I just had 19C today in Toronto and the weatherman says that a snowstorm might come later this weekend around the 401 corridor. If we are lucky it will hit just to our north but we will see freezing temperatures. Toronto can get ice to bring down trees, snow storms but not hurricane blizzards like the US-Canada east coast, and of course damaging thunderstorms with a twister in the area possible all summer. Damaging hail can also fall in my region but is not common like Texas. The west coast of Canada has a much gentler climate and they have been gardening for some time now in that area. My grass is about to start growing. April might be a battle between winter and spring but May can be a sudden switch to summer weather. Canada is large but mostly cold in winter as reputed. Russia has a milder area around Sochi were they grow palm trees. Palm trees can only grow on the west coast of Canada. Both Canada and Russia are so large that they have their milder corner. You should visit Canada. Toronto for its skyline and Vancouver for its exotic beauty.

Yes, MG is close to Victoria and I'm in Greater Victoria but at a distance from the ocean. So my temps are lower in Jan and higher in Jul. Things burned again this summer because it was very El Nino-ish. But I'm better equiped for summer drought. I also used to live in Ontario where drought were short and not severe near the Nickel Belt but I had frost in early June and late Sept on most years. I could usually depend on the rain in Ontario. I just can't do that in Greater Victoria. I lost another rhodo but once I get better shade my rhodos should do well with summer. My problem this summer is that I had to travel so the garden got less watering. This image probably gives you an idea on the dry summer conditions. Here is a link that might be useful: Summer on southern Vancouver Island

Wolf I believe makes their own hood in WI and buys blowers from Broan/Best. They use 16 guage 304 SS vs thicker 14 gauge SS in MA. MA uses arguably best external blowers in Abbaka. Their inline blowers are kinda loud. I think their internal blowers are from Best/Broan.MA made in Southern CA. MA has better design baffles for bigger area and smooth edges for lower noise. For the same money I would get MA. Wolf customer service is nice and all else being equal I would buy Wolf but they are far from equal in this case. The Best hood says they use 304SS OR EQUIVALENT. They don't guarantee 304 or 300 series SS. They don't specify gauge thickness. They don't say where hoods are made. The hood linked uses 4 speed blower vs infinate variable speed in Wolf and MA. I don't like Best waffling on specifications. I would cross them off my list for that reason alone.

Another spectator here (so far). We have trips that were put off due to covid that we will be rescheduling once we can travel. So, I am not sure I would make a GTG. Would depend on those trips, timing, etc. If I were to come, the Mr. would come with me, although whether or not he would participate or not remains to be seen. LOL We would more than likely plan a trip around the GTG and go on from there. The place, and what there is to do there would really not be of major concern to me (of course I would not want to go somewhere awful!), the main thing would be the GTG! I am within 2 hours of Asheville, we go there fairly often. There is lots to do there and several little towns nearby that are fun. It is a beautiful area. KSWL, I LOVE Montreat. We almost always drive through there when we are in the area. I probably would not be interested in going to Biltmore as I have been there, done that, so many times. I do agree though, it is something to see in every season and they cannot be outdone for Christmas. @DLM2000-GW we love Hendersonville and used to enjoy the antique shops there but seems many have closed. :( You are also within an easy drive of the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, etc. which is almost my backyard. LOL Charleston you all know I love and we go there usually yearly. There is much to be done and much in the area. People could stay in Charleston or on one of the nearby islands (which we prefer). It's an easy drive back into Charleston. There are other cities nearby (Summerville comes to mind) and for those who wanted to extend their travel time, you could drive down the coast to Savannah. Or you could choose @hhireno's vacation home area (Hilton Head) and be within an easy day trip to Charleston or Savannah. These areas I would definitely do in April/May or October, even November. September will still be pretty warm. You have a little more lee-way with Asheville, it being a mountain area.