Great Get-aways…

The bright red uniform jacket and broad-brimmed hat of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are a symbol of Canada recognized all over the world.  The well-known red serge coat, black riding pants with their yellow stripe, and red-banded Stetson are not part of the regular daily uniform for these police officers.  The red, white, and black dress uniform is, generally, only worn for civic ceremonies, public relations events, celebrations and memorials. 

The RCMP is a singular organization, since it is simultaneously a national, federal, provincial and municipal policing body. They provide total federal policing service to all Canadians.  They are also under contract to provide policing services to eight provinces (all except Quebec and Ontario), the 3 Canadian territories, more than 200 municipal areas, 165 First Peoples communities, plus 3 international airports and several smaller airports. Read more »

Disneyland is a very popular destination for families, and there are an incredible number of things to see and do at the park.

For many young children, the highlight of the trip is the chance to shake hands and pose for pictures with a favorite character, like Mickey Mouse.

Some of the first things that come to mind in Disneyland are the rides.  Disney rides range from extremely tame, like the Bug’s Life play area in California Adventures, to the unusual, like “Honey I Shrunk the Audience,” to the really fast, like the Matterhorn Bobsled and Space Mountain.  Read more »

Situated at 350 Fifth Avenue is one of the most famous of New York’s impressive buildings.  Instantly recognizable from such movies as King Kong, An Affair to Remember and Sleepless in Seattle, the Empire State Building stands as one of the most well known skyscrapers in the world.

With its art deco architecture, the Empire State Building’s observation deck on the 80^th Floor is where most visitors head.  There’s a charge to enter the observation deck but it’s not too expensive, especially considering the unique view of New York and the surrounding area you’ll get from the top.  There are 73 elevators in the building – these can take you from ground level to the 80^th floor in a matter of seconds - but those who are more active, or like a challenge, the alternative is a 1,575 step climb – of course you could just take the elevator up and walk down if you prefer! Read more »

California is usually synonymous with beautiful beaches, beautiful people and the glitter and glitz surrounding the movie world, but there’s another side to this beautiful state, a gentler more natural side.  The Napa Valley is within easy driving distance of San Francisco and offers a tranquil alternative to the bustle of the city. 

One of the fun things to do in the Napa Valley is to take a ride on the Napa Valley Wine Train.  As one of the top train rides in the world, you’ll enjoy a relaxing journey in lovingly restored carriages all dated pre-1950.  Whether you enjoy a romantic evening meal in the dining car as you travel through the valley’s beautiful countryside, or you take the daily tour that allows a stop at two of the local vineyards, this is a local “attraction” that shouldn’t be missed. Read more »

The Empress Hotel sits regally on the Inner Harbor of Victoria, capital of British Columbia, and is a joy to behold for both history and architecture buffs.  The Fairmont Empress will be celebrating her one hundredth anniversary in 2008.

The hotel was begun in 1904 after supporters of the city convinced the Canadian Pacific Railroad to establish regular ferry service to Vancouver Island and build one of the railroad’s signature hotels in Victoria.  The Empress, named for Queen Victoria, then the Empress of India, and designed by English architect Francis Rattenbury.  The original, 116-room Edwardian chateau-style building opened with a great deal of fanfare in 1908. Read more »

Drumheller, Alberta, in the heart of Canada’s prairies, proclaims itself“The Dinosaur Capital of North America”, and has the fossils to back it up.

Just northwest of Drumheller is the Dinosaur Trail, a 32-mile (50km) circular drive along Highway 838 that will lead visitors to, among other things, the Royal Tyrell Museum of Palaeontology, and the World’s Largest Dinosaur.

The Royal Tyrell Museum has a wide array of exhibits.  The Hexen Science Hall features an interactive display to demonstrate basic scientific concepts.  In the Preparation Lab, visitors can watch scientists prepare fossils for study or display.  The Burgess Shale and Devonian Reef exhibits offer a look at life under the waters of Canada’s prehistoric oceans.  In the Cretaceous Garden, Museum guests can walk through living history, a garden filled with the same plants the dinosaurs ate.  Read more »

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) in New Hope, Ontario, is unique because it is home to world’s largest collection of flying vintage aircraft.   The museum also houses an aviation art gallery, interactive displays, audio-visual presentations, and an assortment of aircraft photographs and memorabilia.

The Museum began as a labor of love for four friends, Dennis J. Bradley, Alan Ness, Peter Matthews, and John Weir.  The men did not just set out to restore just any planes, they specifically wanted to preserve and maintain a collection of the aircraft flown by Canadians and the Canadian military services from World War II to the present. Read more »

Toronto, capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario, is an art enthusiast’s dream.  The city, the fifth largest in North America, is home to several major galleries and museums.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is the largest in Canada with more than 40 galleries.  The museum displays both art works and natural history items and has the largest collection of avian and mammalian skeletons in the world.  The museum’s Far East Collection, the largest collection of far eastern artifacts outside of China, is anchored by the Ming Tomb, a complete seventeenth century warriors tomb and the only complete Chinese tomb in the West.

The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art was, at one time affiliated with the Royal Ontario Museum.  This specialized museum is home to more than 2,000 pieces of ceramic art.  Their collection features everything from pre-Columbian pottery to classic European porcelains of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Read more »

Sometimes it’s necessary to allow your child to travel with a close friend or family member. Maybe Grandmom is spending the summer in Europe and wants to take the grandkids along for a trip of their lifetime. Or, perhaps your child’s best friend is going to the beach during a school break and have invited your child along. These kind of trips are usually more stressful for parents than children.

To alleviate your concern, speak to the adult who will be in charge during the trip. Be clear on any conditions you may have regarding the trip. Maybe Grandmom can take Suzie to Europe to visit family, but you want to her to be with Grandmom the entire time, no babysitters, even family, allowed. Make these kinds of wishes clear.  Read more »

Traveling with a mentally or emotionally challenged child has it’s difficulties. Your child may not understand why you are traveling, or may be bothered by the sights and sounds of the road or airport. Other people may react poorly to your child or be less than sensitive to your child’s condition.

Take extra care in preparing you child for the trip. Start at least one month in advance by talking about places far away. If going to visit family, play tape recordings of extended family talking to your child. Familiarity with the voices will be reassuring when you arrive at your destination. Talk about the upcoming trip, even in you’re unsure how much your child understands. Read more »