While Detroit Free Press Travel Writer Ellen Creager is away, here is one of her reader-favorite columns from 2012. Ann Bagley was on a Galapagos Islands ferry when she spotted the Tilley Hat Man.

Our neighbors to the north know a thing or two about winter – and about hats. Handcrafted in Toronto, The Tilley Winter Hat ($95) from Tilley Endurables is as stylish as it is warm. That could mean it ...

Alex Tilley was in his early 40s when he set out to design a classy, durable hat for weekend sailors like himself. The iconic Tilley hat became a Canadian success story, and spawned the Tilley ...

• What: Hemp hat with built-in UV protection. • Aimed at: Boaters, beach bums, safarigoers and other active travelers looking for extra protection from the sun. • How much: $69. • Evaluation: $69 for ...

CALGARY – As an avid sailor, Alex Tilley was tired of hats that blew off his head, sank when they fell into the water or shrunk when they got wet. So he decided to oversee the creation of his own ...

The fate of the Tilley hat is in limbo, as the inventor, Alex Tilley, has announced he’s retiring at the age of 77 and selling his company, Tilley Endurables. Tilley lived in Sudbury during his teens ...