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:
- Canada Day at Mel Lastman Square, North York (July 1) www.toronto.ca/special_events/canada/2011/index.htm
- 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!
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!
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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)
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.
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:
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.
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:
Price Edward Island:
Nova Scotia:
United States:
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,
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.
