Summer Road Trip Series: Ontario EcoTourism Guide

An ecotourism escape doesn’t always involve skipping over glowing lava flows in Hawaii, or tiptoeing around the rainforest floor in Costa Rica. Nor does any camping trip automatically qualify as an ecotour.

Right here in Ontario, you can enjoy thousands of unique green adventures not far from your backyard (well, not as far from your backyard as Hawaii.)

5 Things You Can Do With An International Driving Permit

An International Driving Permit (IDP) allows you to operate a motor vehicle in another country when accompanied by your valid Ontario driver’s license. The IDP – not a license to operate a motor vehicle on its own – is slightly larger than a standard passport and is essentially a multiple-language translation of your existing driver’s license.

Summer Road Trip Series: Historical Battles Along The 401

Most 17th century military campaigns were waged over days, months, or even years. But who has that kind of time to appreciate the battles, raids, and skirmishes that made our little Upper-Canadian corner of North America what it is today?

Relax!, grab something Jumbo (or Venti) for your cup holder, and get ready for a warp-speed tour of the past: Getting out of the car is optional on this barely-off-the-highway 5-hour Toronto-to-Ottawa road trip through our proud military history…

Medical Incidents In 8 Examples Where Short-term Insurance Could Have Saved The Day

D’oh! They’re the last two things you want on vacation: An unplanned health emergency and an unexpected medical bill.

Though OHIP coverage extends in a limited way to Ontario residents on vacation in the U.S. (it covers parts of some emergency health services, but not ambulances, for example,) crossing the border in Eastern Ontario – even for a weekend trip – can be a roll-of-the-dice when it comes to medical coverage.

How to Save Money at These Iconic Canadian Vacation Destinations

What do you consider the all-time-greatest Canadian vacation destination?

Whether you’re planning on going to one of the iconic locales below, a different set of landmarks, or just researching a future trip, you’ll probably appreciate saving some money along the way.

With that in mind, check out our guide to seeing the great sites of this vast nation, with a little cash left over (if only to be spent on a few un-planned souvenirs)…

12 Star-Rated Family Vacations That Will Keep Everyone Happy

Top 10 things you have to do at the new Harry Potter theme park (in order)

There’s a new castle in town, and unlike the traditional Orlando landmark, this one isn’t inhabited by a mouse or a fairytale princess.

More likely to be crawling with giants, ghosts and house elves, Hogwarts Castle at Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens in a matter of weeks, along with loads more attractions that promise to be some of the most advanced theme park experiences anywhere.

Last-minute guide to attending the Vancouver 2010 Games

If you’re kicking yourself for not heading to the 2010 Winter Games or thinking it’s too late to get here, think again.

A few days into the Games, traffic is reasonable, crowds are civilized and – believe it or not – there are still tickets available.

If you’ve so much as entertained the thought of dropping everything and watching history unfold in Vancouver, check out the following last-minute guide to getting into the Games:

Unique romantic experiences within 5 hour’s drive

Need to break out of the chocolates-and-roses routine, make-up for a ridiculous relationship faux-pas, or just try something different?

The following romantic experiences are sure to spruce up your love life. Whether you spring them as a surprise or plan them together, you can drive to any of the following destinations from most places in Eastern Ontario in less than five hours:

Love at 2,000 feet

Smells Like Disney: How The World’s Biggest Theme Park Scents Its Rides

Human beings can distinguish several thousand smells. Memory of a unique or meaningful smell can last a lifetime as smell is the strongest sense tied to memory. Smell can conjure up images of past experiences, or help transport our imagination to distant lands:

Maybe that’s why many of the indoor rides at Disney parks seem to have a distinct scent or two related to the worlds created within.