Tip toe through the Tulips, eh?

With daylight savings, come thoughts of spring - and if you are thinking of tulips, Ottawa, Canada is your springtime destination. From May 12th - 23rd, Ottawa will be celebrating its annual Tulip Festival with music, buskers, WWII memorabilia and of course, millions of tulips. There's a bit of history behind this colourful, fragrant display - in May of 1940, following the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands, Queen Wilhelmina and the Dutch Royal Family were spirited out of the country to rule in exile from the United Kingdom. In June of that year, Princess Juliana brought her daughters Princess Beatrix and Princess Irene to the safety of Canada, They were housed at Stornoway — now the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition. And there, two and a half years later, Princess Juliana gave birth to a new daughter, Princess Margriet, at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. The problem with an otherwise joyous occasion, was that should baby Margriet be a Canadian by virtue of her birth, she would jeopardize her position in the line of succession. The solution? Temporarily declare the hospital Dutch territory and ensure the princess would hold exclusively Dutch nationality.
May 2, 1945, Princess Juliana and her children returned to the Netherlands. To thank Canadians for their hospitality, and their part in liberating the Netherlands, Princess Juliana sent a gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs. Juliana, who became Queen of the Netherlands in 1948, continued to send a gift of thousands of tulip bulbs to Canada each year of her reign.

Visit the Canadian Parliament Buildings, eat a beavertail at the ByWard Market, explore the Canadian War Museum, sleep behind bars in the former Carleton County Gaol (or at least take the Haunted Walk), tour the Supreme Court or check out the locks on the Rideau Canal - but be sure to take some time to stop and smell the tulips!

A New Orleans Family Vacation

Booking family travel for the March Break can be a daunting and expensive experience. Dismayed at the prices of airfare to get from Toronto to Orlando, even with connecting flights, I took the opportunity to cross another city off my bucket list and headed, not long ago, to New Orleans, Louisiana. March Break in many cities is an opportunity to reel in the tourists at inflated rates, but in New Orleans, Mardi Gras is over, and deals can be found from Ash Wednesday right through the March Break and beyond. There's lots to see and do -  ghost stories and swamp tours, a world class aquarium and Imax theatre, horse and buggy rides, voodoo shops and cemeteries -  there is a lot more to New Orleans than Bourbon Street, and plenty to entertain the under 21 crowd too.

But for a first time visit, typical tourist attractions will be high on your list, and most can be accommodated by walking if you situate yourself in or near the French Quarter. My then 12 year old son and I chose the New Orleans Courtyard Hotel on North Rampart Street as our home base. Once a Victorian mansion and private residence, today it features free wifi and a courtyard pool. Only a short walk to Bourbon Street and the heart of the French Quarter, the New Orleans Courtyard Hotel is close enough to make wandering Bourbon Street your nightly entertainment.

And entertaining, it is! Street performers, and buskers abound from  kid friendly magicians and musicians to the gold painted gentleman who stood frozen with his middle finger extended - probably the highlight of the 12 year old's trip.   If you're worried a tween/teen may restrict the adults in the party from imbibing a little of that New Orleans "spirit", rest assured, drinks can be purchased from take out windows along Bourbon, and enjoyed in plastic take-out cups.

We spent our first evening on a walking ghost tour, something I always suggest, as it helps you to orientate yourself, and pick places you might want to revisit later. I highly recommend picking the French Quarter Phantoms Ghost Tour. Their ticket pick up location has changed from Flanagan's Pub to the Voodoo Lounge on North Rampart, but the two for one Hurricane deal is still in effect, and you may score an awesome deal off Groupon.  Just under two hours, with a much needed pee break midway, the tour explores some of the better known villains of the area, such as the infamous Madame LaLaurie and her house of horrors, recently owned by Nicholas Cage and rumoured to have been sold to Johnny Depp.

From the balcony of this home, a young slave girl was reportedly chased until she fell to her death. According to our Phantom Tours storyteller, tourists regularly report to the police seeing a young girl fall from the balcony; so often so, that the police no longer investigate. The locals and police alike have learned to leave the ghosts well enough alone. Of course, if you choose to stay at the Andrew Jackson hotel, you may find yourself the unwitting victim of a few, long dead, pranksters. Apparently, the ghosts of several children who perished in a fire when the Jackson hotel was a boys’ boarding school, amuse themselves turning lights and televisions on and off, rearranging furniture and moving guests' clothing. Maybe not as unnerving as staying at the Cornstalk hotel next door, where guests report finding photos of themselves asleep taken with their own cameras.

Having survived the evening (and the sleepless night which followed), we woke up early the next morning for the first of two tours by Cajun Encounters. The first, a city and cemetery tour, took us by bus around the city. Highlights include the homes of Sandra Bullock, Anne Rice and the Manning in the historic Gardens district, an emotional tour of the lower Ninth Ward, still devastated some ten years after Hurricane Katrina, and a walking tour of St Louis Cemetery. 

This tour provides a taste of New Orleans' rich and varied history and explains the Spanish influence in architecture, the emergence of voodoo and the levee system. And if you were ever curious about the origins of the expression "getting the shaft" know that bodies left on slabs inside tombs only need one year to decompose in New Orleans heat, before the bones can be pushed over the edge with a long handled, stiff broom, to make room for the next occupant. Sort of, rest in pieces.

Cajun Encounters picks up and drops off from downtown hotels - we took advantage of this and had the driver drop us off at the base of Canal Street. From there, we took in the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and an IMAX showing of Hurricane on the Bayou. This was particularly meaningful having just witnessed the ravages of Katrina, and as a prelude to our upcoming trip to the Bayou. If you've got money just burning holes in your pockets, be sure to check out the Backstage Penguin Pass, which entitles ticket bearers to meet a penguin up close, and receive a penguin painting, painted by a penguin. Say that three times fast.

Time to take a rest? Enjoy a reasonably priced mule and buggy ride from Jackson Square and then stop for a world famous beignet and café au lait. Next, hail a free shuttle ride to Mardi Gras World and check out where and how the parade floats are made.

Last, but not least, on this far too short trip, was a swamp tour in the Bayou. Our second trip with Cajun Encounters took us out to Honey Island Swamp. Guided by well-educated local field guides, we set sail in small groups to explore the wetlands and the fauna. Reptilian fauna. Hanging from trees above our heads fauna. Holy crap those are snakes hanging from trees inches above my head fauna. That kind. Also the long snout, large tooth, jaw crushing, man eating kind. Lots of native fauna. And flora. Mossy, swampy, spooky kinds of flora. A half hour but a world away from New Orleans. And then, tying it all together, were the boats wrecks from Hurricane Katrina, still lying where they were thrown, 10 years earlier.

We ended our trip with a cab ride back to Louis Armstrong airport, past the abandoned Charity Hospital. Friendly and chatty as most New Orleans natives are, the cab driver related the story of the Hospital's abandonment, which can now be seen and heard in a world class documentary  that focuses on the greed and corruption that followed in the wake of Katrina. Orlando may be the most magical place on Earth, but New Orleans - emotional, historical, spooky and raunchy -  wins hands down, the title most intriguing. Take a trip to the Big Easy; you won't be sorry you did.

Tour Guide Jack Goes To Venice - That's Amore!

www.isango.com

What better way to celebrate a twentieth wedding anniversary than going to Italy? And if you have stayed happily married for twenty years, you might know one secret to marital longevity is...separate vacations!!
So this July, Tour Guide Jack travels to Italy sans spouse. Of course, it is a very romantic country, and Venice vies with Paris for the world's most romantic city. So in that light, let's explore all the wonderful ways to enjoy romantic Venice!

blog.venice-tourism.com

You must of course visit St Mark's Basilica and the Doge Palace, but if crowds are not your thing, go early; the Palace opens at 8:30am. Just remember, this is not the time to show off those sexy legs - St Mark's has a dress code and you'll need to cover up legs and shoulders. Admire the mosaics, works of art, and jewel encrusted altarpiece, the famous Pala d'Oro. Emeralds, garnets, sapphires and pearls - over 2300 gems makes it worth the small admission fee. Next visit the Doge's Palace,  one-time fortress and home of the Doge, the thousand year old building housed the legislature and courts. Be sure to cross the Bridge of Sighs to the prisons and imagine what that last look at Venice meant to those who were incarcerated. If your honey hates waiting in line, save some time by buying your tickets up to three months in advance.  If the crowds really turn you off, consider an after hours tour by Walks of Italy.  They offer an exclusive, after-hours tour of St Mark's in a small,intimate group.

Of course it's the canals that Venice is most famous for, and nothing says romance like a ride on a gondola.

adriatic-lines.com

This can make for an expensive date; just be sure to check the price list - gondoliers must post municipally approved rates. Be warned; evening rides are more expensive, and serenading costs extra. An alternative is a tour up the Grand Canal one evening in a vaporetto. Venice's version of a city bus, vaporettos are notoriously crowded. But once the sun goes down, and the majority of cruise dwelling tourists have returned to their ships, the vaporettos provide a glorious tour of Venice. Head away from the train station toward San Marco to avoid the last of the day trippers. To get a bigger bang for your buck, purchase a pass (12, 24, 72 hours etc.). Nothing says romance like saving a few euros, especially when you will want to wine and dine your honey afterwards.

www.viator.com

It is said that there is nothing more magical than getting lost in Venice. Save time to wander through the alleyways away from the maddening crowds. Explore less visited neighbourhoods such as Cannaregio and Dorsoduro.  Of course finding your way back may be a challenge, but remember you are on an island and really can't get that far! If you're more the adventurous, sporty type, try your hand at gondolier lessons, or even kayaking. Just remember, the Grand Canal does contain raw sewage, so save your bikini for the beach. If you need an excuse to hold your honey tighter, take a ghost tour. In a city that's been inhabited for 3000 years (and seen its fair share of plague), there have to be a few things that go bump in the night.
Walk, shop, explore, dine, and marvel at her sheer beauty. And raise a glass to the beauty of Venice too. Saluti!!

The Krewe of Chewbacchus, and 69 other reasons to visit New Orleans!

If you have traditionally celebrated Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, with a pancake breakfast, you might think of visiting New Orleans, Louisiana one day, where the celebration of excess is stretched over 40 toe tapping, bead throwing, liquor downing days! New Orleans kicked off its annual party January 6 with a nod to Joan of Arc and a feast of King Cake. Before it ends on February 9th, New Orleans will have had 70 parades to celebrate the season, including my new favourite, led by the Krewe of Chewbacchus, an intergalactic sci-fi krewe whose theme this year honours the Cult of the Sacred Drunken Wookiee.

Or if your tastes run to the more traditional, you may want to take in the Krewe of Orpheus. Founding members include Harry Connick Jr. This Krewe is famous for its celebrities, who have included Sandra Bullock, Fats Domino,and Quentin Tarantino. This year, Canadian actor Nathan Fillion of Castle fame will be at the helm.

(Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)

For a taste of historical New Orleans, be sure to see the parade of the Krewe Of Rex. One of the oldest participating groups in Mardi Gras, the Krewe of Rex has held more parades than any other organization. Founded in 1872, they are the origin of many Mardi Gras traditions, including the official Carnival colors of purple, green and gold. The Krewe consists of 600 male riders and parades on the New Orleans uptown route on Mardi Gras day.
Anytime of the year, make a point to visit Mardi Gras World. Just a few minutes (and free shuttle ride) from the lower end of Canal Street, Mardi Gras World is the place where they make the magic.
Here, artists work year round to build those fantastic floats. A tour includes a short film documenting the history of the celebration and the founding of the krewes, a taste of King Cake, and then a behind the scenes look at the making of the floats. Plans for Mardi Gras 2017 will begin as early as Ash Wednesday, as workers begin to dismantle many of the floats in order to reuse and recycle parts for next year. And we can all drink to that!
Check out a complete schedule of the parades at http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/schedule.html

Christmas Vacation (or how not to buy presents)

Christmas is now roughly six weeks away, and if you are like me, you are racking your brain thinking of how you can avoid buying gifts. It's not that I am averse to gift gifting when someone has their heart set on something special; but I am not keen to waste money on gifts that the 14 year old neither needs nor wants just for the sake of putting wrapped boxes under the tree. Nor will I remortgage the house to fulfill the wish list of the 18 year old. What's the solution? A Christmas vacation of course!!

 If the days are growing cooler and the sun is setting earlier, you may be dreaming of a tropical getaway. Sand beats snow any day; consider an all-inclusive trip to a Caribbean island. There is something to be said for waking up Christmas morning to the sound of the waves crashing and the birds singing, particularly if it is followed by an all you can eat breakfast buffet. In years past, we have watched Santa zoom by on a motorboat, and seen him arrive by donkey, and even one year with camels in tow. You never know what surprises your hotel might have dreamt up. 

Of course it is expensive to travel over the Christmas holidays. Any time the kids are out of school is high season. Try travelling right on Christmas day for somewhat cheaper packages, and if you are giving in to the temptation of bringing gifts with you (Why? Is the vacation not enough?), remember to leave all packages unwrapped for customs. Over the years, we have begun to cheat a little. Instead of travelling right over Christmas, we make sure we have the trip planned in time for Christmas. Wrap up some e-tickets, throw some goggles and sunscreen in the stockings, gum for the plane and a trashy magazine or two, and you are good to go! My favourite Christmas was the year I wrapped trip clues for Christmas. The first child was mystified to unwrap a wooden letter "U". The next child unwrapped an "R". The next gift was a small toy plane, then a number "2" and the last gift was luggage tags for Disney World. "U R flying 2 Disney World!" Hokey but fun!

This year, we are really pushing it. Merry Christmas kids, you are going to Italy! In July. Well, some things are worth waiting for, aren't they?

94 things to do in Toronto, Canada!

In honour of the Blue Jays 94 wins to date, here are 94 things to do in Toronto, Canada's largest and most populous city. In absolutely no particular order:
1. Ride an elevator up the CN Tower, the tallest free standing structure in the Western Hemisphere.
2. Touch a stingray at Ripley's Aquarium.
3. See pandas at the Toronto Zoo.
4. Discover secret passageways inside Toronto's castle, Casa Loma.
5. Take a ferry ride to Centre Island.
6. Check out the dinosaurs at the Royal Ontario Museum.
7. Catch an improve show at Second City.
8. Indulge your inner foodie at the St Lawrence Market.
9. Score a goal at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
10. Sample beer at the Steam Whistle Brewery.
11. See what's hanging at the Art Gallery of Toronto.
12. Tour the Rogers Centre (formerly known as the Skydome) and admire the world's first fully retractable roof.
13. Listen to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra inside Roy Thompson Hall.
14. Stop and smell the roses in Edwards Gardens.

Ross Petty in Peter Pan

15. Spend some money in the Eaton Centre.
16. Buy something vintage in Kensington Market.
17. Enjoy lunch in Chinatown.
18. Try your hand at Segway, in the Distillery District.
19. Check out a Broadway hit in a Mirvish Theatre.
20. Boo Ross Petty during his annual holiday pantomime.
21. Tour the Winter Gardens Theatre, the oldest collection of vaudeville memorabilia in North America.
22. Go nude at Hanlan's Point beach.
23. Explore the history of footwear at the Bata Shoe Museum.
24. Go back in time at Pioneer Village.
25. Rent a bicycle made for two (or four) and bike Ward's Island.
26. Laugh it up at Yuk Yuks.

Gargoyles at Old City Hall, Tour Guys

27. Join the Tour Guys for a free walking tour.
28. Visit the Ontario Science Centre.
29. Watch a movie in the Imax dome.
30. Challenge your wits at a Great Escape game.
31. Hoist the sails on a tall ship.
32. Hike the Scarborough Bluffs.
33. Go swimming in the Beaches.
34. Explore Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
35. Watch Shakespeare in High Park.
36. Join a ghost tour. Boo!
37. Wander through the University of Toronto.
38. Watch a movie at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

The Distillery District

39. Stalk movie stars in Yorkville.
40. Walk the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival.
41. Tour Ontario's Legislative Assembly.
42. Visit the barnyard at Riverdale Farm.
43. Seal your love with a lock in the Distillery District.
44. Cheer on the Leafs at the Air Canada Centre.
45. Step back in time at Spadina House.
46. Take a clay class at the Gardiner Museum.
47. Eat Greek at the Taste of the Danforth.
48. Keep warm and dry in the PATH, 30 kilometres of underground shops and restaurants. Largest in the world!
49. Visit the Police Museum.
50. Place your bets at the Woodbine race track.
51. Explore themed gardens at the Toronto Botanical Gardens.
52. See a ballet at the Four Seasons Centre, or listen to the opera.
53. Hear the firing of the cannons at Fort York.
54. Wander through Graffiti Alley.


Graffiti Alley

55. Take in a Toronto FC game at the BMO stadium.
56. Look for Drake at a Raptors game.
57. Ride the train at the Toronto Railway Museum.
58. Get messy at Colour Me Rad.
59. Dare to do the Edge Walk at the CN Tower.
60. Skate by the lake down at Harbourfront.
70. Dance at Caribana.
71. Join the Pride parade.
72. Kayak the Humber River.
73. Learn some Canadian history at the McKenzie House.
74. Cheer on your knight at Medieval Feast, Toronto.
75. Play the Midway at the Canadian National Exhibition.
76. Ride a helicopter.

Humber River

77. Join a chocolate tour.
78. Try your hand at ax throwing.
79. Grab some bait and go fishing.
80. Rent some skis and grab a lift.
81. Join a scavenger hunt with Urban Capers
82. Play archery tag with Archery District, a tag game that combines foam tipped arrows and paintball.
83. Shop at the One of a Kind show, the largest consumer craft show in North America.
84. Head to a club in the Entertainment District and dance the night away.
85. Visit an indoor amusement park at the Woodbine Centre.
86. Play some laser tag.
87. Head out to the Greater Toronto area to do some Tree Top Trekking in Brampton.
88. Visit Vaughan and Canada's Wonderland
89. Get chased by zombies at Halloween Haunt.
90. Build something at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.
91. Visit Playdium in nearby Mississauga. Try over 200 interactive games, Go-Karting, batting cages, bungee trampoline, rock climbing and mini golf.
92. Dine at Winterlicious.
93. Explore Nuit Blanche.
94. And last but not least, GO TO A BLUE JAYS GAME. Go JAYS go!

Roger Stadium

Witches, Authors and Wharfs, Oh My!

My very favourite time of the year is approaching. There are pumpkins on porches and a chill in the air, and soon it will be time to strike a little terror into the hearts of neighbourhood children. We have long prided ourselves on having the scariest home on the block come Halloween, and this year like many before it, there will be zombies and coffins, skeletons and witches, and of course gravestones. I have long held a certain affection for graveyards, and all things that go bump in the night, and for many years I dreamed of visiting Salem, Massachusetts at Halloween. In my mind's eye, I always imagined darkened streets and candlelight, and the smell of something burning...

A mere 16 miles north of Boston, Salem makes for an easy and enjoyable day trip. We rode the orange subway line of the MBTA to North Station and from there caught a commuter train. For less than $10 and in only 49 minutes time, we found ourselves disembarking at Salem Station, only a five minute walk into the heart of Salem. We headed straight to the Salem Witch Museum. There, based on actual court documents, the museum brings to life the witch trials of 1692 for which Salem is famous. Using life sized stage sets and a chilling narration, the events that finally led to the deaths of twenty people are recounted. While none were actually burned, nineteen people were hanged, and one man was crushed to death. The combination of a belief in the devil, an outbreak of small pox and  accusations by a number of teenage girls culminated in widespread suspicion and hysteria. More than 150 people were jailed and awaiting execution before calmer heads prevailed.

Today, Salem is a bustling tourist town, with pedestrian only thoroughfares, intriguing shops and tourist traps. It is a little like Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls with its houses of horror, but Salem has a more dignified side as well. We walked through the town, stopping to tour the Old Burying Point Cemetery and pay our respects at the Salem Witch Trials memorial. Statues also commemorate Salem's two most famous "residents" - Elizabeth  Montgomery of "Bewitched" fame and author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Next stop was Wynott's Wand shop for a look at Harry's wand and a butterbeer. A truly remarkable wand shop for all aspiring wizards, Wynott's is like stepping in to a Potter book. Along the same street, there are a number of magic/witchcraft shops - and if you're looking for a psychic, Salem offers more per capita than any other place.

We continued walking toward the harbour and passed the Customs House. Though famous for its dark history, Salem was actually once America's sixth largest city with a bustling waterfront and busy privateering trade. Fortunes were made in international trade, and many houses remain, built originally for wealthy sea captains. Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked as the port's overseer at Pickering Wharf, the setting for his future novel, the Scarlet Letter. Today the wharf is almost abandoned, but near it is a house worth investigating - the House of the Seven Gables, the oldest surviving example of a 17th century wooden mansion in New England.
Guided tours of the house and gardens are $12.50, From there, we continued on to the ferry
docks, passing a fire truck adorned with Salem's logo, a flying witch on her broomstick. The ferry runs between Boston and Salem five times daily. The cost is a hefty $45 return, $25 one way for the hour's trip. These high prices do subsidize residents' rates making the ferry a more affordable commuter option. It can be a rough voyage, so if you suffer from seasickness, consider returning to Salem Station. Of course if you plan on visiting for Halloween, you may wish to book accommodations and enjoy all the season has to offer. Perhaps a ghost tour or two!