From my "backyard" at Sortland, Vesterålen, Arctic Norway, just a 3 to 30 min drive from my home.

We are SO excited to share an extraordinary new book by writer, photographer, and paddler Madeline Marquardt, entitled Hidden Gems of the Northern Great Lakes: A Trail and Paddling Guide. She has worked as a sea kayaking guide in the Apostle Islands, English teacher in Armenia, and paddled and hiked extensively throughout the Lake Superior Reg

More people have climbed Kilimanjaro than one might imagine. I asked everyone I could what they knew about Kili. After much well-intended but useless advice, Sue, a client of mine, provided some crucial tips: “It’s freezing on the top. Bring the warmest clothes you have.” She shivered in remembrance. 

Publisher's note: We absolutely LOVE this book. Click here to read our author interview! 

Musical lovers! Broadway star Glory Crampton has a new project, entitled Project 9, that we KNOW you'll be interested in. A veteran of over forty productions, Crampton created the role of Christine in the highly acclaimed Phantom (A musical based on the Phantom of the Opera legend), written by Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit, who created the Broadway musicals Titanic and Nine. Project 9 is an amazing COVID-era interpretation based on the film Fellini's 8 ½ and its stars.

Crampton notes, 

So you’re thinking of taking a trip to the Great White North, eh? Great choice! Canada is full of unforgettable experiences waiting to happen.

Of course, being the second-biggest country on Earth means that it’s unrealistic to think of Canada as just one destination. The landscapes, culture, towns and cities, and even the language vary across its 9.98 million square kilometres (3.85 million square miles). And that’s before we get to the dramatic difference between visiting in summer and winter.

These days, camping isn't a monolithic experience. You can go primitive camping, RV camping, even "glamping," or luxury camping. 

For the dedicated motorcyclist, those remote stretches of road can lead to excellent camping sites. Also, with these 10 essentials, you'll have what you need for a successful camping trip.

Madeline Marquardt is a writer, photographer, and paddler currently based in Grand Marais, Minnesota. She has worked as a sea kayaking guide in the Apostle Islands, English teacher in Armenia, and paddled and hiked extensively throughout the Lake Superior Region and state of Michigan. You can find her at madelinemarquardt.com, where she writes about the outdoors and adventure travel.