6 Reasons Why Montreal is the Perfect Summer Destination!

Ask anyone who has ever visited Montreal during the summer, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who does not love this city. I would go as far as to say it's the perfect summer destination for everyone. Yes, everyone.

Montreal's unique blend of North American and European cultures is integrated throughout the city in a way that's charming, trendy and welcoming to all. It also offers an astounding number of events, activities and celebrations throughout the months of June, July, August and September, making it the perfect place to go by yourself or with family and friends. There's a reason it's one of my favorite cities in the world.

As for why it's perfect, here's more information on why Montreal is the place to see:

Festivals, Festivals, Festivals
This city loves its festivals. And you know what? They do festivals extremely well. From the world-renowned International Jazz Festival to the Circus Festival, which welcomes circus artists from all over the world, to the hilarious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival -- whatever you're into, there's likely a festival for it. A really, really good festival for it.

Vibrant but Not Overwhelming City Life
What's so great about Montreal is that there is so much going on during the summer but it never feels like it's too much. It's a choose-your-own-adventure city. During my most recent visit, I visited one of the city's terraces for pre-dinner drinks and a gorgeous view of Old Montreal but located not too far away at the city's convention center was Comic-Con. There is much this city has to offer that makes it great to visit for a weekend or a longer period of time.

All the Poutine (and Other Amazing Food)
What is poutine, you may be wondering? It's Canada's popular fast food dish that originated in Quebec -- fries covered in gravy and topped with cheese curds. Many places in Montreal put their own twist on it, such as the poutine I had with fois gras made by the talented folks at Au Pied de Cochon. If poutine isn't your thing, the city also has a huge number of French restaurants as well as pretty much any other cuisine you're looking to try.

So Much Nature in One City
I am a city girl at heart, but I always need a little bit of nature nearby. Montreal offers some beautiful options, including Parc Lafontaine, Parc Jean-Drapeau and my personal favorite, Parc du Mont-Royal. There's also great hiking, kayaking and horseback riding in the Laurentides, located not too far from the city.

A Great Appreciation for Art
One of the things that makes Montreal so unique is the vast amount of beautiful and interesting murals and street art that can be found throughout the city. During the annual Mural Festival (I told you there's a festival for everything), artists from different countries gather in Montreal to create murals right in front of the audience's eyes. There are also a number of great exhibitions at many of the city's museums, including a Rodin exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts.

It's Affordable!
In case you haven't heard the news, the dollar is doing extremely well in Canada right now. During past visits to Canada, the exchange rate was always roughly $1 USD to $1 CAD. These days the rate is closer to $1 USD to $1.30 CAD, meaning now is the time to head to Canada! Beyond the exchange rate, Montreal offers many free and cheap activities, making it a great place for the budget-conscious traveler.

So, there you have it -- six reasons why Montreal is not only an amazing city in itself but also why you should head there on your next summer vacation. You'll have a great time and want to go back again. And again. And again.

Montreal is a great city, but it is just one of the amazing places to visit in Canada! To check out some amazing trips, or to let us help you make your own adventure, go here. 

This article was originally posted on The Globe Getter. 

7 Reasons People Who Travel Are More Likely To Be Successful

This article was originally published on the Your Tango

1. Fear of the unknown drives your ambition.

Traveling helps you acquire skills naturally while building your character.
"Frequent traveling gets you outside of your comfort zone, opening up new worlds and experiences. Faced with new scenarios and encounters, you learn effective coping strategies that help you survive and manage your fear of the unknown," says Dr. Ben Michaelis, a clinical psychologist and mental health expert.

When you travel, you learn to take action and accept challenges. You also learn creative ways to adapt to change and use your resources wisely. All of these behaviors lie at very core of achieving success in business, and inspire innovation and creativity.

2. Trying something new can expand your horizons.

So many of us go to the same desk in the same office and work at the same computer each day. It's comfortable. But sometimes we can learn a lot and think more when we leave the familiar and see new things.

We may leave with some new ideas. Embracing change can help us in all areas of our lives.

3. You'll always see the big picture.

When we don't take time away from work, it's easy to get caught up in the immediate pressures of the day to day. A little time away, even if it's just a long weekend, can create the psychological distance to make it easy to see what really matters
.
"When we get some distance, it's easier to see the big picture, to focus on what we want versus just what's right in front of us, and to be more open to taking risks to get to what we want. While it's nice to turn off fully on a vacation, I suggest setting aside just 15 minutes at some point to think about what really matters in your work, because you're much better equipped to see it with psychological distance," says neurocoach Josh Davis, Ph.D.

Reconnecting with what really matters in your work will make you better at prioritizing.

4. Vacations improve your overall health.

"Stress accumulation increases our risk for almost every disease. Disease and poor health affect the ability to consistently maintain personal and professional goals. Vacations can decrease anxiety levels and boost metabolism. Not only do vacations impact our health, but they also promote creativity, allow time to recharge, and boost positivity, increasing productivity in the long run," says Jessie Gill, a holistic nurse.

There's a beautiful world out there waiting to be explored.

5. Networking helps you establish influence and respect.

Sharon Schweitzer tells the story of a CEO of a consulting firm who was sent to Myanmar on a major multi-year assignment. From 1962 to 2011, Myanmar was a nation run by a military dictatorship. This might have suggested to the CEO that the country's culture puts processes before people. Quickly, however, he learned that the opposite is true.

Over time, the CEO nurtured an infinitely important circle of connections in government and business communities. On one occasion, after meeting a certain Thai sugar exporter, he introduced the exporter to numerous higher-ups in State Ministries across the country.

The network led to success for all. This CEO is an example of how you can establish valuablerelationships without resorting to gamesmanship, let alone bribery or corruption.
As another CEO once said to her, "You will likely need to invest in relationships over a period of several years before expecting anything to be signed, sealed, and delivered."

6. Advanced planning ensures proper project completion.

In an interview with Schweitzer, Mr. Yuki Ochiai, vice-consul of Japan in Houston, explained why there are virtually no disagreements in Japanese boardrooms: advance planning and consensus building, or the Japanese concept of nemawashi.

In essence, nemawashi is a phrase used in gardening, and signifies the importance of pruning and transplanting trees to prevent a state of shock.

When applied to business, Mr. Ochiai says that nemawashi involves explaining a project or idea in a series of pre-meetings with colleagues who will also be attending the final meeting or negotiation.
This provides an opportunity for the root of any challenge to surface. Only then can difficulties be discussed, smoothed over, and resolved. And that paves the way for group buy-ins, as well as in meetings, preventing interruptions, disagreements, or loss of face.
During her most recent trip to Tokyo, Schweitzer noticed that Japanese businessmen dress identically. With their dark suits, white shirts, subdued ties, black shoes, and leather shoulder bags, she says, they were "a classic example of group harmony in Japan."

7. Traveling brings a higher level of perspective.

"Each time I come back from a trip, I feel as if I've learned something new and enhanced my know-how or perspective on how the world really works. The world is huge in terms of opportunities to contribute and learn, and isn't big in terms of physical reach," says Jason Ma, chief mentor at ThreeEQ, a firm that advises CEOs and execs for success.

He continues, "Family is my first priority but I must say that traveling, during which I'm with me, myself, and I, does offer space for me to reflect, clear my head a bit, and refresh. I find that it can actually aid in relationships if we view it as an opportunity to miss each other," says Ma.

Now that you know some of the many great life changing reasons to travel don't waste another minute before booking a dream vacation. Visit us at http://lj.travel/ to see our exciting offers for trips all around the world today!

Iconic Worldwide Landmarks from Space!

This article was originally posted on the Daily Mail 

This incredible photography series is inspired by what is known as the 'overview effect': the sensation that astronauts experience when the view the Earth from space. 

New York-based project creator Benjamin Grant starts with what he calls 'a thought experiment' and then works to find an eye-catching satellite image on the resulting theme.

Thanks to an official partnership with satellite imaging company Digital Globe, Benjamin is able to zero in on a location to present and post a new photo every single day on his Daily Overview website.

The Spiral Jetty, which is is a counterclockwise coil jutting out from the Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA, makes for a stunning image

The blooming tulip fields in Lisse, Netherlands, offer a stunning sky-high shot - in particular, during the peak bloom season in April

The medina quarter in Marrakech, Morocco is characterised by its winding, maze-like streets, though is hard to identify from the air

The stunning results include aerial views of the 7.8 mile long, circular Nardo Ring test track and the Mad Max-esque Burning Man festival held in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

Other highlights include the dense urban sprawls of the medina quarter in Marrakech, Morocco, a plane boneyard in Victorville, California and the otherworldly Gemasolar Thermosolar Plant in Seville, Spain

Benjamin explains: 'Nearly all of the Overviews focus on the places where human activity—for better or for worse—has shaped the landscape of the planet. Each one starts with a thought experiment. 

'I consider the places where man has left his mark on the planet and then conduct the necessary research to identify locations (and the corresponding geo-coordinates) to convey that idea.

'A number of themes have now developed for example transportation, agriculture, energy, so I often use those buckets to help generate new ideas as I search for new places to capture.

'Our project was inspired, and derives its name, from an idea known as the Overview Effect. This term refers to the sensation astronauts have when given the opportunity to look down and view the Earth as a whole.'

The impressive image of radiating streets is taken at Plaza Del Ejecutivo in the Venustiano Carranza district of Mexico City

Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, resembles the design of an aeroplane when photographed from above

The otherworldly Mount Whaleback Ire Ore Mine, located in Western Australia, boasts a kaleidoscope of colours from the air

The roads crossing along the Stelvio Pass, a road in Northern Italy, are the highest paved routes in the Eastern Alps

At the Huelva Orchard in Spain, fruit trees create a swirl-like pattern on the hills in the ideal temperate climate

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park gets is vivid colour from pigmented bacteria that grow along its edges

The town of Bourtange, Netherlands - shaped like a star - makes for an incredible satellite image on the Daily Overview

The Gamasolar Thermosolar Plant in Seville, Spain uses 2,650 mirrors to focus the sun's thermal energy - and looks like an optical illusion

Aluminum toxic waste gathers in the collection pond of a plant in Darrow, Louisiana, though the red mud generated makes for a stunning shot

The social media account also includes an image of the Great Pyramids of Giza, located on the outskirts of Cairo in Egyp

Niagara Falls, which straddle the border between Ontario and the United States, make for a majestic satellite shot

During the Burning Man festival, which is held in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, USA, participants can be seen as a semi-circle

The Nardo Ring is a high-speed circular test track in Italy and photographs like a contained circle from the sky

They have the chance to appreciate our home in its entirety, to reflect on its beauty and its fragility all at once. That's the cognitive shift that we hope to inspire,' Benjamin adds.

'From our line of sight on the earth's surface, it's impossible to fully appreciate the beauty and intricacy of the things we've constructed, the sheer complexity of the systems we've developed, or the devastating impact that we've had on our planet. 

'We believe that beholding these forces as they shape our Earth is necessary to make progress in understanding who we are as a species, and what is needed to sustain a safe and healthy planet.

'As a result, the Overviews (what we call these images) focus on the the places and moments where human activity—for better or for worse—has shaped the landscape. 

Each Overview starts with a thought experiment. We consider the places where man has left his mark on the planet and then conduct the necessary research to identify locations (and the corresponding geo-coordinates) to convey that idea.

'The mesmerizing flatness seen from this vantage point, the surprising comfort of systematic organisation on a massive scale, or the vibrant colors that we capture will hopefully turn your head. 

'However, once we have that attention, we hope you will go beyond the aesthetics, contemplate just exactly what it is that you're seeing, and consider what that means for our planet.' 

And, so far, the response to the images has been overwhelming.

Today, the account has amassed over 40,000 followers and Benjamin even sells some of his more popular images as large prints on his website 

An olive tree plantation covers the hills of Curdoba, Spain, and from the air looks more like dots among a field

The Example DIstrict in Barcelona, Spain, is characterised by its strict grid pattern and apartments with communal courtyards

Venice, Italy is fascinating to observe from above, with its canals, bridges and 78 giant steel gates across the three inlets

The canal system of Amsterdam makes for an intriguing subject - all a result of conscious urban planning

Benjamin Grant's Instagram account, Daily Overview, posts images - taken from space - depicting man's impact on civilisation. This picture shows Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia

The Moab Potash Ponds in Utah is a stunning example of vibrant colour contrast between the bright blue water and salt

In Norfolk, Virginia, Lamberts Point Pier 6 is the largest coal-landing station in the Northern Hemisphere

Central Park in New York City spans 843 acres, which accounts for six per cent of the island of Manhattan

The Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, California, has a large boneyard of over 150 retired planes

The neighbourhoods of Sntosh Park and Uttam Nagar in India are some of the most built-up and densely populated

Cargo ships and tankers are pictured waiting outside the entry to the Port of Singapore - the world's second-busiest port 

A whirlpool interchange, which was first built in 2006, connects three major roads by the Miracle Garden in Dubai, UAE

An olive tree plantation dots the hills of Cordoba, Spain, where 90 per cent of all harvested olives will be turned into oil

Located at the centre of 12 radiating avenues in Paris, France, construction of the Arc de Triomphe took nearly 30 years to complete

Want to visit any of these locations around the world? Let our Travel Experts help you plan you next dream vacation!  Legendary Journeys "America's #1 Travel Expert."

Don't DIY: When and Where to Try a Tour Operator

This article was originally published on The Huffington Post

Vacation burnout is a real thing. But even before exhaustion infiltrates the trip itself, the stress from putting together an itinerary can be crippling. Fortunately, there is a thriving industry of professionals dedicated to helping travelers escape as effortlessly as possible. Since the perfectly planned and executed vacation comes at a price, often more than $1,000 per traveler, it makes sense to know when and where to use a tour operator. Much of this insight has to do with the destination. Foreign countries are innately intimidating, but even the most seasoned travelers may find themselves seeking a little handholding when it comes to domestic destinations. Here are a handful of places where it pays to travel with a tour operator.

1. Alaska

Describing Alaska as dramatic would be an understatement. At twice the size of Texas, the Last Frontier is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to experiencing the state's top sights in two weeks or less. Visiting Alaska with a tour operator  allows travelers to tour by land and sea and not be limited to predetermined cruise ports or train stops. A Wild Alaska itinerary goes beyond the obligatory visits to Anchorage and Denali to include a tour of Juneau, a cruise from Sitka and a hiking excursion in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Of course, long drives are unavoidable, but with a guide navigating, travelers can take in the scenery and wildlife while someone else does all the work.

2. South Africa

South Africa is the second most visited country in Africa and is practically a bucket list given. Despite having the continent's most developed economy, South Africa's 11 official languages are a testament to the country's complexities that often deter potential travelers. Perks of visiting with a tour operator can start on day one with an escort and assistance through immigration and customs. Then, travelers can explore Cape Town and see Nelson Mandela's former cell with a local who lived there during the apartheid years. Having a tour operator at the helm also makes it easier to transition from the city to the bush, where seasoned safari guides can lead to a wildlife watcher's home run: the famous "big five" in Kruger National Park.

3. Peru

The mere mention of Peru conjures up images of mysterious Machu Picchu. In 2014, the country's claim to fame attracted more than one million visitors, many of whom arrived via the world-famous Inca Trail. Tour operators can help travelers navigate the trail's permit system -- only 200 tourist permits are allocated each day -- and they often have the area's best porters on their payroll. Taking field testing to another level, Operators send its American guides down in advance to train the Peruvian guides, porters and cooks it partners with so they know what American travelers expect when it comes to customer service and support. Since most Peru vacation packages offered by tour operators are all-inclusive, guests don't need to worry about always having pocket change handy for gratuities and entrance fees.

4. The Grand Canyon

A trip to the Grand Canyon is the epitome of the American family vacation. While it's certainly possible to see this natural wonder without help from a third party, tour operators offer an array of options for venturing off the beaten path without having to worry about securing backcountry permits, some of which are so limited the National Park Service uses a lottery system for distribution. Tour Operators take traveling clans beyond the rim to the turquoise waters found deep in the heart of the Havasupai Indian Reservation. Its experienced guides literally know the ropes; they show guests the best rope swings and help them find hidden waterfalls and caverns. Evenings are spent in a comfortable base camp outfitted with spacious tents, hammocks, an outdoor dining room and other luxuries not afforded to those who have to hike on their own.

Want to visit any of these locations around the world? Let our Travel Experts help you plan you next dream vacation!  Legendary Journeys "America's #1 Travel Expert"