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Algonquin Park by Bus

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:56:03 +0000

In researching the answer to a reader's question, I was happy to discover that driving a car is not the only way to get to Algonquin Park.

Parkbus is a brilliant bus service, launched in 2010, that transports people to Algonquin and other provincial parks in Ontario. Making this venture all the more admirable is that Parkbus is a not-for-profit service offered because the founders believe Ontario's parks should be open to more people than just those that have access to cars. Prices are reasonable and by all reports, service is friendly and reliable.

_{Photo of Parkbus passengers disembarking in Algonquin Park}

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Family Day in Ontario

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:03:23 +0000

As parents in Ontario know, Monday is Family Day and children across the province will be looking for stuff to do, or more correctly, looking to their parents to find them something to do.

Aside from all that's going in in Toronto, here are some other Family Day activities taking place across Ontario this weekend:

The Uxbridge Legion is hosting free events, including snow golf, karaoke and cross-country skiing.
Snowfest Caledon activities include snowshoeing, dog sledding, skating, sleigh rides, ice sculptures and snow castle competitions, plus a special winter 'Chilly' cook-off.
Family Day at Ontario Parks offers rinks, midnight hikes and cross-country skiing, campfires, and more.
Grab your skates and head to Rink at the Brink for a grand view of Niagara Falls. How's that for Canadian?
St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre has a toy retrospective, including a life-size Snakes & Ladders game.
Weather permitting, ski resorts in Ontario will be open and many will offer special family packages.
Try dogsledding at Windrift, which has two locations 30 mins north of Barrie.

Have an event to add? Fill in the Comments section below or send me an email at gocanada.guide@about.com

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What's Open Family Day?

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:08:42 +0000

Family Day is a provincial holiday in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, so in all of Canada's other provinces and territories, the third Monday of February is business as usual.

In the three participating provinces, provincial government offices are closed but federal offices, like Canada Post, for the most part are open. School is out and libraries are closed but shopping malls, popular attractions and restaurants stay open to give families stuff to do .

Openings and closings are not an exact science, so call or check websites to make sure. Read more about what's open and closed Family Day

For more information on the holiday, check the government website for your province.

Related reading:

What's Open and Closed Family Day

Family Day Ideas, Toronto

Public Holidays in Canada

Canada in February

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Ontario Place Closing

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:50:05 +0000

Ontario Place, the once-popular family amusement park set on prime waterfront property in Toronto, is shutting down most of its attractions - including the Cinesphere, water park, and rides - and undergoing a "revitalization."

What the new and improved Ontario Place will look like is unclear, but it is set to re-open in 2017. Many ideas are being floated about, including a casino.

Related reading:

Things to Do with Kids in Toronto
Top 10 Toronto Attractions
Summer in Toronto

When To Go to Canada

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:33:29 +0000

Maybe you are planning far in advance for a Canadian holiday or have the luxury to make a spur-of-the-moment visit. Either way, you'll want to know how to decide when to go to Canada.

Canada has four distinct seasons - very different from each other in most parts of the country - and it's nice to know what to expect when visiting during different times of the year.

Related reading:

When To Go to Canada
Temperatures in Canada
Month by Month Weather & Event Guides

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Canada's Most Romantic Hotels

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:49:14 +0000

From luxury resorts and spas to intimate inns in small towns, Canada's most romantic hotels span the country.

In honour of Valentine's Day, we've compiled the 10 hotels in Canada that offer the perfect setting for a love connection.

Related reading:

Canada's Most Romantic Hotels
Most Romantic Destinations in Canada

^{Photo of the Wickininnish Inn © Wickininnish Inn ©}

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Porter Cuts Fares in Half through May

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:17:43 +0000

This cutting fares in half seems to be a regular thing with Porter - part of what makes me love them so.

Just book online before midnight on February 3, 2012. Travel by May 31, 2012.

Related reading:

Porter Airlines
Billy Bishop Airport
Compare flights to Toronto Pearson Int'l Airport

Great Deal on Montreal Hotel Suite

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:51:30 +0000

It's easy to splurge on accommodation in any big city and Montreal is no different. Gorgeous, history-steeped hotels in Old Montreal can generally set you back about $300 a night minimum. But if you want to stay in Old Montreal and love good value for your money, try the Embassy Suites by Hilton.

This hotel is new, so it has little wear and tear. In addition, the guest rooms have a clean, modern design - boutique hotel style - and feature flat screen TVs, full size refrigerators and microwave. Montreal is definitely a city to dine out in, but eating in, or at least storing some milk, is a nice option - especially if you're with kids.

The Embassy Suites by Hilton is located minutes from Place d'Armes Metro stop, bordering Old Montreal. You can get anywhere in Montreal easily.

This deal offers one of the Embassy Suites by Hilton two-room suites and includes a full American cooked-to-order breakfast as well as two complimentary drinks, including alcohol, per night - all for $119 per night.

This deal is good during the popular Montreal High Lights Festival in February.

Family Day Idea - Algonquin Park

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:29:38 +0000

Family Day is fast approaching, and if you're a parent, you may be starting to ask yourself what the heck you're going to do with those kids.

Visiting a museum or attending a Toronto Family Day event are good options but if you would like to bundle up and convene with nature, why not head to Algonquin Park for its first ever Winter in the Wild.

Ontario's oldest provincial park is hosting an array of activities, including a guided walk, snowshoeing, informative talks and bonfire to cap off the afternoon.

If you're willing to stay on till dark, the Fireside & Night Hike Wolf Howl will begin at 6 pm with a talk around the bonfire about park wolves. From there, park naturalists will lead you to a place where they will imitate wild wolf howls. The real wolves may even respond.

Winter in the Wild takes place on the Saturday of the Family Day weekend, so this year, it is February 18, 2012.

Once you've purchased a day pass for the park, Winter in the Wild events are free. Some accessories, like binoculars and snowshoes can be borrowed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Related reading:

What is Family Day
What's Open Family Day?
Ontario Getaways

Happy Chinese New Year

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:07:35 +0000

Today is Chinese New Year and people across Canada are celebrating the year of the Dragon with lion dances, firecrackers and a delicious array of traditional foods.

Related reading:

Chinese New Year Celebrations across Canada
When is Chinese New Year Celebrated?
Find Your Chinese Zodiac Sign