Weekend Fireworks launch Summer on Victoria Day Weekend or the May 24 Weekend (May 18-21)
The annual rite to feel like summer has arrived is often played out on Queen Victoria's Birthday. The 3rd Monday is the official Public Holiday offering up and extra day-off from work for a party, a beach visit with a picnic or an evening with fireworks on what is still known as firecracker day.  Many residents celebrate "Open the cottage weekend" by getting the dock into the water for the first time with a 24 case of beer  and/or visit to a gravel pit for a real down east party.  Victoria Day Long Weekend Information.

Canadians Love Beach Holidays
TORONTO, ONTARIO, May 16, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX)
2012 Flip Flop Report: Study Examines Beach Goer Behaviours
Canada's largest online travel provider, announced the results of a global survey that sheds light on the preferences of the typical beach-loving Canadian vacationer....Canada is among the most enthusiastic about beach vacations, with 45 per cent of Canadians saying they prefer a beach vacation to all other types of vacations Beach story continues...find more Canada Beach Information 

National Road Safety Week Starts May 15-21
Just in time for the  May 24 Victoria Day Weekend  the first public holiday on the busy long weekend of the spring season. Aggressive drivers, impaired drivers and distracted drivers may want to stay at home next week, as many police services in Ontario will participate in Canada’s Road Safety Week.The national campaign, is sponsored by Transport Canada and endorsed by police services across the nation.  See BarrysBayThisWeek,Inside Halton, Winnipeg Free Press

Victoria Day Weekend Ontario for Couples and Romantics
Get the best deal hotel rates at Hilton Garden Inn City Centre Toronto in the heart of Toronto's vibrant entertainment district.  Or, Head north of Ontario to cottage and resort country and stay in a variety of resorts, inns, hotels, lodges and chalets.  See Romantic getaway packages and enjoy Victoria Day May 24 celebrations beside a pristine lake, with romantic lakeside dining. Romance in the Niagara area is still renown as a Honeymoon Capital. Book best hotel rates at  Niagara Falls Marriott Gateway On The Falls

Victoria Day Weekend for Families
Some of the best family family fun can be found North of Toronto in  resort destinations.  See more than 50 possible family getaways  Find the best north of Toronto Day Trips and events and festivals for kids, at 411Ontario kids. Consider the Niagara area of Southern Ontario. In Niagara see best hotel rates at Holiday Inn by the Falls. 

Royal Visit To Canada over Victoria Day Long Weekend
Prince Charles and Camilla will visit New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan during a brief Canadian tour to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. See Toronto Star story. An initial itinerary of the visit, from May 20 to May 23, was released Monday for the fourth tour in four years by members of the Royal Family and includes a visit to Fort York in Toronto for a bicentennial War of 1812 recreation.  Victoria Day offers a celebration of two Monarchs Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.  More on Victoria Day May 21, 2012.

War of 1812 Author at Huronia Museum
The Huronia Museum in Midland has invited Alan Taylor author of the "Civil War of 1812" to speak at the annual fund raising dinner on May 4, 2012. Taylor is considered to be one of the leading experts on the War of 1812 and the Canada-United States long standing cross border relationships.  Find more information on  Huronia Museum in Midland Ontario.  More information in the Government of Canada archives. Simcoe County events will take place throughout the 2012-2014 period.  See event details,  Continue reading on Examiner.com War of 1812 fought along the shores of Georgian Bay Lake Huron Ontario - Toronto Day Trips |

Spring Art Tours North of Toronto
The spring season brings out fresh new artistic endeavors in many locations north of Toronto. Cities to the north and north east as well as rural back roads are featuring many artists showcasing a variety of media over the weekend of April 28, 29.  The City of Barrie in Simcoe County plays host to the Barrie Spring Art Tour 2012, and the region of Durham features Durham West Studio Tour--Guide to the Rural Route Artists. Both locations are close to Toronto day trips with a driving time of 30-45 minutes.  See Spring Art Studio tours

Mother's Day getaways for different budgets
Montreal Gazette‎  Flowers or gloves; lunch or brunch. Mother's Day would like to really spoil Mom,. Mother's Day is a challenge. If you would like to really spoil Mom, you can wrap up a mini-vacation that combines spa life, fine food and deluxe accommodations. Here are three suggestions, with different budgets, styles and locations.
See complete Mother's Day Story

Santa's Village Joins 'Ontario Travel North of Toronto'
Santa's Village Family Entertainment Centre is the  newest member on Ontario's most popular website for travel north of Toronto GTA.  Santa's Village is a must visit family attractions in cottage country. Enjoy a family day trip or as part of a weekend getaway in Muskoka. Discover 3 exciting parks and one great campground which was  voted the "best in Muskoka". More on Bracebridge and travel information
on  Muskoka, Ontario. 

Get To Know Contest Launched during Canada Wildlife Week
The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) Get to Know Contest inspires youth to get outside, get active, and “get to know” their neighbours of other species. Open April 7 to July 16, the contest invites youth to submit original works of art, writing, photography, videography and music inspired by their wild neighbours. The goal is be as creative as possible. The launch of the contest coincides with National Wildlife Week (April 8-14) and the launch of CWF’s Walk for Wildlife, a national campaign encouraging people to explore the natural spaces that surround them, then log their kilometres.

Canada's Biggest Fireworks, the Week in Events, Nike and ...
Calgary Stampede News Summer Updates:  “Light Up the City,” presented by TransAlta, will see four quadrants of Calgary lit with fireworks for six of the Stampede's 10 nights. It will be Canada's largest synchronized pyrotechnics display. See Calgary Stampede

Amazon.ca Reveals List of Top 20 Most Romantic Cities in Canada
Amazon Reveals List of Top 20 Most Romantic Cities in Canada ... Burlington, Ontario; Thunder Bay, Ontario; Barrie, Ontario; Brantford, based comparing sales data of romance novels, sex and relationship books, romantic comedy DVDs and Michael Bublé CDs since January 1, 2012, 

Big, Bigger, Biggest – Weird Roadside Attractions of the World
Toronto Star
If you're in Ontario, it's hard to miss the Big Apple, that 12 metre-high, bright red, pomaceous fruit gracing a field as you drive along Highway 401 between Toronto and Kingston. Billed as the largest in the world, the Big Apple has an observation ...

Where is Canada's Literary Capital?
In celebration of Canada Literacy Day it is interesting to ask how travel and tourism can be  linked to improve literacy in Canada.  Where is Canada's Literary Capital?.  What books are considered to be life changing?  A life changing book for the this publisher was Farley Mowat's "The Dog that wouldn't be" New life changing books for kids might be one of our picks for National Literary Day, like Larry the Loon.
See our two additional picks for kids.

Canada's Great Places--Tourist Attractions
As the list increases most of the mentioned "Great Places in Canada" are also of interest to first time visitors to Canada, as well as Canadian residents.  Check the list or add a community in one of several categories and vote on your favourite, or plan to visit some of the communities and destinations you did not know.   See news release from Great Places in Canada

High Living up in Ontario ski country
Collingwood Real estate continues to be a good buy, Toronto Star‎ - 
A few years ago, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in material and sweat equity on a ski country reno would have been considered ...it comes as no surprise to custom builder Richard Wilson that there has been increased interest in high-end homes in ski country as he has seen a growing demand for new homes
See complete story, More information on Collingwood Ontario

Igloofest returns to Montreal with Two stages for twice the fun
The Igloofest festivities are above all a celebration of the best local and international electronic music. After a first edition last year, the Virgin Mobile Igloo will return to present a program of emerging talent,  Overlooking the main dance floor, the Sapporo stage will feature over thirty artists from here and afar, diligently selected for their distinctive styles.  Pick your Montreal Hotel for best hotel rates.

The Irish Times - Monday, December 12, 2011
Irish Times
The serenity of the Muskoka Lakes, the vast expanse of prairie grasslands and cornfields, and the majestic Canadian Rockies provide an insight into the geographic diversity of the world's second largest country. Winnipeg was the most interesting city ...

Niagara Falls Festival of Lights gets Top 10 Listing
The Globe and Mail has identified  Niagara Falls in  "the Top 10 Christmas traditions worth travelling for".  Winter Festival of Lights, Niagara Falls, Ont.: North Americans love their Christmas lights, and this extravaganza, on until Jan. 31, has three-million bulbs in 125 displays.  Explore the sparkle, then glide around Rink on the Brink overlooking the Horseshoe Falls - also a good spot to catch the famous Friday-night fireworks. Book best Niagara Falls Hotel Deals

Ontario's Finest Inns & Spas Announce 2011 Award Winners
Thirty three inns, hotels and spas compete prestigious awards that are celebrated annually. The awards acknowledge the outstanding efforts of hosts and staff members at the properties, anticipating the needs and exceeding the expectations of every guest.

Foodie on tour: Chanteuse Jill Barber's Top 10 ... - Globe and Mail
Another top 10 restaurants in Canada from roadie.. It would be nice to complete this road trip.   When Jill Barber and her band go on tour they always eat well. Here, from coast to coast, are her favourite stops in Halifax, Vancouver, Fredericton, St. John's Quebec City, Calgary, Thunder Bay, Winninpeg, Vctoria, Toronto

Canadian Culinary Book Awards 2011
TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2011 /CNW/ - The winners of the 2011 Canadian Culinary
Book ... at a gala awards ceremony today at the Royal Agricultural Winter
Fair taking place in Toronto, Ontario.  See culinary book award winners

Minister of State Bernier Concludes Successful Visit to China and South Korea
MarketWatch (press release)
"The Asian travel market presents a great economic opportunity to help build the tourism industry in Canada," said Minister of State Bernier. "This is one example of how the Federal Tourism Strategy is helping Canada's tourism sector take advantage of ...

Timeshares in Canada
Canada is considered to many to be one of the most adventurous, cleanest, safest and best valued destinations in the world. Hotel, resort, motels, inns, cabins & cottages and online reservation bookings are available here for visitors to the provinces and territories. Towns cities and tourist resort destinations throughout Canada are listed. A selection of hotels from budget to luxury offer a variety of rates, deals, packages, and sometimes what is considered to be cheap hotel getaways depending on the season and the time of the hotel booking. If you're looking for another way explore Canada year after year, you might want to consider Timeshares.