Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/631317
DREAMSCAPES WINTER/SPRING 2016 42 TRAVEL SLEUTH >> BY JANE STOKES DS BE READY WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS AS WE EXPLORE THE PLANET, TRAVEL TRENDS EMERGE PERIODICALLY TO REFLECT NEW INTERESTS AND EXPECTATIONS. IT WOULD APPEAR THIS YEAR, THE PLEDGE "TO SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES" IS OUR TICKET TO MUCH MORE EXCITEMENT. TOP: Ice fishing in Alberta is considered a mellow social affair. Crai Bower OPPOSITE LEFT CENTRE: Elegant dining facilities at B Cellars Winery in California's Napa Valley. Michael Venerak OPPOSITE TOP: A tiny loggerhead sea turtle gets a helping hand on Amelia Island. Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau OPPOSITE RIGHT CENTRE: Take in the scenery at the Punta Mita golf course in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts OPPOSITE BOTTOM CENTRE: The magnificent Ashford Castle in Ireland dates back to 1228. Insight Vacations IF YOU'RE PLANNING A GETAWAY RIGHT NOW, for instance, you may insist on one or more of three components: opportunities to sample a different culture; flexi- bility to extend a business trip; and engagement with family and friends using the latest in communications technology. Altogether, we currently feel a 2016 vacation is at its best if we have a chance to learn more, linger longer to smell the roses, and share it all with our loved ones in real time. Let's examine the requirements for connectivity first. Wireless technology is avail- able practically everywhere now, except perhaps on cruise ships and in isolated areas where satellites do the job, resulting in slower communications. And sometimes, even in populated places, travellers face challenges with cellphone compatibility, recharging devices, language barriers, hotspot reliability, and the cost of using data far afield. Be sure to research or ask about your specific needs, but the following may take the edge off the most common concerns: • Capability: Cell technology varies around the world so find out if your phone adapts to travel. Most modern equipment does. • Cost Control: Unlock your phone to replace the SIM card with one from the desti- nation—a common purchase abroad. If your device is permanently locked, solutions include replacing it with a disposable phone once you reach your destination; renting a portable Wi-Fi hotspot; or taking advantage of free signals in a local hotspot. • Recharge: Determine the voltage in your destination and, if necessary, carry a con- verter along with your charging cable. The wall plug may also be the wrong shape. Adapter plugs are easily found in hotels and airport shops. With connectivity assured, it's time to share some of this year's most exciting experiences. ALBERTA: As part of your trip to the Calgary area, imagine experiencing ice fishing on the Spray Lakes Reservoir located just outside Banff National Park. Sur- rounded by the towering Canadian Rockies and dense forests much of which have never been seen by a human being, link up with a guide for an insider's opportunity. He or she will set you up in your shanty hut where you can fish for lake trout and fry them up immediately on a portable cooker. While summer fishing here is known for the totality of the experience, winter fishing is considered a mellow social affair. banfflakelouise.com QUÉBEC: From North Bay, Ontario, cross provin- cial boundaries into the mineral-rich Abitibi-Témiscamingue region for a "Canada North Québec-style" adven- ture. Here, between the 49 th and 47 th parallel, surrounded by boreal forests and 22,000 waterways, a population of only 145,000 people often get a front- row seat to the Northern Lights. Good food and hospitality are signature fea- tures of the "Québec style" and you can actually get a glimpse of how Canada must have looked 8,000 years ago. Stop at Refuge Pageau, which shelters and heals orphaned, lost and injured animals. Stay in a teepee or yurt on a canoeing expedition; descend into a deep and dark gold mine; or sign up for a snowmobile tour in winter or a motorcycle tour in spring. abitibi-temiscamingue-tourism.org