There’s even more to love on the Powder Highway this winter as Rossland, B.C.-based RED Mountain gets set to open a new chairlift, 22 new runs and almost 405 hectares of mostly intermediate terrain on Grey Mountain in the Kootenays. The massive development adds a wide variety of terrain, from groomed cruising runs to tree glades and alpine chutes. At Whistler Blackcomb, meanwhile, enjoy two new high-speed express chair lifts. Anyone planning a ski or snowboard trip to one of B.C.’s 13 world-class resorts should check out SkiItToBelieveIt.comfor information on conditions and packages. redresort.com
Atlantic City, New Jersey, has a lot more to offer than slot machines. Revel, the city’s newest and largest resort hotel, casino and spa, is located along the city’s famous boardwalk with nine hectares of beachfront. Snag an oceanview room and enjoy the 2,973-square-metre spa, 14 restaurants run by top chefs and non-stop live entertainment. Get your Cheeseburger in Paradise at Jimmy Buffett’s new Margaritaville restaurant in the Resorts Casino Hotel. Just look for the giant blender at the entrance. There’s also plenty of outlet shopping, offering tax-free clothing and shoes. And don’t miss the nightly 3-D laser light show at Boardwalk Hall, created by Montréal’s Moment Factory. atlanticcitynj.com
Be one of the first to experience the new cruise line plying Cuban waters. The inaugural Cuba Cruise leaves Havana December 16, with 29 departures until March 24. During the seven-night trip, the 480-stateroom ship will call at six ports, offering opportunities to visit Cuba’s colonial cities, white-sand beaches and nature reserves. Back on board, enjoy comfortable lodgings and Canadian food, including Alberta beef, first-class entertainment and hockey via satellite in the Canada Sports Bar. Priced from $586 per person based on double occupancy, the experience combines the best of an all-inclusive resort and a cruise as you discover a side of Cuba few get a chance to see. Cruises also leave from Montego Bay, Jamaica. Check airlines and tour companies for package deals. yourcubacruise.com
If you’re looking for a Florida vacation home, a place to retire or a weekend getaway, check out the three-day, two-night Stay & Play promotion at the Fountains Country Club, a luxurious private golf resort in Palm Beach County. Stay in a deluxe fully-furnished two-bedroom condo with breathtaking views of one of three championship courses. Keep fit in the new sports complex and try out the professional tennis courts. Based on single or double occupancy, the special $300 per person rate includes two nights’ accommodation, 36 holes of golf with carts, use of putting green and practice facility and three meals in the clubhouse. fountainscc.com
Philadelphia’s renowned art museums are hosting several must-see exhibits. Until January 5, view the multimedia Léger: Modern Art and the Metropolis at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, featuring French artist Fernand Léger and pieces by Mondrian, Alexandra Exter and Francis Picabia. Until March 2, explore more than 70 surrealist works from the 1920s to 1940s, including mind-bending works by masters of the genre such as Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró and Max Ernst from the museum’s collection. The Barnes Foundation, meanwhile, is preparing a major exhibit of 69 works by Paul Cézanne, featuring 15 of his masterpieces and works by related artists. The World Is an Apple: The Still Lifes of Paul Cézanne runs from June 14 to September 22. visitphilly.com
Prince Edward Island’s Charlottetown Festival celebrates its golden anniversary in 2014 with three sensational productions at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Canada’s longest-running musical, Anne of Green Gables—The Musical, begins its 50th season on July 3. A new version of the musical revue Canada ROCKS!, a crowd favourite when it debuted in 2005, features hits from Justin Beiber, Fiest, Arcade Fire, Carly Rae Jepson, Neil Young, Rush and many more, with a special tribute to the late Rita MacNeil. This year’s festival also premieres a new musical, Searching for Abegweit: The Songs & Stories of Lennie Gallant, which celebrates island culture through music and stories. The 2014 Charlottetown Festival runs June 28 to September 28. charlottetownfestival.com
Bermuda is out to prove it’s more than just another pretty place. In addition to its natural beauty and pink-sand beaches, the island offers snorkelling, kayaking, sailing, shopping, more than 300 shipwrecks to explore and more golf per square kilometre than anywhere else in the world. And all are just a short flight away from Ontario, Québec and Atlantic Canada. History buffs will enjoy the old town of St. George, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Young people are also welcome; for Bermuda’s Spring Break promotion, February 15–22 and March 1–22, college students receive exclusive passes to special themed events and activities. gotobermuda.com
Few travellers need a reason to visit Ireland, and effective April 21, 2014, Aer Lingus makes it easier than ever to visit the Emerald Isle with the introduction of its year-round direct service between Toronto and Dublin. And if you do need an excuse to go, consider taking the road trip of a lifetime along Ireland’s new signature driving route—the Wild Atlantic Way. Stretching 2,500 kilometres from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork, the Wild Atlantic Way passes through tiny coastal towns, villages bustling with character and cultural cities along Ireland’s wild, west coast. Official signposts, maps, website and app will be ready for the launch in March 2014 and the drive also conveniently connects with Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route. ireland.com; aerlingus.com
