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.
Sonoma County stretches across three distinct landscapes in Northern California: rugged Pacific coastline, towering redwood forests, and fertile valleys dotted with vineyards. Travelers often arrive expecting wine country in its most familiar form, yet the region reveals a slower cadence shaped by small towns, farm-to-table kitchens, and outdoor pursuits that extend well beyond tasting rooms.
The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens occupies a 14,000-square-foot space inside the Bellagio Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, where teams of horticulturists and designers create entirely new landscapes several times each year. Visitors encounter a carefully maintained collection of living plants that shifts from one thematic world to the next, all without any admission
When planning international travel, many frequent flyers look for straightforward ways to align everyday spending with future award redemptions. The Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite credit card addresses this need through a consistent earning structure that applies to purchases made abroad. The card stems from the Atmos Rewards program, which emerged after the merger of
After a long flight, the last thing many travelers want is uncertainty about the next leg of the journey. Blacklane offers a straightforward alternative: a prearranged chauffeur service that meets passengers at the airport or other locations with a professional driver and a suitable vehicle already in place. The company operates in more than 500
The Atlantic basin is experiencing an exceptionally quiet stretch this hurricane season, with no hurricanes forming as of mid-September despite the typical peak period. A powerful El Niño pattern has created conditions that suppress storm development across much of the region. Travelers planning fall journeys to the Caribbean, Gulf Coast, and Southeast United States may
Air Canada has introduced a points promotion that rewards travelers who plan their journeys with care. The offer provides four times the usual Aeroplan points on eligible economy fares to a curated group of destinations. Bookings must be completed by September 15, 2026, with travel permitted through July 31, 2027. ([1]) Understanding the Promotion’s Timeline
Travelers who cherish time spent among the geysers of Yellowstone or the granite cliffs of Yosemite often plan their journeys around the promise of well-maintained trails, accessible facilities, and thoughtful upgrades that deepen the connection to these landscapes. Recent decisions by the Interior Department have placed more than 130 planned projects across the National Park
Altamonte Springs, Fla. – A planned celebration took an unexpected turn when the groom was injured in a head-on collision while driving to the wedding venue. Kapri DeRamus was traveling near Hermits Trail and State Road 436 when the crash occurred, leading to his transport to a local hospital. His bride-to-be, Tyasia Thomas, followed the
The Atlantic hurricane season has unfolded in an unexpectedly subdued manner this year. A powerful El Niño pattern has suppressed storm development across the basin, resulting in no hurricanes through mid-September and only five brief, weak tropical storms overall. Activity stands at roughly 7 percent of the long-term average for this point in the season.
New York City – The rebuilt World Trade Center site draws millions of visitors each year who come to honor lives lost, witness symbols of renewal, and take in sweeping views from one of the city’s most prominent towers. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum, together with One World Trade Center, form a place where quiet
When planning a journey through the American Southwest, the label on a digital map shapes more than navigation. It signals the distinct character of a place that has long stood apart from its southern neighbor. Recent discussions around how major mapping services display New Mexico’s name highlight the practical stakes for anyone relying on those
Many travelers carry a quiet tension as they board a flight, even when they know the journey ahead is routine. A commercial pilot named Hanna has spent years listening to those concerns and has found that the usual reassurances often fall short once nerves take hold. Her approach, shared recently with Newsweek, centers on supporting
