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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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