Kathryn and I wrote a story for our online Third Age Expeditions column titled “Urban Black Bears: Why Winnie Comes to the Hood.” It explores how urban black bears differ from their wild counterparts and how they’ve adapted to living along the edges of human settlement.
We also earned our twenty‑fifth consecutive Editor’s Picks recognition. 
Here’s the link: Urban Black Bears Story
We were over the moon to see our story, “Where Time Stands Still: Ghost Huts of Antarctica,” splashed across a full eight‑page double‑spread in the Fall 2025 issue of The Explorers Journal. There’s a particular magic in holding it in your hands… the printed pages give the words and images a presence that digital can’t quite match.
Ghost Hut Story Explorers JournalI’m especially delighted that the editor chose Kathryn’s breathtaking landscape photograph to open the feature. It sets the tone perfectly. And I was standing right next to her when she took the photo.
The Explorers Journal Fall 2025The Explorers Journal, published by The Explorers Club, continues to distinguish itself… named one of Gear Patrol’s top eight adventure magazines and honoured with Print Magazine’s NYC Design Award. To appear in a publication of this calibre is a thrill for any writer or photographer, and we’re grateful for the opportunity. Even more so, the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from our fellow Explorers Club members was deeply humbling.
You can download this story: Where Time Stands Still
Our latest column for Third Age Expeditions in Luxe Beat Magazine, titled “Butterflies of the Sea: The Naked Truth About Nudibranchs,” was published this morning. We have also received our 27th consecutive “Editor’s Choice” award from the editor.
The story is here
Our latest column in Luxe Beat Magazine, titled “Your Most Romantic Table for Two, Please: A Culinary Journey Through Ottawa’s ByWard Market,” was published in our Third Age Expeditions column in Luxe Beat Magazine. We also garnered our 26th consecutive “Editor’s Choice” from the editor, who stated it was… “such a lovely piece.”
Kathryn and I have a special fondness for Ottawa’s Byward Market, a place I have known about for decades. My first visit was in 1966, when I was living in Ottawa and was just a kid. My dad took my brother and me there, and we returned home with two pet rabbits. Over the years, I have visited the market independently to shop. Today, it remains one of our favourite spots for dining out whenever we are in our nation’s capital.
Whenever I make dinner reservations or Kathryn and I arrive at a restaurant without one, I always have a signature request: “A romantic table for two, please.” It may seem like a simple request, but it often catches the hostess off guard. Most of the time, the hostess pauses, smiles widely, and then scans the room for the perfect table. If they don’t spot an ideal one, they will wander off to find one.
The story is here
Our latest Third Age Expeditions column for Luxe Beat Magazine, “The Explorers Club: Where the Spirit of Exploration Abides,” marks a significant milestone as our 25th consecutive “Editor’s Pick.”
This comprehensive feature, totalling 9,618 words, edges close to book territory and explores the numerous benefits of being a member of The Explorers Club. Moreover, it shines a tiny spotlight on the Canadian Chapter while honouring the sense of fellowship, camaraderie, and the ties that bind Explorers Club members.
Here’s what some fellow members of The Explorers Club said:
“This isn’t something that I talk about much outside of my close Circle but this is something that is worth sharing for those of you that might be interested. I met the authors on a trip last year and had the pleasure of scuba diving with them in Antarctica. Meeting Jett Britnell and his amazing wife, Kathryn Britnell, became some sort of life-changing event for me. They were both members of a club that I had so much respect for, that I felt Starstruck to be sitting on the same boat with them! (please don’t tell them that I said that!) Anyhow, it was through their guidance and support that I was actually able to become a member of this club. I still feel like a private first class in a room full of generals- but at least I’m in the room! Anyway, if you are interested in more information, there is a link to an article that they wrote about the organization. Becoming a member of The Explorers Club is one of the greatest accomplishments in my adult life.”
— Mark Owens
“There’s a nice segment in this article about the Explorers Club’s DEI Committee and the Society of Forgotten Explorers.”
— Robert Harris
“This is so good ! It really encapsulates what we are about and what the club is built on. Outstanding.”
— Kevin Heath
“Wow that’s quite a write up…..well done both of you.”
— Natalie Schmitt
“Excellent, that’s the perfect summary.”
— Nick Lyon
For more than 33 years, Aurora Expeditions has been pioneering exploration and adventure, and they are deeply committed to travel with a positive impact. For more information about Antarctica small ship expeditions, visit: Aurora Expeditions
Screenshot
Last year, Kathryn and I accepted an invitation from diving legend and Atlantis ImageMakers Ambassador, Marty Snyderman, to fly to the Philippines in August, with an international group of nine other underwater photo pros, to participate in Atlantis ImageMakers 2022, hosted by Atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboards, Philippines.
Our collective mission for two weeks between the two resorts, Atlantis Dumaguete and Atlantis Puerto Galera, was to do nothing except come along and… “bring a great attitude, dive safely, and above all have fun!” We did all that, and more. While we were under no obligation to do so… we decided to write a story about it for our adventure column in Luxe Beat Magazine.
Flamboyant cuttlefish. Photo by Jett Britnell.
Jett Britnell Photo
London’s immortal drinking dens have been part of the storied town’s cultural fabric for centuries. Swarthy smugglers, roguish pirates, drunken sailors, dreaded press gangs, a great fire, multiple wars, literary legends, inebriated philosophers, dubious politicians, spurned lovers, hell raising thespians, ribald poets, hedonistic rock stars, gentrification, and a global pandemic could not bring London’s celebrated pub culture to its knees. Shrouded in history, London’s boozers are rife with tall tales of excessive indulgence, scandals, and allegedly stories of spooky paranormal activity. These worn-in social shrines of yore have been the backbone of British society and provided a meeting place where people from all walks of life could order an amber elixir, soak in the atmosphere, and get drunk on history.
The Coal Hole entrance. Photo by Jett BritnellOur story “Pub Crawling London’s Immortal Drinking Dens” was published this morning in Luxe Beat Magazine and it has earned us our 16th “Editor’s Pick” and another “Feature.” I had to truly take one for the team on this boozer expedition as I had to bend the elbow… I mean… conduct solo research… at several of London’s historic pubs without Kathryn as she was attending some business meetings while in town. With a nod and a wink to Charles Dickens… “It was a far, far better thing that I did than I have ever done; it was a far, far better pub crawl that I went on than I have ever known.
The Mayflower pub. Photo by Jett BritnellStory is: Here
LuxeBeat July 2022For outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, Portugal’s western Algarve is increasingly becoming known for being an ideal hiking destination to immerse oneself in an off the beaten path adventure. Renowned for its wave-swept sea cliff-backed beaches, golden sand dunes, deserted footpaths, and whitewashed fishing villages, the Algarve’s western coastline is breathtakingly beautiful. In the interior, the pastoral countryside is characterized by rolling hills and verdant valleys dotted with cork plantations and small rural villages where time has seemingly stood still.
Rota Vincenta Trail Jett BritnellThe lush forested green spaces are comprised of cork, eucalyptus, and pine trees interspersed with scenic gravel backroads and well-trodden footpaths. Barring any unforeseen heat waves, the climate here is relatively mild during the winter and warm in summer. Many of the natural sites are protected areas and have been designated UNESCO world heritage sites. It’s remarkable that so few people seem to know about the Algarve’s wild west?
Ponta do Castelo Jett BritnellLink to story is: HERE
All content on this website © Copyright 2023 - Jett & Kathryn Britnell - All Rights Reserved
(Play Nice In The Sandbox, Kids. Ask, Don't Steal)