Chris Robinson Travel Show - Episodes

This week the Travel Show explores the world with Tauck – the ultimate in escorted vacations. For 90 years, TAUCK, a premier global travel company, has provided a six-star experience at a four-star price. No hidden extras! With TAUCK, “the amazing” always comes included - like all land excursions on TAUCK “RIVER CRUISING” along Europe’s grand rivers. Find out all about some amazing travel experiences. TAUCK “BRIDGES” are adventures designed for families: ballooning over the African plains, or meeting cowboys at a Wyoming rodeo. TAUCK “WORLD DISCOVERY” offers unforgettable escorted LAND journeys. TAUCK “CULTURIOUS” immerses you in local culture and regional cuisine. TAUCK “EVENTS” offer once-in-a-lifetime themed experiences. And TAUCK “SMALL SHIP CRUISING” takes you where the BIG ships cannot go.

Chris Robinson Travel Show takes you to a place that may surprise you. A place that maybe you hadn’t thought of before as a destination for a city break or a long weekend. Everyone loves a Comeback Kid – and Detroit is a comeback city. In the last two years - billions of dollars in new private economic investment and development has helped transform Detroit into a lively and appealing urban centre. The home of Motown music, Detroit also has one of the largest theatre districts in the entire US with over 13,000 seats in just a two-block radius. And Detroit is a great choice for all your Holiday shopping with options like Great Lakes Crossing Outlets – the largest outlet center in Michigan with more than 180 retail and dining options.

The Chris Robinson Travel Show is in a Festive mood and no better place to embrace the Holidays than Toronto. Celebrate the best of the entertainment, dining, and fun on offer with time honoured favourites like the Santa Claus Parade, the Cavalcade of Lights, and the Toronto Christmas Market. When in Toronto, stay at the Eaton Chelsea Toronto Hotel, your downtown holiday shopping headquarters located steps from the city’s best shopping! Yorkville boutiques, funky shops and the underground shopping PATH are all close by, along with great Toronto theatre led by Mirvish Productions: the premiere name in Toronto theatre. Right now check out the Tony award-winning musical set in the land of Oz, “Wicked”, and “The Book of Mormon”, the Broadway phenomenon from the creators of South Park!

This week the Travel Show is off to explore one of Europe’s most exciting and most visited destinations - Germany! A country with a fascinating history that stretches from Roman times to modern geo-political events. A country with wonderful cities like Berlin and Frankfurt. A country with 39 UNESCO World Heritage sites. And an extraordinary heritage of customs and traditions as beloved as Christmas Markets and Cuckoo Clocks and as delicious as Frankfurt Green Sauce and Black Forest Gateau! Hear about Frankfurt and the rebuilding of the city centre according to the original medieval plans. And about the celebrations in Germany to mark the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall

This week Chris talks with author Ron Brown. In his relentless quest to discover the unusual, Ron Brown has traveled nearly every road in Ontario to research his book “Top 125 Unusual Things to See in Ontario”. Each location in Ron’s book comes with a fascinating story - hear some of Ron and Chris’ favourite hidden treasures from Hell Holes and Serpent Mounds to Covered Bridges and Carousels…

This week – be inspired by The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel on the Travel Show. This is one of the few unspoiled sandy coastlines remaining in the world and every family’s “fantasy island vacation” with soft, white sand that’s great for little toes. Warm Florida Gulf waters make for great kayaking, boating, and fishing too. There’s something for everyone on The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel! New this year is the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest where nationally acclaimed singer-songwriters, perform at popular island venues. Chris is joined by Phil O’Donnell, writer of several #1 country music songs. And WestJet explain how it is easy to get there with daily service from Toronto to Southwest Florida International Airport … and frequent connections from Montreal. Plus hear their expert recommendations to book your hotel or resort stay with WestJet.

Now is a wonderful time to visit our Nation’s Capital for a fun Fall getaway! Enjoy Ottawa’s entertainment, spas, shopping and fine cuisine. Visit Ottawa’s many exceptional cultural attractions. Like the Canadian Museum of History where you can learn about Canada’s Titanic – The Empress of Ireland - and the greatest maritime disaster in Canadian history. Browse the boutique shops and sample the mouth watering foods of the ByWard market. Enjoy a gourmet walking tour with C’est Bon Epicurean Adventures. Or savour Le Cordon Bleu Bistro @ Signatures – one of the jewels of Ottawa dining. Le Cordon Bleu Institute is now offering short cooking classes – no experience required! Or pamper yourself at Nordik Spa Nature – the largest spa in North America set in gorgeous countryside at the entrance to Gatineau Park.

This week Chris explores two destinations for the price of one! We are heading down to the Florida sunshine and exploring gulf washed… sun drenched….sun kissed …… solar powered vacations. We are visiting Tampa Bay and the St Petersburg Clearwater area. Neighbours across the bay from each other on the Gulf Coast of Florida, these two vacation hot spots enjoy 361 days of carefree sunshine a year! And we will also be discovering how to best enjoy these two destinations – if not for the price of one then very definitely with a great saving. The newly launched CityPASS booklet for this area gives you discounted access to some of the major attractions of both St Pete Clearwater and Tampa.

This week Chris is on location in New Orleans exploring the nightlife, famous dining, sports, history, culture and adventure in The Big Easy. His guest is Taylor Cole, Travel Expert from Hotels.com and Taylor shares her knowledge of this fascinating destination as well as great tips on where to stay in New Orleans and the range of hotels to choose from. Hear about everything from Jazz to Mardi Gras to Voodoo and beyond. Discover tours of New Orleans’ unique cemeteries, swamp tours, city tours and more. Plus find out why Hotels.com is the obvious choice to book a hotel in New Orleans – or anywhere else for that matter…

Greece is a place like nowhere else on Earth! Home to epic stories, ancient wonders, idyllic islands and two seas - this is a shining land of purest white and brilliant blue with whitewashed stonework set against an aquamarine sea. Escape to powder-soft beaches and cypress groves or explore temples lined with Doric columns. Greece offers sun-bleached tourism amid the ancient ruins – so it’s a dream destination for leisure travellers and heritage tourists alike. Discover the glorious destination of Greece with Transat Holidays. Leaders in holiday packages to Europe, Transat have decades of experience creating memorable vacations in Greece. There is no better Tour Operator for value and depth of product options.

This week the Travel Show explores two wonderful pars of South East Ontatio. The Rideau Heritage Route stretches from Lake Ontario in Kingston, to the Ottawa River. And the 1,000 Islands Region blends the waters of the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario. Both offer breathtaking historic sites, charming villages, quaint attractions and spectacular recreation area and both combine for a perfect summer getaway! As well as being Eastern Canada's most bio diverse ecosystem - this beautiful area is renowned for its water based activities… like sightseeing cruises, paddling, fishing and world class scuba diving! And fall is spectacular! When autumn colours abound then so do fall flavours… such as apples, cheese and maple. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Rideau Canal is also rich in heritage. Marvel at the hand operated locks along the Rideau Canal, preserving the tradition started by Colonel By. Native peoples called The 1000 Islands the "Garden of the Great Spirit”… and Gananoque - the heart of the 1,000 Islands - ha

This week on the Travel Show - Ontario’s Highlands in the South Eastern part of the Province of Ontario. Rather than the skyscrapers, big box stores and restaurants of a “concrete jungle”, you will find small towns, authentic local culture and untouched wilderness. The entire region is very rural – there is only one Starbucks in its entire 23,000 square km area! The Region spans from Haliburton County at its western border to the Ottawa Valley at its eastern edge. And it’s within easy driving distance - just 30 minutes west of Ottawa and 2.5 hours east of Toronto. This is a place to escape the busy pace of city life for a very different travel experience from big city destinations. Here it is big on natural attractions – the Ottawa Valley is the Whitewater Capital of Canada, Bancroft is the Mineral Capital of Canada and merging art with nature comes naturally in the Haliburton Highlands.

For most people a safari is a trip of a lifetime and you will have very specific personal goals. Viewing the spectacular wildlife will be on your list for sure - lions, buffalo, wildebeest, elephants, giraffe, cheetah and more. But do you want the added thrill of seeing these animals on foot on a walking safari? Maybe you want to blend a safari with other active elements such as trekking or climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. And every traveler will have their own ideas of their preferred level of luxury. You can stay in everything from luxurious game lodges with swimming pools to surprisingly comfortable tented accommodation that offers a very high level of amenities. Listen to hear how you can plan a unique trip-of-a-lifetime on a Tanzania safari, and build your dream adventure, with Serengeti Safari Co.

Join Chris in Northern Virginia as he discovers fascinating American history, vibrant arts and culture and indulgent food and wine. Northern Virginia – Virginia’s Cultural Region - has kept its own character reminiscent of colonial times with rambling plantations, equestrian farms and cobble stoned streets leading to quaint taverns, chic shops and historical gems. Think of it as the place where indulgence meets cultural and urban adventures, the “hip and cosmopolitan side of Virginia” and the affluent travelers’ cultural paradise! And you can fill your shopping bags with amazing finds from the region's unique shopping venues, from exclusive boutiques to outlet shopping – it’s all here! And it’s all here too with the Travel Show…ready and rarin’ to go with all the history, arts, culture, food and drink that this lovely part of the world has to offer!

This week the Travel Show takes you to Hamilton-Halton-Brant - the heart of Ontario - as we celebrate unique Canadian landscapes and Canadian Heritage. Waterfronts, waterways and wildlife make for a natural playground. Hear how you can hike the Bruce Trail, which is Canada’s oldest and longest footpath, paddle on the Grand River or scale the rocky cliffs of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Or “Wake up the Wild” by going off-roading on an African safari. Hamilton-Halton-Brant is also an exciting place to explore the stories that have shaped our country - including Canada’s military history, innovation, transportation and our First Nations. “Must visits” include the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, and Dundurn Castle (our own Downton Abbey). Hear about three unique experiences in Hamilton-Halton-Brant created as special packages that are easy to book and which typify the history, culture and outdoors experiences of the region.

In this episode of the Travel Show - Chris visits Rochester, New York, in the Finger Lakes Region. Just 90 minutes across the border from Toronto, and a half-day’s drive from Montreal - Rochester offers a bustling city break close to the magnificent lakes, gorges and over 1000 waterfalls of this picturesque part of New York State. Rochester is the third largest city in New York State, and as Rochesterville back in the early 1800’s, it was the first boom town in the United States. Today it’s a great choice for a girlfriend’s getaway, a family vacation or a couple’s city break. A short drive from Rochester, in the heart of Finger Lakes wine country, is the one-of-a-kind Corning Museum of Glass, housing the world’s largest collection of glass art spanning thirty-five centuries – and featuring live demonstrations of glass blowing! Stop in to the Corning Museum of Glass, currently aglow in the exhibition of glasswork by Lalique (who invented the glass perfume bottle). And be your own “glass master”; there are wor

This week’s destination is close to home – our own Nation’s Capital. Summer is “festival season” and a summer in Ottawa has no shortage of music options. Like the RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest, the Ottawa Folk Festival, the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival, and the Ottawa Chamberfest! Bluesfest, Chamberfest and Folkfest are all celebrating their 20th anniversaries this year and they will have special street performers out an about in Ottawa while those festivals are on. Ottawa’s patios, outdoor festivals and boating on the Rideau Canal mean that you can enjoy the outdoors right in the heart of the city. Summertime in Ottawa is also time for the Mosaika Sound and Light Show that sets Parliament Hill ablaze with colour! There is no better place than Ottawa for a getaway, a weekend fling, a treat… or a much needed break. Hear about great value packages from Ottawa Tourism that make it very affordable to visit.

This week the Travel Show takes you away to Tremblant Elysium – high quality vacation homes in the Mont Tremblant Region ninety minutes north of Montreal. Luxury … comfort … and serenity - Tremblant Elysium vacation homes deliver all three. Elysium’s concierge service will arrange whatever you need for a perfect Tremblant getaway - a private chef, in-home massage, tee times, or ski equipment rentals. New is Elysium @ Suites sur Lac: a genuine resort hotel and getaway near Tremblant Resort. It offers one, two and three-bedroom suite-condos for rent, each with a fireplace and a stunning view of Lac Supérieur. Stay at Elysium at Suites sur Lac and be a short drive “straight down the middle” to Le Diable and Le Géant: two unique golfing experiences. Plus Eastern North America’s number one ski resort and Parc National du Mont-Tremblant are at your doorstep - offering the natural beauty of the Laurentians for mountain hiking or cross-country skiing.

This week on the Travel Show - come with Chris and his expert guides on a journey along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway, following the Mississippi River through the state of Illinois! Our journey begins in the old mansion town of Galena as we take a trolley tour of the many historic attractions – including the home of Ulysses S. Grant. Then it’s on to Fulton, Illinois – best enjoyed from atop one of only twelve authentic Dutch windmills in the entire U.S.! Next … the Quad Cities, home to the John Deere Pavilion where we learn how to drive the monster John Deeres. Then we enjoy dining and dancing on a Mississippi River paddleboat. Onward to Nauvoo! Once the home of the Mormon church, Nauvoo’s “frontier town character” has been restored in over forty sites. Folks come to Quincy for the “best architecture outside of Chicago” – and to remember Abraham Lincoln, Illinois’s favourite son. Finally, the road takes us to Alton where the Mississippi and Missouri rivers create a haven for migrating birds. At

This week on the Travel Show Chris is finding out why the Calgary Stampede is the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. He also meets Royalty! The Calgary Stampede Queen, Princesses and Indian Princess are all in the studio with him. July 4-13, 2014 Calgary will put on its white hat and welcome the world. The entire city of Calgary gets involved to celebrate its Western heritage – starting with the famous opening Parade! The Calgary Stampede features the best rodeo athletes and the finest stock. And the pounding of hooves and trembling of the ground can mean only one thing: the world’s premier chuck wagon event, the G-M-C Rangeland Derby! Hear about the multitude of concerts, entertainment and exhibitions at the Calgary Stampede and how to plan to make the most of your visit.