Travel in county Churchill

Netflix has a new documentary series—“Predators”—with incredible cinematography of some of the world’s apex carnivores, including the polar bears of Churchill in Manitoba, Canada. Churchill is known as the polar bear capital of the world (as well as the beluga whale capital) and it’s easy to see both animals in the wild on a trip to this subarctic Canadian town.

It’s always a good idea to focus on experiences over material things, especially for a big milestone birthday. Why not cash in your vacation days and revel in gratitude for another trip around the sun by hopping on an airplane, with passport in hand? It doesn’t matter if you go somewhere new or well loved, or if you travel with family and friends or solo.

Nestled along the promontory overlooking the St. Lawrence River, with distinctive architecture including its iconic soaring turrets, the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is the stuff of hotel legend. One glance at the fortresslike structure and it's easy to see why many consider it the most photographed hotel in the world.

“They say you can hear the northern lights crackle. Even after years of living amongst them, I’ve only heard it once,” says Dave Daley, a long-distance dog sledder and Métis tour guide based in Churchill, Canada. He was 250 miles north of home when it happened, crossing the Hudson Bay as his dogs stopped to look at the display, spanning shades of pink, green, and white. “The lights made a wall in front of us, and for 10 minutes we were in a trance. Why did they appear at this moment? It was my ancestors making sure I got to my destination safely.”

Palm Beach Cannes, an iconic destination on the French Riviera since the 1920s, is set to reopen during the Cannes Film Festival after undergoing a four-year renovation. The new launch will feature the first-ever waterfront saltwater pool on the Riviera, offering magnificent views of the Bay of Cannes. Additionally, there will be a fitness center, wellness area, luxury boutiques, and a large ballroom.

This year’s hotspots are looking a whole lot cooler with the rise of Northern Lights tourism, spurred by reports that the astronomical phenomenon will be extraordinarily visible in 2024. According to a survey commissioned by Expedia®, nearly half (42%) of Americans will prioritize aurora chasing in the year ahead over other bucket list experiences. Traveling to see the Northern Lights is more in-demand than a visit to Egypt’s pyramids (36%) or a walk along the Great Wall of China (33%). Expedia searches are skyrocketing for winter trips to Northern Lights “capitals” like Lapland in Finland (+370%), Canada’s Churchill (110%) and Alta in Norway (+100%). To help travelers plan, Expedia has released a Northern Lights Insider Guide packed with insights on trending destinations, booking hacks, photography tips and ideal itineraries.

Visitors to Canada are equally as wowed by the wildlife and wilderness as they are by the cultural and culinary offerings in the cities that speckle the sprawling nation.

Soon temperatures that can dip as low as -40 (where the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales meet) will have Winnipeggers shivering. But this city in the heart of Canada stays warm with a surprising number of soothing options to thaw out, whether you’re a resident or just visiting.

Natural Habitat Adventures,aleader in responsible nature-based adventure travel, in partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently deployed one of the safari industry’s first off-the-grid solar-powered electric safari vehicles in Botswana. The innovative and fully electric 4x4 vehicle, powered by renewable solar energy, is part of the brand’s broader initiative to continuously elevate the game drive experience for a more immersive and sustainable safari.

Whether it’s a friendly face at check in or a taxi driver who’s full of useful tips, nothing beats getting a warm welcome on your travels – and our interactions with local people have a huge impact on how we view countries as a whole. We asked our Facebook and Twitter followers to share where they’ve found the most hospitable places around the world. Here’s what they said.

Have you ever been somewhere really hyped up and just found it a bit average? Bundled yourself off somewhere on the recommendations of friends, forum users or travel mags to find it's just a bit, well, meh?