Leaving The U.K.—Welcome to Canada
With a lot of mixed emotions, A.J. Smith finally says good-bye to his home in the U.K. to embark on his new journey in a new country—Canada!
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Hunting For Chameleons In Namibia
One of the reasons why I like Namibia is the Namib Desert. I like deserts. I like the stillness there; it feels like entering a cathedral.
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Teach them to Fish
As the saying goes: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
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Lessons in Travelling with a baby
You know that really safe space you have at home? The one with your baby’s favourite toys? The one that has been baby-proofed?
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Yukon In Zurich
The Honouring Our Future exhibition will be shown at NONAM until Sept. 28 and will then return to North America for further consideration
Bothersome Bugs
We have camped throughout the summer months in the Yukon, and the annoying insects have earned a variety of monikers for good reason
Bringing Puppetry To Osaka, Japan
The Open Pit Theatre will present two shows a day on the main stage of EXPO 2025’s Canadian Pavilion from Aug. 18 to 23 in Osaka, Japan
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WWOOFing Around
When WWOOF started in England, in 1971, it stood for Weekend Workers on Organic Farms. I first learned about WWOOF, in New Zealand, in 1987
A Mendenhaller In A Brothel?
Gary tells us the tale of how he was introduced to Skaguay by Haywire Harry and ultimately the reunion of his 40 year old t-shirt to the ROS
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Sandcastles: Tips, Tricks and Creative Fun
Next time you hit the beach, roll up your sleeves, grab your bucket — and start building memories, one grain at a time!
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A Happy Camper Switching Gears
A few times a year we switch gears. We camp with our grown children, our grandchildren and extended family.
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On The Culinary Trail In Scotland
On our last several visits to Scotland, my roommate and I have grown accustomed to eating well in Glasgow restaurants.
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A Walk In The Woods
We ate nettle and wild garlic pesto on our second night in Scotland, accompanied by garlic bread (why not?) and salad. It was one of the best pestos I’ve ever had.
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Have I lost It?
This was actually the second time in less than a month that I had lost my passport. It had also gone astray on the flight south.
Thumbing It Down Under – Part 9
I love looking back at the synchronicity of how the soulmates that I met on my travels affected each other’s journeys.
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Happy Camper: Signs of Wear and Tear
My husband and I have the privilege of growing older together. Yet camping never grows old for us. We are truly grateful and happy campers.
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From Mendenhall To YVR On A Dime
I visited my card account to see what I could rent on points and by the end of the day I had “accidentally” rented rag-top Mustang.
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Thumbing It Down Under – Part 8
Pinky Promise Let’s stay in touch for the rest of our lives and if any of us gets stagnant the other two will come and
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I Lost It. Am I Losing It?
It was a Tuesday evening, and we were en route from beautiful Cusco in south-central Peru, to the capital city, Lima. “Hola señor. ¿Es este
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Yukon Camino Community
The Camino de Santiago, translated as The Way of Saint James, has been a network of pilgrimage routes in Spain and beyond The real Camino
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Thumbing It Down Under – Part 7
The Perils of Hitchhiking We found a nice patch of grass, around the back of the hotel; pulled buns, avocado, cream cheese, tomato and sprouts
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Not Your Average Pilot
After four decades with Air North, Joe Sparling still loves what he does Joe says that one of the best cards of compliment he’s ever
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Thumbing It Down Under – Part 6
Donna Lawther’s adventures through Tasmania, where hitchhiking leads to memorable characters and scenic beauty
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The Joys of Grandchildren, Part 2
A grandmother-granddaughter weekend. Susan Clark captures the joy and challenges of making memories with the next generation.
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EV – Achievement Unlocked Part 3
Whitehorse – Vancouver and back Electric Vehicle adventure. Scenic drives, battery mishaps, Northern Lights, the highs and lows of EV travel.
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Thumbing It Down Under – Part 5
Adventures Through The Australian Outback, From Train-Hopping To Hitchhiking I was gobsmacked when a huge swarm of budgerigars flew in to join us. There were
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Thumbing It Down Under – Part 4
Adventure, friendship, and unforgettable moments hitchhiking across Australia with a soulmate. Donna’s journey captures the magic of travel.
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EV – Achievement Unlocked Part 2
An EV speed run from Whitehorse to Vancouver: Part 2 After a relaxing soak in Liard Hot Springs while my Mustang Mach-E recharged, I pushed
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Aussie Girl: Central America
Kylie Campbell-Clarke recounts her family-friendly tour through Central America, trading hostel stays for organized adventures.
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Thumbing It Down Under – Part 3
Compared to New Zealand Australia had much longer distances between places and some history of disappearing hitchhikers.
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Aussie Girl – Mom Guilt
At first I was so anxious, the Mom Guilt of leaving my baby and husband to fend for themselves was overwhelming.
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A TALE OF TWO SEPTEMBERS
I was surprised to learn that many of the gorgeous hues we associate with autumn were actually always there; we just couldn’t see them.
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Reflections On The Road
My partner, Sam, and I embarked on an epic road trip along the Pan-American Highway, stretching 30,000 km from Alaska to Argentina.
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Thumbing It Down Under – Part 2
It was May 15, 1987 when I broke my promise never to hitchhike again. I was in a youth hostel in Kerikeri, New Zealand, trying
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From The Yukon To Disneyland
A trip from The Yukon to Disneyland was a magical trip and the memories of my child’s laughter still echoes in my mind as I think back on it.
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Thumbing It Down Under: Part 1
After a perilous hitchhiking trip to Yellowknife, Cindy and I promised each other that we would never hitchhike again.
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For the Love of Dance
My experience at Dance and the Child International (daCi)—a dance conference that was held this summer in Slovenia
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Elephants, Llamas and Bears, Oh My!
The first job I got, when I moved to the Yukon in 1984, was bartending at Dezadeash Lodge. Since it was in Kluane National Park,
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I’ll Never Hitchhike Again! part 3
It was 7pm when Cindy and I got dropped off at the Big River Service Centre, outside of Fort Providence….
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I’ll Never Hitchhike Again! Part 2
After hitchhiking from Peace River to Whitehorse, Cindy and I were looking forward to a quiet week at my friend…
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Dealing With Dying Newspapers
The paper that you are holding in your hands is about to die. I don’t mean this paper. It’s the newspaper industry that is dying.
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Journey of a Lifetime
Our plan is to drive from the Yukon all the way down to the southernmost point of South America in our rusty but trusty van…
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I’ll Never Hitchhike Again! Part 1
Everyone tried to tell me that it was too dangerous to hitchhike, but I wouldn’t listen. I guess I just like learning things the hard way…
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¿Hablas Español?
Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America are incredibly popular vacation destinations for Yukonners.
What were you thinking?
In spite of the fact that it was after dark in Baracoa, Cuba, I suppose it wasn’t that urgent. I just felt like going for a walk in the soft…
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A Trip To Ovamboland
You will never forget the smell of rain in Namibia,” a friend told me when I disembarked for Namibia for the first time.
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Exploring Peru: Part 3
From Marcahuamachuco we continued heading south along the Andes, spending the night in Santiago de Chuco, the birthplace of César Vallejo…
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The Mountains Are Calling …
December 11 was designated International Mountain Day by the United Nations General Assembly, in 2003, and has been observed…
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Exploring Peru: Part 2
After following the hot and dry Peruvian coast north to Lambayeque, we turned east. In a single day we left the Pacific Ocean…
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Cycling Utah
Bicycle touring in the sunny desert has its perks. Always hot and dry, you forget where the rain jacket is in the chaos of your panniers…
Exploring Peru: Part 1
A few years ago I was lucky enough to tag along on a road trip to the north of Peru. I say “lucky” because it was a once-in-a-lifetime…
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Postcards from Peru—Madre de Dios
A few years ago, during the hot and dry days of an Andean August, I took a trip from the brown hills of Cusco…
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Shore Lunch With Mario
The tip of my rod jerked and dipped toward the dimpled grey water, and I glanced up at our guide. He shook his head.
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Passing The Test Of Time
After spending the summer in the B.C. Kootenays and before returning to the Yukon, my boyfriend and I decided to wrap up the summer…
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Travelling With A Baby: Part 1
Travelling with a baby is no easy feat, and if you’re crazy enough to do it, you need to prepare yourself very, very well.
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Snakes and ‘Ladders’
I am spending the summer “Outside,” away from the Yukon. These days I am in the town of Rossland, in the Kootenay region of British Columbia.
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Tobacco-based Scent That Smells Nothing Like Tobacco
Imagine that you’re on a summer holiday in the picturesque, coastal town of Portofino, Italy. You are sitting on a patio…
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‘Love At First Sight’ (or Why Germans Love The Yukon)
Nancy Ohm recently went to Germany, with her partner, to visit family and friends. After 11 years in the Yukon, the German…
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From Whitehorse To The Kootenays
I was not going to ask anyone to drive me to the Whitehorse airport at 3:45 a.m. on a Tuesday. It would have been cruel.
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They’ve Moved Back!
We had moved to Calgary in ’99 for a career opportunity, and three years later, when that was fulfilled, we really needed to get back home.
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Qoyllur Rit’i
I can see my breath in the chilly pre-dawn light as my lungs work a little harder than usual to get enough oxygen from the thin mountain air.
Solo Travel
Most of the travelling I’ve done in my life has been solo. Sometimes it’s been out of necessity—but most of the time, out of preference.
International Travel in Covid Times
My husband Ryan and I continue our adventures travelling internationally, for the first time in two years, with flight delays…
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Christmas and Potato Salad
Having spent Christmas in three countries, there is one thing which will never change for me: eating potato salad and sausages on Christmas.
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Travel in Covid Times: Part 2
My husband Ryan and I continue our adventures travelling internationally for the first time in two years…
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Be A Conscious Traveller This Winter
The COVID-19 pandemic stopped travel, from one day to the next, in a way that was impossible to imagine before.
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International Travel in Covid Times
Over two years ago, everyone’s lives changed with Covid. Vacations and trips were cancelled; even just meeting was impossible.
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A Dispatch From Namibia Part 2
Once is the name of my taxi driver in Namibia (like once in a lifetime). People have strange names here: Darling, Given, Gift, or Mistake.
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A Hunter’s First Ram
For many hunters that live outside of the Yukon, having the opportunity to hunt and harvest a mature Dall sheep is merely a pipe dream.
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The Phoenix Burns Brightly In Fort Nelson
John Roper, general manager of the Phoenix Theatre Management Society, greets me with friendly enthusiasm. His love for the theatre and his love for his audience shine warmly in all of his stories.
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A Long-Awaited Return To Namibia, Part 1
How to prepare for my trip to Namibia?, I am asking myself a few days before boarding the plane to Africa.
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Old Quebec City Is A Magical Place
When celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain travelled to Québec City, in 2013, he said he felt Iike he was in an entirely different country.
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Pan-fried Fish on the West Coast Trail
West Coast Trail inspired Pan Fried Salmon & Baked Potatoe. Great recipes from Miche Genest, with an accompanying trail tail.
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Biking With Your Spouse
Mountain biking, like relationships require work. From the first date to the wedding day, you’re constantly learning how to be with someone.
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Dining In The Dark
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to eat … without being able to see? Well, you can experience eating at a restaurant without being able to see! Yes, that’s right, your only senses would be touch, smell, taste and hearing.
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Coming Back To The Yukon (Part 2)
“I cannot cross the river,” I told my friends as they were about to move on. (The truth was I didn’t want to cross the river.) We were a group of seven people hiking … two of us were staying behind on the beautiful sandy beach at Kusawa Lake, as the others went farther. I felt like sitting back and relaxing. My other friend was feeling the same. We are queens, we said. We don’t like to cross rivers.
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Try to escape (if you can)
Skagway plays host to a unique venue for their first-ever escape room. At 777 Alaska Street, you will spot an old White Pass train car that hosts the challenging puzzle.
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The Gifts of Haida Gwaii
Some places, like some people, are incredibly special but also a little bit elusive. They may not make things easy; they can be difficult to reach and they don’t open themselves up to just anyone.
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Mountain biking, a solo sport (but way more fun with friends!)
Learning to mountain bike solo can be daunting. Having a chance to ride with others and learn the ropes can build skills and confidence.
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Cat Camping
Camping with a cat can be both rewarding. Howie the cat got his first taste of camping in the Yukon and made some memories along the way.
Mindfulness on Two Wheels
Exploring the Yukon while exercising mindfulness on two wheels can help you take in all the splendour the territory has to offer.
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Pause and Give Thanks to Those Wonderful Summer Pollinators
Pollination is part of life on Earth, enabling plants to turn flowers into fruit. There is no more-famous pollinator than the honeybee.
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Coming Back: A German In The Yukon
The call of the Yukon or the call of the wild that so many have heard and have followed, like my friends … they came here and stayed.
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Let’s Build A Better Future For Waterfowl
Wetlands are vital for waterfowl reproduction. Unfortunately, encroachment by industry and humans is harmful.
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Postcards: Yukon Microadventures
The summer days here in the Yukon are wonderfully long, and the midnight sun is perfect for going on adventures & microadventures.
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A Convivial Conveyance
Flying to Toronto on Air North: relaxation. No change of airline, no transfer of luggage. I figured they were also going to feed me.
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Welcome to Vaucluse and to Olive Oil, Wine and Sun-kissed Hills in the South of France
Mont Ventoux (literally Mount Windy). Not quite as impressive as the peaks of Kluane National Park and Reserve, at 1,909 m (6,263 ft), it is the highest mountain of the region. The “Giant of Provence” is also well-known to be the iconic climb during the cycling race, Tour de France.
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Tuktoyaktuk part 2: The Arctic Ocean
Our journey continues to Tuktoyaktuk. Tips on things to see and do: Climb a Pingo, Arctic houses, Arctic Ocean, muktuk at Grandma’s kitchen
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The road trip begins: Tuktoyaktuk on The Dempster Highway
When the Tuktoyaktuk (Tuk) highway officially opened Nov. 15, 2017, I wanted to drive it to the Arctic Ocean.
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Grey Matters: Age-friendly outdoors
“Mr. Spock,” my 1998 camper van (pure luxury) is put to bed. My old arthritic bones will no longer take sleeping on the cold, hard ground.
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Beverly Brazier turns to thoughts of fall
September is quite a month. There are poems about it. It’s a month that digs deep into the range of our emotions.
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Yukon coyotes: The dos and don’ts
Coyotes are survivors and are very adaptable. Unlike other predators, they thrive living in our urban environment.
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A bear spray refresher
They may still be good, but who wants to learn they don’t work while facing a bear? Each container has only eight seconds of spray.
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Postcards from Peru – Cusco
Jessica loves being in the mountains, working with plants and exploring beyond her comfort zone. She divides time between Peru and the Yukon.
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Moose Bush: The way-posts home
In the North, we measure distance by the amount of time it takes. A way-post is an item that marks your progress along a road or trail.
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Birthday Pairings, Campground Treats
Jennifer’s (Free Pour Jenny) cocktail and an appetizer. The cocktail’s bright, sharp and tart. Something cheesy immediately suggested itself.
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Bioblitz is back & going to Dawson City
bringing experts and aspiring citizen scientists to one location for a day of counting and identifying as many species as possible.
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Pour one out during the pandemic
Almost a year into this pandemic, we’re all dreaming about travelling again. Last summer, during the B.C. bubble, my wife and I took a road trip to explore Okanagan vineyards.
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Isla de Taquile
With a population of roughly 2,000 people, Taquile is one of several islands in the Peruvian part of Lake Titicaca.