You can’t go far in Saint Lucia without stumbling upon a chocolate plantation; the island is home to countless, still-functioning estates from the time they were the leading cocoa producer back in the 1700s. Recently, it has become one of the world’s hottest destinations for chocolate tourism.Explore
Ulus come in many materials and shapes. A traditional tool, an Ulu is used to skin animals, chop meat and in the contemporary home, cut pizza. Similar in shape to the mezzaluna used to chop herbs, Ulus are made with a variety of materials including bone, antler, wood and are decorative or plain. There are Ulu necklaces, brooches and earrings as well as the tool itself.
Honey is a hot topic right now, primarily for health reasons. A natural sweetener, it can also be used to heal wounds, help sore throats and colds and help the planet. Buying a raw honey flight with four different types of honey is an ideal souvenir or gift to bring home from the Finger Lakes.Explore
There is a saying in Key West that if you take home sand in your shoes, it’s a good indication that you’ll return. So, if you take home sandals that are made in Key West, what could that mean?Explore
At the tip of the Baja California Peninsula, in Northwestern Mexico, Flora Farms is a must-visit spot, not just for the shops, but for the organic restaurant, the farm market, the handmade ice cream, the spa, cooking classes, and painting classes. Make sure you allow time to take a tour of the entire property.Explore
We don’t all make time to shop when on holiday, but looking for gifts for friends and family, or picking up a memento for yourself is a real treat. Jewellery doesn’t take up much space, even if you are travelling with carry-on luggage.
In 2014, a group of friends chartered a sailboat to scope the west coast of Scotland with various distillery stops along the way. Because I was somewhat instrumental in making this trip happen, I was told, during one of the messages back here, that a very special bottle of scotch would make its way home to me. Sadly, however, it never made it. However, it did land in the hands of a very helpful fellow sailor who, clad in a wetsuit, went down under and untangled/cut the sternline from the prop. A very nice gesture, so I let it go. At the time, this scotch was not available in Canada.Explore
Staying in the beautiful Fairmont Empress Hotel recently, it was impossible to refuse a refreshing gin and tonic after a busy day filled with outdoor activities. Empress 1908 has an unusual flavour, with a hit of citrus. During distillation, an infusion of butterfly pea blossom creates the distinctive hue. Indigo blue in colour, added to a splash of tonic, it transforms from indigo blue to monarch purple then rose petal pink.Explore
When you are in Arizona, turquoise jewellery is irresistible.
Turquoise was designated the official state gem of Arizona in 1974, and the quality of it is world-famous. An icon to Arizona surely has to be silver and turquoise, so when I saw a row of market stalls at the side of the highway backing onto a desert and canyon, it was the perfect place to shop for my souvenir. Stalls all run by local Navajo women made it even more of a treat.Explore