on the chip, it cannot be modified without invalidating the passport.