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Hadrian's Wall, that wonderful piece of Roman construction just south of Scotland, is much more popular now that the tourism authorities are promoting it as a destination.
Here's a tip, though: book your accommodation ahead. The capacity hasn't kept up with the demand, and while there are some wonderful B&Bs, there's room for more.
A word to the wise! Even in October, hikers showing up without reservations were at risk of being left out in the cold. We left the arrangements to a tour company in Penrith, Cumbria, by the name of Contours Walking Holidays, and it worked out well.
I'm not sure a warm-weather person will pick Canada as a top destination spot from now until April, but every city does have some good indoor attractions. However, the beauty of Canada is largely in the scenery. This is off-peak travel time, great for road trips, a little hiking, a little Niagara or Okanagan wine-tasting perhaps.
The 2009/2010 season for performances of all sorts is well underway. Think beyond mainstream theatre, although there's lots to go around.
Sports: the CFL (Canada Football League) is heading toward the season's end, while the NHL (National Hockey League) still has lots of games left. Junior and community sports follow similar schedules. The ski hills are laying down snow and getting ready to open.
The long summer line-ups are gone from the museums and galleries, although for special events on weekends, it's still possible to run into something uber-popular.
By far most of the Canadian population lives in the south. The day length is roughly comparable to France and Italy, and longer than the UK. It may be a little cold, but it's not as dark as you may think.
Even visitors to Calgary can recycle their garbage.
The city has recycling bins in many of the major shopping centre parking lots and elsewhere. If your hotel hasn't put a blue bin in the room, ask for one. Calgary now has residential curbside recycling city-wide, and a big plant for processing recyclables. No excuses!
One of the first places I visited in London, after getting used to my own street, was Trafalgar Square. This is an easy place for tourists to navigate from, with lots of buses and Tube connections. The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery are right there, and both are excellent.
This photo of Nelson's column shows the most notable landmark in Trafalgar Square. Irreverent pigeons have often perched on Nelson's head
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I haven't ever been to Ireland, I'm afraid, but one day...
This picture is of a sculpture in sand at Dublin's Docklands, done in 2008 to celebrate Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift having been selected as Dublin's "One City, One Book" that year. The "One City, One Book" idea is that everyone in the city reads the same book. What a great way to get people talking to each other! Although, of all the countries that need an encouragement to converse, I wouldn't put Ireland at the top of the list
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Just weeks ago, this non-descript Columbian ground squirrel was a nobody, passed over time and again by Simon Cowell and the judges on Squirrel Idol. Fortunately, Melissa Brandt and her husband looked past the beady eyes and whiskers, and heard the beauty of the squeak. Within hours, Squirrel B. was all over the Internet, and the paparazzi were beating a path to Lake Minnewanka.
The Lake was transformed from a "sleepy one of the most visited places in Banff National Park" to "one of the most visited places in Banff National Park
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The Calgary Tower is a little bit overshadowed by skyscrapers these days, but the revolving restaurant up there still offers a panoramic view of the city and the Rocky Mountains to the west.
Glass Floor in the Calgary Tower Observation Deck by Flickr.com user Dannynic
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Berkshire (pronounced more like "Barkshire" than "Birkshire") is one of the Home Counties of England. The Home Counties surround London.
"Near Kintbury, Berkshire", by Flickr.com user EandJsFilmCrew.
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London's Battersea Power Station is a marvellous Art Deco building near the Thames. No longer in service as a power station, it has survived from year to year, through various proposals for repurposing and redevelopment. On August 22, 2009, the international tour of the Red Bull X-Fighters (trick motorcycle riding to me!) performed to a crowd of about 17,000 people.
Red Bull X-Fighters Moto-X at London's Battersea Power Station, August 22, 2009, by Oskar Krawczyk
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Giant Cow in Angelo, Wisconsin, July 1, 2007.
I like giant things. Who doesn't? They have to rank right up top of everyone's list of Favourite Roadside Attractions
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