Heather MacDonald-Bossé, In Memoriam

Heather MacDonald-BosséI honestly couldn’t tell you the difference between New Brunswick, Canada and New Brunswick, New Jersey when I first met Heather MacDonald-Bossé oh so many years ago at Canada Media Marketplace in Manhattan. Sure, I had written regularly on the Atlantic Maritimes, but Nova Scotia had the legendary Cape Breton, Newfoundland was home to the fjords of Gros Morne National Park, and PEI was known for its red cliffs, Anne of Green Gables, and an island long bike trail, the Confederation Trail. New Brunswick to me was just an extension of Maine and didn’t seem so intriguing. Yet, Heather’s love of her province was more than just a job dealing with North American media for Tourism New Brunswick. It was her passion. Knowing my fondness for the outdoors, she quickly persuaded me to come sea kayaking at Fundy National Park, walk Hopewell Rocks, go whale watching out of St. Andrews, and eat as much lobster as I wanted in Shediac. I had a memorable week of touring New Brunswick and wrote several stories from my experience. And for most travel publicists, that would have been it. They did their job convincing me to come and I produced a story or two.

But Heather was not your ordinary travel PR professional. She exuded warmth and would share everything with me about her life; her two daughters, one a successful writer, the other a skilled doctor, and her husband, Don, a highly regarded professor of music. She would send me the published short stories from her daughter, a photo of Don with none other than singer Geddy Lee from the rock band, Rush, after winning a teaching award. Share her love of the Boston Bruins and her good friend, the former coach, Claude Julien. In return, I opened up about my life and she remembered everything. “You’re a Red Sox fan, Steve? Why not come back to New Brunswick and fish the Miramichi, Ted Williams favorite place to fish.” Done. “Steve, you haven’t hiked yet on Grand Manan Island, one of the most serene spots in the province.” Okay. “Steve, I know you savor good food and drink. Why not forage for chanterelles with a French-trained chef on the Acadian Route, then have her cook a memorable meal.” Sold!

I would return to New Brunswick over a half-dozen times, almost every other year, whether on a snowmobile from Maine or on a private jet from Logan Airport. I would go solo, bring my wife, or close friends. Heather would always meet us on every one of those trips to grab a craft brew with me in Moncton, have dinner in Saint John or St. Andrews, or have me over to her house in Fredericton. When I heard of her illness last fall, I made the drive out to Fredericton to see her one last time. Facing the inevitable, she still had that sparkle in her eye, still exuded love, and made damn sure I would return home with stories to write.

So Heather MacDonald-Bossé, I raise a toast to you, taken from us far too early this past Sunday, from the same dreaded disease that took my mom prematurely. Thank you for being the consummate professional and rewarding me with a lifetime of memories and stories to tell. But most importantly, thanks for touching my heart. Yes, I will return to Fredericton to finally go to the Harvest Music Festival and see Don’s band perform. And yes, I will continue to write stories about your beloved New Brunswick.

New England Fall Foliage Will Look Glorious This Year

Vermont fall foliage“I can give you a strong assurance that it’s going to be a good year for fall foliage,” says Richard Primack, a professor of biology and plant ecology at Boston University in yesterday’s Boston Globe. That’s great news for the 20 or so clients of ActiveTravels we’re sending to the region in the next two weeks. The weather report looks perfect, with many sunny days ahead and highs of mid-60s, ideal for getting those colorful leaves to shine brightly. For those of you heading to New England this autumn that we didn’t have a chance to work with, pick up a copy of my latest book, New England in a Nutshell, to find ways to leave the crowds behind and enjoy the foliage all to yourself. Enjoy!

Literary Traveler Debuts Concord, Massachusetts Trip October 21-24, 2021

Walden Pond, Literary TravelerThanks to Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, the historic hamlet of Concord, Massachusetts, 20 miles west of Boston, has achieved legendary stature as a literary outpost. After all, it was here that Thoreau ventured to the woods with ax in tow in March 1845 to build his hut on Walden Pond. The town where Alcott grew up with her sisters in the Orchard House, which remarkably still stands today and was the backdrop for the latest version of Little Women in 2019. Also still standing on the banks of the Concord River is the circa-1770 Old Manse, where Emerson wrote his integral work, Nature, in the upstairs study, and the young Nathaniel Hawthorne brought his bride Sophia to live for 3 years. It happens to reside next door to Minute Man National Historic Park, where the Revolutionary War started as a result of the “shot heard round the world.”

With such a rich literary history, it’s no surprise that the founder of Literary Traveler, Francis McGovern, has chosen Concord for his inaugural trip, October 21-24, 2021. It also doesn’t hurt that Francis lives in Concord and knows the area intimately! Over the course of three days, you’ll visit all the important sights with Francis and other experts who specialize on the works of these renowned 19th-century scribes. Cost is $2495 per person double occupancy and includes three nights lodging at Concord’s Colonial Inn and dining at such esteemed local restaurants as Woods Hill Table, which Yankee Magazine recognized as the top farm-to-table restaurant in New England. ActiveTravels is happy to join forces with Literary Traveler to make all the bookings and provide any assistance to and from the region. We’re excited that Literary Traveler has started to design trips around the globe and this is the perfect start!

Incredibly Grateful for the Referrals to ActiveTravels

A Toast to Our Members at ActiveTravelsAs I prepared for this interview with NBC Boston News on Sunday night, I was in a good mood having just had the best week at ActiveTravels since the beginning of this hellish pandemic a year ago. Our bookings last week included a Switzerland multisport trip with Backroads in August, a family getaway to Costa Rica to celebrate a college graduation in May, and a much-needed wellness retreat to the new Miraval property in the Berkshires in April. When I realized that all three of these bookings were with new clients that were referred to us by our loyal ActiveTravels member base, I was even more elated. As we bounce back from a year of PPP loans and little business, I’m entirely grateful knowing that we’re not starting from square one again. Many of you have been with us since the start of ActiveTravels almost a decade ago. We can’t thank you enough for your support over the years and trusting us with your travels! Please continue to spread the word to your friends. It can only help to jumpstart the business after a year in hibernation.

Bucket List Travel to India

Bucket List Travel to India All week, we’ve been discussing the solid relationship ActiveTravels has with local suppliers around the globe to ensure your bucket list travels not only become a reality but an exceptional life experience. I can think of no better way to end the week than a destination that will provide you with lasting memories, India. Nothing is ever easy about traveling to India and this is certainly true with finding an outfitter that consistently offers excellent service. We must have went through at least 6 different suppliers before we felt comfortable with IndoAsia Tours. The owner is a former hiking guide for National Geographic Expeditions in Afghanistan, who we’ve met over coffee on several occasions at the local Starbuck’s. He not only knows India exceptionally well, but has helped us in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

This is only the tip of the iceberg! Those of you who have traveled to Costa Rica with us know we love Aaron at Costa Rica Experts. Our Colombia go-to contact is always Nils at Latin Excursions. For private or guided trips to Israel, we always turn to Kenes Tours. Trails of Indochina have been fantastic for trips to Thailand, Cambodia, Bali and other Southeast Asia destinations. For China, we always turn to Wild China and they never disappoint. Let ActiveTravels know your Bucket List Destination and we’ll happily work with our local contacts to ensure that it lives up to your expectation!

Bucket List Travel, Australia and New Zealand

Cruising Milford SoundHaving traveled around Australia for 3 months, we feel comfortable designing our own ActiveTravels Dream Day Itineraries to Australia. Depending on time and budget, we can send you to Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns/Port Douglas, and add in some special treats like Ayer’s Rock, biking or hiking in Tasmania, or scuba diving off a Great Barrier Reef island, like Heron.

New Zealand, however, was meant for driving at a slow pace. That is, if you can handle driving on the left-hand side of the road. We’ve enjoyed working with a local outfitter, NZSidekick, that will rent you a car and then design an itinerary with suggested activities and stops at small inns they personally inspect and recommend. Pricing is affordable and it’s a fantastic way to see the country’s topography, from fjords to glaciers to massive lakes and long stretches of secluded coastline. Activities include cruising the majestic Milford Sound, dinner at a Marlborough sauvignon blanc vineyard, and strolling along a beach dotted with hundreds of massive elephant seals.

Bucket List Travel, Slice of Europe

Amalfi Coast First-time visitors to ActiveTravels often ask us what’s our expertise? That’s not an easy question to answer, because we delight in sending you to the most remote corners of the globe, whether it’s the chance to see the orangutans of Sumatra or hiking the W Trek in Chilean Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park. Yes, we know New England like the back of our hand. But we also know Europe exceptionally well and wow, do we love our local suppliers, especially TFL in Italy, Madrid and Beyond in Spain, Celebrated in Scotland, Ireland, and the UK, and Original Senses in Greece. It’s easy for us to design itineraries in major cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Rome. Yet, if you want to get a real taste of Europe away from the masses, please give us the chance to show you Puglia, Provence, and Paros, where the Europeans go on vacation. Whether you want to bike to Monet’s house in Giverny, go out on a tasty tapas tour in Madrid, hike the Dolomites, or sail to Greek’s undiscovered islands, we’ll create those lasting memories! Also consider slowing down on two wheels with Backroads, DuVine, VBT and Ciclismo Classico, biking and hiking outfitters, who know how to get you off-the-beaten-track to more isolated and scenic locales.

New England in a Nutshell Raffle Winner to Be Announced Friday

New England TravelThank you to everyone who purchased a copy of my latest book, New England in a Nutshell! Three months after publication date, I’ve finally been paid by Amazon. So let’s have some fun! As I mentioned before, anyone who purchased a copy of the book is eligible for a raffle giveaway for one of the outfitters, inns, or restaurants I’ve included in the manuscript. First up is a chance for you and a guest to bike with Summer Feet Cycling on a day ride on the outskirts of Portland. You’ll be biking to 5 lighthouses, including the exquisite Portland Head Light, where you’ll stop at a food truck for yummy lobster rolls. You’ll be going on the same ride I did with my family and friends when I turned 50. If I don’t already have your name, please let me know. I’ll announce the raffle winner this Friday. Good luck!

Quick Escape: Salem

Salem during HalloweenNo place in America conjures up the spirit of Halloween better than Salem, Massachusetts, where, in 1692, twenty innocent victims were hanged or stoned to death as witches. Every October, the town remembers its hallowed past by staging a 24-day event called Haunted Happenings where haunted houses, museums, concerts, psychic fairs, and craft shows help make Salem the “Halloween Capitol of the World.” This year, Haunted Happenings had to be toned down due to the pandemic, but nothing is too scary for Salem. There are still many cultural events in town to savor the history and enjoy fall foliage. Then stay for dinner and a night’s sleep.

The Peabody Essex Museum is now open and is presenting two exhibitions brimming with the stories, people, and objects that can only be found in Salem. Salem Witch Trials 1692 presents rarely exhibited documents from the museum’s collection to reveal the tragic and true stories of both the accused and the accusers. Also on view is Salem Stories, 26 vignettes about the people, places, and events that made Salem the city it is today.

You can also take advantage of the nice fall weather we’re having to take guided tours, including strolls through Salem’s historic neighborhoods. Or head out on a Haunted Happenings Harbor Cruise to learn seafaring folklore and take in the foliage colors. As of late, Salem has become a foodie hub, with great Italian fare found at Bella Verona and fresh seafood at Finz Seafood and Grill. If you want to spend the night, grab a room at The Merchant, an 11-room boutique hotel located in the former 18th-century home of shipping merchant, Joshua Ward.

Please Help Support South Africa

Cycle the CapeFour years ago, Lisa and I had the unique opportunity to bike South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope with Mark Lawson, owner of Cycle the Cape. We biked past zebra, ostriches, and large antelopes called elands. We would pedal along the pounding waves of the Atlantic to take the requisite photo at the Cape of Good Hope sign. Then we proceeded uphill to the Cape Point Lighthouse, where the magnificent vista of high peaks and sandy beaches reached all the way to Cape Town’s Table Mountain.

Today, Mark Lawson is on an epic ride to raise much needed funds for COVID-19 Relief Programs provided by the Grootbos Foundation NPO. Called The Whole Way Round, he and other riders are crossing the Western Cape in 30 days of riding. Covering nearly 3700 miles, a distance greater than the continental US, it involves more climbing than going up Mount Everest 7 times. They need your help! Mark hopes to achieve his goal of raising R100,000 or $6,000 USD for the people of the Western Cape who have been devastated by COVID-19. Since the start of the pandemic, the Grootbos Foundation has provided over 178,000 free daily meals, 11,700 free washable cloth masks, 4,890 free PPE packs for local schools and much more in order to help vulnerable communities rebuild. As little as $1 USD can provide a meal, PPE, digital access to learning or essential support to micro-entrepreneurs to help families rebuild. $15 USD feeds a family of four for a week! Please donate whatever you can during these hard times. Thank you!