Grampians, Victoria, Australia

Lying 241 kilometers east of Melbourne and at the tail end of the Great Dividing Range, the Grampians is one of the country's richest floral regions, harbouring over 8000 different plants, which is about one third of the state's whole indigenous flora. It is thought that the remarkable abundance of floral wealth is due to the area providing a natural refuge for plants million of years ago when the rest of the continent was undergoing marked geological upheavals. There are three main ranges. All have bold, precipitous bluffs on the eastern side and, to the west, slopes that fall away gently to merge with the valley's plain.

The Canavese

The Canavese is known principally for white Erbaluce grape and tow wines made from it, Erbaluce di Caluso and Caluso Passito. Caluso is only one of the 38 communes of the Canavese but the one to have given its name to the wines. Erbaluce di Caluso combines high acidity with a rich, floral centre which, when made with care, results in a refreshing, stimulating wine, best with food, even, for example, rich salami. Poorly made examples are thin and sharp. The acidity can give a beautiful lift to the sweet passito version and occasional examples can have extraordinary longevity. There are also some semi-sweet wines made in a lighter style from partially passito grapes and one or two experimental dry wines. Other wines (red as well as white made in the area are called simply Canavese, a new denomination, yet to make serious impact but accounting for about half the total production.

Alba, Italy

The town of Alba has a terrific appeal. This makes me know more about the place. The production of Piedmont's most famous wines gives the place a lure that elevates it almost to a wine lover's place of pilgrimage. Alba is certainly a major wine centre but it does not live just for wine.

Alba's main wealth comes from Miroglio, a hugely important textiles concern, which has a number of factories around the town, and from the local Ferrero chocolate company. Moreover, Alba is rather small, squashed into the narrow strip between the River Tanaro and the Langhe hills, with little space for other than a tiny old centre surrounded by a cluster of modern but smart residences.

Most of Alba's very small shops straddle one narrow street via Vittorio Emanuele II, which runs out of the central square, Piazza Savona. Several shops sell wine and more offer various types of often costly, edible goodies, not to mention truffles when in season, as well as related products, truffle oil, pate, cream, paste, etc. throughout the year. The street is even more crowded on Saturdays when market stalls fill its centre. At the other end of Vittorio Emanuele, some of Alba's famous towers draw eyes steadily upwards. Apart from these and the nobility of the Duomo San Lorenzo, Alba's magnetism quickly palls.

Staying inside or outside the Disney's park?

Disney has made it hard to argue for staying outside the park, even though it's way cheaper. Among other perks, Disney hotel guests enjoy extra hours in the parks and complimentary airport transfers via the Magical Express bus. As for where to stay inside Disney, ease is as much a factor as price. We like the Contemporary Resort (the only hotel within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom); Fort Wilderness Resort (the faux-rustic cabins fit six comfortably) and the All-Star Movies Resort (rooms are small but cheap). If Disney's value resorts are booked, the only other options n-site may run $300 a night of more. Outside the park, you'll find tons of hotels at a quarter of that rate - and there are always house rentals. While three-bedroom units go for about $1509 a night, the equivalent inside Disney would easily cost $700.

Canoeing at Ontario, Canada

"Living on the edge" means embracing all the delights and dilemmas of Ontario, Canada. Canoeing, camping, fishing and hunting are my family's passion. We love the wilderness canoe tripping experience and we take it seriously.

In fact, we had our trip last January 17, 2010 at Ontario's best place. Though we experienced plenty of paddling and portaging, the rewards are priceless. It's safe, fun and memorable.

We had all the wonderful activities from canoeing to hunting and it's such a wonderful experience.

The sights of Turin, Italy.

I have been an addict traveler. My route this year is to explore more of Europe. My first stop is at Turin, Italy.

Actually, there is mo shortage of things to see in Turin. The main draw is the museum of Egyptology in Villa Accademia delle Scienze - one of the greatest collections in the world. Within the Academia is also the museum of anti quitie and the Sabuada art gallery. They are located just beside the most exciting and stirring walk in Turin: north from the central station along Via Roma and through Piazza Carlo Felice, Piazza San Carlo (the best of all) and Piazza castello (with the stunning Madama Palace) coming out by the Royal Palace and into its pleasant gardens. The other major museum is along the Po, in a more southern area of fairly modern, showcase buildings, the museum of the motor car; this is, after all, the city of Fiat.

The emblem of the city is the Mole Antonelliana. More peaceful is the views over the Po from Piazza Vittorio Veneto, onto the piazza of Gran Madre di Dio, with, behind it, the Gran Madre church. Up the hills behind is the Cappucins Mount, while further along the river to the right is the Valentino park, with two remarkable fountains. In the park is the French Renaissance style Valentino castle and an oddity, a 19th-century reconstruction of the medieval quarter.

Throughout the city the influence of the House of Savoy, pride in Turin's importance during the Italian unification of the 1860s, and a notable monarchist attitude are evident.

Beach Escape - St. Kitts

Few Caribbean islands are celebrated for their food, but tiny St. Kitts is one of the exceptions. An outpost of stately sugar plantations and white sands, the isle has landed on the culinary map. Thanks to the newly opened Beach House, a restaurant in a colonial mansion on Turtle Beach.

The oceanfront, Carambola Beach Club restaurant opens of South Friar's Bay. The place gets its name from the Averrhoa carambola, or star fruit, which is put to punchy use from the starters to the desserts. Nab one of the 12 beach cabanas - they have waiter service and prime sunset views.

Schools of yellowtail snapper, balahoo and angelfish surround the reef near Cockleshell Beach, a two-mile-long stretch on the southern coast that's often empty during the week. At the entrance, the new Reggae Beach Bar and Grill serve conch fritters and jumbo coconut shrimp.

St. Kitts has blessedly few hotels. A standout is the Ocean Terrace Inn, where each of the 71 rooms has a private balcony overlooking the Caribbean, The one-bedroom suites come with kitchenettes, but there's no need to do your own cooking. The hotel has a West Indian restaurant, a poolside bar and grill, and a oceanfront spot that specializes in lobster and mahimahi cooled over an open flame.

St. Kitts is such a nice escape!