Toronto Attractions and Events Make a Great Vacation

Millions of tourists from around the world travel to Canada to enjoy its culture, attractions, and natural beauty. One of the most popular vacation destinations is Toronto Ontario. Tourists take great pleasure in seeing the sites of downtown Toronto and visiting the various theme parks in the city. Other major Toronto attractions are the CN Tower, Skydome, Harbourfront, Toronto Islands, Toronto Zoo, Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma, and the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). Major events draw millions too, including the CNE, Caribana Festival, while the major sports events and theatre event season are ongoing all year.
Canada’s largest city is enjoying a prosperous economy in this last decade and considerable new building and development is occurring in the city.
The CN Tower - World's Tallest Free Standing Structure The CN Tower is undoubtedly the most visited Toronto tourist attraction which recently regained its rank as the tallest free standing structure in the world at 554.3 meters or 1815 feet. The tower elevator ride is an amazing experience for the whole family. Riders can see out any of the three high speed elevators glass walls during the 20 feet per second ascent to the observation level. The observation level has two decks, one with an outdoor observation area which extends right around the observation pod giving a 360 degree panorama of the City of Toronto. There is a glass floor area where visitors can walk out on. It takes a little courage to walk on it and peer down 1100 feet to the base of the tower and into Skydome stadium. On a clear day you can see all the way to Niagara Falls. For the very adventurous, another elevator can take you up to the 1400 foot level. This is the Skypod and you will be really high.
The CN Tower also has an upscale, revolving restaurant which takes dining to a whole new level of experience. The restaurant has the world’s highest wine cellar.
The Skydome, now called Rogers Center hosts the Toronto Blue Jays of the MLB League and major pop music concerts. Tours of the stadium are available. For shoppers, the Eaton Center shopping mall is amazing experience too. It is a huge galleria type mall with a glass ceiling more than 80 feet high. The mall has 4 levels with hundreds of stores and shops serving every imaginable item.
For thrill seekers, Canada’s Wonderland, a giant theme park has 14 roller coasters and many other scary rides. Top Gun roller coaster a twisting, spiraling ride, Vortex Roller coaster which comes out of Wonder Mountain, and the Psyclone, a giant swing are the perennial favorites. WildWater Kingdom also
To see all the sites in Downtown Toronto, you may want to take part in one of the tours offered by a number of tour operators. There are helicopter tours, boat tours, bus tours, walking tours, and even limo tours.
The Toronto Harbor offers tours aboard some interesting vessels. You and your family will enjoy the evening dinner cruises with the colorful backdrop of Toronto’s waterfront, the sunset, and the lights of the downtown Toronto buildings. It is very romantic.
Along the old city streets of Toronto in the summer, you’ll find an interesting array of quaint shops, theaters, and outdoor bistros and restaurants. You’ll easily enjoy a full day of shopping, sightseeing, and casual dining.
Ontario Place is a large entertainment complex at the waterfront with outdoor cafes and a huge IMAX theater. You’ll enjoy strolling at the marinas where yachts are moored.
Just Outside Toronto If the downtown Toronto doesn’t have all you need for a stimulating experience, then everything else you might want is nearby. Niagara Falls is a short 40 minute drive to the south. You can visit Canada’s wonder of the world and visit the Casinos there. Muskoka has been a long time favorite of vacationers from Canada and the US. There are plenty of Muskoka resorts with golf courses, spas and walking trails. This is Ontario’s’ cottage country, a stretch of beautiful landscapes with rock, trees, and rolling hills. The Gravenhurst Boat Show runs every year in early July.
Also nearby is Canada’s longest freshwater beach. For one or two days, you might want to drive north to Wasaga Beach on Georgian Bay. The water is warm and the beaches are safe.
Back in Toronto, there’s more to visit. One architectural masterpiece you won’t want to miss is Casa Loma. Casa Loma is a stone castle not far west of the downtown area. It is filled with fascinating niches for kids to explore and has a magnificent flower garden. This old Toronto Castle has 98 rooms, 30 bathrooms, 25 fireplaces, 3 bowling alleys, a shooting gallery, and a wine cellar.
If you enjoy history, there are plenty of old Toronto buildings and districts which provide a glimpse of life in the past. The distillery district, entertainment district, and the St Lawrence market area are very popular.
The Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame is an exhibit of Canada’s national pastime located in one of Toronto’s old preserved buildings. There are plenty of exhibits showing the great players of Canada's greatest sport. The Hall of Fame building sits at the center of downtown Toronto and is housed within a modern mall which in turn connects to a series of underground walkways that makes access to the downtown core easy on foot.
There are plenty of hotels in the downtown Toronto area, many in the region called the entertainment district.
Toronto is an interesting place to visit with lots of variety to make everyone in your vacation party active and happy.
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Adventure Travel in Indonesia

Although the wily jungles of Indonesia are slightly tamer than the days of the Borneo headhunters, there are still many options for the modern day thrill seeker. Whether trekking in the jungles and mountains of the vast archipelago, diving in some of the most biologically diverse waters in the world, or visiting with some of the few remaining tribal groups in the world, Indonesia can still live up to its unfettered past.
From the snow capped peaks of Papua to the smoking volcanoes of Java, Indonesia presents any trekker with a wide array of choices, regardless of skill level. The further a field you plan to go, the more valuable you will find using a tour agency to arrange your trip. Tour agencies often get better deals on national airline tickets and can arrange for transportation and accommodation in areas where such amenities are scarce. Papua, the easternmost province of Indonesia, is unfortunately experiencing periods of civil unrest, so be sure to get updated information if you plan to set off there. The snow covered Carstensz Pyramid, locally known as Puncak Jaya, is the highest mountain in Papua. Please note - the trek up Carstensz Pyramid is for the experienced climber. For those looking for something challenging, but without the need for carabineers, try the third highest peak in Papua, Trikora Mountain. Indonesia requires all trekkers in Papua to obtain a climbing permit, usually arranged by your tour company. Trekking can be combined with a visit to one of the few remaining tribal groups on the island to experience first hand the wonder of what it means to live off the land.
If you like diving, the blue waters of Indonesia, teeming with marine life of all shapes and colors, are not to be missed. Some of the best diving in the world is found in Indonesia and options come in all price ranges, from a quick dip off the coast of Bali to a two week liveaboard that will take you to areas otherwise inaccessible. Among the most popular dive spots for those wanting easy access, as well as beach resorts, is Bunaken Island off the coast of North Sulawesi. Bunaken has suffered some damage to its coral reefs from blast fishing, but much is still alive or recovering through the efforts of local conservation groups. If you prefer a liveaboard, there are many operators to the Komodo Islands, Sulawesi's Wakatobi and Lembeh Strait, Flores, and Alor, to name a few. Shop around for the best price and definitely check up on the company or you might find your accommodations less than desirable. Once you get in the water though, expect to be awed by teeming barracudas, colorful cuttlefish, and mantas.
For the eco-tourist, the options are endless. From orangutan spotting and jungle trekking in Kalimantan to Komodo Dragon watching on the shores of Komodo, options vary by budget and time frame. The orangutan population continues to dwindle every year and some of the money garnered from eco-tourism goes to support foundations and local groups that work to save them. Although the number of visitors is limited each year, tour companies can arrange a visit to the famous rainforest study area of Tanjing Putting National Park and Camp Leakey in Kalimantan (formerly Borneo). A visit to the Ministry of Forestry's feed station might earn you the chance to interact with the orangutans directly. Accommodation and transportation are best arranged beforehand as flights can vary throughout the year. Another popular ecotourism destination is Komodo National Park which includes the three large islands of Komodo, Rinca, and Padar as well as several smaller islands. A visit to this area can be combined with a dive trip as the waters in the reserve are home to an estimated 900-1,000 marine species. The Komodo Dragons themselves, giant monitor lizards, are relatively easy to spot, but you're guaranteed to find them safely with the help of a guide. Accommodation in the National Park is rustic, but the staff is friendly and the food is decent. Foregoing the beaches of Bali may not be easy for some, but the treasures of the other Indonesian islands are not to be missed.
Alex Smith maintains and manages the Cheap Thailand Travel website at http://www.cheapthaitravel.com
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Golf Courses Around The World - Top Travel Spots for Golfers

While golf is not played everywhere (yet), there are many wonderful golf courses around the world to visit – many offering truly unique golfing experiences for the adventurous golfer as well as some breathtaking views for travelers. From America to Japan, there are thousands of great courses to please golf enthusiasts, but where better to start than the birthplace of golf – Scotland.
Seated in the Birthplace of Golf - Scotland Courses
Let us start with the what many would argue is the best golf course in the world - the game was invented and evolved at the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. To get an idea of how amazing it is, listen to the experts – Jack Nicklaus said about St. Andrews, "I fell in love with it the first day I played it. There's just no other golf course that is even remotely close." And Tiger Woods lauded, “Without a doubt I like it the best of all the Open venues. It's my favorite course in the world." With opinions like these from two of the top golfers in history, you can see why this one is not to be missed.
It is no surprise that Scotland hosts some of the finest golf courses in the world. One of the finest of the finest is Cruden Bay. Some say that golf was played on Cruden Bay as early as 1791. Today the course offers many unique challenges to golfers and is set against a gorgeous panoramic view, it was even voted as number 52 in the world by “Golf Magazine.” The course is actually set over the North Sea pipeline – so while you play over their contoured greens, muck of the U.K.’s crude oil supply is running beneath you!
Another great course, especially for tourists, is the Stromness Golf Club located in Orkney. It is not as challenging as many other top golf courses, and it is not even as attractive as most, but is it located just minutes away from the 5,000 year old burial mound Maes Howe. You could make a day of historical sightseeing and a golfing all in the same area.
Longest (and Highest) Links
Golf courses seem to be popping up all the time these days, so the site that holds the honor of longest course is disputed and ever changing. But there are some very notable ones around the globe…
One such contender for the longest course is the International Golf Club in Bolton Massachusetts. While the regular tees already have an impressive length of 6,547 yards, the “tiger” tees boast a full 8,325 yards.
A course in Chine that sits near the Himalayas claims to have a longer course that runs the length of 8,548 yards, but it is hard to measure a course that is situated at an elevation of 10,000 feet in mountainous terrain. So it is still hard.to determine to which course really is the longest.
By the way, of you thought 10,000 feet was a high enough elevation for golfing, take a deep breath and try out the Tactu Golf Club in Morochocha, Peru. This course sits 14,335 feet about sea level – and that is at its lowest point!
The Satsuki Golf Club in Japan is said to have the longest single, stretching the length of 909 yards.
Gorgeous Greens
If you’re looking for a course with some great scenery, you don’t have to look outside of the U.S. Located in Idaho, Hidden Lakes Golf Resort has some of the loveliest scenery you could ask for in a course. Not only does it have bent grass greens and carefully manicured bluegrass fairways, but you can often spot some local wildlife on the course. It is not uncommon to spot a deer or moose grazing just yards away from the links. Hidden Lakes has a log cabin lodge for you to enjoy, and has a new clubhouse, lounge, restaurant, and golf shop. If you want to get away and experience the beauty of nature while enjoying some golf, this highly rated resort is the place for you.
Historical Holes
If you want a golf vacation that’s rich in history, you have a few great options. How about golfing with a view of the Great Wall of China? That’s just what you’ll get when you play at the Beijing Golf Club, located just 30 minutes away from the Beijing International Airport. While Scotland has the oldest courses, India has the second oldest. The Bombay Presidency Club was built in 1827, and the Bangalore Golf Club was founded in 1876.
And this is just the beginning! There are many other winning courses in America, including “Golf Magazine’s” top ten rated courses of 2004: Pebble Beach in California, Pacific Dunes in Oregon, Bethpage in New York, Pinehurst in North Carolina, and Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. Scotland also houses many other historical and lush courses. And while I would definitely recommend making a trip to St. Andrews in Scotland, since it is one of the best courses around as well as the oldest, there are also many other fine courses worldwide just waiting for some traveling golf enthusiasts!
Katya Coen is a regular contributor to Golfing Eighteen, where you will find a wealth of information on golf, golf equipment, courses, and news. Find more on great courses along with beautiful photos on our site!
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