This is kind of a followup to the last post I made about multi-city flights to Europe, which resulted in the Sunwing Portugal flights selling out pretty quickly. They appear to be selling some more cheap one way flights, although they're $94 now, instead of $35.
What this means for Toronto is that It's still possible to do a multi-city flight into one city in Europe, and home from another, for as cheap as $357 roundtrip after taxes.
The key at the moment are a couple of flights on Sunwing coming back from Portugal.
Just a few weeks ago, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list (sponsored by San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna) was released. If you’re looking for the eating experiencing of a lifetime, then here are some of the top destinations to experience the world’s best restaurants.
Copenhagen, Denmark
For the third year in a row, Noma restaurant has taken first place on the world’s 50 best restaurants list. Helmed by Rene Redzepi, Copenhagen is also chock-full of restaurants opened by protégés of Noma so if you can’t get a reservation to Noma, then be sure to try Herman, Geranium 2, Fiskebaren, Restaurant AOC or Restaurant Relae.
New York City, United States
Per Se, located in Columbus Circle, overlooks the south west corner of Central Park and was ranked 6th in the world’s 50 best restaurant list. Also in New York City: Daniel Humm’s Eleven Madison Park, located just steps from the Flatiron building, Italian food mecca Eataly and one of the original Shake Shack locations.
One of the best parts of travel is getting up close to the different kinds of wildlife that share this planet with us. You can catch a glimpse of all kinds of them at zoos closer to home but that's no replacement for seeing animals in the wild, in their natural habitats. I've put together a list of some of my top adventures involving animals. The key for me is activities that don't involve animals in captivity or getting too close -- it's not only a risk for you, it also negatively affects their relationship with humans and sometimes even puts them in danger.
When you've set your sights on enjoying the native wildlife during your travels, keep these things in mind. It's not difficult to find a company that will send you on an elephant ride through the jungle, or let you swim with dolphins, but think about the effect these attractions have on the animals, and always look into tour operators' philosophies about their engagement with natural habitats. At the very least, they should be aware of their impact on the animals and their ecosystems and actively working to lessen it, rather than just cashing in on your curiosity.
In Canada, laws exist that dictate how many whale watching boats can approach a whale, for example, how long a boat can stay to watch, and how close it can get. But those laws don't necessarily exist elsewhere so your moral compass will have to call the shots. I once went on a boat trip in Thailand that included a stop at a beach where a resident pack of monkeys had set up camp, knowing food-toting tourists stopped by frequently. The monkeys would grab and consume anything tourists would toss at them -- bananas, chips, candy and even beer -- while tourists took photos of beer-chugging monkeys. It's not a good feeling to be a part of that.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't seek out unique wildlife spotting opportunities, and perhaps pay for the privilege, just do it with the best interest of the animals in mind. Here are just some of the most incredible ways to do that.
What’s the latest reason to make a trip down to the Toronto Zoo?
Two adorable young white lions who just arrived there on Friday.
Originally from the Timbavati region of South Africa, the male and female cubs are on display thanks to a breeding program at the Toronto zoo. Right now they are nine and 10 months old, but when they reach maturity the zoo hopes they will breed.
Watch this video for more:
Looking for more adorable baby animals at a zoo in your region? Teresa Laynes has rounded up the latest news of zoo babies across the country that were born this year.
Adorable Canadian zoo babies born this year
by Teresa Laynes
Zoos across the country have been blessed with all kinds of bundles of joy this spring. Here’s a list to help you find the newest additions to our Canadian Zoo families:
Toronto Zoo
Golden Lion Tamarin
The Toronto Zoo welcomed a Golden Lion Tamarin to their family on March 20th. From South America, this Tamarin is on the endangered species list, which makes this birth all the more exciting! Its name comes from its impressive mane of blazing orange hair. They are normally monogamous, and leave their parent to mate at 18 months old. Unlike most primates, the Golden Lion Tamarin cannot grasp or hold on with its tail, and does not have opposable thumbs.
Ring Tailed Lemur
First time mom “Lily” welcomed her new baby on March 5th. Unlike the Golden Lion Tamarin, Ring Tailed lemur is considered “promiscuous”, so the baby’s father has yet to be determined. Call Maury! The only place lemurs can be found in the wild is Madagascar, and while they are not yet listed as endangered, threat to their environment has them well on their way.
Interestingly, Lemurs are part of the “Primate” family like monkey’s, but like the Golden Lion Tamarin, they are not able to use their tails to grab onto branches like a monkey would. The ring-tailed lemur's tail is longer than its body, and if an argument breaks out between a male and female lemur, the female always wins, same as my house.
Assiniboine Park Zoo
African Lion Cub
On March 30th, new mom Kayia gave birth to a healthy cub. The endangered African lion is the second largest cat after the tiger, with males weighing up to 550 lbs. The baby’s sex is yet to be known, and the cub will be viewable to the public sometime in the middle of June.
Asiatic Lions
Twins! They were actually born in May of 2010, but arrived April 19th from Germany, making this the only zoo in North America to have a pair. There are only about 200 or so of them left in the world, so they are very rare and on the endangered species list. Asiatic lions are a subspecies of the mighty African lion, and are slightly smaller. These beautiful boys will be available to be ogled this summer.
Calgary Zoo
Amur Tiger Cubs
On March 30th the Calgary zoo welcomed not one, or two, but THREE baby Siberian tiger cubs. The staff at the zoo are waiting patiently for mamma to let her babies meet the world so that they too can have some contact with the cubs, something they have a policy against until mom says it’s alright.
The zoo expects that the cubs will be viewable to the public sometime in June when mom will likely let them outside for the first time. There are only 350 to 400 remaining in the wild, so this is a very exciting time at the Calgary Zoo!
Red River Hog Piglets
Two Red River Hog Piglets were born happy and healthy on March 12th. The red River Hog is native to Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. Thankfully not on the endangered list, these cool little piggies are absolutely adorable. The babies can be viewed right now at the zoo.
Greater Vancouver Zoo
Squirrel monkey
This zoo happily welcomed a baby squirrel monkey on April 29th. Nobody was more excited to see the baby than the rest of the monkey troop. In their excitement they haven’t left mom and baby alone, yanking at baby’s feet and hovering over mom. This new baby is viewable right now!
Aoudad
The zoo also welcomed three new Aoudad babies into their herd this spring. Also known as Barbary sheep, the Aoudad is considered a vulnerable species.
Amsterdam is one of the most stylish cities in Europe and the design of the hotels in the city are no exception to this high standard. From hotels designed by fashion designers to flower themed rooms, we've rounded up our favourites in three price categories to suit the needs of the discerning traveller to the budget trekker and everyone in between!
You can’t get any more stylish than having a guest-house above a boutique designed by famous stylist-turned designer Ulrika Lundgren (who has worked for ELLE Decoration and has fans from Madonna to Helena Christensen). We love the simplicity of the exposed beams and minimalist decor but we also love the modern look of the black and white rooms and interesting decor items like glass bottle lamps.
Although European cities like London and Paris are known for their cuisines, you may be surprised to discover that the United States offers some of the best restaurants in the world. Here are some of our top picks of the most exclusive restaurants in the U.S.
Rao’s, NYC
When it comes to exclusive, Italian restaurant Rao’s in New York City is it, with no available tables or reservations for the average person. Tables are bought annually for $1k to $25k by the likes of Bill Clinton or Martin Scorsese, like season tickets for our favourite sports team. And even if you had the cash, you still probably wouldn’t get a table unless you knew someone (who knows someone, who knows someone).
Next Restaurant, Chicago, Illinois
Like Rao’s, chef Grant Achatz’s Next Restaurant in Chicago sells tickets that must be purchased and paid for in advance for your meal. This year, Next, which changes its cuisine concept regularly every month, sold season tickets for all three concepts (El Bulli, Sicily, Kyoto) this year through an online ticketing system – so at least most of us had a chance. Last-minute tables for 15+ course dinners can be had via Next’s Facebook Page but they go quickly!
When it comes to art and architecture, Amsterdam is great place for art and history lovers of all kinds. Here are ten of the must-sees!
1) The “big three”: Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum, Hermitage
If it’s your first time visiting, don’t miss the Van Gogh Museum for works of the celebrated Dutch painter; the Rijkmuseum for Dutch art from the Dutch Golden Age; and the Hermitage for Dutch-Russian works.
2) Stedelijk Museum
Located on Museum Square next to the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk offers classic modern art and contemporary art and design – a reflect of the original red brick structure of the museum and the new extension.
3) Electric LadylandFluorescent Art Museum
For something even more contemporary, discover the Electric Ladyland Flourescent Art Museum. The only museum of its kind in the world, visitors can stroll through the completely fluorescent room or view other works of art and naturally florescent minerals.
When you've got limited vacation time and a limited travel budget, it's sometimes a bit of a kick to the gut when you've got to use those to attend the destination wedding of a friend or family member. But destination weddings don't all have to be tropical beaches, khaki pants and bare feet. If you're planning your wedding and want to combine your love of travel -- and your guests' love of travel -- with your exchange of vows, consider doing something a little different in the destination wedding category.
Throw in some adventure, because taking the plunge is way more exciting when you take it literally. When your guests are participants, rather than just spectators, everyone creates memories to last a lifetime. Check out some ideas for your adventurous destination wedding.
