The first thing to note is the conference does change year to year depending on the sponsor destination. However, from what I’ve seen and heard at #WITSUtah, it is only getting better. 

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Professional & Personal Connections 

Some of the women I’ve met in Mexico City, some of them I’ve met online, and connecting with them throughout this week was really fun.  One thing I heard from the event participants constantly is that their favourite part of the summit is meeting other women and learning from each other. Friendships are made fast in these environments and they come with longevity tied to community.

The second aspect is all the professional connections you are able to make with destination representatives, travel businesses, and other incredibly successful women. You can also book mentor meetings with creators and writers of your choice to learn 1-on-1. Some of the connections I made during the virtual visits back during the dark days have actually led to collaborations (see Québec Maritimes for example). This year we had an active media marketplace of travel industry vendors who took 1-on-1 meetings with creators. Having attended a few meetings I cannot wait to see what grows out of these relationships.

The Conference

The conference itself is 3 days of talks and group activities. There is a separate stream for beginners where aspiring creators and bloggers can learn from the industry’s best. The rest of the talks ranged from learning to inspiring and everything in between. We talked about financial stability, dove into taxes, went in-depth on the difficult topics about travel, ethics, and diversity, learned how to be better writers, and better photographers, and how to turn all those no’s into yes’s. 

This year the destination partners, Visit Utah and Park City, chose to spend one of the days in Park City where the entire group of (400+) attendees got to select activities in the region and then came together for a massive celebration dinner. It was a spectacular event hosted by Empire Canyon Lodge high up in the snowy Utah mountains. 

All the Fun Celebrations & Opportunities to Create

We had a Gala for the Bessie Awards, we had an opening party, we had beers on the rooftop, group meals and excursions, and chose to hang out with one another after official events. For the opening party this year the group was bussed out to the Natural History Museum of Utah for cocktails, food, and live music. Parts of the museum were open for exploration as well. With opportunities like these, the summit offers a lot of room for fun and photography and all of us left Utah with plenty of reels, images, and stories to tell. I have a few posts and many stories and still much more to share.

FAM trips & Day Trips

The summit is attended by travelers, travel creators, business owners, and members of destination marketing groups. All WITS attendees are invited to participate in a range of day trips and excursions. These are offered on a first-come basis, no need to be a creator, though you might be inspired to become one. There were walking tours, hiking tours, skiing tours, sake and whisky tasting tours, active tours, and chocolate-making activities, and some attendees even drove out to the Salt Flats for a photoshoot! 

The creators are invited to apply for a range of overnight FAM trips (familiarization trips). Those accepted, join other creators on small guided group tours fully financed by the destination. I was able to participate in two trips, one before and one after the summit. These trips were themed and expertly guided. We saw a lot of the state, tasted amazing food, stayed in exciting hotels, and connected with other creators.

As mentioned, the FAM trips and excursions take place before and after the summit, so the event is not just 3 days. My trip inclusive of all excursions was 10 days. That of course, was also my choice. 

Above: tasking with Tsuki Sake, a woman-run Salt Lake City sake company.
Below: tour, tasting, and lunch at High West Distillery, was so happy to do this one! Learned a lot about their production method and the hearty lunch.

Opportunities to Win

Personal wins are of course plenty but you can also win tangible gifts. The 2024 summit had 3 contests: 

• Salt Lake City airport social media challenge where the winner got a free Creator Ticket to WITS 2025 ($444 value) + a swag goodie bag from SLC International Airport.
• Park City scavenger hunt the winner of which wins a free trip to Park City.
• Sponsor prize from Influencer Kit that included a $250 Amazon Gift Card, a free ticket to WITS 2025, a lifetime Wanderful Creator Membership, and a lifetime InfluenceKit Grow. It was a raffle and I won, which honestly I am very excited about!

A Few Tips & Considerations:

1. Book your hotel rooms in advance and take advantage of the host hotel rate, it was quite significant. If you change your mind the rooms are typically refundable until quite close to the event date. 
2. Book flights ahead of time, and if you can book flex in case you need to change the dates.
3. FAM trips get announced about two months before so the above pre-planning is important if you are trying to save money on travel.
4. Stay on top of the tours and excursions schedule, they can book up fast.
5. Check the media marketplace listings a few times, they are not all added at once. 
6. Add an extra day or two to explore the host city on your own time.
7. Join the Wanderful network in the meantime to continue learning and networking throughout the year. 

WITS 2025 will be held in Downtown NYC from May 16th to 18th, get more info and tickets at witsummit.com/downtownnyc.

The post What’s it like to attend WITS, Travel Creator Summit appeared first on Paths to Travel.

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It has now been two years and there have been many fun chats, travel events, and learning opportunities. As a member you have access to an active online community, hosting network, job listings, a wide range of resources, and in-person events, both educational and just for fun. But best of all, you become connected to hundreds of women around the world.

With my own travel plans having kind of exploded this year (between Quip and this blog) I have not been able to attend the spring conferences and parties but I made plans for November well in advance. Last week a group of us gathered in Mexico City for a global meetup, travelers and creators alike. 

It is not your typical group trip, you are free to explore on your own and make your own plans. A few of the activities were organized by the local chapter lead, thank you Pam. Pam showed us her favourite parts of Mexico City and shared thought starters for where we can go on our own. A few people already knew each other from past events, a few groups formed, but overall we were fluid and that fluidity is nice. You can choose to go solo, join others, or put your plans out to the group. It’s a fun way to see a new place while sharing tips, meeting people, and letting the city guide you along the way.

Our five days in Mexico City flew by way too fast but we had a great time. I am certain I will see some of the lovely ladies again, if not in my home town then at another Wanderful event. 

Learn more about the two types of memberships Wanderful offers here and maybe we will meet soon

And here’s how it went: Mexico City in pictures 

Día de Muertos is a huge, week-long celebration in Mexico City. I missed most of it but did catch the last day of the installations at the Zócalo square, the main square in the historic center. Here a wide circle of traditionally dressed Catrinas was standing tall representing each region of Mexico. Each Catrina was accompanied by an Ofrenda (an altar) that people could get close to for a deeper personal connection.

Mexico City ofrenda was representative of a Lucho Libre rink, one of the runner setups in the square. As a group we also got to go to a Lucho Libre fight this weekend, it was a very energetic, fun experience!

On the outskirts of the Zócalo square were a few groups of traditionally dressed performers from Chichimecas, Aztecas, and Mexicas. They were dancing and offering spirit cleanses to everyone in need of a spiritual cleanse. 

The ofrendas are present everywhere around the city and beyond – in city squares, churches, our hostel, and of course people’s homes. 

 One of the optional day excursions was a visit to Teotihuacan. During the visit we learned about ancient civilizations, climbed pyramids, and walked the Avenue of the Dead. Must-visit I would say.

A local vendor gave us a demonstration of how all these amazing bright colours were made with natural ingredients. Just look at how bright they are, and they last for centuries!

And on an early morning Sunday, we ventured out to Xochimilco where we cruised the canal on traditional trajineras. Our group went out early morning to avoid the crowds while enjoying a lovely lunch made by Picnixhic. 

Most of our group stayed in Selina Downtown Mexico City, a well-known hostel chain. This was my first time staying in a hostel and while I did learn hostels are not for me I had a great time because I was in great company. 

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This trip can take a weekend if you move fast, or a couple of weeks if you sit back to enjoy the views and brews. But no matter the duration below are a few key spots you should visit during the trip. A few spots I would like to visit when the borders open and the world heals.

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Cover image: Fundy Parkway by Nick Hawkins for New Brunswick tourism.

Come face-to-face with ancient nature at Hopewell Rocks

This provincial park is considered to be New Brunswick’s top tourist attraction and is factually home to the world’s highest tides which advance at 13 ft per hour straight up! You can see the magnitude of the tides changing in this fun video where park attendants get absorbed by the rising water up to their necks in a mere 25 minutes – it really is amazing. During the low tide, you can walk the ocean floor. At high tide, you could kayak around the ancient rocks that you were looking up at half an hour ago. These rocks, referred to as “flower pots,” have been carved by the tides over thousands of years. Some of them look like faces, some like animals, and some really do look like flower pots. All are very, very old.  

The park pass offers 2-day access to the area, which means you can experience the tide variance firsthand. Exploring the ocean floor is just one of the many activities available to visitors in the park. Travellers can also hike through various trails, sit back on the quiet beachside, spot the resident falcons (rumour has it their family is growing), shop for locally made gifts, learn at the interpretive centre, and take a break at the on-site restaurant. 

When to go: The best time of year to visit is between May and October.

If you go: Check the tide tables before you go. Be prepared to get dirty – shoes have been lost in the wet sand. The park is not accessible by public transit, but there are organised tours that can take you there.

Be one of the first to hike the Fundy Trail

Fundy Trail Parkway is a 6,300-acre park located on the Southern coast of New Brunswick. It is already home to two UNESCO sites and, with new developments, is set to become the best new scenic drive in Canada – watch out, Sea-to-Sky highway! New roads are being built connecting this last remaining coastal wilderness area from Florida to the town of Sussex, between St John and nearby mountains. These new roads are not only opening up new hiking trails but setting the ground for new itineraries, making it easier to explore the Bay of Fundy.

Now back to the Fundy Trail: Located roughly 2 hours from Saint John, the park is very remote and operates sustainably, focusing on preserving the unspoiled nature and wildlife of the coast. Depending on the fitness level and available time, visitors can spend a day hiking or multiple days camping on the designated hike sites. 

If you go: There is an easy visitors guide based on your available time here. And if you are camping the recommended visit duration for avid hikers is 3-5 days. 

What’s there to see?

Naturally, there is also an interpreter’s center, snack bar, exhibit center, and gift shop. Not too far from the visitor facilities is a 275-foot suspension bridge crossing the river where the Fundy footpath begins. The foot trail spans over 60km of wilderness from Fundy Trail Parkway to Fundy National Park. Throughout the park, hikers will also find four unique waterfalls, some of which are a part of the longer hike, and some, like the Fuller Falls, are easier to access. A huge point of interest for summer visitors is the many beaches accessible from the trails and from the road. Some beaches are small and rocky, while others are long and sandy. One of the bigger beaches in Long Beach, and from here you can witness the famous horizontal tides while basking in the sun.  

Wine, dine, and drink cocktails in Saint John

Saint John is Canada’s oldest incorporated city and the only city on Fundy Bay. All around the city, there are beautiful sandy beaches and access to natural landscapes but the city itself is promising to be an urban oasis. Here you will find a range of historic B&Bs, craft cocktails, and nearly 80 restaurants sprinkled across 16 city blocks. The local specialties are seafood, smoked salmon, cheese, dulse (seaweed spice), blueberries, and of course maple syrup.

For a cocktail break (see recipe below) we virtually met up with Jen Silliphant, from Envision Saint John, and Gillian Nadeau, from Uncorked Tours. The ladies passionately spoke about their favourite restaurants, dishes prepared by award-winning chefs, local farmer’s markets, as well as wine and beer experiences. Saint John is also a culturally beautiful location showcasing works by notable street artists, turn-of-the-century architecture, and famous Carleton’s Martello tower, and within a short drive, you can visit St. Martins, the Irving Nature Park, and New River Beach. 

Where to stay: Complete list of accommodations, from hotels to outdoor stays can be found here. From a quick search, these spots look very promising are:

• Homeport Historic B&B Inn
• Earle of Leinster “Inn Style” Bed & Breakfast
• Château Saint John Hotel & Suites in Saint John
• Vista Ridge Cottages
• Broadleaf Ranch, for glamping and so on

The vastness of Canada can be hard to wrap your head around sometimes, even one province at a time because there is so much to see. But we can narrow in one region at a time. The Bay of Fundy is one of those uniquely stunning regions that you could spend your entire vacation exploring. Whether touring fast or unwinding through slow travel there is a lot to see and do. Here “nature inspires” (the county’s slogan), flavours will make you salivate, the scenery might make you cry, and the maritime hospitality will make it feel like home.

Cocktail recipe:
Gillian Nadeau’s Slocum’s Maple Smash

1.5 oz Vodka or neutral moonshine
1 oz Lemon juice (juice from a whole lemon)
0.75 oz Maple syrup
Mix together (no shaking) and pour over a single layer of ice in your glass
Top with soda water if desired

The post Planning a trip through New Brunswick’s Bay of Fundy region appeared first on Paths to Travel.

The four regions that make up Québec Maritimes are Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Côte-Nord, and Îles De La Madeleine. The scenery here is similar to what you would see in New Brunswick, after all, they are neighbours. But QC Maritime stands strong as an individual. The nature of the area serves itself well for slow and sustainable travel and if time permits one can easily spend 3 weeks exploring the 300km of combined coastline. I cannot possibly cover everything there is to do (it could be volumes of typed books!) but here are just a few reasons to add QC Maritime to your travel bucket list:

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Nature & Adventure

QC Maritime is home to 10 national parks, some on the coast, some landlocked. Four of the ten national parks are in Gaspésie and the topography of Gaspésie National Park might feel like the tip of the earth. Here visitors can see the famous Percé Rock and take in the breathtaking scenery that is Chaleur Bay. Bas-Saint-Laurent is a blend of coastal, rural, and forest scenery while Côte-Nord is recognized as one of the best places to see the whales (more on that later). Îles de la Madeleine, on the other hand, is most famous for its white-sand beaches and red cliffs. Anywhere in the region, you can explore coastal beaches, go hiking, discover waterfalls, learn sea kayaking, catch your own dinner, and maybe even shed a tear looking at amazing sunsets and sunrises.

Lighthouses 

Naturally, QC Maritimes has lighthouses. Many, many lighthouses. Your entire road trip could focus on lighthouses and take a nearly 14 days driving from Rivière-du-Loup to Tadoussac (or just a bit over 3 hours by boat). Lighthouses are part of the local heritage and there are over 40 of them spread out across the coast. Eighteen of these lighthouses offer tourism-related activities or services (like accommodations). Learn more about the Lighthouse trail here. 

Tip from the locals: the temperatures changes throughout the day so bring layers and warm clothes if you are planning a water excursion.

Marine life exploration & Whale watching 

The Gulf of St Lawrence is a sanctuary for a lot of marine life and especially whales. GREMM centre, located in Côte-Nord, is an impressive research facility where marine biologists focus on studying whales in order to better protect them. The centre also has a very informative visitor’s centre. A must-do while visiting the region, of course, is seeing the whales firsthand and you can do so from many points along the coast. 

The Québec Whale Route spans from Tadoussac to Blanc-Sablon along the shore of Côte-Nord. If following the recommended route, this trip would take 13 days driving or 4 days by boat. This is a designated whale route where visitors can observe 13 different species of whales, some even from land! 

The best time to observe whales is between May and October; learn more about whales on Whales Online.

Food & Drinks

Farm-to-table cuisine and let’s call it ocean-to-table seafood is one of the many highlights of QC Maritimes. Fresh seafood is something that you would find basically anywhere but much like with any other activity there is a recommended Flavour Trail. The highlights of the local cuisine naturally include seafood but you will also find plenty of game meat, fine cheeses, berries and vegetables, and of course – microbreweries and distilleries. 

The Beer Route includes over 100 different craft breweries across all four regions and cant take up to 12 days by car (2 hours by ferry). This is the eat, drink, and be a marry-type of adventure. 

Sustainability note: QC Maritime is Smart Seafood certified and is working tirelessly on maintaining sustainable fishing practices.

Unique accommodations 

As one would expect, there is a wide variety of accommodations, from camping grounds to hotels and everything in between. I would like to focus on some of the most unique properties. First of all: lighthouses! Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve has a 4-star lighthouse property, St. Lawrence has a 200-year-old B&B called Maisons du Phare de l’Île Verte, and Gaspésie is home to the restored 102-year-old Pot-à-l’Eau-de-Vie – just to name a few. 

Among other unusual accommodations, there is a Perched Chalet in Kiskotuk Park, Tiny “Tint Houses” powered by solar energy, floating Yurts, stargazing forest Canopèes, and many, many more. 

Québec Maritimes is not just about sightseeing and tasting, it is a feeling and a place to meet (what I was promised would be) some of the nicest people in Canada. This is a place where your sunset conversations around the fire pit might be interrupted by whale songs. A place to recharge after a long and painful lockdown and feel the vastness of the universe under the star.

Some notes from Parks Canada

Due to the global pandemic your upcoming visit will be different than in past years. Some national parks might have limited access to facilities and services, frequent updates can be found here. 

Reservations for trips between May 2021 and March 2022 are now open. There is also a Parks Canada Mobile App which can be helpful when planning your travel and has interactive park maps. 

The post The many reasons why Québec Maritime should be on your bucket list appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Park City is a year-round destination, and according to Forbes, summer is actually better than winter. The reasons include high temperatures with low humidity and a coating of lush greenery over the mountains. One of the main draws, however, is a wide range of activities for people of all interests and fitness levels. The city is a destination you can spend weeks in, some even choose to stay and make it home. But for today’s adventure, we are just going to spend a day in Park City as a teaser.

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Morning:
Slow stretch in nature 

Begin your day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel. The St. Regis Deer Valley* specifically caught my attention. There is a range of dining options with a view of Deer Valley, including a beautiful outdoor terrace. Plus they have a private ski beach and a split-level outdoor pool. Seems like a lovely place to wake up.

For your first activity, start slowly at Park City Yoga Adventures. Even if yoga is not a part of your regular fitness routine, you would still enjoy this excursion because there are many different ways to ‘do yoga’. For example, guests can take up paddleboard yoga in a 100-year-old hot spring. You can also do yoga by the pool, do silk yoga, and even do yoga on a hike. Here, all experiences are very unique and some will not be found anywhere else.

Note: There is a free Park City transit system, see routes and schedules here.  

Afternoon:
Find your inner Olympian or relax at a spa

Pop into the family-owned and operated Hearth and Hill for some lunch, Bartolo’s for brunch if your heart is craving poached eggs or Freshies Lobster Co for a lobster roll. There is a much longer, curated by a local, restaurant recommendation list on the Female Foodie.  

For an afternoon activity, we headed over to the Utah Olympic Park. Built for the 2002 Winter Olympics the park became a permanent attraction and a member of the Olympic Legacy Foundation. The visitors can explore two on-site museums and participate in a range of adventure courses, from zip-lining to a summer bobsled experience in a speed-controlled car, or even extreme tubing. Learn more about available activities and passes here. 

If extreme adventures are not your cup of tea, Park City is also home to a 35,000-square-foot spa sanctuary at the Montage Deer Valley* resort. Montage Spa offers a selection of alpine-inspired treatments from massages and facials to water treatments and saunas. And just look at that view! 

Fun fact: Park City is less than half a day away from anywhere in the United States but if you fly to Salt Lake City it’s only a brief 35-min drive away.

Evening:
Wind down with a cocktail 

Exhausted but energized by the day’s adventures it is time for some treats. For the treats, we will go to High West Distillery. Founded in 2006 by David Perkins and his wife Jane, High West is one of the most respectable distilleries in the US. Their newly renovated compound is set on a 3,500-acre cattle ranch called Blue Sky Utah. For a quick chat, we met with Holly Booth, lead bartender at the High West restaurant, who spoke fondly of their elevated cuisine and focus on local produce. Holly’s coworker Steve spoke about the uniqueness of their heavy-handed cocktails from behind the bar and how the higher liquor amount laws actually allow them to be more inventive with their cocktail creations. 

There are three restaurants: Distillery & Tasting Room, Refectory, at the Blue Sky Ranch location, and The Saloon and The Nelson Cottage located by Park City’s Historic Main Street. The Refectory has limited dining hours and offers a curated Thursday night supper experience. The Saloon, on the other hand, is open to in-door dining daily. The Nelson Cottage has Prix-fix dinners on select nights of the week.

Pre-book your tours ahead of time or join their team for a virtual experience from the comfort of your couch. 

If you are still bursting with energy after dinner, head over to the OP Rockwell Cocktail Lounge & Music Hall for some live music and late-night craft cocktails, or simply explore the Historic Park City on foot, bar-hopping and shopping as you wish.

All images are courtesy of Park City Tourism. 

At home:
Have a Park City-inspired cocktail party:

High West Distillery’s Holly Booth shared her favourite classic cocktail recipes which you can quite easily make at home. If you can’t get High West Bourbon use your favorite local release. The cocktails are from easiest to hardest. If you don’t have a shaker use a mason jar – super easy! To make a Simple Syrup all you need is sugar and water, it is very easy to do, here is a quick recipe on Liquor.com. 

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