Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
TRAVEL GALLERY
News you can use.
Embark on a 12-day journey on board the Ocean Endeavour from Iceland to Greenland with Adventure Canada from July 14–25. Priced from US$4,995 per person, based on double occupancy, the expedition, In the Wake of the Vikings: A Voyage from Iceland to Greenland, departs from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, passing through Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands) en route to Greenland, just as Norse explorers did a millennium ago in open longboats. Along the way, you’ll view the breathtaking fjords of Greenland, a photographer’s paradise, abundant with whales and seabirds; bask in geothermal springs; explore the ruins of a settlement founded by Erik the Red; visit a quaint fishing village and Greenland’s capital, Nuuk; and sail the mighty Sondre Stromfjord to Kangerlussuaq, the gateway to the ice cap, where you will transfer to the airport to board your charter flight to Toronto. Adventurecanada.com
The mayor of Chicago has designated 2019 as the Year of Chicago Theatre. The year-long celebration will honour all forms of performance arts, including improv, dance, opera, puppetry and more, through special events at cultural venues, theatres, parks and neighbourhoods. Chicago is the birthplace of storefront theatre and improv, and home to some 250 theatres. It boasts five Tony Award-winning theatres, the largest touring Broadway organization in the United States and more world premieres than any other city. One of the most innovative new spaces is The Yard, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s third venue in its Navy Pier campus. Chicagoplays.com
Planning a trip to Newfoundland and Labrador this summer? Add a little cruising to your adventure and book a ferry trip with Marine Atlantic. As the only yearround daily ferry service connecting the mainland (Nova Scotia) to the island of Newfoundland, Marine Atlantic is the gateway to a world of wonder. This year’s schedule will continue to include the popular overnight and morning crossings. Choose from a variety of delicious dining options on board, watch the sun set on the port deck or recharge in one of their private cabins. It’s a wonderful way to relax and let someone else do the driving. Marineatlantic.ca
Just 90 minutes north of Toronto, Blue Mountain Resort welcomes summer with two new family-friendly outdoor attractions. The first, the Wooden Ball Track, is located along the Easy Rider ski run. Visitors follow a wooden ball as it makes its way down three 30-metre sections of track, passing through various twists, turns and obstacles along the way. The second new attraction is a netted forest adventure, comprised of bounce nets, treehouses, slides and a watchtower suspended under the trees near the bottom of the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster, close to the Timber Challenge High Ropes. It should be open by mid-july. To better serve guests, the resort is improving its public washrooms and shade structures and opening a shop dedicated to Blue Mountain logo products. Bluemountain.ca
St. Lawrence Cruise Lines is undertaking an ambitious renewal program to enhance the comfort and services provided on the M/V Canadian Empress. The upcoming season will feature renovations to the main dining room, upgraded staterooms and new observation windows throughout the vessel. Additionally, cruise packages will now feature complimentary beer/wine with all meals. Rates start as low as CAD$1,673 per person based on double occupancy. The 2019 cruise season starts on May 12 with departures from Kingston, Ottawa and Québec City. Be sure to inquire about special offers on their spring cruises between now and June 18. Stlawrencecruiselines.com
British Airways has unveiled its new business class Club Suite, which is expected to roll out on all long-haul flights on October 1. The sophisticated new Suite offers direct-aisle access, a door for privacy and luxurious flatbed seats. Expect more storage, a vanity unit and mirror and larger entertainment screens with gate-to-gate HD programming. As well, a new 56-seat World Traveller Plus cabin offers plush new pillows and quilts, new amenity kits and a truly fine dining experience. High-speed Wi-fi allows travellers to browse the internet on their personal devices. New routes being launched this year include Osaka, Pittsburgh and Charleston. Britishairways.com
From in-depth neighbourhood art and culinary tours of Toronto to guided hikes through the maple hills and remote terrain of Algonquin Park, a new luxury tour company called Guided Toronto has international visitors, VIP guests, business travellers and newcomers in mind. Trips include tailor-made private tours and black-car customized getaways. The one-day Best of Toronto tour takes visitors from the Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market to neighbourhoods like the eclectic Junction. The exclusive Old Town and Island Picnic starts with a bike ride to Harbourfront and ends with an island picnic overlooking Toronto’s skyline. The new 30,000 Islands walking tour explores Georgian Bay, with optional kayak lessons, boat tour or an Indigenous cultural experience. Guidedtoronto.com
Book an in-depth cultural tour this summer in southwest Colorado’s Mesa Verde Country. Experience the high desert, meet local farmers and learn about the area’s agricultural history on the Farm & Ranch Tour. Mesa Verde National Park, one of the world’s cultural wonders, also offers self- and ranger-guided tours, from the 700 Years Tour of ancestral Puebloan times to summer and fall solstice tours. The 90-minute sunrise tour at Balcony House is also popular, taking you up a cliff face and through tunnels. Identify constellations in the dark sky as part of the free astronomy program at Hovenweep National Monument. Be sure to book in advance as tours fill up quickly. Mesaverdecountry.com; recreation.gov; nps.gov/hove/planyourvisit