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Well, last year i wrote an article on Algonquin provincial park, and touched on a couple of things briefly. What i also said was that we greatly underestimated what was actually there! Well this year, we headed back to see in detail exactly what was there.. giving us enough time to call in on a couple of the places along Highway 60. Just remember if you’re going to park up anywhere in Algonquin Provincial Park, you’ll need to pull up at the gates (big buildings just off the side of the road either end of Highway 60) and go in to get a Permit. These are $15.00 currently but the rates do change depending on the year, Check out the links at the bottom of the article to have a look at the rate details in full for the permits. One thing i will say about the permits is that they’re very good value for money!

So, you’re kitted up – Make sure you’ve picked up one of the Algonquin park news papers while you’re getting a permit, they’re free and they’re very .. VERY useful to use the map on the back so you know where you are going!

Before you go on any of these trails, remember to have brought with you, proper walking equipment – for example decent walking shoes with a good degree of tread, and comfortable clothes suitable for what ever the weather may be on the day you go on the trail. Another thing you’ll want to factor in is the bugs! If it’s forecast to be warm, chances are you’ll be up against the Mosquitoes and or Black Fly – so bring your bug repellent!

The Hardwood Lookout is located at km13.8 up Hwy 60 and I’d recommend you go on this walk as a warm up. It’s a short 0.8km loop featuring a pleasant walk through typical Algonquin hardwood forest and a fine view of the Smoke Lake Basin. The difficulty level for this particular trail is medium, but to be fair, the walk is pretty easy in general for anyone – the only bits that cause it to be medium is a small uphill incline that is very ‘rooty’ which I’ll show you later, and a number of steep ascents and descents down hillsides. This trail is also handily ‘paved’ with fine chippings.. So be careful as they may be slightly loose in some places, make sure you have a good foothold before heading down a steep part of the path!

So, you park up in the car park and get out, a quick look around will give you an idea of where to go, you’ll see the entrance back onto the road, a small path that seems to head up into the woods, and in the corner the Trail Sign which you’ll become familiar with the more trails you do. (more…)

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I’ve been to Canada so many times, experienced so many traditionally Canadian things, yet i had never been to a baseball game. And like in the USA, Baseball is just as big in Canada. This year however i decided to change all this!
Nestled right beside Toronto’s iconic CN Tower lays a giant almost Armadillo lookalike building, although lower to the ground – some could say it was equal to the CN tower’s impressiveness in how vast it actually is ~ this building is the Rogers Centre, and home to Toronto’s own Baseball team, The Blue Jays.

The date was Sunday 2nd May 2010, and The Blue Jays were playing Oakland Athletics at home in the Rogers Centre, this was the only time during our visit they were going to be playing at home, so we made sure we were there!
The weather forecast had been that of misery to be honest, sunny to start with but soon turning into thunderstorms, so although it looked sunny as we set off on the journey to Toronto, with the hot sunny weather outside, we expected to be sat inside a pretty well protected environment, the Rogers Centre, keeping us dry from the rain. Baseball is a summer sport. It’s supposed to be played when the weather is good, hence baseball caps! The Rogers Centre is purpose built however, being designed to be played in whether its raining or sunshining, providing the spectators as well as players with a rain proof roof during rain, but being open to allow in the sunshine when it’s sunny! The venue was the first major team sports arena in North America to sport a functional, fully retractable roof. The roof is composed of four panels and covers an area of 345,000 square feet (32,100 m2). The two middle panels slide laterally to stack over the north semi-circular panel, and then the south semi-circular panel rotates around the stadium and nests inside the stack. It takes 20 minutes for the roof to open or close.
We parked up in the city centre, at the closest possible Car Park, sure it was $20 to park for the day, but it was as close as you could get – and with the CN Tower next door, you could always visit that after the game!
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One of our earliest articles on Canada Trip was about Muskoka Wildlife Centre, and left as a comment by Suzie Q was a recommendation to go check out Walter Page’s Muskoka Store, so that’s exactly what we did!

This year’s first trip to Canada was different to previous trips as we seemed to have a whole variety of weather.. From bright hot sunny days of temperatures in the mid twenties right the way to snowflakes falling and settling over night, it all seemed to happen this last trip! It was on one of the more wet days that we happened to be passing here.. In fact it had been raining solid for over a day, but that didn’t make any difference to our experience of this fantastic store.

If you are driving north, passing Muskoka Wildlife Centre on your right, you’ll begin seeing signs on your right telling you how much further it is to the Muskoka Store, and with its large signs beside the road and its distinctive black and white log cabin style building you’ll find it difficult to miss, just remember to be in the right lane on the highway and start slowing down as soon as you see it as you pull straight off the highway into their large car park!

When you walk into the first part of the store, it had, on the day we went in, the feel of a garden centre, the feeling that sure, it’s a Store but you get the idea there’s much more there than it first appears.. And that’s exactly what you find out, turning left and walking down the corridor you step through a door and find yourself immersed in the cozy comfy environment of a cottage, a cottage that’s seen everything and been there for years – and so accumulated many mementos of its past.. the only difference is, almost all of it is for sale.

The store has been designed well, selling just about anything you’d ever want, especially if you happen to have a cottage in Muskoka! If you haven’t, that’s fine too – the store has a massive selection of gifts – so if you were stuck wondering what you may buy friends and family as mementos from Canada, or maybe you want to treat yourself, your almost sure of finding something you’ll want in this store! .. I certainly did!

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The idyllic 18th-century Niagara-on-the-Lake has been called Canada’s prettiest little town. It is home to some of North America’s finest wineries, a sampling of great hotels, fine restaurants that specialise in local cuisine, eclectic shopping and the Shaw Festival.

Blossoming flowers colour the neat and orderly downtown. Beautiful stone heritage buildings have been restored to their original splendor. Old-fashioned street lights illuminate the horse-drawn carriages that parade up and down Queen Street.

Though its famous name has left it linked with one of the Seven Natural Wonders of North America, the mood and pace of the charming town has little in common with the city of Niagara Falls.

And Niagara-on-the-Lake’s beauty is more substance than superficiality. The Niagara Peninsula is recognized internationally as an outstanding wine-producing locale, with a unique mesoclimate similar to that of the great wine producing regions of the world. This rich agricultural area is more southerly than Bordeaux, and the two Great Lakes, Ontario and Erie, moderate temperatures, ensuring the cool springs and long autumns that are ideal for growing grapes.

Just over an hour’s drive from Toronto and a half-hour from Buffalo, N.Y., the peninsula is home to more than 40 wineries. No longer are they simply purveyors of excellent wines, the wineries have done an outstanding job of tapping into tourism, offering visitors the complete wine country experience. Open year-round, they welcome guests with tours, tastings, special events and the opportunity to experience regional cuisine in their on-site restaurants.
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Another of those quick micro articles, i spotted on Canada Travel’s website, it’s a special deal – a package holiday where you get to enjoy the diversity of Ottawa, a metropolitan city and of course the nations capital, and the picturesque setting of the Deerhurst Resort in Ontario’s Muskoka region situated west of Ottawa . Your accommodation in Ottawa is at the majestic Fairmont Chateau Laurier.

Yep that’s right! Huntsville, that’s very close to Muskoka Wildlife Centre – so remember to check our Muskoka articles if you’re thinking about heading off this way!

The price is £1069 sharing twin incl flights, 5 nights accommodation and car rental
First staying in Ottawa, located in eastern Ontario on the banks of the magestic Ottawa River – Then travelling to Deerhurst Resort, Huntsville, Ontario.
Daily departures are available though Pricing shown is based on travel in November. Read More for package details:
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If you’re out to Canada imminently, and stopping in or visiting Niagara – here’s something that’s happening right now! In the Soil: Niagara’s Home Grown Arts Festival.
I couldn’t put it better than their own site so here’s what they have to say about the festival!

In the Soil: Niagara’s Homegrown Arts Festival:
70 events – 11 venues – 10 days!
Thursday April 15 – Saturday April 24 2010

In The Soil, the Niagara Region’s first multidisciplinary arts festival, is back for its second year to celebrate the original homegrown talent of Niagara. This year 70 acts featuring over 200 artists were chosen by a jury of local veteran and professional artists, proving once again that Niagara’s creative soil is fertile.

Musicians, video, media, theatre, dance and performance artists will be showcased from April 15 to April 24 in a variety of venues throughout the downtown core of St. Catharines. Plus Niagara’s own Juno nominated Great Lakes Swimmers will headline a stellar showcase at Centre for the Arts, Brock University on April 23rd.
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If you’re out and about in Niagara, and the kids want to take swimming to the next level, how about going to a Water Park? Niagara has North America’s biggest indoor water park – Fallsview Indoor Waterpark!

Niagara is world famous for its giant falls, so it only makes sense to have a day spent in water, in a place where water is a big deal!
Located on the Falls Avenue Entertainment Complex, North America’s largest indoor Waterpark and Hotel complex, the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is the only Fallsview waterpark in Niagara. The park Features a mammoth play area, the massive 1,000 gallon tipping bucket, enormous 6 storey high waterslides, the full-sized wave pool, year-round outdoor activity pool and sundeck, plunge bowl, two over sized adult only Jacuzzis and a children’s play area!

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While in Toronto, if you’re interested in castles and stately homes, why not check out Casa Loma. Casa Loma is now a museum and landmark in uptown Toronto. It was originally a residence for financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. Sir Henry was by all accounts a very colourful, flamboyant character. In his youth, he set a new world record for running the mile (4:42). He created a fortune in business and investments. One of the most successful of those investments was in early electric utilities. Casa Loma was constructed over a three-year period from 1911-1914. The architect of the mansion was E. J. Lennox, who was responsible for the designs of several other city landmarks and was also who designed the powerhouse at Niagara Falls.

In 1903 Sir Henry Pellatt purchased 25 lots from developers Kertland and Rolf. Sir Henry commissioned Canadian architect E.J. Lennox to design Casa Loma with construction beginning in 1911, starting with the massive stables, potting shed and Hunting Lodge (a.k.a. coach-house) a few hundred feet north of the main building. (more…)

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If you’re interested in looking at some of the world’s most prized collections, the pretty interestingly-shaped building of the Royal Ontario Museum will be a place you don’t want to miss out on any trip to Toronto.

The Museum is an incredibly varied world class museum which has a number of exhibitions which are on show for a limited time, as well as its many permanent collections – so even if you come back the next year, there’s always something new to see and explore.
Personally, I’m a great lover of history, and when i go to other countries i love to find out it’s history and past culture along with its current one. The Royal Ontario Museum gives you just this opportunity, with its Exhibitions such as the “Daphne Cockwell Gallery of Canada: First Peoples”, a gallery which has on display amongst many things, arguably one of the most famous of all First Nation Chiefs, Chief Sitting Bull’s Headdress, and four Iconic Totem Poles carved by the Nisgaa and Haida peoples of Canada’s Pacific Northwest Coast – these particular artifacts are some of the absolute must see treasures the museum has on show.

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In my last horseshoe article found here,

I brought you the summer fun of horseshoe valley resort, in the shining light of the 2010 winter games I’ll give you a taste of the Canadian winter in this part 2 resort review.

(Horshoe Valley resort from the top of the hills)

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