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Destinations Detours and Dreams February 2017

What's Been Happening

We've made it through January and it was a mixed bag from a weather perspective in Winnipeg. We went through a deep-freeze early in the month. Temperatures became unseasonably warm mid-month and reached above freezing. We even had rain. Mild weather resulted in the closing the river skating trail.The mild weather also produced several days of grey skies, something Winnipeggers are not used to. As February begins, cooler temperatures return.

I took advantage of the milder weather to get outside. I visited FortWhyte Alive, a 640-acre nature preserve in southwest Winnipeg. I've written about summer at the preserve in Alive With Flora, Fauna and Fun, but there is plenty to do in winter as well: skating, snowshoeing, sliding down the toboggan run, cross-country skiing or just hiking the trails. Look for a post about this in February.

I've started a beginner Spanish class through the local school division's continuing education program. It seemed like a good time to prepare for possible future travels next winter. I took a beginner class in Arizona four years ago, but didn't work or practice enough to retain more than a few items. (But it has helped with some crossword puzzle answers.) With only six students in this winter's class, there is ample opportunity to get correction on my pronunciation.

As to the blog, I've now finished the last of my articles on last year's California trip. The final article will be published in early February. And I've been catching up on some other writing.

What's On The Horizon

Manitoba will the primary focus of February blog posts.

Winnipeg's winter festival, Festival Du Voyageur, starts on February 17. I hope to attend various events. It's been years since I've been. You may see something about it on the blog.

And I will be working on my Spanish!

Award

I'm pleased that my article Exploring Ancient Phoenix at Travel Thru History was a finalist in one of the North American Travel Journalist Association 2016 Award categories.

December Stories You Might Have Missed

Puerto Plata Highlights

A tour of iconic attractions in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

California's SLO County: Scenic Charm and a Relaxed Vibe

Discovering unique communities of San Luis Obispo County in Central California

Heritage Districts and Hard Times

Examining the role of economic downturns in Heritage Districts

California Pacific Coast: Oxnard to Capitola

Highlights of a California coast road trip

French Canadian and Métis Heritage at St Boniface Museum

St. Boniface Museum in Winnipeg’s French Quarter

From The Archives

During A Day in Bath, I discovered there was a more to see in this English city than the Roman Baths: Georgian architecture, history, shopping, parks and more.

Donna Janke is the author of Destinations Detours and Dreams, where you can find travel stories from near and far, the familiar and the obscure, the beautiful and the bizarre, with a focus on history, gardens, nature, art, architecture, culture and the snowbird life. She tells her stories through a combination of narrative, photos and personal reflection. Sign up for the monthly newsletter here.

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