BUCKET-LIST goals, what’s in BANFF, new WINE destination
Go for the goal
If running a marathon is a bucket-list goal, your sign-up window for two of the biggest races on Earth is right now: You can enter the lotteries for both the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon (applications close Nov. 30) and the BMW Berlin Marathon 2022 (until Dec. 6). Both are World Marathon Majors — a group of six sought-after events — and will take place next fall.
Immersive art
Canada’s largest permanent immersive destination, Oasis Immersion, is showcasing their latest exhibition, this one themed around a feel-good sensory journey you stroll through. Called “Recharger/Unwind,” the collection of 10 digital artworks is a riot of colour, light and sound, taking over 23,500 square feet inside the Palais des congrès de Montréal.
New in Banff
During the pandemic, Banff’s Bear Street underwent a major spruce-up to become a more pedestrian-friendly, shared-use street. The first major events to be held there will kick off this holiday season: the Bear Street Holiday Market (weekends from Nov. 19 to Dec. 24) and the Banff Craft Beer Festival (Dec. 3, 4, 9 to 11).
The latter has the distinction of being the only festival to focus only on Alberta craft brewers, with more than 30 vendors, including Three Bears Brewery and Restaurant.
Sip and learn
WOW (World of Wine) in Porto isn’t merely a place to get acquainted with the Portuguese city’s most famous aperitif. Opened during the pandemic and recently expanded, it’s a sprawling, fullfledged cultural quarter, with seven interactive museum experiences, covering everything from cork to chocolate.
The latest additions include the Pink Palace, dedicated to rosé education, and the Porto Fashion & Fabric Museum.
Located a few minutes from the Douro River, the years-in-the-making district also includes a dozen restaurant and bar options.