Courtesy Unsplash
CNN—Is it possible to travel to another continent without actually leaving North America?
The answer is “oui” if you venture to Old Quebec, Canada – a 300-acre, self-contained neighborhood within the capital of Quebec City. Unlike similar historic districts in Puebla, Mexico; Old San Juan, Puerto Rico; or even Boston’s Beacon Hill, Old Quebec encompasses a whole lot more than just a street or two of European-inspired architecture.
By comparison, Old Quebec is home to half a dozen famous streets and two dozen more deserving alleys and side streets.
That’s not all. It also has five parks, countless shops and restaurants, several squares and schools, two distinctive parts of town (Upper and Lower), numerous boutique hotels, a well-integrated 18-story “skyscraper,” a working citadel, the most photographed grand hotel in the world and more charm than many parts of actual Europe – the very continent that Old Quebec so admirably emulates.
In short, the sheer size of the destination – coupled with its enduring preservation and an estimated 3,000 local residents – is what distinguishes Old Quebec. That’s why millions of visitors travel here every year to convincingly trick themselves into thinking that they live in another time and on another land. Without the jet lag.
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When it comes to listening to music, I’m a skip-mastering control freak. I’m willing to let some records play, especially the greats. But if a band starts to bore me, I skip and/or eventually abandon their carefully curated playlist (aka “album”) with haste.
Recently, however, I discovered a band that I have never skipped—not once. They may be the coolest band you’ve never heard of. Only four of their six albums are commercially available, and I think they’re downright groovy, if not borderline inaccessible.
Hailing from french-speaking Quebec, the band is called Timber Timbre (pronounced “tamber”). The singer sings in english, rocks a “skullet,” and the entire acts sounds a little like Ennio Morricone, Johnny Cash, Magnet, a mellow Killers, Roy Orbison, Talking Heads, slow songs, The Doors, crooning songs, Late Night Tales, creepy songs, and Portishead. I only learned of them after visiting their home province earlier this month and am glad I did.
To spread the good word, I hope you’ll consider and enjoy their albums and soulful live performances as much as I have. These are my favorite songs:
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Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism
An edited version of this story first appeared on USA Today
North American is known for a lot of things. Transcendent, soaring, and gaping fjords isn’t one of them. For that, most travelers understandably head to Norway, New Zealand, or Chile first—all renowned for their glacier-carved “canyons” that outlet into swallowing seas.
But the northern half of the continent has its fair share of majestic cliffs cut by frozen (instead of liquid) water, especially in parts of southern Alaska and Canada. As a bonus, they’re more proximitous than Europe’s beloved Grainger Fjord, less travelled, and still rate at least 4.5 out of 5 stars, according to average visitor reviews on Google and Tripadvisor.
Behold, the most fantastic fjords of North America: Continue reading…
That ain’t Norway. It’s Newfoundland, Canada — the eastern most tip of North America.
Enchanting, isn’t it?
I’ve long wanted to visit the island that shares its latitude with northern France. But having just discovered this dazzling fjord, all the more reason now.
So much to see in the world. So little time.
