Johanna Read

Using interviews with Elders from three First Nations in BC, I wrote this piece about the importance of connection with nature.

Taking a long weekend from Seattle to get “oot” and “aboot” in Canada is as easy as pie. But why stick to the well-trodden paths of Vancouver and Victoria when you can give some Canadian small towns a try, eh?

Beginning May 1, 2022, just show your passport and vaccination certificate and you're ready to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Announced April 22, 2022, Thailand is removing its requirement for pre-arrival and on-arrival PCR testing for fully vaccinated international travelers. The change takes effect May 1, 2022.

Do you like to see unusual places when you travel? Well, add Chile’s Atacama Desert to your must-visit list to check out its otherworldly sites.

An update to my 2021 version of this article

Coral restoration projects are blooming around the world, as coastal destinations are increasing efforts to protect their coral reefs from climate change and climbing ocean temperatures. The tiny Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire has a new initiative that will help restore more of their already protected coral reefs.

There are plenty of stunning beaches in the world, but Turks and Caicos’ Grace Bay Beach consistently tops the awards.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and it’s time to think about honoring the mom in your life. Decide how you’ll shower her with gratitude—by taking the classic route, choosing a more casual setting, or skipping brunch in favour of afternoon tea, tipsy or otherwise. Mother’s Day is one of the most popular days of the year for a restaurant meal, so be sure to reserve one of these five OpenTable Vancouver Mother’s Day Experiences in advance.

The eco-conscious Canadian city serves up vegan meals, open-air markets, and responsibly sourced seafood.

I put ten sets of packing cubes through a series of tests to come up with these recommendations for the best packing cubes. (Yes, I know there are still a few typos...)

Vakkuru Maldives is the ideal place to get away from it all and their fully-customized Ultimate Castaway Experience might even make you forget about the state of the world right now.

Brand new as of February 27, 2022, you can enjoy Royal Tea — an ultra-luxury afternoon tea service — at Fairmont Banff Springs, the castle hotel where royalty like King George VI and Queen Elizabeth have stayed.

Whether you’re getting takeout, taking advantage of Vancouver’s patios, or dining indoors, the city’s restaurants—both new and old—are primed for spring. As warmer weather approaches, here’s what’s new and hot at six Vancouver restaurants right now.

The Google map and list version of my OpenTable article about romantic restaurants Vancouver.