Destination Archives - Page 12 of 44

December 1, 2016 by Jeremy

A Look Into the History of the Tour de France

Photo by CC user Ghita Katz Olsen on Flickr.

Every year, viewers tune into their TVs to watch parts of the extensive and world famous Tour de France. Some even travel to get up close and personal with the racers as they cheer on their favorites from the race sidelines. If you’re a bicycling enthusiast, you might already know a little bit about this widely known race. If not, here’s a little information about the history of the Tour de France and what makes this nearly 3,500 km long race across the country so special.

The start of it all

For over 100 years, the Tour de France has captured the hearts of many. Originating back in 1903, the tour was founded by a French cyclist and journalist, Henri Desgrange. At the time, his newspaper sponsored the race and advertised it to other cyclists. During the very first race, a clear winner was produced, named Maurice Garin. He impressed many with an average speed of 25.7 km per hour. This very first race had a total of sixty different cyclists.

Race interruptions

Ever since 1903, the race has been completed and watched every single year. The only exceptions to this were the years of the world wars. Between 1915 and 1918, the race was interrupted by World War I and then interrupted again between 1940 and 1946 due to World War II.

Controversy in the middle of it all

Throughout the years, there have been a few different controversies that have tainted the race, however, the biggest one to date involves bicycle legend Lance Armstrong. During his Tour de France racing career, he has successfully won seven different times, much to the amazement of many. Unfortunately, however, it turns out that enhancement drugs were to credit for his winnings. Once his drug use was uncovered, all seven of his wins were removed from the race’s record books. He was found guilty of doping back in 2012 by the USADA.

The race today

In today’s world the race has changed a bit from its original origins. The first change is that it is now longer. It first started off as a nearly 2,500 km race but today stands out as a 3,500 race across the country. You’ll also want to note that the race itself is spread over 23 days, yet you’ll only find bicyclists racing during 21 of those days. The race is also known to alternate between a clockwise and counterclockwise circuit. The number of teams do vary slightly year to year from 20 to 21 or 22, but each team always consists of 9 riders each. The last Tour de France (2016) started off in Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy and ended in Champs-Elysees in Paris and was held over the summer in July.

For some, the history of the Tour de France is an exciting one due to both how long the race has been around and the controversies that have implanted themselves into the race. If you’re interested in entering into the world of cycling, you’ll want to learn a few more details of not only this race, but the many others found around the world.

November 28, 2016 by Jeremy

Top 8 things to do on a trip to Niagara Falls this Christmas

There are many things to do on a trip to Niagara Falls this Christmas

Photo by CC user Paolostefano1412 on Wikimedia Commons

If you’re planning on spending your winter break in the Niagara Falls region this year, here are just a few of the many events and activities waiting for you…

Take a Hornblower Cruise

No trip to Niagara would be complete without a catamaran cruise to all three waterfalls. No matter what time of year you go, this is always a thrilling experience, sailing up to the spray of the American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls.

Stay in a room with a view

If you stay in one of the best Niagara Falls hotels, you’ll be guaranteed to awaken every morning to the sight of the Horseshoe Falls from your bedroom. Imagine eating your breakfast as you look out onto this iconic natural phenomenon.

Go to the Winter Festival of Lights

From 19th November to 31st January next year, over one million people will be visiting the 8km of stunning landscape decked out in festive illuminations. From the Niagara Parks to Dufferin Islands and beyond, expect everything from Noah’s Ark to the world’s largest illuminated Canadian-American flag.

Try FlyBoarding

If you’re in the mood to try out a new water sport, you’ll find nothing more adventurous than FlyBoarding. You’ll be propelled up to 40ft in the air, as your very own “jetpack” uses traditional water-skiing technology with some added propulsion to send you skyward. Before you know it, you’ll be performing tricks just like the experts.

Visit Santa’s Grotto

If your little ones want to visit Santa, your best bet is to head for the Christmas Gift Show, on 3^rd and 4^th December at the Scotiabank Convention Centre. With over 100 stalls for you to explore, this festive-themed market will have tonnes of presents, sweet treats and demonstrations, with your very own Grotto for the kids to deliver their lists in person.

Walk through the botanical gardens

If you head towards the Niagara Parkway, there are a multitude of beautiful sights to greet you, the first of which is the famous floral clock. Right now, you’ll be able to see it with all 16,000 carpet bedding plants in their autumn/winter glory. Then, the 99 acres of perfectly manicured Botanical Gardens await you.

Take a zipline down the Falls

If you’re in the mood for something a little more adventurous, why not view the stunning scenery from above? WildPlay’s MistRider Zipline to the Falls is a brand new attraction for daredevils, and they’re located over Niagara Gorge and Niagara River, where you’ll sail past the American and Bridal Veil Falls before finishing at the Horseshoe Falls.

Enjoy festive fayre at McFarland House

For a touch of tradition during the Yuletide season, McFarland House will be decked out in Victorian splendour while you tour its hallways. This is a unique experience to see a restored period property, with a cup of mulled cider in one hand and a freshly-baked Christmas cookie in the other.

Where are you going for your Christmas getaway?

November 13, 2016 by Jeremy

Fun places to travel on a private jet in America

Photo by CC user mmordfin on Flickr

Have you come into some money recently and want to check out an awesome bucket list item? Have you thought about chartering your own private jet?

Whether you’ll be shouldering the cost yourself, or getting several friends to pitch in for the experience of a lifetime, there is no better feeling than boarding, traveling to, and arriving in an amazing destination in your own private plane.

If you are thinking about doing this, here are some great places you can go in America.

1) Chicago

When a craving for deep dish pizza, soulful jazz and blues music, or iconic sports teams hits, organizing a jet charter to Chicago will satisfy all of these needs handily.

In addition to the above mentioned attractions, the Windy City also has one of America’s most iconic skylines, including the Willis Tower, which was once the tallest building in the country.

Be sure to also stroll the Magnificent Mile, as it is home to one of the greatest concentrations of luxury shops in the United States.

2) Miami

If chasing warm weather at this time of year sounds like a much better idea to you, then a jet charter to Miami is what you should be shooting for.

Located just north of the Tropic of Cancer, this cosmopolitan city is home to people from all over Latin America and the world.

This gives this town a flavor that will call you back more than the fantastic beaches found up and down its coast.

Throughout South Beach, you’ll also find a world-class nightlife scene that will prove to be the perfect way to end a day spent soaking up all that Florida sunshine.

3) New York City

When it comes to exciting places in America, none can trump the attractions that can be found in the Big Apple.

Also referred to as The Crossroads of the World, New York City has given the world countless dishes, some of its most daring skyscrapers, and it has served as the USA’s welcome mat during the early days of immigration to this country.

Be sure to check out Midtown’s many world class restaurants, which give priceless views of this city’s brilliantly-lit up buildings at night. The prices may be high, but the chefs here deliver value that exceeds what you’ll pay for the dishes you’ll order here.

4) Los Angeles

What could be more baller than flying into Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood glitz and glamor, on a private jet?

With all the trappings of this center of showbiz, plus surfing beaches where legions of well-toned locals turn out on a nice day to show off their bodies, there will be plenty to do during the course of your stay.

November 13, 2016 by Jeremy

Preparing your home for your first winter in Ontario

Photo by CC user JamesDeMers on Pixabay

Whether you just moved to Ontario, Canada from a warmer climate or you are a new homeowner that has never had to cope with winter before, it is vital to be aware of what you need to do to get your house ready for the colder months of the year.

This post will run down a few issues that you should address before the first snow flies.

1) Check the weatherstripping around your current windows

Of all the points of ingress for cold air, poorly sealed windows are among the worst offenders. Even the tiniest cracks will provide a continuous channel through which frosty drafts can flow into the warm interior of your home.

This forces your heating system to work harder, wearing it out faster and driving your energy bills skyward.

There are many Newmarket windows that have weatherstripping that has worn off over time. Many of these homes here were built in the 1970’s or earlier, making them more likely to have deficient weatherproofing.

By checking them for spots where old weatherstripping has eroded off the exterior of the window, you’ll be able to seal any leaks you find, saving you money over the short and long term.

2) If need be, get new insulated windows

Like Newmarket, many Markham windows are compromised by weatherproofing issues. However, some of these may need more than just a fresh layer of weatherstripping, as they may have old windows with a single pane of glass or internal insulation that had broken down many years before.

In this case, ordering a new window that has double or triple panes (with the space between each sheet being filled with gas) will help keep the heat in your home and the cold outside where it belongs.

3) Clean debris out of your gutter

After addressing your window issues, get up on a ladder and check out your gutters. In all likelihood, they will be filled with leaves, twigs, and other organic matter.

Left uncleaned, clogged gutters will trap water that will then freeze, leading to ice dams that can channel water into your home instead of away from it.

In order to prevent this costly episode, set aside a couple of hours one weekend afternoon and just get it done – the headache you’ll get from a massive repair bill will be much worse than getting some exercise on one of your days off.

4) Inspect and perform maintenance on your heating system

Of all the winter preparations one can do, this is the most important. If you don’t have a properly functioning furnace, you’re going to be miserable once that first Arctic cold front of the season drops down from Hudson Bay.

Get a professional to clean it, turn it on and check for problems. Also, ensure that all your ducts are properly sealed to ensure maximum efficiency; when you’re warm and toasty inside when it’s -20 outside, you’ll be thanking us!

November 11, 2016 by Jeremy

Taking off on a great Canadian adventure: our top picks

Begin your great Canadian adventure in Vancouver

Photo by CC user Socceronly on Wikimedia Commons

Looking to plan a trip to Canada? In this post, we’ll profile several destinations that should feature on your travel itinerary while you are touring around up in the Great White North.

1) Vancouver

If you are entering the country from the west, make sure that you make Vancouver your first stop. While it is one of this nation’s youngest cities, it has come a long way in a short time, has it arguably has the greatest collection of cutting edge skyscrapers of any major center in Canada.

This density, along with the region’s mountainous terrain and ocean frontage has created the perfect intersection of urban amenities and natural attractions.

From the North Shore Mountains to Stanley Park, there are plenty of spots to get in touch with this region’s West Coast rainforest once you’ve had your fill of world-class restaurants and shopping as well.

Even if you don’t begin your journey here, make sure you make plenty of room in your itinerary for a visit of a few days before heading home.

2) Canadian Rockies

Western Canada has more than this nation’s share of mountain ranges, but if you only have time to enjoy one of them, focus your attention on the Canadian Rockies.

From the cute mountain town of Jasper to the timeless beauty of Lake Louise to the less-trafficked confines of Waterton Lakes, there is more to this region than Banff.

We don’t mean to slag its most popular destination though, as its gondola, accessible alpine hiking trails, and its proximity to two popular ski resorts makes spending time there a foregone conclusion for any visitor to the Canadian Rockies.

3) Niagara Falls

Out east, there is no natural sight that has captured the imagination of foreign visitors quite like Niagara Falls. Standing out brilliantly to the less-imposing American Falls, the Horseshoe Falls sit on the Canadian side of the border.

Louder, fuller and more photogenic, travelers can take the Maid of the Mist cruise right up to the edge of the gorge, or they walk in behind the flume (protect your electronics, as its gets wet in both spots).

With tons of restaurants, casinos, and other diversions, there are plenty of other things to do to round out your day at the Falls afterward.

4) Montreal

The largest French-speaking city in the world outside of France, Montreal has a cultural pedigree that is tough to find elsewhere in North America.

Its Old Town will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Europe, and Guy Laliberte’s Cirque du Soleil plays shows under a big tent on the waterfront all summer.

At night, St. Catherine’s Street and Rue Peel are the places to be, as both these spots have plenty of bars, pubs, and clubs to appeal to those of all interests.