Whether you’re on the plane, train, bus or beach — you always need a good read. Here are 10 Essential Books for Travellers:

In This Book Review Article You Will Discover:

• Classic Books For Travellers
• New Traveller Favourites
• Off-Beat Picks

Are you looking for some inspiring reads? Something to whet your appetite for adventure? Or maybe just a read to pass the time on your cross-Pacific flight? Well, here is a list of 10 must-read books for any traveller.

Jupiter's Travels & Dreaming of Jupiter

Jupiter’s Travels & Dreaming of Jupiter

By Ted Simon

I’ve grouped these two books together as I feel you need to read both to appreciate the scope and nature of author Ted Simon’s travels. The first, Jupiter’s Travels, (1973) is a travelogue of Simon’s four-year solo-motorcycle-tour of the world — at the age of 42. The second, Dreaming of Jupiter, is the result of solo-motorcycle-touring the world once again nearly 30 years later to see how it had — and hadn’t — changed. And it is as amazing as it sounds.

The Beach

The Beach

By Alex Garland

You cannot call yourself a backpacker if you haven’t read The Beach (or at least seen the movie a half-dozen times, preferably at a restaurant in Thailand). Having now inspired a generation of hedonists to seek out the beaches of Thailand, The Beach is a tale of a twisted Eden and the pursuit of escapism that is as entertaining as it is compelling.

As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me

As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me

By Josef M. Bauer

Surely Clemens Forell’s three-year trek from the Gulags of Siberia to Germany isn’t so much “travelling” as it is a “desperate escape;” but it certainly puts your puny vacation into perspective. This true story follows a soldier, Forell (a pseudonym), after he is sentenced to life in a Siberian lead mine following the end of The Second World War. Unable to bear the sentence, Forell escapes and walks from the far reaches of Russia to his home in Western Europe. Yes — walks.

World War Z

World War Z

By Max Brooks

Huh? A zombie novel in the mix? Well, I said there would be off-beat picks… World War Z is travel gone mad — follow the main character as he travels the globe piecing together an oral history of the decade-long human-zombie war. It’s an entertaining beach-read and also a good ice-breaker for meeting fellow zombie geeks.

The Sun Also Rises

The Sun Also Rises

By Ernest Hemingway

No matter where you travel, you gotta have some Hemingway. And while many of his books are ideal travel reads, this tale of (mostly) American ex-pats living, prolifically loving, fighting and pontificating in Paris and Spain during the 1920s makes The Sun Also Rises his best vacation companion. Among many great scenes, it also includes probably the best bullfight ever put to paper.

Fear & Loathing

Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas

By Hunter S. Thompson

Descend into madness with the original Gonzo journalist himself, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. Inspired by Thompson’s actual drug-addled travelling escapades to Las Vegas while writing various stories for Rolling Stone magazine, Fear & Loathing is a deep exploration of society’s underbelly and perverted, post-hippy re-visit of the American Dream. (As long as you don’t mind being stereotyped for reading it…)

Into The Wild

Into The Wild

By Jon Krakauer

Whether you admire Christopher McCandless or think him an idiot, Into The Wild is a compelling work of non-fiction that seeks to uncover why a smart, privileged kid would leave everything behind and condemn himself to starvation and death in the wilds of Alaska. Was he a “courageous idealist” or a “reckless fool?” You decide.

Long Way Round

Long Way Round

By Ewan McGregor & Charlie Boorman

An RTW (round-the-world) tour via motorcycle is a true all-time ultimate travel accomplishment — even if you have a seven-figure budget and 24-hour support teams. Ewan and Charlie’s jaunt from the UK to New York, the long way, is fun and light — and their travels through Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Siberia particularly are not soon forgotten. (Note: It’s a vastly superior read to the “complain-alogue” that is Long Way Down.)

Dove

Dove

By Robin L. Graham & Derek L.T. Gill

This classic true story follows a 16-year-old adventurer as he sets out on a solo-circumnavigation of the globe in his sailboat, The Dove. Five years and 55,000 km later, he returned home to California with a wife, a kid and a story that would inspire dreamers and travellers for decades to come. This soulful read will have you trading in your plane ticket for passage on a sloop in no time.

The Motorcycle Diaries

The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey

By Ernesto Che Guevara

You don’t have to be a communist to enjoy the tale of Ernesto Che Guevara’s youthful jaunt through Latin America — but it probably doesn’t hurt. This famous book alternates tales of comic escapades with insightful internal developments of this future rebel leader. It is perfect for anyone who feels his or her own travels will one-day change the world…

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 Lead Image Daniel Gilbey/Dreamstime

New Zealand has Queenstown, Canada has the Rockies, and the UK has the Lake District. Welcome to the adventure capital of the UK!

If you’re idea of the perfect holiday involves off-road biking, mountain climbing, open water swimming, and gorge walking, then the Lake District is the destination for you. Set yourself up in a cosy Lake District holiday cottage and spend your days testing your mettle in this adventure play land.

Water

If there is one thing that the Lake District has a lot of it is water. If you are of the aquatic variety then activities are endless, and range from the tame to the slightly insane!

Rent yourself a boat along the shores and spend your days gliding silently across the water, bringing yourself ashore to explore the hidden glens of the area. Bring a picnic along and you can spend the day communing with nature and return to civilization feeling renewed and rejuvenated.

Gorge walking and ghyll scrambling is the thing to try if you’re looking for something a bit more exciting. Splash and scramble your way up rocky streams and along cascading waterfalls to be treated to scenery and landscapes that most people never have the opportunity to see.

Walking

The Lake District is well known as one of the top walking destination in the UK. With long distance walks suitable only for the experienced and shorter family friendly paths that are perfect for a relaxing evening stroll, there really is something for everyone in the Lakes.

The famous coast to coast walk, beginning in Cumbria at the Irish Sea and ending at the North Sea on the opposite coast of England, you will traverse three national parks and varied terrain. This is not a walk for the faint of heart; it takes an average of 11-15 days to complete and stretches 190 miles across the country. Anyone who completes this will have earned some bragging rights by the end!

The Lake District is also home to a great variety of rock climbing and scrambling locations, perfect for those just learning the ropes, as well as more experienced climbers.

Pack your hiking boots and rain coat and you’re all set for a Lake District adventure.

Biking

You would think that the Lake District was designed for cycling. Mountains, country lanes, wooded paths, and winding back roads offer a new adventure every day of the week.

The area is criss-crossed with a network of bridleways that allow mountain bikers to go for days without ever touching tarmac. Go from some of the highest peaks in the UK, to the lush green valleys of Cumbria, taking in breathtaking scenery along the way.

There are a number of great local guiding companies who can teach you some tricks or rent you a bike before you head off into the wilderness.

The Lake District has something for everyone to enjoy while on holiday, whether you’re looking for an adrenaline rush or a place to relax and unwind. There is no shortage of activities and some of the best guiding companies in the UK call the area home. Whether you join in on an organized tour or head out on your own, you are sure to have a great time and arrive home with memories to last a lifetime.

You can’t ask much more from a holiday than that!

Photo attribution:

Walking: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomhickmore/3767373160/

Gorge Walking: http://www.flickr.com/photos/benshepherd/2742275940/

Biking: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davenwilson/3012323269/

This Post Was Sponsored by Sykes Cottages UK 

Forget the crowds and high prices! Find out why May could be the best time to visit Canada’s best ski resort — Whistler/Blackcomb.

In This Whistler/Blackcomb Article You Will Discover:

• Cheap Hotel Stays
• Ski Conditions
• Outdoor Adventure Opportunities
• And More!

Whistler/Blackcomb is not a poor-man’s holiday hotspot. I’ve read that the average per-day expenditure during peak season is a whopping $750 per day! Hard to believe, until you factor in $250-plus per night for a hotel, $96 for a lift-ticket, $60 for ski rentals, plus food, drinks and shopping…

That’s not to say it “costs” $750 per day to visit Whistler/Blackcomb, as great deals can be found even in peak season, but you get the point.

Now it’s May. Whistler Mountain is closed, but Blackcomb is open until the 28th of this month. Mid-mountain snowpack is still close to 300 cm and stays in the town’s best hotels can be found for $150 to $175 per night, or pick a very nice mid-range hotel and expect for pay as little as half of that (click this link to find hotels in Whistler, Canada). Plus, day lift-tickets are only $59, and just about everything is on sale at stores around the village. Add to that easy, reservation-free dining and the benefits of a May visit are too great to ignore.

But there’s more to it than just dollars and cents. Spring skiing is wonderful at Blackcomb. There’s still powder to be found, plus delightful corn snow and goggle tans for all. Lift lines are barely-there, and the mountain’s hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., so it fosters a leisurely pace (perhaps not great for true powder hounds, but pleasant for the rest of us).

Plus, valley daytime temperatures are mild, often reaching the mid-teens (Celsius, of course). The local lakes are open for fishing and stocked with hard-fighting cutthroat and rainbow trout — ask the guys at Whistler Fly Fishing to point you in the right direction.

One day of skiing, one day of lake fishing, one day of hiking and trail running? Can’t do that in January.

Plus, if you’re finding your chakras out of alignment, the Whistler Yoga Conference happens every year at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler in early May. Namaste…

Get to it — you only have 20 ski days left!

As an end-of-season blast, the park-builders at Blackcomb are building this HUGE jump (note snowmobile in photo). Are you brave enough?

The town's ultimate accommodation — Fairmont Chateau Whistler. This May, we stayed here for $179 per night with the third night free. (Try that at Christmas!)

Lift lines are virtually non-existent in May — a stark contrast to the 15,000 visitors per day the mountain can see in December or January.

Lakes such as Alta, Alpha, Nita, Lost and Green are full of hungry coastal cutthroat and rainbow trout. May is a great time to pursue them on the fly rod (leeches and sculpin patterns).

The terrain parks at Blackcomb are a major draw right up until the end of May.

You don't have to be a fly fisherman to enjoy Whistler's lakes — Lost Lake, for example, is a great place for spincasting (bobbers, spinners or small spoons).

The valley may be 15 degrees Celsius, but it's still a winter wonderland in the Alpine during May.

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Let’s dream on — here are my Top 5 ultimate dream trips:

In This Dream Trip Article You Will Discover

• My Top Five Ultimate Trips
• Contribute Your Own Dream Trips
• And More!

It’s not as though I’ve already been everywhere, or even close to it (especially according to that deflating new Facebook App, “100 Places To Visit Before You Die”). Travellers in the Century Club (visits to 100-plus countries) are getting more and more common, and I’m at an absolute fraction of that. Quality over quantity is my modus operandi at the moment…

But there are certain Dream Trips I am working towards that are a bit more involved than simply buying a plane ticket and heading out on holidays. In fact, the blessing (and curse?) of travel today is that there are very few places super-difficult to visit (war-zones excluded). For example, I haven’t yet been to Tahiti — but check back next year or two and I probably will have the stamp. So that’s why all-but-one of my dream trips are actually more about the journey than the destination. Read on, dream with me, and add your own Dream Trip in the comments section.

Motorcycle RTW

RTW via motorcycle - just you and the open road, right around the globe.

This is the ultimate journey — Round The World via Motorcycle. It’s been done many times before, by the likes of Ted Simon (twice), Greg Frazier (four times and counting), Robert Edison Fulton Jr. (first to do it, in 1932!), a couple of actors from the UK and, well, lots of others too.

Motorcycle travel is the ultimate way to see the world — save perhaps a bicycle, but let’s be reasonable — as rather than jet-setting from one airport to the next, you literally see, smell and feel the world you travel. Elevation gains and descents, the temperature differences between sunlight and shade, the good weather and the bad, roadside smells… these are the reasons I love motorcycle adventure travel. And to experience a world’s worth of sensory perception: starting in Vancouver, riding to Halifax, picking up again in the UK, then crossing Europe, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, Russia again (Siberia), hopping one more boat across the Bering Sea then riding back home from Alaska? That would be the ultimate adventure — and one that I intend on taking.

Tierra del Fuego via Motorcycle

Ruta 40 - the final stretch of the Pan-American Highway (north-to-south). (Courtesy Tourism Argentina)

Of all the trips on my list, this one is the closest to reality. In 2010, I solo-motorcycled to Inuvik, Northwest Territories, and I have another long solo-trip planned for this year — southward. It’s all in prep for one of motorcycling’s great roads: the Pan-American Highway. Leading from Anchorage, Alaska, to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (with a brief interruption at the Darien Gap) this 48,000-km route takes one from as close to polar opposites as is possible via land travel. While I don’t intend on heading to Alaska just to lay claim to the full-route (I’ve already done the North), Vancouver to the tip of South America via my KLR650 is on the list — sooner rather than later. Keep posted.

Antarctica

Is Antarctica the ultimate destination? (Courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

While I’m down there… may as well try to get a last-minute deal on a cruise to one of the world’s last inaccessible destinations. Yes, the North Pole is actually harder to get to, but a visit to the frozen continent is what officially secures your status as “Traveller of Note.” Next time you’re listening to some travel snob pontificate about his trek through Nepal, you can interject with, “That’s nice for the tourist, but I prefer to natural authenticity of Antarctica.”

All kidding aside, the penguins, whales and purity of Antarctica are what draw me to this place — not the bragging rights. It would be hard to imagine returning as the same person you were when you left.

Africa Motorcycle Circumnavigation

'Round Africa via motorcycle... yes. (Credit: Antonela-Magzan-dreamstime)

Call it “The Long Way Down, Across and Back Up Again.” And as much as I’d love to be followed by a camera crew and support truck, I don’t see it happening… so I’ll have to manage my dream of an African Circumnavigation via motorcycle alone. I would ride south from Morocco, cut east at Dakar, Senegal; (side trip to Timbuktu, Mali, then through Niger); dive south again in Chad and continue to South Africa (via Gabon, Angola, Namibia) — take a break — then head north (via Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, Egypt) and finally head east to Tunis, Tunisia. Can you think of a better way to see The Continent?

Sailing across the Pacific has long been a dream of mine. (Credit: dreamstime_Danieloizo)

Trans-Pacific Sailing

A friend of mine did this one a few years back — and I have longed to do it ever since reading Dove as a kid. There is no greater feeling than that of pure amazement, and to be mid-Pacific under an endless, star-filled sky would deliver that in spades. Ideally, a solo trip would be best — but to be honest I have no interest in becoming that proficient a sailor. So if anyone will have me, I’d love to tag along. (I’m a good fisherman and I know how to cook.) But we’re not talking cruise ships here, I’m talking wind-power, 40-something-foot sloop. That’s adventure!

What are your dream trips? 

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Northern Italy’s Best Sights, Ruins & Most Infamous History Lie on the Shores of Lago di Garda

In This Northern Italy Article You Will Discover:

• The Best Sights  in Northern Italy
• The Ancient History of the Brescia Region
• Why The Town Of Salo is So (In)Famous
• And More!

“Mussolini was not a good man,” Leonardo whispers. His left arm touches my shoulder, as if to assure me of the veracity his words, while his right arm points to the former home of Benito Mussolini’s best friend, a man who was hauled off to the crazy house at the end of the Second World War.

Enjoying an eiscafe (iced coffee) by the lake in Salo.

This conversation is one of the most striking memories of my trip to Northern Italy. I am in the town of Salo, a gorgeous lakeside city known for leisure, sailing and being the last official home to Mussolini’s fascist government; and Leonardo, a man of similar age to myself, seemed to be apologizing for his country’s role in the Second World War.

For Gen-Y Canadians such as myself, the Second World War may as well have ended a thousand years ago. But for nations who found themselves on the wrong side of the gun barrels, it may as well have ended yesterday.

I nod at Leonardo’s statement.

“Yeah, I know.”

Then we head to the boardwalk for an eiscafe (iced coffee).

I am standing lakeside in the Brescia Region of Northern Italy, an area that stretches throughout eastern edge of the province of Lombardy. It is home to scenic lakes, wonderful Roman ruins and pleasant towns galore, yet the entire area seems to be off the average Western tourist’s radar. Northern Italy is all Milan and Verona, it would seem.

The ruins of the massive House of Catullo, on the shores of Lago di Garda.

But as I was a guest of Tourism Brescia, Milan was merely my airport and the closest I got to Verona was staring at its brown and beige buildings from across Lago di Garda (Lake Garda); perhaps the most beautiful of all Italian Lakes. After an exploration of the best of Brescia, however, I departed Italy without any sense of want.

Grotte di Catullo

One of the most amazing ruins in all of northern Italy, the Grotte di Catullo is a shining example of just how advanced and opulent the ancient Romans could be. Located on tip of Lago di Garda’s Sirmione Peninsula, these 2,000-year-old ruins are one of the largest and most striking ever to be unearthed in Northern Italy.

These ruins are all that are left of the massive, 167-metre-by-105-metre private edifice of the Catullus family. The edifice is best known for being where the Roman artist Gaius Valerius Catullus whiled away hours during the first century BC, writing poetry inspired by Lago di Garda and tending to his horses — during the time Julius Caesar was murdered in Rome.

Up close and personal with a 2,000-year-old Roman arch at the Grotte di Catullo.

Today, it is a marvelous walk-through ruin, where one can get up close and personal with architecture pre-dating Jesus Christ — with no crowds. No velvet ropes. No security guards. Just ancient stone that whispers the poetry of the ages.

As I walk through the ruins, I can’t help but reach out and touch history — I place my hand against a two-millennia-old Roman arch and close my eyes.

I can hear the ghost of Caesar.

I wander further through the ruins, stopping at a cliff’s edge and staring out over Lago di Garda. When one thinks of Italian lakes, famous Lago di Como (Lake Como) often jumps to mind, and Garda is often mentioned in passing. This seems an injustice to beauty of Garda.

A breeze wanders in from the Alps, on the opposite side of the near-400-sqaure-km of lake in front of me, and caresses my face. The injustice of recognition Garda endures may seem unfair, but then again, maddening crowds would surely be to this place’s detriment. Maybe a touch of secrecy is OK, for now.

Sirmione

Near to the Grotte di Catullo, Sirmione sits like a mini-Venice on the shores of the Lago di Garda. The town is a tourist hotspot, primarily housed inside an 800-year-old castle, Commune di Sirmione, where canals of emerald lakewater wind through the stonework and hoards of tourists eat lunch and browse the shops. It is a hub of activity.

But I have to admit, after the quiet solitude of the Grotte di Catullo, a little people-watching will do me good. Especially when combined with a wood-fired pizza and glass of red wine.

The 800-year-old Commune di Sirmione, home to Sirmione's touristy delights.

Leonardo helps me with my voyeurism.

“Those women are from Turkey,” he says, pointing to a group of females dressed in matching yellow-and-black couture. Leo explains that Italian women wear their hair flat, while the Turks like to poof up their coiffures. I’ll take his word for it. Our menus are in Italian, German and English. This could be the most touristy spot in all of Brescia.

Salo

The luxurious, swanky lakeside town of Salo.

Salo is a rich man’s town, Leonardo explains. Stone-walled estates line the shores of Lago di Garda throughout Salo, as do exclusive spa retreats, well dressed Italians and Lamborghinis. The town is famous for sailboating and luxury tourism, and infamous for being both the birthplace of Italy’s fascist regime, and the final stronghold of that particular government.

The gorgeous Lago di Garda, Italy's lesser known paradise lake.

But for me, Salo is the Northern Italy of my dreams. We enjoy iced coffee on a lakeside boardwalk. Sailboats pass by, heading for waterborne excursions in the shadow of the Alps. Venetian architecture, a remnant of when the Republic of Venice ruled the region in the 12^th Century, is prominent throughout the city. It is a perfect mix of the calm I felt in the Grotte di Catullo and the activity of Sirmione. And it is a perfect final memory of my trip through the lesser known side of Northern Italy.

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Resources:

Brescia Tourism: www.bresciatourism.it

It’s the greatest fishing destination on Earth. It’s a vacation fit for couples and fishing buddies. It’s luxury and it’s a frontier. Step into your rainsuit, learn to cut a herring, master a single-action mooching reel and…Welcome to the Haida Gwaii!

In This Salmon Fishing Article You Will Discover

• The Excitement of Northern Salmon Fishing
• The Beauty of the Haida Gwaii
• How To Catch a Salmon
• How to Cook Salmon
• And More!

It’s a fact — 4:00 a.m. in the Haida Gwaii is easier than 8:00 a.m. back home will ever be. Bleary-eyed from our wake up call, I breathe deep pure salt air and let the morning chill and the coffee’s kick rouse my senses from slumber. Sunlight hides below the eastern horizon. Above is only the bone-coloured dawn — a tone that carries downward and to the wrinkled-rippled north Pacific. Evergreens loom overhead as coal-dark silhouettes atop the weather-beaten cliffs of Langara Island. It’s pure irony that a setting this serene will bring about so much heart-pumping action.

My eager partner, Erin, and I stomp our rubber boots over metal grating en route from the warmth of the breakfast galley aboard the MV Charlotte Princess, our floating fishing lodge moored in the famous Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), to our open-air 17-foot “Fat Cat” boat; a custom fishing craft painted to match the rain suits we’ve donned — or the “Fat Suits,” as Erin dubs them with a wink-and-smile.

The 50-horse Honda idles as I tie a few leaders and apply a delicate 45-degree by 45-degree cut to a couple of brined herring — an effort to perfect the Haida Gwaii’s signature salmon bait: the cut plug. Within seconds of disembarking, the wet air cuts through all five layers of my clothes and imparts that damp frigidity only the West Coast can throw down. The flat-bottomed boat thump-thumps against choppy seas like hammer against a sheet of plywood. Mist drips from my unshaved face. Erin, up front and taking the brunt of the choppy, ever-increasingly large waves, hunkers inside her rain suit for warmth.

Sunlight finally halos the horizon. Ahead, bow and stern lights of fellow fishboats mark our destination. I roll off the throttle and our boat glides to a stop near Andrews Point, a famous fishing hotspot a mere 10 minutes’ run from the Princess. A half-dozen yellow boats bob around like floating bathtubs; a half-dozen more trail us. Oak Bay Marine Group is the only operation that allows guests to head out before the sun, and we’re rewarded with the sweet cream… first access to chinook territory and the coveted morning slack tide bite. Yeah — I freakin’ love salmon fishing.

David Webb with an early-season chinook salmon.

Erin pours coffee while I begin to rig up the rods. It’s the final part of my favourite scent-combo: salt air, outboard motor exhaust, black coffee and brined herring. (Salmon anglers understand.) It’s Erin’s second time salmon fishing and her first time in the famous Haida Gwaii. Legendary the world-round for fertile waters rich in all five species of Pacific salmon, plus bottom fish such as halibut, red snapper and lingcod, it is no hyperbole to proclaim the area as the greatest fishing destination in the world. But it is also the untamed north: even in the summer temperatures can get into single-digits, rolling open-water waves can send even iron-gutted anglers to the gunwales and while the Princess’ boats are wonderful fishing crafts, they offer no protection from the elements; rain and wind being one’s ever-present fishing companion in the Haida Gwaii.

It was for those reasons Erin had been nervous about fishing the True North. But after a wildly successful introduction to salmon fishing at Rivers Inlet in 2008, I knew the world-class salmon fishery and tear-inducing beauty that is the Haida Gwaii would outweigh any weather woes. And for the waves, well, that’s why they invented Gravol.

Hook-jabs and knife-cuts on my hands sting like horsefly bites as I reach back into the bait brine while rigging up our two 10-foot mooching rods with my custom cut plugs. The bait sinks 20 and 30 pulls via six-ounce banana weights and I kick the outboard into gear — but only for a moment. Then I kick it back out. This is motor mooching, not trolling. For effective moochery, one must use the varying engine speed, the tides and even the wind-drift to create a dancing cut-plug — to successfully imitate wounded herring sought-out by chinook salmon feeding during the easy slack tide.

Despite the ferocious fight, chinook are lazy by nature. They are creatures of opportunity. Rather than marauding through baitfish schools, mouth agape like a great white shark, the chinook will saunter into a school of baitfish and thrash its thick body and wide tail, stunning hapless herring with the impact. At its leisure, the fish then swims beneath the bait, collecting sinking, stunned herring in its famously black-gummed jaw. This is the science behind cut plugging: your offering must be mistaken for a real wounded herring. And wounded herring don’t move quickly. So just when you think you’re mooching too slow — you’re just going slow enough.

Chinook salmon are the number-one fishing pursuit in the Haida Gwaii.

Erin loves salmon fishing even more than I do. Three years ago, we both would have agreed the two of us venturing on a five-day excursion to a northern fishing lodge was an idea about as sound as a helicopter ejection seat. But in 2008, out of pity or a dare (I don’t recall which), she agreed to come fishing with me in Rivers Inlet, BC — a calm-watered salmon fishing destination renowned for super-sized chinook. And she loved it. She discovered the true secret of fishing, as Izaak Walton wrote in his 17^th Century opus, The Compleat Angler: “’Tis not all fishing, to fish.”

Yes, Izaak and Erin, a large part of the salmon fishing experience is simply floating about in a boat, enjoying a good snack and a cold beverage, pontificating about life, the universe and everything with your buddy and enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the sea (of which there are many). Like the salmon we pursued, she was hooked from day one.

Oh yeah, and in Rivers Inlet, we caught a 43-pound chinook. But ask Erin, and that lunker spring salmon isn’t the first thing she’ll mention. In fact, it might not even make the top three. (Top five, for sure. After all, many a salmon angler will go his life without ever breaking the mystical 40-pound mark, and Erin did on her first time out.)

The sun is has barely shown its full-self before the portside rod begins to bounce. The take on a cut plug can be notoriously soft at times. These flexible, 10-foot mooching rods will bounce in a tug-tug-tug manner; indicating a salmon is nibbling the herring. Don’t set the hook. Strip out a bit of line — completely counterintuitive to most freshwater fishermen — and stuff that bait right back into the fish’s mouth. Tug-tug-TUG! When you feel the weight of the fish, set the hook hard. Hard! As Oak Bay Marine Group Fishmaster Shaun “Cookie” Pennell says, “No, no… harder than that!” Unless it’s a delicate pink salmon on your line, you’ll need to lift that rod tip with authority to embed one or hopefully two of those barbless hooks in the hard jaw of these saltwater predators.

“We’ve got one!” Erin hollers.

The fish is heavy as a cinder block on the line, and it runs hard and fast out from the boat, getting airborne; showing off with a glimmer and a twist as if it’s doing us a favour. It’s a coho, but an impossibly large one at that, considering it’s June, not August when the coho would are known to storm in with size. Lacking the brute strength of chinook, coho make up for it with gravity-defying aerobatics, crazy-quick surface runs and violent headshakes. Do not underestimate them: on the hook or on the barbecue.

Erin swoops in with the net with point perfect form. I had shown her how to properly net a salmon two years ago — don’t scoop; hold the net vertical; let the angler bring the fish to you; pull straight up with at least one hand on the hoop — and she hasn’t forgotten. In fact, unlike most anglers (myself included) she never had to shed poor netting form before pursuing massive northern salmon. She never knew it to begin with.

The coho would weigh in at 13-pounds, after we bled it out and it sat in the fish box for the day. A hefty ‘ho to be sure, and a fine warm up for the chinook to come.

With the sun comes the warmth; this is good as I’ve drained the coffee and neglected, unlike my smarter half, to pack a toque. This is my third trip the Haida Gwaii, but I’ve never come so early. It’s mid-June, which is essentially springtime in this northern archipelago. This time of year is primarily a chinook and halibut fishery — and when it comes to chinook, there are plenty of teenagers-to-20-pounders about. These fish are fresh from their Arctic feeding grounds; they are mean and tough and punch well above their weight class. Halibut are ever-present; your lodge fishmaster will lead those in search of fish ‘n chips to GPS-marked bottomfish holes where we strong-arm halibut, lingcod and yelloweye from depths of 200 feet or more. It’s more a tug of war than fishing, but the fare is unbeatable. There really is no bad time to fish the Haida Gwaii.

There are many types of fish in the sea — this is a yelloweye red snapper!

Before our first fishing trip in ’08, I had promised Erin whale sightings. Rivers Inlet delivered in spades, with single-day sightings topping 20 unique humpbacks. This time, I had promised her Orcas; a species she had never seen in the wild.

Shortly after boating the large coho, a giant humpback lumbers into our path, huffing and tail flipping as it passes. We can smell its halitosis: an odour that both repulses and amazes. The amazement comes the same way as with every whale sighting; when nature’s most beautiful creature chooses to grace us with its presence, we are humbled and grateful. The repulsion comes at the reality of the scent. Whale breath — enough said.

Like an incarnation of the Fish God himself, the mighty humpback’s presence brings with it another strike. This one is harder. Stronger. Chinookier. And it’s Erin’s fish for sure.

Keep your rod tip high, your line tight, let the salmon run when it wants to and reel in fast when you can. She knows the drill.

Oh, and keep your knuckles out of the knobs of your spinning single-action mooching reel. (Sorry Erin, should have told you that one first.)

Even an early-season chinook that may only outweigh our coho by a few pounds carries with it a fight that defies its size. Chinook have massive tails, and they love to use them with audacity. Erin reels wildly as the fish surfaces. It’s characteristic of a chinook to often come comparatively gently to the surface at first, pulling straight down and thrashing their heads side-to-side. Then we see it — or it sees us. It flashes its ever-so-slightly-yellow-tinged belly sideways at the surface. And it gets mad. This is when the fight begins: it bears straight down; the knobs of the reel blur in response. An early-season 20-pounder will fight like it’s twice that size. They’ll make a pike seem tame and walleye seem weak. Freshwater anglers: think lake trout. On steroids. And angry.

I watch her fight the fish, net in hand. I don’t even care that in mere moments a one-tonne sea lion will attack the fish like a Kodiak bear, leaving us with entrails and slack-open jaws. We are in the Haida Gwaii; salmon fishing success is a given. It, better than anywhere or anything else, typifies the adage, “There’s plenty more fish in the sea.”

By trip’s end, we would land chinook up to the mid-twenties; another foursome caught their daily limit of chinook before 8:00 a.m. the first morning; and one lucky guest, Carl Lund, even bucked the early season trend toward 20-pound chinook and boated a 44-pounder on the final day. Yes, salmon success is a foregone conclusion. It’s the experience during the time that matters. And the Haida Gwaii delivers experience full-on and in your face. It’s life in HD. It’s one of the country’s last frontiers. It’s so full of bald eagles, whales, salmon, halibut, sea lions and sea birds that it’s hard to believe. It’s everything the outdoorsman treasures.

Orcas (killer whales) surrounded our boat.

And later that day, as we are encircled by an out-of-nowhere pod of Orcas — our fishbox full, our arms like jelly and our faces sore from smiles and sunburn — we could only sit awestruck in the presence of it all.

Know Before You Go

• Pack layers of clothing — including a moisture-wicking base layer and insulating outer layers.
• You can pack your own raingear — but outfitters such as Oak Bay Marine Group provides excellent rain gear and rubber boots.
• There’s no dress code at salmon lodges — pack for comfort.
• Take Gravol or other seasickness pills, even if you swear you’ve “Never been seasick!”
• Pack band-aids.
• Don’t forget your camera — and a waterproof camera bag.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must, whether sunny or not.
• Take a toque and/or fingerless gloves in the early season.
• Feel free to bring your own saltwater fishing gear, but know the resort has it all on-hand.
• Don’t forget cash for staff/guide gratuities. They work hard to make your trip perfect.

Salmon Cooking Tips

The great thing about salmon fishing is the bounty of wild, organic meat you’ll bring home for your family and friends. Here are some tips to ensure your salmon tastes as good as it deserves to:

• Do not overcook salmon (or any fish). With salmon, over cooking is very easy — for best results, cook fillets medium-rare to medium well, then remove from heat. If you’re really raw-fish squeamish, cook medium-well, then remove from heat and allow it to finish cooking while it rests. Just remember: the more cooked it is, the “fishier” it will taste.
• When barbecuing, consider laying the fish skin-side-down right on the grill — no tinfoil required. When the fish is done, it scoops right off the skin. Some people like to eat the leftover cracklings (but not me).
• The author’s favourite way to serve salmon filets is one of the simplest: salt, pepper (lots) and a dusting of brown sugar or drizzle of honey. Toss on some diced fresh parsley if you’ve got it. Barbecue to medium and enjoy.
• Experimenting with pesto, teriyaki and even curry will produce delicious gourmet fare. Don’t be scared to try new styles — salmon is a surprisingly versatile fish.
• Quick recipe for the perfect barbecued salmon side dish: Slice up tomato, sweet onion and cucumber. Layer and alternate. Add fresh basil, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Let the salad marinate in the refrigerator for an hour before eating. It complements salmon perfectly.
• Consider sending some of your catch to St. Jean’s Cannery upon your return. I recommend the Can Smoked.

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Heading to an all-inclusive Mexican or Caribbean resort? Here’s a guide to help you make the most of your trip.

In This All-Inclusive Resort Article You Will Discover

• Tips For Making The Most Of Your Stay
• Health & Fitness Advice
• How To Experience Local Culture
• And More!

There’s always some debate among the traveller sect on whether or not a trip to a quintessential “all-inclusive resort” is real travel. Well, as far as I’m concerned — anytime you leave home and visit somewhere new and/or different… you’ve travelled. Plus, such resorts often offer great deals on a last minute vacation.

However, there is no denying a trip to location such as Cancun can end up having little more to offer than a tanning salon. The choice is yours — will you give in to the sloth and lethargy of poolside full-service, or will you get out and make the most of your weeklong all-inclusive vacation?

Here are 6 tips to make the most out of your all-inclusive vacation:

1 Limit The Sugary Drinks

For some reason, even the manliest-man and most discerning women immediately de-evolve into pink-slushy drinking teenagers the moment they arrive at the resort. Sure, it’s about the only time in your life you won’t get mocked for drinking something called a “Miami Vice,” but do so with caution. These drinks have more sugar than a handful of sour soothers — only enhancing your hangovers, caloric intake and generally contributing to ill-being. Mexicans drink cerveza and tequila. Do as they do, as much as possible.

2 Get Out

The joy of sitting poolside and eating fatty foods and guzzling pre-paid drinks wears off fast — keep it up for a week and you’ll need a vacation to recover from your vacation. Remember: you’re not trapped on-site. Wake up, have breakfast, and return for dinner. Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Baja Sur or the Dominican Republic and other all-inclusive hot-spots are surrounded by lovely cultural and natural wonders. You won’t miss the resort, I promise you…

3 Easy Does It…

It’s been a long flight. Drinks are pre-paid. You order six. Then wash those down with six more. And on it goes… the first night can be the worst night, leaving you hopelessly hung-over and sickened by even the smell of tequila if you don’t take it at least a little easy, at least on the first night.

4 Eat Off-Resort

Generally, since the resort is all pre-paid (no, food and drinks are not “free,” as people seem to think… just pre-paid), most visitors insist on getting the most for their money. However, even with six to 10 different on-resort eateries, the choices get tired. Eat lunch off-site during your forays. You’ll get a better sense of local culture and you won’t get sick of the resort’s food.

5 Fruity Breakfasts

Ironically, breakfast buffets are usually the healthiest place to find food. You just have to possess some semblance of willpower. It’s all very tempting to load up on cheesy omelets and syrup-covered pancakes, but more often than not, such a morning ritual will just leave you bloated and lethargic for the rest of the day. Start every morning with whole grains and fresh tropical fruit — and water! — and you’ll feel strong and healthy every day. Strong enough to drink your face off, sure, but strong nonetheless.

6 Be Active

I’m willing to get your day-to-day life does not entail lying on your back drinking and eating until your stomach blows up like a beach ball. So how do you think your body is going to react to this type of behavior on vacation? Listen, this is no temperance pronouncement, but making even the slightest effort to get your blood flowing (swimming, snorkeling and surfing works) every day is not only going to make you feel healthier — but it’s a much better way to spend your time than in permanent semi-siesta.

Now book your trip!

Jamaica Beach Packages starting from $259+ tax with Travelocity.ca

The rugged West Coast in all its glory — the beaches, forests and towns of Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula.

In This Photo Essay You Will Discover:

• Western Washington’s Gorgeous Beaches
• Twilight Tourism In Washington
• Old Growth Rainforest
• Perfect Sunsets
• And More!

Since the Twilight book and film series, Washington’s Olympic Peninsula (where the series is primarily set) has seen a boom in tourism. But forget vampires — Twilight is the last reason you should have for visiting. I compel you — rank the expansive beaches, endless coastal temperate rainforest, funky towns and majestic Olympic Mountains higher on your list of reasons to go West.

Need some inspiration?  Look on. I don’t need to tell you where every one of these photos were taken, or how to get around. Because an important part of your Olympic Peninsula vacation is… the exploration.

The view from Deception Pass Bridge.

First Beach, in the town of La Push.

Forks, Washington, and some Twilight tourism.

West Coast fog in Neah Bay.

One of just many empty, sandy West Coast beaches...

Morning fog at Hobuck Beach.

Hobuck Beach Resort & Campground, Neah Bay.

Full moon over the Olympic Peninsula. (No werewolves to be seen...)

Surfing is popular throughout the west side of the Peninsula.

Twilight at Hobuck Beach.

West Coast bull kelp.

Sundown on the West Coast.

It would take a month to visit all the beaches of the Olympic Peninsula.

The Quileute Reservation has caught on to the Twilight craze...

Sunset in Neah Bay.

Rugged Rialto Beach.

A sunset you can almost touch.

Beach camping is allowed with permit.

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Clean underwear? Check. Passport? Check. Sunscreen? Check. But what about the other travel items — things you may not have thought about, but are just as important as clean clothes… sometimes more?

In This Travel Article You Will Discover:

• How to Pack Properly
• How To Create A Travel Checklist
• Important Travel Items You Haven’t Thought Of
• And More!

Even a child knows to pack a toothbrush and clean clothes — but what about those items newbie (and some old-hand) travellers never think about packing? Items that can literally enhance — or even save — your dream vacation? Here are eight items you haven’t though to pack:

1. Foam Earplugs

I can’t understate the importance of foam earplugs. I buy a 100-pack every year, and use them all. Whether it’s to enable yourself to get some shut-eye on a plane, to block out a snoring roommate or loud neighbours, or just to escape into your own mind in a crowded environment, earplugs are a godsend.

As an aside, I once read an anecdote about a traveller who offered some earplugs to airline staff who were being subjected to the cacophony of a malfunctioning airport alarm system. He was upgraded to first class, free of charge. Again — I can’t understate their importance!

2. Performance Socks (NOT 100% Cotton!)

Cotton — our most abundant clothing material — is also our most useless, in terms of performance. It gets soggy and takes forever to dry. It serves as a bacteria smorgasbord, meaning it starts to stink if you break a light sweat. And, in the case of socks, it is coarse and unforgiving and rips your feet to shreds. Enter the performance sock: made from natural wool, nylon/lycra, polypropylene, CoolMax, Merino Wool and a whole host of other proprietary materials — performance socks are characterized by being quick-drying, moisture wicking, non-abrasive, supple and even antimicrobial. Trust me — if your travels involve anything more than a jaunt to the local café, switching to true performance socks and ditching 100% cotton “sport” (laugh) socks will change your life. (Note: performance underwear and tops are also good… )

If you’re just being introduced to performance socks, here are some key brands: Wigwam, Fox River, Salomon, The North Face, Hunter’s Specialties TEK 4.

3. Business Cards

I know — you’re on vacation. No business cards needed or wanted… you don’t even want to think about work. But then you meet a guy who has a bungalow in Costa Rica that he “hardly uses” — and he wants to stay in touch so he can offer it up at a moment’s notice. You scribble his name and email on an old receipt, which you accidentally throw in the trash less than an hour later.

Boy, handing him a business card with your full name, phone number and email address sure would have come in handy…

 4. Hand Sanitizer

If one good thing came from the H1N1 pandemic, it was to shine a light on hand-washing. And we’re not just talking post-toilet (which if you weren’t doing before H1N1, shame on you and gross!), but post-everything — or, more specifically, pre-eating. Yes, we wash our hands before sitting down to dinner… but what about before digging into a bag of chips or a piece of chocolate, on-the-run? Or a donut or a cup of coffee? You’ve touched a billion germs with those paws of yours, and you’re just going to feed them right into your mouth? Hand sanitizer is a quick and easy way for you to stay healthy, wherever you are. You can also disinfect surfaces, tools and personal items with it, if needed. (Note: buy small bottles — less than 100 ml — so you can take one on a germ-infested airplane without having it confiscated)

Also — in a pinch, it can be used to disinfect minor cuts… but be warned, it is SHOCKINGLY painful to do so.

5. Band-Aids

Anyone who has done anything, anywhere, has, at one time, succumbed to an annoying cut on a finger that just won’t stop bleeding. Sometimes it’s as simple as catching a cuticle on a magazine, or a jutting wire in a chainlink fence, or a freshly-popped zit… whatever. I take band-aids on overnight trips. Even on day-trips. And I’ve never regretted it once. A half-dozen band-aids weighs about as much as the space they occupy, so you’ve really got no excuse.

6. Candy (In Some Parts of the World)

Before we entered Bali’s most sacred temple, Pura Besakih, our guide “warned us” of children in the temple, who were “forced by their parents” to beg visitors for money. “Do not give them any!” he scorned. My girlfriend, Erin, slept through this, and when she saw these poor kids, she played with them and allowed them to stick flowers on her — a service for which they wanted money. I had all our cash — all she had was candy.

You’ve never seen bigger smiles.

Kids love candy. And in many parts of the world, these same children will beg at you for money — usually at some else’s behest. If cash is not in the cards, give out candy  (handing out wads of cash is never really a smart idea). A handful of individually-wrapped sweets (not chocolate, it melts) will turn youthful beggars into friends the world-round. Just be prepared to be swarmed, and also to leave with empty pockets but a full heart.

7. Wet Naps

This one is sort of along the lines of hand sanitizer, but perhaps for post-meal, rather than pre-. Or post bicycle/motorcycle repair, or post-fall-into-an-open-sewer… Regardless, it’s always nice to be clean. A pack of wet naps will serve as wonders when you have sticky sugar on your hands from that Parisian pastry, sap after climbing the grapefruit tree, or… Trust me, it’s an old soccer-mom standby that we all could learn from.

8. Gold Bond Medicated Powder

This one is just for the active-adventure types — specifically, those who travel by motorcycle and/or bicycle. Trust me, after (and during) a long day in the saddle, Gold Bond is worth its weight in… um… gold, I guess. You have to try it — and you have to need it — to understand. ‘Nuff said, short and sweet.

What Are Your Favourite Travel Items?

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some images courtesy dreamstime.com

Las Vegas, Nevada — home to good times and great memories. Or is it…?

In This Las Vegas Article You Will Discover:

• What’s Not Fun About Las Vegas
• The People You’ll Meet in Sin City
• Pitfalls To Watch Out For
• And More!

Let me start by saying Las Vegas, Nevada, is home to wonderful restaurants, fun bars and lounges, amazing shows, great weather and I have personally had some really good times there. (A bachelor party in Las Vegas should be on any guy’s Bucket List.)

But that doesn’t excuse all manner of sins.

Since Las Vegas is not only a hub for entertainment, but for business, I find myself visiting Sin City at least once per year. Recently, I completed my 12^th visit to Vegas. So with that in mind, I’ve compiled 7 Reasons Why I Hate Las Vegas. (Lucky seven, I suppose…)

1. Sweat-Suit Grannies

Despite visions you may have of nouveau Rat Pack-types roaming casinos in tilted fedoras and tailored suits, the Sweat-Suit Granny is by far the most prevalent creature in Las Vegas. Suited head-to-toe in stretchy cotton and sporting an overstuffed fanny pack, this white-haired, diminutive casino dweller spends her day exchanging seats at the all-you-can-eat buffet and the nickel slots — all the while shooting scornful glances toward your disreputable behaviour. Talk about a buzz-kill.

2. Ding-Ding-Dingdingdingdingding….

Slot machines no longer cha-ching out coins like they used to — winners (scoff) receive vouchers for their monies, which they can re-insert or take to the cashier. However, the infernal one-armed bandits still make a phony, electronic “ding-ding-ding” when winnings are paid out. That is in tandem with the “beep-beep-beepity” on every turn, and the “doop-doop-doop-doopdoopdoopdoop” when credits are won. Now imagine these sounds — times a-million. It is an inescapable racket that haunts my dreams for weeks upon my return.

3. Cigarette Smoke

It is everywhere. You reek of it. Your clothes reek of it. Your hair reeks of it. The casinos are swimming in it. Even the outside air reeks of it. Camels, cigarillos, cigars, menthols… you name it, someone is smoking it. Your throat is dry and your lungs hoarse. Just… want… to… breathe…

4. Air Freshener

Perhaps even worse than the cigarette smoke is the overpowering, phony, carcinogenic air freshener most casinos pump into their ventilation systems to mask it and every other smell emanating from the populous. (The Venetian is by far the worse offender, I cannot breathe in that casino…) For someone like me, who values fresh air, these perfumes make it feel as if every breath is poison. Automobile exhaust is refreshing by comparison.

5. Fake Big Shots

The Las Vegas dream is sold on the idea that everyone who visits gets to act like a “Big Shot” — like a reality TV star or a hip-hop icon. Basically — like someone they are not. And believe me, Vegas can make this happen for you. You want VIP bottle service at the hottest club in town? You got it. Twenty-four-hour concierge? Yours. Chef’s table at a five-star restaurant? No problem. Just one tiny catch… you have to pay through the nose for all of it. For example — VIP bottle service at a popular nightclub will see you paying $400 or more for a $50 bottle of vodka. You feel like a Big Shot, sure — and your “underlings” laugh all the way to the bank. Then, when you’re out of money… you’re out of prestige. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, chump.

6. Unnecessary Tipping

Don’t start with me! I’m not cheap — I happily tip for service. I always tip restaurant servers, my hairdresser, deliverymen, you name it — if I receive service, I tip. In Las Vegas, though, it’s taken too far. For example: did you know it is illegal for a taxi to stop for you if you flag it down? No, instead, you must have someone call you one, or use the taxi valet in front of most hotels — and for that, you gotta tip out. Every time. And don’t even try to give them a buck, cheapskate. For the legally-required service of blowing a whistle to a taxicab that sits in-wait mere metres from the hotel entrance, the expected tip is $3 to $10. …Sigh… And on it goes.

7. Card-Snappers

Anyone who has been to Las Vegas will know immediately what I’m talking about here. The “Card Snapper” — men and women on the street who try to force business cards for prostitutes into your hands every time you walk past. They snap them against their palms; the hundreds of them creating a cacophony like some perverted cricket orchestra. You find yourself constantly muttering “no, thanks…” over and over again as you make your way down the Strip. No matter how many times you pass them, and say no, they still stick these cards in your face. Snap-snap-snap! (PS: Despite what many people believe, prostitution is, in fact, illegal in Las Vegas.)

Whew. OK — now, about those awesome restaurants…

Three Meals In Las Vegas: A Diner’s Guide

Three Meals In Las Vegas: Part Two

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