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Events, Family Vacations in Toronto, Holiday Events, Vacation Travel

Tips for Better Thanksgiving Travel

October 8, 2019

Canadian Thanksgiving, celebrated on the second Monday in October, will take place on Monday October 14th this year (2019).

The week of Thanksgiving can be one of the craziest travel periods of the year, with millions of people flying to visit family and friends for the holiday. This can make things pretty stressful.

However, traveling during Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Here are some tips for your next Thanksgiving getaways.

Smart Thanksgiving Travel Tips

Plan ahead and arrive early, think about the rush hour times for each city you have to drive through. Unexpected delays might happen, so it’s a good idea to build in extra time just in case.
When driving, consider taking the scenic route. Even though the distance may be longer, you won’t end up sitting bumper to bumper so it might be faster.
Download the Waze app. It allows you to see real-time updates on accidents, traffic, police traps and more.
If you’re road tripping with kids, make sure you bring along plenty of books, toys and other distractions to keep them happy and entertained while on the journey.
If you have to travel by plane, save money by flying back on Black Friday. Everyone is too busy shopping and the rates for flights are often much cheaper.
If the airline gives you the option for text messages with flight updates, take it! Sometimes it’s really useful and can alert you to last minute updates.
Also, you can use your smartphone to check-in early and have your boarding pass delivered electronically. This will allow you to bypass the line at the check-in kiosk.
If you can be flexible with your dates, you can usually find last minute deals on Skyscanner.
If you’re tempted to stay in a hotel rather than sleep in the spare room or sofa, hotels are usually underbooked during Thanksgiving and you may be able to find last minute deals.
When bringing food, sweet, treats and other goodies with you on the plane, make sure you check with the airline first. For example, gravies, relishes and jams are often considered “liquid” and are not allowed on the plane.
When it comes to what clothing to pack, the key word is layers. Temperatures can fluctuate throughout the day in the autumn, so make sure you can adjust when things cool down.

Where to Go for Thanksgiving

What if you’re planning to hit the road and enjoy a getaway over the Thanksgiving holiday? There are many different Thanksgiving destinations available throughout Canada and the USA – here are a few great options you might consider.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: This family-friendly destination has lots of great festive events around American Thanksgiving. For example, you can enjoy Winterfest, a beautiful celebration of lights.
Toronto, Ontario: Head to the bright lights and big city of Toronto for Thanksgiving. There’s so much to see and do in the city!
Las Vegas, Nevada: Why not go on a Thanksgiving getaway to Sin City and have a bit of fun in the casinos? If you hit the jackpot, you’ll have a lot to be thankful for!
Montreal, Quebec: This beautiful city is so much fun to explore over Thanksgiving. The autumn leaves look spectacular and the weather is just right. Do some shopping, check out the art galleries and more. (Note: Thanksgiving is known as action de grâce in Quebec and it is celebrated slightly less than in other parts of Canada.)
The Adirondacks, New York: This stunning forested area in New York state looks even more beautiful in the autumn as the leaves begin to change colour. Check out the many award-winning spas, golf courses and restaurants in the region.
Chicago, Illinois: Why not pair your Thanksgiving turkey with a deep dish pizza while you explore this exciting and culturally rich American city? Check out the famous stand-up comedy scene and go on an architecture tour (skyscrapers were invented here).
Vancouver Island, British Columbia: Stroll the beaches of Tofino, go on a whale watching tour or take a walking tour of historic downtown Victoria’s turn-of-the-century buildings.
Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee: Explore the great outdoors at one of the most popular National Parks in the USA. With over 150 official hiking trails, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to breathe in the fresh and crisp fall air.

(Keep in mind that if you will be traveling over the border on Thanksgiving long weekend, you should allow for extra time. The border will be busy and you may need to wait in line for quite some time.)

Be Thankful

Last but not least, the most important tip for Thanksgiving travel is to be thankful. Even though your journey may be delayed and crowded, express gratitude for the opportunity to travel with your loved ones and enjoy your holiday.

Business Travel, Holiday Events, toronto toursim

Decorating Condos Over the Holidays

December 12, 2017

If you are travelling and away over the holidays, decorating condos will help to create some holiday cheer.

Whether you are visiting friends, exploring Toronto as a tourist, travelling on business or staying in the condo while your home is being renovated, these stylish furnished condo suites in Toronto are a lovely place to spend the holidays. Here are some tips that will make your furnished condo feel more festive.

Decorating Condos – Embrace Twinkle Lights

Strands of twinkle lights are not just for outdoors – you can use them inside to create a magical atmosphere. Try hanging them from the ceiling or putting them around the doorway as a way of setting the mood as soon as you walk in. They don’t take up a lot of room, so they are ideal for a place where space is at a premium.

Mini Pinecone Christmas Trees

Start with some pinecones, then paint them green and add some glitter. Place a star on the top and put them in a small flower pot. You can place these lovely mini trees on any flat surface and spread Christmas cheer all throughout your condo.

Window Ornaments

Rather than hanging lights or a wreath in your window, try using garlands with sparkling or shiny baubles on the end of them. It will make your window feel like a Christmas tree and when the winter sunshine comes through it will make them sparkle and shine. You could even add prisms to refract the light and scatter rainbows around the interior of your apartment.

Elegant Candles

Place white pillar candles on a silver serving tray and display them on the table. They are simple and elegant and will set the Christmas mood. You can even use scented candles that will create the right atmosphere for Christmas – such as cinnamon, nutmeg or frankincense. When your condo starts to smell like Christmas, it will really get you in the mood for the holiday season.

Use Mini Wreaths

Try using some small wreaths and decorate all around your condo to add more festive feeling. For example, you can use satin ribbon to hang a mini wreath from shelves or drawer pulls, or hang one in the window or over a mirror.

In addition, while your out with family and friends, why not check out some of these fun filled holiday activities to do in Toronto?

Decorating condos for the holidays will make it feel more special and welcoming and will really get you in the holiday spirit. How do you like to decorate for the holidays? Share your ideas and your holiday crafts with us in the comments below.

Downtown Toronto, Entertainment, Holiday Events

Romantic Valentines Day Toronto

February 7, 2017

Valentines Day Toronto is a great city for romance, as there are so many fun things to do with your sweetheart. No matter what you are into, you’ll find a unique, romantic and fun way to spend your Valentine’s Day. If you are looking for a creative and fun Valentine’s Day date, here are some ideas to inspire you.

Food Nook Tour

If your darling has a sweet tooth, take them on a tour of Toronto’s best sweet shops and chocolateries. Valentines Day Toronto Food Nook Tours are guided rambles through Roncesvalles that teach you all about the culinary history of this lovely and welcoming neighbourhood. You’ll get to see how these yummy treats are made and enjoy a few samples.

Sweep Them Off Their Feet On a Helitour

You can take your sweetheart on a high flying date that will really make their heart soar. See the downtown Toronto skyline from above as you glide along in a helicopter. You’ll fly over the waterfront, the CN Tower and other prominent landmarks. Don’t forget your camera!

Go on a Cheesy Date

You can have a really gouda time with your special someone at Leslieville Cheese Market and Fine Foods, where you can take a special cheese appreciate workshop together. Each class includes delicious wines and a flight of cheeses and you’ll learn all about the finer points of each type of cheese.

Art & Wine with Your Valentine

If your Valentine is the creative type, they will absolutely love an evening of wine and art making with you at Paintlounge. You can paint portraits of each other, or just abstract expressions of your love. When you get home you can hang your finished works in your home – so that they will always remind you of a lovely Valentine’s date.

Learn to Salsa

Salsa dancing is one of the sexiest things you can do with your partner in public with your clothes on – so why not learn these red hot moves? You can master this sensual dance at Lula Lounge, which hosts beginner lessons on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. When you have the steps figured out, get out on the dance floor and shake it!

Go to a Poetry Readin g

What could be more romantic than a beautifully written love poem? Take your special someone to a poetry reading and let the power of words move and inspire you. The Black Swan hosts the Art Bar Poetry Series every Tuesday at 8pm. Perhaps it will inspire you to write a poem about your sweetheart?

These are just a few romantic ideas of what you can do with your sweetheart this Valentines Day Toronto. There’s so much to enjoy in this exciting and diverse city, so how will you surprise your special someone this year?

Holiday Events, Lifestyle talk

Romantic Holiday Gift Ideas

December 18, 2015

Want to see the eyes of your special someone light up with happiness this Christmas? When it comes to buying Christmas gifts for your beloved you want to give them something special that will really make them feel appreciated and loved. If you are looking for inspiration for romantic gifts this holiday season, here are some great romantic holiday gift ideas to get you started:

A One of a Kind Portrait
Find a local artist whose style you like and pay them to paint a one of a kind portrait of your special someone. It can be based on your favourite photograph of them or of you two together. This will be a one of a kind gift with a major impact that they will treasure for a long time.

Weekend Getaway Romantic Holiday Gift Ideas
Instead of Christmas gifts, reveal that you are taking your special someone on a surprise weekend getaway. You can book a bed and breakfast and whisk them away for a couple of nights. You can choose somewhere that they will really enjoy and you can even plan activities or a special dinner to surprise them.

Christmas Tree Ornaments
A beautiful and meaningful gift you can give someone you care about could be Christmas tree ornaments with their name on them or ornaments that represent a special memory the two of you share. You could make it a Christmas tradition that every year you give them a different personal ornament, so that decorating the tree becomes a beautiful trip down memory lane. If you are crafty, you might even want to try making your own ornament.

Inscribed Jewellery
Jewellery is a timeless gift for your special someone, but you can make it even more meaningful and special if you inscribe it with a personal message. It can be a ring inscribed with your initials or a bracelet with a quote that has meaning for both of you. There are also matching necklaces you can wear that can be inscribed with messages, initials and much more. A piece of jewellery is a lovely gift, but a personalised one of a kind piece of jewellery is something even more special. Romantic Holiday Gift Ideas

Equipment for Their Hobby
Think about what your special someone is passionate about and what they enjoying doing in their spare time. Do they like to go hiking? Are they an artist? Do they like to write? Are they interested in gardening, sports, reading? Pinpoint their favourite hobby and then get something that is related to what they enjoy. For example, if your beloved enjoys painting you can get them a new canvas and some high quality paints and brushes. They will find you were thoughtful and chose a gift that reflects their personal interests.
With these wonderful romantic holiday gift ideas you will be sure to make your partner feel special on Christmas morning. Dont forget to check out our blog for thoughtful and creative stocking stuffers ideas!

Thoughtful gifts are meaningful and will create special Christmas memories that you will treasure for many years.

Entertainment, Holiday Events, Lifestyle talk

Creative Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Christmas

December 15, 2015

When it comes to buying Christmas presents, sometimes a challenging part can be filling the stockings. What do you do when you’ve found all of the big presents, but you can’t think of ideas for the little trinkets? You don’t want to simply give boring gifts, so put a little more thought into it so that you can put something different in the stockings of your loved ones this Christmas.

Here are some ideas for creative and thoughtful stocking stuffer ideas for Christmas:

For someone who loves to write and jot down ideas, give them a beautiful leather bound notebook with a small pen hidden inside.
An activity tracker, such as the Fitbit, can be a great gift for someone active so that they can keep track of their steps taken and calories burned as well as set progress goals.
Small bottles of fragrance or cologne can be a lovely stocking stuffer for a special someone who always loves to smell good.
For the wine lover in your life, why not give them an attractive stylish corkscrew?
Jewellery also makes for a great stocking stuffer, as it is just the right size. When choosing jewellery for someone, take a look at the style that they usually wear to get an idea of their taste so that you can buy something they will like.
The people in your life who love art would really appreciate getting art supplies in their stocking, such as coloured pencils, a set of watercolour paints or high quality drawing pens.
A mini flask can be a lovely gift, especially if it is paired with a bottle of the recipient’s favourite alcohol.
Cooking gadgets, such as an egg yolk separator, a jar opener or a knife sharpener can be great gifts for your friend who really loves cooking.
When you have someone in your family or friend group who is geeky about a particular show, book series or movie, whether it is Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Supernatural, Doctor Who or anything else, getting them items along that theme will never go wrong. Try keychains, mugs or anything else emblazoned with their favourite fictional characters.
We all know that one person who is obsessed with their hair, so great stocking stuffer ideas for Christmas for them could be hair clips, barrettes, hair ties, a cute mini travel brush and mini sized bottles of their favourite hair products.
For the friend or family member who can never get enough spice in their food, give them tiny bottles of their favourite hot sauce that they can bring with them anywhere they go.
To give someone a nostalgic blast from the past, buy them a copy of an old comic book that they used to really enjoy when they were a child.

The key to finding great stocking stuffers that are out of the ordinary is to think about your recipient and what they like. Thoughtful and meaningful stocking stuffer ideas for Christmas will really make their holiday special.

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