Escapism (Toronto)

Elmwood Spa has been easing knots in muscles and helping Torontonians exhale deeply since it opened in 1982. But, like the rest of the wellness game, the iconic spa has grown up. The next time you visit the facility on Elm Street, there's more than saunas, hot tubs and massage tables to tempt you. Resonance, the spa’s new science-backed approach to mind-and-body wellness, offers guests an entirely new floor to explore. Descend one level to the basement and you’ll immediately feel the difference.

After a high ankle sprain that took ages to heal, I started building out my running shoe collection. Since they're now the only shoes I can comfortably wear, I have a lot of them, from every big brand name and in every colour. In my entire collection, the new Adidas Terrex Agravic SL Trail Running Shoes are the most comfortable pair I own.

The gateway to the magnificent natural splendour of Vancouver Island and the Discovery Passage, Campbell River is as unassuming as its wildlife experiences are humbling. The quaint town is painted against a backdrop of mountains looking down over the Salish Sea. Lined with little boutique shops and cafés, the walkable downtown is nestled against the waterfront and its beautiful boardwalk, where you can spy tour boats coming and going.

Amidst the artisanal lanterns, plush loungers and high-energy DJ sets — with a white wine in hand — it’s easy to feel like you’re at a chic beach club in southern Spain or Mykonos at Zel Punta Cana’s Neguri oceanside hotspot. It’s one example of how Zel does things differently from other luxury all-inclusives in the Dominican Republic. It’s in its DNA: The 190-suite resort is a collaboration between Spanish hospitality giant Meliá Hotels International and tennis legend Rafael Nadal.

When the sunlight hits the sparkling blue lake just right, it’s hard to believe I’m still in Ontario. Burlington’s breathtaking waterfront is brimming with life in the summertime, and a stay at The Pearle Hotel & Spa gives you prime access to all of it. Right outside the hotel, you’ll find a waterside boardwalk, Brant Street Pier and Spencer Smith Park.

Stories of skillful chefs who left the fast-paced kitchens of Toronto and execs who quit their corporate careers all in favour of a slower, simpler life permeate Prince Edward County. It’s a region full of dream-chasers and out-of-the-box thinkers who wanted to do something different, and that creative, passionate energy fills the air. Flanked by Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte, the sprawling island boasts an abundance of breathtaking scenery.

The shoulder season in Ontario is long. After months of waiting to go outside again, the weather finally warms up, but now it's always raining. Then there are all the beautiful destinations we love travelling to, like Victoria, B.C. or Newfoundland where precipitation is often in the forecast, or the activities might involve getting splashed by a wave while you try to spot wildlife.

Don’t let the name fool you — Grey County’s food scene is as vibrant as it comes. Just two hours north of Toronto, this rural pocket is home to apple orchards, farm-fresh produce and menus shaped by the season. Chefs cook over open hearths, cloudy cider flows freely and some of the city’s most celebrated culinary talent has set up shop here, bringing big-smoke pizazz to small-town kitchens. Plus, trendy motels and artfully designed lodges make it easy to turn a meal into an overnight stay.

The 90s are trending in a big way, with many people feeling nostalgic for a simpler time. That mood extends to travel, too, as wayfarers increasingly look for vacations that feel comfortable, familiar and genuinely restorative. Myrtle Beach in South Carolina isn’t just a sun-soaked escape for Canadians looking to trade winter for warmer shores. It’s also a memory bank — packed with reminders of classic family road trips to the beach and, for many Canadians, their very first seaside vacation.

The days of booking, packing and flopping on a sunlounger are well and truly behind us. Today, travel is about finding a moment of stillness in a life overly scheduled, divining meaning from adventures and taking a piece of the experience back home with you.