Wendy Helfenbaum

Marriott Traveler

Why's Edinburgh called 'Festival City'? You'll get a clue at these 11 events

Known as “Festival City,” Edinburgh has been entertaining massive crowds on its bustling streets and stages since 1947. Throughout the year, world-class artists, musicians, comedians and dancers take over hundreds of historic venues.

Whether you’re looking for laughs, traditional theater, master storytelling or modern jazz, you’ll find a festival in the Scottish capital devoted to it.

Next Avenue

10 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Multigenerational Vacation

If you’ve decided to take your whole gang on a family vacation for the winter holidays, you’re not alone. According to a 2015 study by travel marketing organization MMGY Global, more than 40 percent of Americans reported taking a multigenerational trip the previous year. Virtuoso, an international travel agency network, cited multigenerational travel as its top trend in its 2016 study.

realtor.com

Thinking of Converting Your Garage Into Living Space? You'd Better Read This First

You love your home, but spacewise, you’re bursting at the seams. Building an extension seems daunting, but moving out of your fabulous neighborhood is off the table. Hmm ... you do have that two-car garage; perhaps you should convert it into a kids' playroom, an office or gym for you, or even an in-law suite.

Parenting

14 Insider tips for smooth sailing on your family cruise

Where to splurge and where to save so you don't go cruising for a financial bruising...

collaboratemeetings.com

Base Camp for Adventure

Banff's hip vibe and Instagram-worthy views make it a bucket-list destination for meeting and incentive trip planners, with unique offsite venues including mountaintop ski lodges, natural caves and elegant ballrooms.

todaysbride.ca

Sea of Love

Is there anything more romantic than a wedding at sea – either aboard a luxury cruise ship or portside on a lush tropical island? Here are six tips for planning a fairytale wedding at sea.

Next Avenue

Dishing with Celebrity Chef Jacques Pépin

For renowned chef Jacques Pépin, family, friends and food make up the trifecta of a life well lived. Now 82, Pépin long ago mastered the secret recipe to a successful culinary career: constant reinvention, an unwavering commitment to excellence and an uncanny ability to connect people through food. Once described as “the Tom Jones of cooking” thanks to his suave charm, Pépin has inspired thousands of home cooks.

One+

Excite, Entice & Engage: CVB marketing campaigns that are driving success with groups

To cut through all the noise in cyberspace and in meeting planners’ inboxes, convention bureaus around the world have had to become incredibly creative. After all, everyone claims to be cutting-edge, state-of-the-art, and ‘bucket list’-worthy. But as today’s event organizers juggle increasingly long lists of expectations with smaller bottom lines, CVBs are coming up with new ways to entice, excite and engage people’s imaginations.

neamb.com

Music to Your Ears: 6 Top Summer Music Festivals

What’s better than live music under a sunny (or starry) sky? Get your groove on this summer at these music festivals.
If your idea of a great vacation involves swaying to the sweet sounds of your favorite music alongside thousands of like-minded folks, then consider planning a trip around a music festival. With many free concerts and activities, plus plenty of reasonably priced accommodations nearby, summer festivals pack in a lot of value.

family vacation critic

10 Ski Resorts That Are Better in the Summer

If your family of snow bunnies sheds tears when the snow melts and the skis get stored away, we've got great news for you. An increasing number of top ski resorts have invested big bucks to become year-round destinations for active families, offering a ton of fabulous outdoor experiences that'll make your kids forget about hurtling down the moguls at top speed. Whether your gang wants to zipline, hike, spot wildlife, swoop down alpine slides or jump in a lake, there's plenty on tap to tire everyone out!

ignitemag.ca

How to plan memorable off-site tours for your delegates

Herding everyone onto a bus for the same-old-same-old city tour just doesn’t cut it anymore. Here’s how to organize these events to meet your group’s needs and wants.

ignitemag.ca

The Planners' Guide to Galas:

A charity's existence can hinge on the success of its fundraising events. Here's how to create an extravaganza that delights both attendees and the CFO.

family vacation critic

10 National Parks That Are Better Than the Grand Canyon

If your brood craves outdoor adventures and Instagram-worthy views of Mother Nature up close, join the more than 330 million visitors who head to our national parks each year. In addition to tons of family-friendly hiking and biking trails and fishing spots, your kids can spy elk, bison and eagles, along with towering rock formations, awesome waterfalls and crystal-clear lakes. Sign children up to become Junior Rangers, so you can download activity workbooks before you leave.

youareunltd.com

Fasten Your Seatbelts: Boomers Are A Driving Force Behind Auto Innovations

Boomers grew up idolizing automobiles – the ultimate symbol of independence, swagger and style. Whether their first car was a sporty Mustang, a muscle car or a hipster Beetle, this generation of drivers continues to influence the auto industry more than any other, demanding innovation, performance and luxury.

Animation World Network

‘Skin for Skin’: Exploring the Ultimate Cost of Arrogance and Greed

Calgary filmmakers Kevin D.A. Kurytnik and Carol Beecher take viewers on a wondrous visual journey through Canada’s dark past and spiritual reckoning in Skin for Skin, an animated short produced by the National Film Board of Canada and Fifteen Pound Pink Productions.

Drawing inspiration from legends, symbols, and mythologies worldwide - especially Scottish Celtic myth - Beecher and Kurytnik meticulously crafted a 15-minute 2D/3D hybrid gothic historical fantasy set in 1823 during the Canadian fur trade.