That Place I like

Labour Day is almost upon and I have to say, its bit bitter sweet for me. On one end, it means long weekend and an extra day off work (woohoo!), on the other it marks the last long weekend of the summer (*cries).
So with this in mind, how do we make the best of Labour Day? If you're in Toronto, here's how:

Canadian National Exhibition (a.k.a CNE or "The Ex")
http://www.theex.com/
Last weekend for the CNE is this weekend, so if you haven't gone yet, it's a good opportunity to check it out. Plus, this weekend is the airshow!

Canada's Wonderland
http://www.canadaswonderland.com/
Open until October, it's definitely a good option if you're looking for something to do this weekend.
Centre Island
Hop on the Ferry and head over to Centre Island. Bring a lunch and have a nice picnic. Bring your bike or rollarblades and ride the paths, or bring the kiddies to Centreville.

Woodbine Beach
Take a stroll on the boardwalk, relax on the sand or get into a game of volleyball!

Hot and Spicy Food Festival
www.harbourfrontcentre.com/summer/hotandspicy/index.cfm?ref=fp
If you like spicy food, you got to check this out. Head down to the Harbourfront and get your taste of spicy and hot treats.

Cirque du Soleil Totem
Cirque du Soleil is in town and if you have been to one of the shows before, then you know its an eye-popping. If you haven't, find out what everyones talking about.

Toronto's Hispanic Fiesta
Celebrate hispanic culture with food, dancing and more at Mel Lastman Square in North York.

Enjoy you're long weekend. Be safe and have fun!

It's that time of year again... the CNE is back! It's a bit bittersweet for me. On one side I always look forward to it every year, at the same time it also marks the end of summer. However with all thats going on this year at the CNE, your bound to forget that summer is almost over (well, almost).

Thinking about checking out the CNE this year? A couple things to get you there...

When:
August 19 - September 5, 2011

Admission:
General Admission (Adult) - $16
Seniors and Children - $12
Children under 4 - FREE

Saving on admission:

Mon, Tues, Wed & Thurs after 5pm is only $5 to get in
You can also redeem for CNE tickets through AIR MILES®

How to get there:

The CNE is accessible by car, ttc and go train

For more information, check out the CNE web site: http://theex.com/plan-your-visit/getting-here/
or http://www.ttc.ca/

What to do:

Rides
Attractions
Special Events
Shopping
Games
Casino
Shows
and more

Also, don't forget to check out the Air Show Saturday Sept 3-Monday Sept 5, 2011 from 12:30-4:30pm

For more information about the CNE, make sure to check out their web site: http://theex.com/

Now "let's go to the Ex"!

On the way back from Tobermory, we stopped off at Cyprus Lake to check out the Grotto. We heard it was amazing, but until you see it for yourself it doesn't quite kick in.

A 20 minute walk through the the Bruce Peninsula and you're there. The walk itself was beautiful and relaxing, such nice scenary within the woods.

Once we got there, we were greeted with turquoise blue water, caves and rock cliffs. Swimming in waters that look like they are from a caribean vacation. I just couldn't believe a spot like this existed in Ontario. It reminded me of Tulum, Mexico (minus the mayan ruins). There are so many places like this in Ontario that are just absolutely amazing waiting to be discovered. However, I have to say out of all the places I have seen in Ontario, this spot was just breathtaking.

To see more pictures of Cyprus Lake, visit my photostream on Flickr

I had never heard about Tobermory before, however came across one of those travel magazines through Ontario Tourism and instantly became intrigued.

The drive up is a few hours (even longer if you take the waterfall route, but well worth it). However it is such a scenic drive, you are going to want to take your time and enjoy it.

On our way up, we checked out some of the waterfalls, and I was just amazed how many waterfalls are on the way up there. Definitely worth checking out... and bring your camera!

A few hours later, we got to Tobermory, which is a small, quaint town with a lot of charm. Located right at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, it is right in between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Its location makes it home to a unique geographic landscape and a historic past.

WHAT TO DO

DIVING & SHIP WRECKS

One of the popular things to do there is diving. Many people head up there to get their diving certification. There’s some great diving spots and about 25 sunken ship wrecks in the area you can check out.

SUNSETS

We stayed at the Bruce Anchor Motel, which boasts the best sunset view. They have a deck right on the lake and it was gorgeous! Looking over the water with a beautiful sunset is just so relaxing.

FERRY TO MANTOULIN ISLANDS

Tobermory is also where you get the car ferry over to Manitoulin Islands. We saw some of the ferries come in and they were huge!

SEAFOOD...mmmm

The area boasts Whitefish and they have every reason to. They fish was sooo good! I ordered fish and chips from one of the several restaurants along the harbour and it was delicious! There was more fish then batter and just so tasty.

FLOWERPOT ISLAND

There are boat tours you can take across to Flowerpot Island, and one where you can check out 2 sunken ship wrecks on the way. Although a bit pricey ($35 a person), its a great place to do some exploring and enjoy the scenery. If you have some time, bring a lunch and sit along the lake to take it all in.

Tobermory is definitely a hidden treasure and a great place to explore. Nature lovers will not be disappointed. Take time to take it all in and enjoy. I'm looking forward to going back next year!

So I have to admit, before this year, I had never heard of the Taste of Lawrence. Didn't know what to expect.

So this year, I was checking out pulse24.com and came across some information about it. I kinda wasn't in the mood to venture downtown too much. It was a sunday, it was hot... something that was easy to get to and not too far was what I was thinking, so I thought I would check it out.

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

Some of the many food vendors

It's not a big festival by any means. Just spanning the distance from Warden and Lawrence to Birchmount and Lawrence. What a liked about it though was it was fairly low key and there was a lot of interesting stuff going on there. Now I have passed by that area before and there are tons of small food shops, some of which look a bit sketchy, some I barely notice or have no clue what they are. However, here all the shops came out offering their food and I have to saw, wow there’s a lot of delicious stuff out there. All flavours too! There was Chinese food, Malaysian, Halal, Caribbean, Thai, you name it.

There were also tons of stands selling jewelry and small goods for cheap. I got a necklace for $3! They also had rides and games for the kids and rock climbing.

Oka performing

However, the part I liked best were the performances.

I was a bit disappointed I missed the Bollywood dancers, however I got there just in time to see Oka perform. They are an Austrailian band performing across Canada right now. And they were absolutely amazing. I don’t know how to describe them expect for a new age jazz.

So while Taste of Lawrence isnt something to dedicate a weekend too, you should definitely pass by and check it out. All in all a good time!

Well its that time of year again... it's Indy time in Toronto! If you're looking for the following: watching fast cars, beers, freebies and more of watching fast cars... this is the place to be.

This year they are doing something a bit different. On Friday, they are offering FREE admission. No this is not a typo... FREE. I mean sure it's just the practice races, but still! If you're looking for something to do on a Friday on a budget, its worth checking out.

If you don't get a chance to go Friday, you can still get tickets for Saturday and Sunday (for a cost of course :-) ).

Also, this year Paul Tracy is racing for a really good cause - Make-a-Wish Canada. I'm cheering for Paul... Go Paul Go!!!

For more information, you can check out the Hondy Indy Web Site:
http://www.hondaindytoronto.com/

Now off to the races...

I just had the amazing experience of spending this Canada Day in Ottawa. What an experience!

I got to say, they know how to celebrate.

We got there on Canada day itself, let me tell you if you plan on going book in advance! We tried finding something a couple days before and everything was sold out. And if it wasn’t, it was super expensive. We were lucky to find a last minute availability at the Lord Eglin Hotel right downtown. I have to say, this place was amazing! Within walking distance to everything and the service was fantastic.

We woke up early to drive from Toronto to Ottawa. Took a bit longer then expected and ended up there right in the heart of the Canada Day festivities. There were some road closures because of the events (and also because Will and Kate were there).

As soon as we finally got to our hotel (which took about an hour within downtown Ottawa becuase of road closures), it was a huge sigh of relief.

We quickly rushed to get ready so we could partake in the festivities and maybe get a glimpse of Will and Kate.

Heading downtown, IT WAS PACKED! I don’t think I have ever seen so many people in on place in my life. But I have to say, it was amazing!

The energy was great! Even though it was crazy packed, everyone was in a fantastic mood!

After Will and Kate did their thing, the crowd started to clear (for what was a bit of a break to the streets and patios). And we got to hangout in front of parliament while the bagpipes were going.

There were tons of patios on Stark St. Its right down in the downtown “government” district. Some really good places!

I would also check out Rideau and Elgin if you're looking for places to go out drinking.

At night we stayed for the bands and the fireworks. They were amazing!

After that, went down to Rideau for a few drinks and the rest is history.

As we walked back to our hotel, there were TONS of workers cleaning up the streets from all the mess.
The next day, was completly quiet. Was actually really weird compared to the day before. Such a contrast. We went to a small breakfast place on Stark ($4.99, can't go wrong with that) and headed home.

All in all, a fabulous trip. See you soon Ottawa!

This looks soooo good!

Canadian Flag "Cake"
Canadian Flag "Cake" recipe at Kraftcanada.com

July is almost here, the long weekend is approaching. The weather is nice and you have an extra day off of work… however not extra money in your wallet. How do you have a great long weekend without breaking your budget? Try some of these ideas:

Have a BBQ

- Invite some friends over and have a BBQ at your place (or a friends place if it works out better). Make it a potluck, so everyone brings a dish to share! That way everyone pitches in and you get to try out everyone’s tasty treats.

Drive to the Beach

- Load up the car with a cooler and some snacks and take a day trip to the beach. Whether it be checking out Wasaga Beach (which is about 1.5 hour drive from Toronto) or one a bit farther like SandBanks or Grand Bend (approx. 2.5-3 hours from Toronto).

Go to the Harbourfront

- If you are in (or close to) Toronto, head down to the harbourfront and see whats going on. There are often tons of free festivals/events going on to check out.

Go to the Drive-In

- Yes those still exist. Pack a carload of friends and head to the drive-in in Oakville or down to the Docks Drive-in near Polson Pier (Toronto)

Check out a Festival

- Find out what festivals are going on in your area (or a short drive away) and head there for the day! A lot of them are free and can be a lot of fun.

Looking for events in Toronto?

Just a few things going on Canada Day weekend:

- Corso Italia Festival (July 2 & 3) www.torontofiesta.com

- Canada Day at Mel Lastman Square, North York (July 1) www.toronto.ca/special_events/canada/2011/index.htm

- Toronto Ribfest, Centennial Park (June 30-July 3) www.torontoribfest.com

- Pride Parade (July 3) www.pridetoronto.com

- Fireworks at Canada’s Wonderland (July 1)

... and the countdown begins!! Canada day is almost here, and for my American friends, Independence Day. No matter which one you celebrate, I think we are all excited about celebrating our country, being patriotic and getting a well deserved break from our everyday routines.

Family, Friends, BBQ, Fireworks, an extra day off work...and good weather (*crossing fingers*). The long weekend is almost here and I don't know about you but I can't wait. Even if you don't have plans, it's nice to know you have that extra day in the summer to sleep in and do whatever you want. So here comes the big question... how to spend it?? I'll be spending this week answering that exact question.

But with that aside, do you know why we celebrate Canada Day and the Independence Day?

Canada Day, simply put is Canada's birthday. On July 1st 1867, british colonies united to form Canada, which was formerly known as Dominion Day. It wasn't until 1982, when it was renamed Canada Day.

Independence Day (also known as The Fourth of July ) was the day in 1776 that the declaration of independence was signed, declaring independence from Britian... and the country became the United States of America!

Want more information about both holidays?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Day
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/canada/canada-day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

With that in mind, have a wonderful Canada Day and Independence Day!

Grand Bend is just beautiful!

Took this picture on our way to Grand Bend. In Arkona, if you go to the park at Rock Glen you can see these really cool waterfalls. You can even take a picture fairly close to it!

Waterfalls in Arkona (Near Grand Bend)

Camping is a fun experience and a great way to get out of the city and rediscover nature.

If you have never been camping or with only little experience, its easy to get started.

Find a Place:The first thing is find a place. Figure out where you want to go and what kind of camping experience you are after. There are a number of web sites out there where you can find campsites depending on what area you want to explore.

Depending on where you live, you can quite often find links to camp sites on tourism sites for the place you want to visit.

For camping in Ontario, you can check out:

www.ontarioparks.com

www.campgrounds.org

Price Edward Island:

www.tourismpei.com/camping

Nova Scotia:

www.novascotia.com/en/home/accommodations/campgrounds.aspx

United States:

www.gocampingamerica.com

A few popular places worth checking out in ontario:
- Sauble Beach
- Bruce Peninsula
- Grand Bend
- Sandbanks
- Ottawa region

The Camping Experience:
An important thing to keep in mind when researching a possible camp grounds is what kind of camping is it. Some offer camping just for families, some cater to the younger university/college crowd and some are great for couples.

Also how intense do you want your camping experience? Do you want a campgrounds with cottages? Do you want camping more secluded or within a grounds with several other sites? Are you up for really "roughing it"?

Its important to figure this stuff out before you go to make sure you have the best possible experience.

When to go:
Depending on the area you are going camping, you may want to be aware of the best times for camping in your region. In Ontario, the camping season runs from late May (Victoria Day weekend) until mid/end of September. After that, camping may be a bit chilly - especially at night.

Packing List:
Now that you picked your campsite, time to start packing. Here's a packing list to help you get started:

Sleeping

Tent

Sleeping Bag

Air Mattress (Optional)

Pillow (Optional)

Eating

Food (stuff that can easily be cooked on a grill or firepit)

Hand Grill (You can usually pick these up cheap, I’ve even seen them at the Dollar Store. Great for Cooking over a fit pit)

Utensils, Plates, Drinking Cups

Marshmallows (what’s camping without these??)

Water

Clothing

Bathing Suit (if there is a beach in the area)

Towel

Day Clothes (eg. T-shirt, Tank, Shorts, etc.)

Night Clothes (eg. sweater, long pants, etc.)

And more

Matches

Small Knife (for odd camping jobs, etc.)

Bug Repellent

Flash Lights

Paper Towel

Garbage Bags

And for the most important part...enjoy! Camping is what you make of it so have a great time, enjoy the sites and scenary and rediscover the great outdoors.

Las Vegas... the sin city. Or as I like to call it, Disney World for Adults. In Vegas, anything goes. Theres so much to see and do, its almost overwhelming.

Here are 10 tips and tricks for a great Vegas vacation:

1. Set aside a day to wander the strip.

One can spend an entire day going up and down the strip checking out the hotels and attract

ions. Each hotel is themed and has something unique to check out. Make sure to bring your camera and a good pair of walking shoes.

2. Check out a Vegas show, especially one of the Cirque du Soleil Shows.

I went to my first one in vegas and it was absolutely amazing! Before getting tickets, check around and see if you can get discounts. Sometimes you can get coupons from the casino if they have one of the shows on-site. You can also find places on the strip that sell discounted tickets. But be careful. Make sure whoever you buy them off of is a legitimate business.

3. Shopping

In Vegas, you can pretty much find any store you are looking for to shop... and then some.

Depending on your tastes (and your budget) you can check out the Fashion Show Mall if you have a medium-small sized budget or The Outlets (which are a bit off the strip) if you are looking for a deal. If you have money to burn and are looking for some of the higher end stores like Prada, Gucci and so forth, check out Miracle Mile Shops or the Forum Shops. The Forum Shops is also good for sightseeing, as they have a shop which goes on once an hour and a hu

ge aquarium.

4. See the Canal at the Venetian and the Bellagio Water Show.

The Canal goes through through the Venetian hotel, and is beautiful. You can also go for a canal ride, but I believe its about $30 a person.

The Bellagio Water Show is spectacular! Definitely a must see, plus its free to watch.

5. Rent a car and explore

Renting a car is fairly reasonably priced. If you get one for the day, definitely go for a drive to one of the beautiful sight-seeing spots in the area.

Within about 1-1.5 hours away you can see Red Rock, The Valley of Fire, Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. Although, give yourself the day as you will probably want to take more time taking pictures and really taking in the areas. If you are feeling really adventurous, Grand Canyon is a 4.5 hour + drive away.

Some pictures of Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, the Lake Mead Area and the Valley of Fire are available on my Flickr Page.

6. Cheap drinks are everywhere

When you're gambling, expect to be approached by waitresses offering free drinks. Also, look around because there are a lot of places on the strip that offer beers for $1-3 each, as well as cheap mixed drinks. You can also get cans of beer at the convenience stores for about $1-$2 each and bring them around with you. In Vegas, you can bring your drinks with you as you walk the strip.

7. Make sure to bring tip money

One thing we found, was that everything cost you a tip. You get a drink - tip. You want passes - tip. You want your luggage from the hotel storage - tip. Just make sure to bring lots of dollar bills.

8. Casinos are EVERYWHERE.

There is definitely no shortage of casinos in Vegas and they are open 24/7. The majority of hotels have a casino in the lobby, which is like a maze of slot machines and card tables when you're trying to get in and out of the hotel.

9. Check out the nightlife

Cover at some of the hipper clubs can get expensive. If you plan on going out, check out the guys giving out the club passes on the street. It may cost you a tip of $2-$5, but will save you $20 plus in the long run. There are tons of great clubs in Vegas. Tao is a great place, especially if you want a chance as spotting some celebs. Eva Longoria's club Eve was also really good. The service there are was amazing!

10. Enjoy the food

There's tons of places to eat. Buffets are everywhere and lots of nice restaurants. Scope out all your opinions. Some of the places on the strip can be a bit pricey, but the food is really good ( in most cases). The Cheese Factory in the Forum Shops is great! The service was excellent, the food amazing and as a bonus you are right next to the aquarium and the show! If you want to save a bit on food, if you go off the strip you can often find some cheaper options.

The most important tip though... enjoy! Vegas is a fantastic city with tons to see and do, so enjoy ever minute of it.

That Place I like

About me

Christine Worrall

Connect With Us

Popular Posts

Blog Archive

Search This Blog

My Gallery

Subscribe us