GETAWAY | The Library by The Macallan x Four Seasons x Whistler

Whistler—(November 26, 2024) Late last month, press were invited up to the Four Seasons Resort Whistler for a quick but refreshing day trip to visit the 4-star luxury hotel's many amenities while also checking out the newly reopened The Library by The Macallan, an intimate whisky and cocktail pop-up bar, back for its second year.

GETAWAY | Long Weekend x Pearl Hotel x San Diego x California

Point Loma—(May 19 to 22, 2022) On a May long weekend "bachelorette party" trip, our group ventured to the Southern California coastal city of San Diego—known for both its large naval fleet next to the Pacific Ocean and proximity to the Mexican border to the South.

GETAWAY | Sea to Sky x Fergie's Cafe x Sunwolf x Squamish

Squamish—Late last summer, on a somewhat random but much-needed mid-week break of a day trip, we travelled nearby to enjoy a scenic brunch meal from the popular but secluded Fergie's Cafe (reopened after a devastating fire) located on the Sunwolf Riverside Resort cabin grounds in the neighbouring town of Brackendale.

GETAWAY | Aloha! Honolulu x Waikiki Beach Bum x Oahu, Hawaii

Waikiki—(November 19 to 22, 2019) Aloha! For four gloriously tropical days and nights, I visited the scenic city of Honolulu on the third-largest island of Oahu (aka the "Gathering Place") in the remote Hawaiian Islands—squarely located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Let's relive a few sunny highlights.

GETAWAY | Sightseeing x 2 Days in Whistler x Pangea Pod Hotel

Whistler—(October 23 to 24, 2019) A small group of us were invited on a guys-only media trip to experience the still-newish Pangea Pod Hotel located in the middle of the mountain village. As the first pod hotel in Canada, Pangea aims to offer modern delights and amenities in an affordable package when staying at the (usually expensive) resort town.

FEAST | The Salted Vine Kitchen + Bar x Squamish

Squamish—(September 13, 2016) Former Araxi Chef de Cuisine Jeff Park and manager/sommelier Pat Allen recently opened The Salted Vine Kitchen + Bar in downtown Squamish just off the Sea to Sky Highway.

WEEKENDER | Loden Hotel x Tableau Bar Bistro x Coal Harbour

Coal Harbour—(January 31, 2016) At the tail end of last year, Loden Hotel was named "Best Hotel in Vancouver" by Condé Nast Traveler's 2015 Readers' Choice Awards (as well as 28th in the "Top 100 Hotels and Resorts in the World") among its other accolades. To celebrate, I was invited for an overnight stay to experience Loden's award-winning amenities for myself.

WEEKENDER | Gibsons x Roberts Creek x Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast—(June 19-20, 2015) Last weekend, I teamed up with Bick's Pickles to go on (and document) a little road trip and ferry adventure. Inspired by Bick's Lost at Sea Burger recipe—a salmon fillet burger topped with shrimp and lobster atop a brioche bun—we headed to the aptly named coastal destination and specifically, the locals of Gibsons and Roberts Creek in our beautiful province of British Columbia.

BEERFEST | Persephone Brewing x Gibsons x Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast—Located in the town of Gibsons, British Columbia, Persephone Brewing Company is quite the charmer. Central in town and a short car ride from the Langdale Ferry Terminal, Persephone labels itself as being all about "beer farm fresh" and it certainly lives up to that moniker. You can actually see and smell the farm's growing hops, live chickens, and general barnyard setup as you enter the facilities.

From the Weekend: 3 Days in Portland

Portland Trip: 3 days in Portland wandering the the City of Roses in Oregon from June 26 to 28, 2014.



Escaping the crazy, flash rainstorm outside by lounging inside Ace Hotel's lobby.

Portland: From Maple to Bacon x Blue Star Donuts

Portland Trip: Snack time at Blue Star Donuts downtown on June 27, 2014.



Portland's Blue Star Donuts is a welcome addition to the doughnut scene in the vein of our local Lucky's Doughnuts and Cartem's Donuterie.

Portland: From Tacos to Margaritas x ¿Por Qué No? Taqueria

Portland Trip: Lunch at ¿Por Qué No? Taqueria in the Hawthorne District on June 26, 2014.



It's becoming a tradition to make Por Qué No our first stop on our way into the city of roses for some delicious tacos and margaritas.

Eurotrip 2013: Another Brick in the Wall x Berlin Revisited

Eurotrip 2013: Touring and sightseeing around Berlin, Germany from April 12 to 15, 2013.

"Berlin combines the culture of New York, the traffic system of Tokyo, the nature of Seattle, and the historical treasures of, well, Berlin." – Hiroshi Motomura

From Grapes to Wine x Langley Passport x Vineyard Tour

Langley Passport's wine route and vineyard tour around the Fraser Valley on September 8, 2013.



We hit all of Langley's wineries in one Sunday afternoon. Out of summer, Jelly Marketing along with the city and township of Langley are promoting visitors tour all the nearby vineyards with their passport program. A few of us, well fifty-four of us actually, hopped aboard a charter bus to knock off all the wineries in a few hours. You can check them out for yourself and download your own passport. See below for all my highlights and notable vintages from each winery.

From the Weekend: Cannon Beach x Oregon Coast

Walking around Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast on August 18, 2013.



On our last day in Oregon, we left Portland bright and early and headed towards the coast to visit the sleepy town of Cannon Beach. The long Pacific coastal sandy beaches were so calm and serene. The sand was so smooth and the water so cool and refreshing. Everything felt so pure and untouched. There was just sand and water as far as I could see in either direction.

Portland: Happy Hour x Hale Pele x Tiki Bar

Portland Trip: Happy hour at Hale Pele Tiki bar in Sullivan's Gulch on August 17, 2013.



Do you love tropical themed Tiki bars? Because I do. Hale Pele is a small, unassuming on the outside, crazy on the inside all out Tiki bar. It's small intimate setting emphasized the sheer amount of Polynesian themed decor and dressings. We dropped by for a few piña coladas during their happy hour to lounge around and soak in the tropical good vibrations.

Portland: Salt & Straw x Fresh Made Ice Cream

Portland Trip: Scoops at Salt & Straw ice cream parlours on Division Street and Nob Hill/Uptown on August 15 and 17, 2013.



Salt & Straw's fresh made ice cream from locally sourced ingredients is simply delicious and easily the best I've ever had. We visited both their more centrally located Portland parlours for a couple scoops and flavours. My go to is their cinnamon snickerdoodle and its amazing cookie flavour. It's just like digging into a cold, moist cookie. I also dug their freckled Woodblock Chocolate for its sweet yet offbeat flavouring.

Portland: Ground Kontrol x Classic Arcade

Portland Trip: Playing video games at Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade and bar in Old Town/Chinatown on August 17, 2013.



A must destination on our Portland travels was to this classic arcade (and bar!) to play some old school video games (at their original sticker price, mostly 25¢ or 50¢). Some favourites like Donkey Kong, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, X-Men, Teenage Ninja Turtles, and classic pinball machines from your favourite film franchises (think Star Wars and Indiana Jones) filled the place. It sure was a lot of fun, but after a few minutes, it was one sweaty hot mess of a sauna-like atmosphere from all the movement. Apparently, after 9pm, there's a DJ (and $2 cover).

Portland: Southern Fried Chicken x Screen Door Restaurant

Portland Trip: Late dinner at Screen Deer restaurant in Kerns on August 16, 2013.



There are some meals that almost kill you. This was one of those. Admittedly, I didn't enter this late dinner on the ideal circumstances. I had been hotly anticipating eating at Screen Door for some time. I'd heard things about their well known Southern comfort food and particularly the fried chicken.

Portland: From Sweet to Savoury x Waffle Window

Portland Trip: Breakfast at Waffle Window in the Hawthorne District and on Alberta Street from August 15 to 18, 2013.



We hit up the aptly named Waffle Window early and often at a couple of their locations for their delicious and convenient made to order waffle concoctions. I had a waffle ice cream sandwich for a dessert on the go and it was a gooey, delicious, creamy mess of a treat.