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Ontario

The Visitor’s Guide To Toronto

by Adriana Noton on January 6, 2010

If you are thinking about vacationing in Canada, the best place to go would be Toronto, the capital of Ontario. It is a beautiful city which, in more ways than one, is the leader of all Canadian cities. It is certain the economic leader, it has the most famous sports teams, and it has amazing scholastic endeavors and technological production. Despite all of this (and its two and a half million person population), it is still a quiet city at heart.

The great thing about Toronto is its advanced way of thinking. The whole city is known for being especially liberal. It helps, too, that the city is so diverse. The crime rates are ridiculously low and the city is very clean and ecologically aware. It has made more than one ‘Top Ten’ list for the world’s best cities.

I would not recommend moving here, however, if you are looking for the extreme bustle of a city like New York. Toronto does not have the same type of crowded population or excitement. It is a more laid-back, wintry city with lots of country influences. It is on two rivers and has very good access to the country, with plenty of parks and recreational trails.

It is home to several famous sites. The city is very diverse in its style of architecture. Where a city like Bruges is primarily focused around one central motif from one period in its history, Toronto is far more sprawled. The CN Tower, a futuristic looking building, is one of the tallest buildings in the world. The art gallery of Ontario is far more subtle in its modernity, a subtle and posh classic structure. The Distillery District is well maintained from the Victorian Era.

The city has plenty of districts, too, which is nice for travelers to help them find their way to different attractions. The industrial areas are great and definitely deserve a look. The beach and port areas by the water are lovely, especially in summer, and the fashion areas provide a lot of shopping.

The parks and beaches are lovely, too. Since there are so many beaches, you will not find yourself crowded out in the summer. There are plenty of water sports to play and a lot of sun to be had. As for parks, the best kept city secret is Cloud Gardens, which is a semi-enclosed park with an observatory. Many people do not even know it exists.

The city may not have a focus, but the culture is very strong. It is a surprisingly good area for actors and film makers. Film festivals are everywhere here. Actor Mike Meyers hails from Toronto, but apart from him, who knew it was such a good place for film? There are acting schools everywhere which provide good training. One of their Shakespeare companies is among the world’s greatest. They have a city ballet to rival those in New York.

It is no secret that Toronto is a huge sports capital, more so than perhaps any American city. The reason for it is this: they have five sports teams, each huge in their own areas. They have hockey, for which Toronto is most famous. They also have baseball, football, soccer, and basketball. The Toronto Maple Leafs, the hockey team, make up for a huge proportion of the commerce and tourism there and are a truly talented team.

There is a lot that goes on in the City of Toronto, and a Toronto association has a lot to offer. There are also many contractors Toronto to assist you with any projects that you have.

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Buzon Travelogue – Bahamian Cruise & Moon Palace Resort

by Travel Guru on October 28, 2009

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These are two of our “funnest” vacations ever. Both the Royal Carribean Cruise line and the Moon Palace Resort gave us the best activities, food and attractions that we won’t forget.

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Quality Suites Toronto Airport Video Tour

by Susan on October 1, 2009

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http://www.choicehotels.ca/hotels/hotel?hotel=CN309 Going on vacation or taking a business trip? Whether business or pleasure, learn more about the property with a video before you book. Quality Suites Toronto Airport, located at 262 Carlingview Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M9W 5G1, CANADA+ Contact the property directly at (416) 674-8442 or visit http://www.choicehotels.ca/hotels/hotel?hotel=CN309

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Hampton Inn & Suites Guelph, Ontario, Canada Video Tour

by Susan on September 23, 2009

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http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=GUEONHX Going on vacation or taking a business trip? Whether business or pleasure, learn more about the property with a video before you book. Hampton Inn & Suites Guelph, Ontario, Canada, located at 725 IMPERIAL ROAD NORTH, GUELPH, Ontario, NIH 6N3, CANADA+ Contact the property directly at 519 821-2144 or visit http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=GUEONHX

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See the Beautiful Wolves of Haliburton

by Debra Corbeil on September 2, 2009

When visiting Ontario, a must stop destination is the Haliburton Forest Nature Reserve. Located just 3 hours north of Toronto, this incredible nature setting is a place to see all year round. Summers can be spent hiking and camping. Or stay at one of their eco-friendly lodges and take a canopy tour. Try your hand a winter camping in the colder months or snowmobiling on its many trails. This alone is enough of a reason to visit, but it is its inhabitants that make it worth the trip alone.

Witness and learn about the pack of wolves that live and roam freely on a 15 acre reserve set aside for them. This Wolf Sanctuary sits within 70,000 acres of protected hardwood forest at The Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve. There are a couple of other wild packs and lone wolves that roam the forest as well, but you will have a better chance of spotting these beautiful canines in their natural habitat at the viewing area for the pack of protected Grey Wolves. It is a long story as to why these wolves are protected dating back to 1977 in Pennsylvania.

Originally in Michigan, a photographer raised two wolf pups to photograph and study. As the years past the pack grew and eventually he could not take care of the wolves alone. Haliburton was scouted and chosen as a home for the semi-domesticated wolf pack and in 1992 they were moved to live on as a protected pack in as close to their natural environment as possible.

Even during the cold Canadian Winters the sanctuary is alive and well. It is a magical experience to see the wolves play and roll in the snow with their thick winter coats keeping them warm. In the summer, you have a good chance of catching the napping in the sunlight on a hill in front of the viewing platform. The building is located at a place on the reserve that achieves optimal sunlight. The wolves are drawn to here and while seeing them is not guaranteed, there is a good chance since this is their favorite spot. The wolves won’t see you as their is a glass barrier between you and them, but you will be able to hear them through speakers and they can probably sense your presence.

Every few days the wolves are fed and you can watch this from the platform as well. See the staff bring out beaver or deer for the wolves to feast upon. The animals are road kill or brought in by local hunters and never fear, they are never fed live animals. However, the wolves tear them apart as if they were fresh kill.

You will learn a great deal about the hierarchy of the pack, ask as many questions as you like. The Alpha Male runs the clan along with his chosen Alpha female. They are followed by the Beta male which is second in command and then the rest fill out the list until the poor Omega wolf. It is difficult as a human to watch the Omega. It is the weakest of the pack and it is severely bullied by the other wolves. It is the last to eat and it stays to itself while the rest of the pack sleeps and plays together.

The sanctuary does not intervene as this is the way of the wolf and it is not for we humans to decide how they should live. Eventually, the Omega will be killed by the pack or it will go off by itself to die, sometimes they become so sick that they need to be euthanized by staff veterinarians. It is difficult to witness, but to take the omega away will only make room for another Omega to be chosen and it would disrupt the whole system of a wolf pack. Eventually, one of the younger Beta Males and Females will overtake the Alpha’s and the cycle will continue.

Visiting the wolf centre in Haliburton is an important step in helping people to understand the wolf. For centuries the human race has feared the wolf and unapologetically hunted it almost to extinction. Wolves are not the evil creature that we have been led to believe. They are more afraid of humans and are more likely to flee than attack and there has actually never been a confirmed report of a healthy wolf attacking a human. The only cases of wolf attacks have come from either rabid wolves or a wolf/dog mixed race. Truthfully there have been more dog attacks than wolf attacks.

It is only $9.00 to visit the Wolf Centre. It is worth it to take a day or two and stay up in Central Ontario. It is a beautiful location consisting of 60 lakes and thousands of acres of forest. It is a wild country where moose and bears roam freely and you will see otters, deer, porcupine, grouse and great blue herons and many more. Stay in rustic cabins, pitch a tent or find a nearby resort. You can find something for everyone in Ontario.

Deb Corbeil and Dave Bouskill are an adventure couple from Canada. They have trekked, hiked, biked and climbed to around30 countries all aroundthe planet. Click on their website ThePlanetd.com for more tips, advice and information on travel and adventure destinations. To see their picture gallery visit PicturethePlanet.com

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Niagara Falls; It Has A Lot to Offer

by Debra Corbeil on August 21, 2009

When people think of Niagara Falls they picture images from the 1970’s as the cheesy honeymoon capital of the world. In the new millenium, it has become a place rivaling any destination in the world for a vacation. Visit both Canada and the United States as Niagara Falls lies right on the border of the two countries. You won’t get bored on this holiday as there are tons of attractions to explore. Here is a list of some of the more unique activities you can do in Niagara Falls.

The Niagara Jet Boat Tour takes you right to the heart of the whirlpool down stream from the bottom of the falls. Ride the Class VI rapids safely in these state of the art powerful machines where you will be riding the whirlpool of Devils Hole. The cost is only $57 Canadian and you have your choice of the domed dry ride or the wide open Wet Jet where you will be soaked from head to toe. Each ride has its advantages. Feel the thrill as water splashed over the boat cooling you on a hot summer day, or stay dry to take full advantage of photo opportunities.

Another adventure is the famous Maid of the Mist. Everyone has heard of this tour where boats take passengers right into the centre of the Horseshoe Falls. Operating since 1885, the Maid of the Mist offers and up close and personal view of thousands of tons of water plunging over the world most famous waterfall. It is a real deal for $14.50.

Not everything at Niagara Falls is about adrenaline and excitement. Enjoy a relaxing tour in the Wine Region of Niagara on the Lake. Take a bus, cycle or drive along the river road following the wine route signs where you can visit dozens of world class winery’s. There is plenty of accommodations nearby where you can stay and book tours without the worry of drinking and driving.

Night time offers excellent entertainment at two different casinos located in Niagara Falls. The Fallsview Casino and Casino Niagara. Whether you are looking for slots, tables, low or high stakes it has it. Fallsview Casino is as big as three football fields and as well as gaming, it also features A-list entertainment in its 1500 seat theater.

If gambling isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other choices in Niagara Falls. A visit just wouldn’t be complete without a throwback to old times visiting one of the cheesy wax museums or haunted houses. But if you want a real scare, Nightmares is the place to go. A terrifying walk through a genuine haunted house. Built on an old coffin factory, it is rumoured that the ghost of the old proprietor still haunts the grounds. Over 95,000 people have chickened out of Nighmares. Would you dare to be one of them?

Think you can only go to a water park in the summer? Well, in Niagara Falls, you can play in the wave pool, plunge down the slides and catch some rays on the sun deck at the Niagara Waterpark. Located on Clifton Hill, it is close to all of Niagara Falls tourist museums and shops. It is a great place for the whole family. You can book either a day pass or a weekend getaway with hotel included.

A nice spot for a day hike located 8 km from the falls is the Niagara Glen. Excellent hiking trails and if you are into rock climbing there are great spots for bouldering. Bring a crash mat and enjoy your climb. It overlooks the Whirlpool on the Niagara River. Admission to Niagara Glen is free.

If you like fireworks, Niagara Falls offers world class fireworks three times a week. The Falls are lit up each night with colorful lights and most evenings in the summer have a fantastic fireworks display. Make your way down to the falls when the sun goes down to watch. Or choose one of the many restaurants that overlook the falls and eat a late dinner for a spectacular view.

Niagara Falls has so many things to see and do that it is impossible to list everything. So go ahead and explore on your own, you will find something new with each visit that will keep you coming back again and again.

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Comfort Inn Pickering Video Tour

by Susan on August 18, 2009

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http://www.choicehotels.ca/hotels/hotel?hotel=CN291 Going on vacation or taking a business trip? Whether business or pleasure, learn more about the property with a video before you book. Comfort Inn Pickering, located at 533 Kingston Rd., Pickering, Ontario, L1V 3N7, CANADA+ Contact the property directly at (905) 831-6200 or visit http://www.choicehotels.ca/hotels/hotel?hotel=CN291

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myHotelVideo.com presents: Hotel Novotel Mississauga in Toronto / Ontario / Canada

by Tim on July 27, 2009

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More @ myhotelvideo.comLocation: This hotel is located in the city centre and lies right next door to the Square One shopping mall. Guests will find many restaurants, bars, nightspots, shops and offices within a 3 km radius. The Square One shopping mall offers 2 multiplex cinemas showing all the latest movies (charges apply). Playdium is a virtual indoor and outdoor entertainment centre offering games, interactive activities and sports such as rock climbing and go-carting (charges apply …

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Freezing Your Rocks Off! Lonely Planet Travel Video

by Tanya on July 24, 2009

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A typical winter’s day in Toronto. Eating, ice skating and surfing. Wait? What? Surfing in the winter? In Toronto, Canada? Seeing is believing. Take a look. Produced by Jim Bamboulis for Lonelyplanet.tv

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Concierge Service

by Skygazer on July 23, 2009

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When the concierge guy is away, the douchebags come out to play

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2009 TravelersCouncil