http://www.journeysontario.ca/ Welcome to Journeys Ontario. Your one-stop website for information, maps and pictures of great Ontario Hiking, Geocaching, Canoeing, Camping, and anything exciting that happens outdoors. http://www.journeysontario.ca/jo.gif http://www.journeysontario.ca http://www.journeysontario.ca/Adventure/Carassauga.html With only our passport, we visited 7 different countries in a single day. We were greeted by friendly people, offered scrumptious food and drinks, and entertained by singers, dancers and musicians. By the end of our day, we were exhausted but extremely happy and entirely satiated.  It was amazing that we never had to leave the city of Mississauga to have such an amazing cultural experience. Yes, you may have guessed that we recently attended Mississauga ’s Carassauga festival! http://www.journeysontario.ca/Adventure/Toronto_After_Dark_Film_Festival.html Don’t be surprised if you see something or someone very frightening hanging out in the Annex neighbourhood of Toronto this week… be it a zombie, a vampire or worse!  Dressing up is all part of the horrifyingly good times to be had at this year’s After Dark Film Festival hosted by The Bloor Cinema. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Adventure/Toronto_Zoo.html There are a few trails to choose from if you’re looking for a good hike in the woods or alongside the lake.  The Vicki Baron Trail follows the lakeshore, taking you past a wee little beach area, through forest and then into fields filled with flowers.  Where there are this many flowers, there is bound to be bumble bees!  I don’t believe that I have seen so many bees in one field since I was a little kid (let’s face it, when you’re a kid, you’re a little closer to the ground and perhaps a little more concerned with the fact that your hands and legs are in the bumble bees’ field of vision). We really enjoyed standing still and admiring the size and technique of the bees as they buzzed from one flower to the next, while listening to the harmony of at least three or four different singing birds.  http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Island_Lake_Conservation.html There are a few trails to choose from if you’re looking for a good hike in the woods or alongside the lake.  The Vicki Baron Trail follows the lakeshore, taking you past a wee little beach area, through forest and then into fields filled with flowers.  Where there are this many flowers, there is bound to be bumble bees!  I don’t believe that I have seen so many bees in one field since I was a little kid (let’s face it, when you’re a kid, you’re a little closer to the ground and perhaps a little more concerned with the fact that your hands and legs are in the bumble bees’ field of vision). We really enjoyed standing still and admiring the size and technique of the bees as they buzzed from one flower to the next, while listening to the harmony of at least three or four different singing birds.  http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Glen_Haffy.html As it is still early season, considering that many conservation areas only open in late April or early May, we were surprised but not overly shocked by the fact that there was a small but powerful sign on the trailhead that said that the trails were closed.  Since there wasn’t anyone to ask about whether or not this warning really needed to be heeded, we took our chances and proceeded with caution.  We brainstormed what could possibly be a good reason to close a trail and came to the conclusion that it must have been due to the fallen branches and general overgrowth along the trail.  http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Shades_Mills.html Even though we pulled in about three hours before closing time on its first weekend, we were still pretty surprised to see no other car in the parking lot and only one other person (and their dog) along the trails.  We’re thinking that this probably isn’t the norm during the warmer, sunnier and less wet months of July and August.  We followed the Toyota Trail along the river and across the footbridge to the other side of the conservation area.  The trail map came in handy after we decided to take a side-trail only to find our planned return route inundated by the overflowing lake.  So, rather than wade back towards   whence we came, we opted for an alternate route along the well-marked trail (i.e., there is actually a marker that says “EXIT” and points you in the right direction!)  http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Dumfries.html Right in the middle of Cambridge , Dumfries was originally a piece of land that was donated to the Queen but to be maintained for the benefit of the local public. The Grand River Conservation assumed responsibility for the land about 30 years ago with permission for the donator, Mr. P.R. Hilborn.  http://www.journeysontario.ca/Travel_Log/Travel_log_10_Winter_Camping_Algonquin.html Our last winter camping experience in Algonquin was in a yurt—comfy, warm and dry. As promised to ourselves, we planned out yet another winter camping trip but this time we opted for trying out our tent with what we hoped would be the same results—comfy, warm and dry.  http://www.journeysontario.ca/Adventure/Haliburton_Dogsled_Derby.html Being that this was our first experience of a dog sled derby, we really didn’t know what to expect.  To say that we were pleasantly surprised, would be an understatement.  It is so incredible to see how wild and excited the dog teams get at the start gate.  Yipping, barking, hopping up and down, all psyched up for the big race—these dogs were just so pumped to get running! http://www.journeysontario.ca/Adventure/Scuba_Happy_Divers.html After researching local dive shops, visiting their sites and contacting them by phone, we decided to put our scuba diving fate in the hands of Happy Divers Den in Streetsville , Ontario .  Candy Marston, owner and “Dive Momma” of this friendly little shop, answered all of our questions with facts and from personal experience.  During our first visit to the shop, a dive “regular” popped in to return his empty tanks for refilling.  We had a great conversation about scuba diving, how much of a thrill I was in for, and how most people get hooked on the sport right from their first dive. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Burns.html Part of the Halton Region’s collection of protected lands, Burns Conservation feels like a natural best kept secret.  There were all of four other people in the area when we visited on a very sunny afternoon.  Of course, it was extremely hot and humid—which could have accounted for the measly attendance.  Even we almost didn’t make an afternoon of it, but not due to the sun’s spiky rays—thanks to the inundation of blood-sucking mosquitoes!  Not two minutes up the trail and we were very rudely reminded of the fact that we had neglected our typical soak-down in insect repellent.  http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Luther_Marsh.html Luther Marsh is fundamentally a bird sanctuary and home to many varieties of duck, sparrows, owls, and geese.  Many areas are hailed as sanctuaries in order to restore bird populations, wooded areas and to rejuvenate watersheds.  Fishing and hunting are permitted in some areas at certain times of the year. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Adventure/Gay_Pride_Toronto.html Being sick as a dog, Nancy decided to stay home for gay pride this year... however I headed down alone to try to get some great pictures. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Heart_Lake.html Heart Lake Conservation area is a natural oasis in the middle of urban sprawl-ville.  Yes, as the GTA continues to grow out and up, it is becoming harder to find that taste of the natural world untainted by honking horns and that oh-so-lovely smell of smog.  We were so pleased that we found this significantly sized conservation area a mere 20 minute drive along the 401/up the 410 from our home.  We were equally pleased to see the sprawling picnic areas, a network of trails and a large lake! http://www.journeysontario.ca/Photography/Shooting_Moose.html I know, I know... big surprise that Algonquin Park is a good place to shoot nature BUT did you know if you go at the beginning of May you are almost guaranteed to get some great shots of moose? http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Hendrie.html This is fast becoming my favorite place to go for hiking or animal watching. There is a huge assortment of animals, and if you have some time and patience, they will let you get close enough for a great picture. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Adventure/Muskoka_Wildlife.html We must have zipped past the Muskoka Wildlife Centre at least a half dozen times since it’s located right on Highway 11 North in the Gravenhurst area… not realizing what we had just missed!  The Muskoka Wildlife Centre is not zoo but rather a sanctuary for un-releasable animals--- un-releasable mostly due to the abuse of humans. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Valens.html By a traffic-induced twist of fate, we came to visit Valens Conservation Area .  Originally on our way (once again) to the Oak Ridges Moraine area, we were horrified by the already gruesome traffic heading eastbound across the city… despite it being only 1 o’clock in the afternoon.  So, we made a snap decision to head back home for a super-quick surf on the net for a new location.  Voila—Valens Conservation Area!  South of the city of Guelph , about 80 kilometres from Toronto , we found a veritable winter playground. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Scuba/Dives/Annie_Falconer.html The Annie Falconer was a 110 ft. wooden two-master schooner built in 1867 in Kingston .  This is one lucky boat that seemed to have many lives since, between 1870 and the 1890s, she ran aground, sank (and was raised) and sustained significant damage from structural damage.  Unfortunately, her luck ran out in November of 1904 when, filled up with coal, she sprang and irreparable leak and sank to her watery grave.  Today, Annie sits upright in about 80 feet of water. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Photography/Majestic_Waterfalls.html Have you ever see a photo of a waterfall where everything looks sharp except the water, which looks blurred and flowing? This is an easy trick that looks great (so much so that you almost see it too much!) http://www.journeysontario.ca/Photography/Color_Cast.html We were in Chicago a little while ago, and decided to hit the aquarium. When we arrived home and I got a chance to look at some of our pictures, I was disappointed at how green all the pictures looked. They had all taken on a strong green hue from the water. (They asked us not to use flash... I'm pretty sure this would have fixed the problems, but we always try to follow the rules.) http://www.journeysontario.ca/Scuba/Dives/Lock21.html A historic plaque marks the entry point to what is essentially a set of locks that is now underwater.  Built to circumvent the rapids of Long Sault, the 270 foot long lock operated from 1885 through 1936.  Later, the area was purposefully flooded to serve as headwaters for a new Saunders hydro dam in Cornwall .  Old foundations from homes and buildings that were also along the flooded stretch of the now St. Lawrence Seaway can also be explored nearby.  http://www.journeysontario.ca/Photography/Panoramas.html Have you ever tried to take a picture of a majestic landscape, only to be disappointed by the result? One of the problems with trying to capture such a landscape is the field of view. Depending on your lens size, you are only able to capture a portion of the whole. This causes it to lose some of it's impact. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Adventure/Chicago.html Last year at this time, Nancy and myself headed out on a road trip to Chicago, to see the annual St. Patricks day Parade, and Chicago in general. It's a 1640 KM road trip (Round Trip), but well worth it. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Long_Sault.html About a ten minute drive from the Oshawa Zoo, you’ll find Long Sault Conservation Area. There is no visitors centre or grand gates to pass through, but there are vault toilets and an interpretive map to make your visit a pleasant one. We highly recommend printing off the map available on the area’s website to have on-hand just in case you decide to take a loop or two. Though, the trails are very well-marked and we only got turned around once at the very end of our hike. Despite it being a holiday, ours was one of three cars parked in the lot upon arrival but we found it to be much busier by the end of our hike (despite the fact that it was already after 5 p.m.) http://www.journeysontario.ca/Scuba/Dives/Rothesay.html Often referred to as “The Greyhound of the St. Lawrence,” the Rothesay was a passenger side-wheeler that traveled the St. Lawrence River .  On September 12, 1889 , the Rothesay collided with another ship ( Myra , a tug boat) and sank while transporting passengers from Montreal to Brockville .  None of the Rothesay’s passengers were killed but two crew members from the Myra were lost.  http://www.journeysontario.ca/Scuba/Dives/Muscallonge.html In her day, the Muscallonge was touted to be the largest tug boat on the Great Lakes and deemed to be a very important vessel along the St. Lawrence Seaway. On August 15th, 1936, while towing the small tug boat Ajax and the barge Bruce Hudson and filled with 9000 gallons of crude oil, the Muscallonge mysteriously caught on fire. In an effort to save his crew and his ship, the fast-thinking Captain S. Ahearn, cut loose the two boats that were in tow and ran his vessel ashore. His attempt was successful and all crew members were saved (by boarding the Ajax). Of course, the Muscallonge was engulfed in a raging fire, flames stretching out across the beach. The ship continued to burn through the night. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Cootes_Paradise.html With fresh, perfect snowball-making-snow on the ground, we decided to try a hike that is very winter-friendly:  Cootes Paradise.  The area, owned and operated by the Royal Botanical Gardens, is also a Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration Project—in fact, the largest restoration project of its kind in North America . From human overuse and the introduction of carp, this once lush marsh went into ecological decline.  Thanks to the efforts of many volunteers and the RBG, the area is in a state of regeneration. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Scuba/Dives/Waome.html When I think of cottage country, images of campfires, boats, fishing and beer drinking come to mind.  I must confess that I don’t align a good scuba dive with a cottage vacation.  Enter the perfect argument to this misguided assumption:  The Waome.   Settled in the Bracebridge/Gravenhurst area, you couldn’t ask for a better scuba-cottage vacation location. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Kortright-Center.html Rob and I embraced winter this year by hopping in our car and (eventually) onto the Trans-Canada highway… in December.  After some careful weather tracking and spying on road conditions online, we decided that the elements weren’t strong enough to keep us in the city for New Year’s Eve…we were heading for Thunder Bay ! http://www.journeysontario.ca/Travel_Log/Travel_log_9_Thunder_Bay.html Rob and I embraced winter this year by hopping in our car and (eventually) onto the Trans-Canada highway… in December.  After some careful weather tracking and spying on road conditions online, we decided that the elements weren’t strong enough to keep us in the city for New Year’s Eve…we were heading for Thunder Bay ! http://www.journeysontario.ca/Hikes/Hendrie.html Kortright is a very special place that all of GTA residents should visit at some point in their lives.  Many Toronto area children will experience this centre through educational programs when they come for a fun-filled day of learning about sustainable living, weather, aboriginal arts and lifestyle, and to enjoy winter activities. http://www.journeysontario.ca/Adventure/Summerlicious.html Summerlicious offers Torontonians and its visitors the opportunity to sample foods from 130 of Toronto ’s top eateries.  Restaurants create unique, 3-course, prix-fixe menus for lunch ($15-$20) and dinner ($25-$35 per person).  Reservations begin in mid-June and many popular venues fill up almost instantly.