Helen Hatzis, is the Chief Exploration Office and Co-Founder of Trip Jaunt.
Helen is a recipient of the Governor-General Award, has been honoured as one of Canada's Nicest People! A true xenophile at heart, she finds joy in traveling and delights in sharing her experiences through Trip Jaunt (formerly Weekend Jaunt), an online travel community and hub she established in 2010. Her aspiration is to inspire others to explore the world as she does!
Helen is an esteemed advisory member of the North American Travel Journalists Association.
Chicago stands as a major gateway for travelers across the Midwest, and the addition of another direct flight to Europe expands practical choices for those planning transatlantic journeys. Condor, the German leisure carrier, will introduce daily seasonal nonstop service between O’Hare International Airport and Frankfurt Airport starting May 14, 2027, and continuing through September 12,
Nirmal Purja achieved what many considered impossible in the world of high-altitude mountaineering. In 2019 he completed Project Possible, summiting all fourteen of the world’s peaks above 8,000 meters in just six months and six days. That single effort rewrote the record books and drew global attention to the skill and determination of Nepali climbers.
Athens, Greece – A midair collision between two firefighting helicopters on Sunday claimed the lives of two crew members while they battled a wind-driven blaze west of the Greek capital. The incident occurred as crews worked to contain flames threatening communities in the Attica region. Similar fires continue to affect parts of southern France, prompting
Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach draws visitors for its clear waters and soft sand, yet the Ritz-Carlton property along its edge stands out for the quiet ways it supports a relaxed stay. Families arrive seeking straightforward access to the shore and a range of activities that do not require constant decisions. The resort delivers both
American Airlines has placed its newest business-class product into service on the Airbus A321XLR, a long-range narrow-body jet now flying select transcontinental and transatlantic routes. The aircraft replaces older A321s on premium flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, with additional service from Boston to Los Angeles, New
Rome has drawn visitors for centuries, yet its surrounding countryside and historic sites continue to reward those willing to step beyond the city walls for a single day. The author first arrived in Rome at fifteen and has returned regularly ever since, sharing many of those journeys with a traveling companion named Jess. Together they
Hampton, Virginia – NASA marked a significant engineering milestone with the opening of its Flight Dynamics Research Facility at Langley Research Center. The $53 million structure stands as the first new wind tunnel added to the agency’s inventory in four decades. Construction wrapped in March 2026 after work began in 2022, and the 25,000-square-foot building
In the heart of Sheung Wan, where Hollywood Road winds past antique shops and modern storefronts, Man Mo Temple stands as a steady presence amid Hong Kong’s constant motion. Built between 1847 and 1862, the temple continues to serve as an active place of worship rather than a preserved relic. Visitors who step inside often
Spokane, Washington – Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide state of emergency on August 1, 2026, in response to multiple wildfires burning across the state amid extreme drought, high temperatures, and strong winds. The proclamation includes a ban on most outdoor and agricultural burning through September 30. In the Spokane area, fast-moving fires such as
Travelers across Canada woke up Sunday to widespread flight cancellations after WestJet’s cabin crew began a strike over compensation for ground duties. The action by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing 4,400 flight attendants at the country’s second-largest airline, quickly grounded more than 300 scheduled departures and left passengers scrambling during a busy three-day
WestJet, one of Canada’s major carriers, suspended the majority of its operations after flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees walked off the job. The sudden grounding affects thousands of passengers who had planned travel through the first days of August, particularly those relying on routes out of Calgary and other western
Western states are experiencing a sharp spike in temperatures this weekend, with several cities forecast to approach or break daily records. The pattern stems from a strong ridge of high pressure that is trapping heat near the ground across a broad stretch from the desert Southwest into the northern Rockies. Travelers heading to national parks,
