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A costumed man stands in front of Lake Superior give a demonstration of boat making a canoe.

Five Highlights to See at Fort Michilimackinac

The past comes to life at Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City, next to the Mackinaw Bridge. Technically known as  Colonial Michilimackinac, this historic gem is an 18th-century French and British fur trading and military outpost on the Straits of Mackinac. Historians have reconstructed the fort using maps and 60+ years of archaeological excavations. Today, it’s a fascinating look into the history of the seldom-traveled Mackinac area. If you’ve reached the top of Michigan, you’ve come a long way, no matter...

A field of blooming purple lavendar bordered by tall pine trees

4 Rare Things to Do in Quebec City

There are plenty of things to do in Quebec City as it’s known for its European-style architecture, cobblestone streets, and fortified walls making it the only walled city in North America north of Mexico.  This French-speaking city is the closest you’ll get to a European city in North America and a must-see for any Canadian traveler. This fortified historic city is on a high hill with a brick wall around it, sloping down to the ocean. That means there were...

Aerial view of the Cabot Trail road snaking through green trees alongside the ocean

6 Amazing Places to See in Nova Scotia

These six places in Nova Scotia, Canada, are a must-see if you’re considering visiting the country or living in the area and are down for a few day trips. I traveled in Nova Scotia on a 1.5-year solo road trip through the United States, Mexico and Canada. It’s one of the most scenic, spectacular places of the many I’ve visited. 1. Bay of Fundy The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia is the only place on Earth where the tides...

yellow kayak with one person in the water rock in back

Sea Kayaking in the Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy is the only place on Earth where the tides rise and fall up to 60 feet every six hours. That, combined with the deep, glacier-carved rock formations, makes it one of the most unique kayaking experiences in the world. I made my way through Nova Scotia on a 1.5-year solo road trip through the United States, Mexico and Canada. Nobody should pass up a chance to see these tides firsthand. I stayed in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia...

a long wood ship post on the wharf with a star carved into the end. pole is yellow and star is blue

Salem History: It’s More than Witches

Salem, Massachusetts, isn’t filed with toil and trouble, at least not anymore. It is a place best known for witches, but as one of the oldest communities in America, there’s more to Salem’s history. Salem was one of the earliest American settlements and has been a place of critical seaport trade since the early 1600s. While tourists mostly come for the witches, there’s much more unique about this early American town, like historic residential neighborhoods, including the House of Seven...

A woman with long brown hair looks at a wall of books

8 Things to Do at Green Gables on Prince Edward Island

Visiting Green Gables on Prince Edward Island is a must for readers of the beloved book series “Anne of Green Gables.” Now called Green Gables Heritage Place, the house and surrounding grounds are in Prince Edward Island National Park, an expanse of sandy beaches and rolling farmland on the north shore of Prince Edward Island. Anne of Green Gables is a classic novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. It tells the story of Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan girl...

A grey clapboard building with people standing out front

6 Things To Do in Lunenburg, Canada

Lunenburg is on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. It is a UNESCO maritime gem. It is worth a day trip if you’re in the area. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can enjoy the experiences of a bygone era. You can also savor some fabulous regional ice cream, among other delights. Located at the mouth of the LaHave River, it’s a National Historic District. It also won the Communities in Bloom most beautiful small town in Canada....

house porch the brick looks orange and shaped like octagon, looking north

Inside the Famous Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut

The Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut, is a strange and unique place, reflective of one of America’s most beloved and extraordinary people. Samuel L. Clemens, aka Mark Twain, was born in 1835 in Hannibal, Missouri when Halley’s Comet soared by overhead. Twain, though nearly as well traveled as the comet, spent much of his life in Hartford where his cherished Gothic Victorian house is open for tours. If you’re a fan of ornate Gothic architecture or American writing, visiting...

A white lighthouse sits amid pine street and rugged rocky coast next to the ocean

10 Unique Things About Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is unique because of being one with the community, sections of it interspersed and overlapping small towns with deep coastal heritage. It’s a place to see if you like hiking, biking, climbing, swimming, camping, boating, fishing, or watching the sunrise. If the rugged coastal landscape, abundant forest, and natural scenery beside the ocean sound appealing, this may be the place for you. I visited Acadia at the tail end of a nearly two-year solo road trip that...