The person behind the stories
Hello, I’m
Derek Cadzow.
I love to travel because I think it opens your mind to new possibilities: you discover new places, learn about other cultures, and meet fascinating people.
I still enjoy going places and this is where I share what I learn with you.
Writer | Photographer | Videographer
about this site
This isn’t just a travel website, it’s a travel resource to help plan what works for you
Atlantic Destinations started in early 2022 as Adventures in Nova Scotia — a modest site documenting our travels through one of Canada’s most beautiful and underrated provinces. As our travels expanded beyond Nova Scotia — to Scotland, the Carolinas, the Caribbean, and beyond — the site grew with them and became Atlantic Destinations.
It’s built for travelers over 50 who don’t see this as the winding-down phase. The readers who find us tend to have more time, more freedom, and more appetite for genuine experience than at any previous point in their lives. They’re not looking for a bucket list factory or a cruise directory. They want a trusted voice from someone who has actually been there.
That’s what we try to be. Honest about what’s worth your time and money. Personal enough that you know who’s writing and why it matters. Grounded in real places, real trips, and real experience — not aggregated content or AI-generated filler.
Not. Done. Yet. is more than a tagline here. It’s the shared conviction that the best journeys are still ahead.
Who I am
How I got here
I’ve traveled a fair bit in my lifetime. I’ve:
- skied in Norway,
- toured the Scottish Highlands (several times) and ridden the Jacobite express across the Glenfinnan viaduct,
- cruised the Caribbean,
- enjoyed winter in Punta Cana,
- traveled up the White Pass railway in Alaska,
- marveled at the Rocky Mountains and crisp aquamarine waters of British Columbia,
- sampled single-malt whisky in the famous distilleries of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland,
- paddled North Carolina’s Black River past 2,600-year-old trees,
- eaten the best chowder of my life in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia,
And more.
But let me make this point: I’m not a full-time travel blogger. I don’t live out of a suitcase, hop from country to country, or stay in places most people can’t afford. I have a home I love coming back to, a family, a budget, and a life that doesn’t revolve entirely around the next trip.
Trained journalist
Journalism background spanning print, corporate communications, and digital publishing. Canadian Press style. Writes to inform, not to impress.
Professional photographer
30+ years of professional photography experience including motorsport, wedding, and travel. Every image on this site is original.
Travel videographer
Produces and edits all Atlantic Destinations YouTube content. Short and long-form video covering destinations across the Atlantic world.
Content strategist
Former content strategist at Red Hat. Now applies that strategic thinking to travel content at Atlantic Destinations.
What I do have is a genuine passion for travel, decades of experience doing it well on realistic terms, and a particular interest in helping people my age make the most of the time and money they’ve set aside for it. I plan carefully, I spend thoughtfully, and I go home when the trip is done.
That’s probably closer to how you travel too. And that’s exactly why I think what I’ve learned is worth sharing.
“I didn’t choose travel writing as a career. I chose it as a way of staying curious and staying honest about what the world actually looks like when you show up and pay attention.”
And Atlantic Destinations is where I share it. It’s a conversation with travelers like me, who are still curious, still capable, and still looking outward and wondering “what else is out there for me?”
If you’re like me, you’re not winding down. You’re not done yet and still want to travel and find experiences that make your travel worthwhile.
Behind the scenes
About Jackie
Most of this wouldn’t exist without Jackie. More often than not, she’s been my travel companion, my honest first reader, the person who tells me when something isn’t working, and the reason the Nova Scotia chowder tour involved as many stops as it did.
Jackie is an artist based in New Bern. She writes about art, creativity, and the creative life through two Substack publications — In Search of Artistic Life and a second private publication for her closest readers.
Still leaning in.
Not. Done. Yet.
If any of this sounds familiar
if you’re over 50 and still adding destinations to your list
Atlantic Destinations was built for you.
Join the newsletter and let’s keep it going.