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Interview: Jim Byers, Canada’s Travel Guy, on his favourite places in Ontario

April 21, 2021

My Adventures on Twitter Spaces continue.

As I wrote in my previous post, I have been active lately on Twitter Spaces, Twitter’s cool new live audio feature.

I had the opportunity to chat with Jim Byers, fondly known as “Canada’s Travel Guy,” who is the author of “Ontario Escapes: 19 Great Places to Visit Right Now” (2020), available on Apple Books. Jim is the editor at Canadian Travel News and TravelPulse Canada, and a contributor to the LA Times. For many years, he was the travel editor at the Toronto Star, and before that he covered sports, and, of course, has his own blog.

Jim Byers (photo courtesy of Jim)

Jim lives in Toronto and he shared his top places to love in his home province of Ontario, Canada – a place I also call home. There is lots to love about Ontario.

Here are some brief highlights from our discussion. We covered a lot of ground in our one hour chat, so I condensed as much of it as I could for this blog post.

Screenshot from my phone of our Twitter Spaces live audio broadcast

Jim Byer’s top places to love in Ontario, Canada.

“Mostly, I love the natural spots and the small towns.”

1. Thunder Bay – Sleeping Giant Park, trail hikes and walks, and lots of nature.
2. Lake Superior Coast – hiking the Lake Superior Coastal Trail (note: Jim says there are not enough places to pull over or Tim Hortons restaurants).
3. Muskoka – sort of the “playground of the rich and celebrities,” where you can to boating amongst beautiful islands such as Lake Joseph and Lake Rosseau; and the town of Huntsville.
4. Ottawa – cool, thriving neighbourhoods, the Rideau Canal, museums, the National Gallery of Canada, the Byward Market and its very Canadian “beaver tails.”
5. Kingston/Ganaoque – Kingston castles (and helicopter tour), and for the “1,000 islands.”
6. Kawarthas – Peterborough city, the lovely towns and a “crazy garden filled with stone carvings from Zimbabwe;” also a cool winery and “butter tarts.”
7. Lake Huron coast – Grand Bend community is “best beach town in Canada.” Jim says it reminds him of California, where he grew up.
8. Toronto – Ontario’s largest city offers a lot of nature, which Jim calls “quiet Toronto” (Toronto islands especially).
9. Niagara region – especially Niagara-on-the-Lake and the wineries.
10. Lake Erie shoreline – “Canada’s Forgotten Coast,” has lovely small towns such as Kingsville, culinary and beer/wine gems.
11. Grey County – the town of Meaford, hiking and kayaking on Georgian Bay, spectacular waterfalls.
12. Stratford – “more than theater festival,” bacon and ale trail, and parade of swans, and B&Bs.

For more about Ontario destinations, check out Jim’s book: “Ontario Escapes: 19 Great Places to Visit Right Now” (2020), available on Apple Books. It is filled with tips, advice and fun and quirky stories written with great humour. The book was published by Sharon Creelman at Black Sand Digital .

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How to join me on Twitter Spaces:

1. First, you need an iOS or Android phone. Spaces is not accessible on a computer yet.
2. Go to my Twitter account @Shannon_Skinner
3. You obviously need a Twitter account
4. At the time of broadcast, you will see a live link appear in my feed (in purple). It was say something like “join me.”
5. Click on the live link and it take you to my Space.
6. Your mic will automatically be muted.

 

Shannon Skinner is a broadcaster, author, international speaker and loves to explore the world through travel and wine. Watch her interviews at ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com. Join me live for Inspiring Conversations on Twitter Spaces, M-F at 10am EST. Follow me at @Shannon_Skinner to join (you need an iPhone or Android phone).