As with many French location names and several consecutive vowels that don’t make an impact on pronunciation, I had trouble spelling the name of this place. Google Maps would always point me to another place through the “did you mean” feature. The Quebec Museum of Archaeology boasts a respectable collection Read more…
Every winter from about January to March, the world’s largest skating rink opens to the public in Ottawa. Access is free, but parking is scarce. Using public transport is advised as nearby streets have limited parking while downtown parking lots cost more than a rose on Valentine’s Day. It’s usually Read more…
The Laurentians are a low range of mountains in southern Quebec that resemble the shape of pre-alpine Bavaria. The lightly powdered peaks and gently curving roads meandering around a hundred lakes remind me of the scenery around Schloß Neuschwanstein – better known as the Disney castle. The long valley below Read more…
Chaudière Island and Victoria Island are two of the more well-known islands on the Ottawa River. They are undergoing heavy construction in 2020 so they don’t make the best picnic destinations. Fortunately, locations such as Bate Island, Lemieux Island, and Petrie Island are all great green locations. Located on a Read more…
The city of Montreal was named after Mount Royal. If you say it fast enough and corrupt it with a semi-French accent you’ll eventually hear the resemblance. It’s location in the centre of Montreal Island makes it the Central Park of Montreal. It’s a favourite leisure destination of locals in Read more…
Just like the Glaubenbielenpass, the Glaubenbergpass connects the UNESCO Biophere Entlebuch with the Haslital valley. Being between Luzern and Interlaken (as well as on the way to Thun and Bern), it is a popular shortcut for locals. If you get down the southern end of the pass and head to Read more…
With 14 hairpin turns in the first 16 corners on the single-lane serpentine approach to the peak from the Swiss side, the Splügenpass is one of the trickiest Alpine passes in Switzerland…or is it? The pass crosses into Italy over its peak at over 2,100 meters above sea level. The Read more…
The Simplon Pass in Switzerland is one of the most iconic and accessible driving routes in the Swiss Alps. Being right on the highway it is easily on the way to and from many cities between the French and German speaking parts of Switzerland. I actually stumbled upon this area Read more…
The Brünigpass is known for its view of the Lungernsee nestled between grass peaks. The viewing point at the top is just over 1,000 meters above sea level but parking is very limited, so make sure to get up there early. Along the was, expect to see a 1970’s Corvette, Read more…
Crossing from the canton of Luzern to the canton of Bern, the Glaubenbielenpass is also known as the Panoramastrasse for its stunning views of snowy slopes and glistening lakes. At the top, the sign says that it is over 1,600 meters above sea level, but you can go even higher Read more…