Fiona Tapp

Freelance Writer, and Educator

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OZY •

Why Solo Travel Is on the Rise

Today’s travel enthusiasts aren’t waiting around for a plus one. There’s no doubt that lockdowns and restrictions during the pandemic changed the way we vacation and travel. For many months, airplanes sat dormant and airports were ghostly empty. Even some ground travel was off-limits. It’s no wonder that, as airports are once again operating normally, people are keen to get back to traveling the world freely. What is surprising however is how they are doing so...
ANA Experience Class •

Warm Up at an Onsen Inn

The macaque monkeys who regularly take to Japan’s natural hot springs with icicles hanging from their fur may do so simply to enjoy a reprieve from the cold winter temperatures. But there’s another intriguing reason these animals have made hot spring bathing part of their routine. Researchers at the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Joshinetsu Kogen National Park in Nagano prefecture have found that these simians take a steamy dip to benefit from the relaxing properties of the warm mineral-rich water.
ANA Experience Class •

Experience the Art of Sake Making at These Breweries in Japan

“Good water makes all the difference,” my guide explains as we tour a sake brewery that uses spring water from a source tapped 656 feet below the ground. At Nakano Sake Brewery in the castle town of Kitsuki, they take that water and combine it with mold and rice, waiting 40 days for it to ferment and brew. Classical music is piped through to the tank room to create the perfect environment — and it certainly works. This 6th generation brewery has won multiple awards for its sake. Their Chie Bijin
ANA Experience Class •

Experience the Art of Sake Making at These Breweries in Japan

“Good water makes all the difference,” my guide explains as we tour a sake brewery that uses spring water from a source tapped 656 feet below the ground. At Nakano Sake Brewery in the castle town of Kitsuki, they take that water and combine it with mold and rice, waiting 40 days for it to ferment and brew. Classical music is piped through to the tank room to create the perfect environment — and it certainly works. This 6th generation brewery has won multiple awards for its sake.
Ensemble Vacations Fall 2022 •

Kayaking in the Desert

When I arrived in Scottsdale, I expected to find towering saguaro cacti, parched landscapes, and red rock formations. What I wasn’t counting on were all the opportunities available to see the Sonoran Desert from the water. Arizona remains an incredibly popular U.S. destination, welcoming more than a million Canadians every year who come to escape winter, enjoy the local spas, play golf and shop.    But as Old Town Scottsdale is within just a 60-minute drive of eight lakes and rivers, it’s worth trying a range of watersports in the desert, including kayaking.
Ensemble: Ultimate Family Vacations •

Playing It Cool-Iceland with Kids

Any time of year is the right time to visit Iceland with kids. Known as a playground for adventure sports and heart-pumping activities, Iceland, dubbed the “Land of Fire and Ice,” surprisingly, makes for an excellent family-friendly vacation. Given its name, you would expect Iceland to experience frigid weather, but the temperature in winter averages 32 °F in the south — and for some people, it will feel balmy compared to back home. In summer, temperatures usually get up into the mid-seventies.
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