From Canada to the Continent . . . great vacations are on your horizon!

A Whole New Canada – to the East!
• St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick – If you want your next vacation to include relaxing – yet unique – recreational activities, abundant natural beauty, great golf and one of the world's natural wonders – then this is your destination. St. Andrews by-the-Sea is a delightful, picturesque and classy maritime resort community filled with history, charm and very friendly people. For accommodations, the superb Fairmont Algonquin Hotel features every amenity possible, including a superb spa, excellent food and its signature 18-hole Algonquin Golf Course highlighted with stunning seaside vistas. The town is situated on a peninsula and surrounded by the Passamaquoddy Bay. Overlooking the Fundy Isles and serving as gatekeepers to the world-renowned Bay of Fundy, this quaint New England-style town is filled with an eclectic array of shops, galleries and eateries on Water Street – all within walking distance of the Fairmont. Definite "must-sees" besides, of course, Fundy National Park (ranked one of the "50 most intriguing destinations in the world") and the Hopewell Rocks, is Ministers Island – the 50-room historic estate of railway magnate Sir William Van Horne. (This site can only be toured at low tide as you will literally drive across the ocean floor to reach the Island!) Kayak tours of nearby harbors and islands, as well as hiking, biking and whale watching round out some of the recreational activities. (It is interesting to note that the Tides of Passamaquoddy Bay rise and drop more than 28 feet twice a day. Yet at the Bay of Fundy, the Fundy Tides rise and drop almost 50 feet twice a day.) The Fundy Tides are "the highest tides in the world"!

• HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Today's Halifax is a cultural center for the Atlantic Provinces. Compared culturally to Boston, it resembles San Francisco physically. Halifax showcases a thriving arts community and a music scene devoted to maritime and folk music, and also features a budding film industry that takes advantage of the city's unique nautical flavor. As the capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax is a thriving metropolis "steeped in history and hospitality." The city is a day's sail from New York and Boston and a major access point to Europe. For cruise passengers, Halifax is considered one of "the friendliest cities to visit."

• TORONTO, Ontario – Toronto has left its demure Victorian past behind! Today's Toronto is a city that vibrates as a cosmopolitan financial, commercial and cultural center that blends "urban chic" with its enviable multicultural heritage (some 100 ethnic groups speak more than 60 languages!). Toronto showcases soaring contemporary architecture alongside Victorian and Edwardian gems. This spectacular city also showcases magnificent museums, performing-arts companies, professional sports teams, fine restaurants, relaxed cafes, trendy shopping centers, a "people-friendly" waterfront and hundreds of parks that keep the city green (most of the year). A couple of tips: Discovery Walks is a viable option for visitors who prefer not to drive. This is an intricate system of trails that runs through ravines, parks, gardens, beaches and neighborhoods within the city.

Europe. . . In Vogue!
PARIS, France – C'est Magnifique! Indeed, "The City of Light" is just that! Although we all seem to think we know Paris – even before we see it – nothing compares to actually being there. The experience of going up the Eiffel Tower, walking along the Seine at dusk, sipping coffee at any elegant sidewalk care – all are uniquely Parisian, real-life experiences – but somehow seem to take on an aura of magical make-believe that makes visiting Paris even more special for not only first-time, but returning visitors as well. Today, as throughout its history, Paris is one of Europe's most important artistic, political, religious, educational and commercial centers. Paris is also a city known for its "constant change" – with many new faces, styles, ethnic groups and different religious persuasions, but Paris is also a city firmly rooted in its tradition. It seems that this constant pull between old and new is what makes it such a vibrant place to visit.

VIENNA, Austria – Founded in 1137, Vienna was once the leading city in Central Europe. Today, it is a modern capital city robed in 18th century charm and 19th century grandeur. A popular stop on river cruises, Vienna's old-world ambience is determined as much by the attitude of its residents as by its architecture. The Viennese invented the café society and they continue to perfect the art of sophisticated relaxation. It's been said that nowhere else in Europe will you be so aware of this sense of a warm and friendly ambience extended to visitors and guests. Compared to some capital cities on the Continent, Vienna is considered safe and clean, with an exemplary public transportation system. Showcasing many world-class museums, galleries and restaurants, as well as parks, Vienna will surely be one of the most delightful cities you will ever visit. Sights not to miss include the Inner Stadt (the historic city center) with its winding back streets and baroque churches, the wonderful imperial buildings along the Ring; the Staatsoper (famed opera house), the Hapsburg tombs in the Kaisergruft, Schonbrunn Palace and gardens and the tombs of famous composers at the Zentralfriedhof.

LONDON, England – The London that we know today began to take shape in the 11th century when Edward the Confessor built Westminster Abbey. Over the next 10 centuries London will have survived William the Conqueror and the Norman invasion in 1066 and the bubonic plague of the 1300s; prospered under Tudor rule of the 16th century (where the city actually almost tripled in size); survived the separation of the English church from Rome and subsequent religious persecution, and welcomed the arrival of one London's greatest artistic
periods and the reign of Elizabeth I. In 1666, the Great Fire destroyed much of inner London but it also put an end to the worst plague outbreak – the Great Plague of 1665. Under the leadership of Queen Victoria, London then grew during the 19th century Industrial Revolution. During WWII, the city was devastated with 57 consecutive days of bombing in 1940 (known as the Blitz). After the war, mass immigration from Britain's former colonies signaled the beginning of the multi-culturalism we see throughout the city today. After a subsequent boom-and-bust period, there is now an unmistakable self-confidence by Londoners! Even more construction is currently underway for the city's hosting of the 2012 Summer Games. With new galleries, stadiums and museums, London once again exudes an air of FUN!

BERLIN, Germany – Berlin has restlessly reinvented itself as a political, business and entertainment center. And the landscape of this German city has changed drastically as its latest transformation has definitely yielded some impressive attractions: For example, the Reichstag's glass dome crowns the government quarter, with its straight band of office buildings and the sleek curving glass hall of its main train station. South of the Brandenburg Gate is a cluster of skyscrapers and an eye-catching tent-like structure that defines the rebuilt Potsdamer Platz – a center of activity in the storied Berlin of the 1920s and now a bustling development built next to the formerly divided city's no-man's land. As well, a rediscovery of the waterfront is in full swing with new restaurants, nightclubs and cafes positioned along the Spree River and the city's many canals. Architecture – much of it in glass and steel – is definitely the "calling card" of the New Berlin, even though to many the city's parks, canals and forest-rimmed lakes are still examples of the city's most beautiful real estate. It's important to note that one of the city's newest attractions is the Jewish Museum – a massive structure that houses two millennia of German Jewish history.

We think you will agree: Berlin is full of history and charm – but "with a rebellious attitude." The city is also generally considered less expensive than its European counterparts, is a lot more spacious and showcases a unique mix of cultural and countercultural extravaganzas. In other words: History, politics and social preferences collide here, and that's precisely what gives Berlin its unique and diverse character. Enjoy!

Whether you prefer to visit the New Canada or one of the many in-vogue cities of Europe – wherever you want to go . . . we can get you there! Please give us a call or stop by; we look forward to helping you plan your NEXT vacation.