Snowshoeing: Canada's oldest sport is new again.

Snowshoeing New Sport for Ageing Boomers

Before heading out check the publishers first snowshoe experience. Snowshoeing for most today is a recreational sport making a comeback as the ageing boomers look for less strenuous sports activities during the winter months.  The Guardian reports that a 5300 year old man was found wearing snowshoes.  Although the materials have changed the method continues to be a basic form of enhanced walking through snow.

Recreational Winter Sport

Today there are a number of Ontario snowshoe getaway packages. There are snowshoeing race events  and specially designed trails for snowshoe enthusiasts. Snowshoeing has become a major form of recreation. See more interesting Canada Snowshoeing news.

Ontario Travel &Travel Ontario Getaways North of Toronto Canada: Ontario Ski and Snow Report Updates

Ontario Travel &Travel Ontario Getaways North of Toronto Canada: Ontario Ski and Snow Report Updates

Tourism and Family Literacy Day

I am always amazed at how many people I know who do not have a book on the go or can answer the question what is on your reading list? 

Introduced to Farley Mowat's  "The Dog Who Wouldn't Be" at age 10, I was mesmerized with the story, the flora and fauna, a prairie province, and finding out more about a pioneer grandfather.

In many ways it was a book that changed my life.

It stimulated a desire to travel, develop an interest in our great outdoors and to follow an author that continues today. Consequently, my life in the travel and tourism industry continues today.

I have always felt there is a gap in the tourism industry between reading about a destination and being romanced by a destination.

One of the great ways to get your kids into more reading today is trying to form a bond between a vacation and a real life Canadian story.  See our kids reading picks at 411Ontario Kids

Who are the destination authors that need to be celebrated? How do you make those characters real and and alive within a tourist destination?  Lakefield Ontario for example (photos) is the home of Margaret Laurence, one of Canada's more modern writers.

Historic Plaque in Lakefield Onario

Who knew that Susana Moodie, one of Canada's celebrated pioneer authors lived in the Lakefield area?

I feel there are the truths, the history, and the stretched truths that can add adventure and excitement to a desire and a vision to explore.

Celebrate Canada's National Literacy Day and try to answer the question "What are the books that can stimulate this desire and passion in children and adults to read and travel more in Canada?

Where is the "Literary Capital of Canada"? Feel free to add you favourite authors or comment on the Literary Capital of Canada.  



Find out more about Family Literacy Day® | ABC Life Literacy Canada:

Kids Learn to ski with penquins and sunflowers

Skiing with Penguins at Horseshoe Resort

I am always amazed at how quickly some kids adapt to a new idea or a new sport. I spent an afternoon watching my grandson take a ski lesson.  He was put into the "level one stage" of "six learning to ski stages".  With the help of several very patient instructors  he was outfitted and on the hill and up the magic carpet transportation system.
 

Kids Ski Lessons:  Skiing with the penquins

The kids had one vision... downhill from there.  As the instructors worked one on one with the newest learners they took zigs and zags on their way down with the resulting "pizza slice stop" before the magic carpet for a trip back up.  

Some of the children zigged to far left, some fell, and several hit a penguin (soft stuffed penguins) on the way down.

  
Additional Ontario Ski Resort Links
Horseshoe Valley Kids Korral
Horseshoe Valley Ontario
Ontario Ski Areas
Cross Country Skiing Getaways
Down Hill Skiing Getaways
Photo Gallery Kids Ski Lessons


Over the afternoon the patience of the instructors is repeated and demonstrated.  With cheers, and smiles and ongoing support for the kids the instructors were the perfect teachers and motivators to get the kids back on track.  Never was a tear shed, nor any complaints heard.

Happy Birthday Sir John A.

Bellevue House, Former Residence of Sir John A. Macdonald

Will Sir John come back for a birthday celebration. Happy Birthday this January 11.

The ghost of Sir John A. Macdonald will be pleased to know his former residence will be hosting Halloween celebrations on October 31 in Kingston Ontario.  On Monday October 31 follow the lit carriage way between 5 and 8 P.M. Parks Canada invites you and your little goblins to visit. Canada’s first Prime Minister may be lurking beneath the trees in his orchard, or in a trunk in the loft... or may be seen by candlelight as a wisp of smoke. The Ghost of Sir John A. may be returning on this frightful eve!! 

Stay in Kingston Ontario Hotels or my preference, the 1850’s Tuscany villa,  Rosemount Bed & Breakfast Inn.  Related Information about Sir John A. Macdonald in Kingston Ontario.

How to get your kids to like skiing - The Globe and Mail

How to get your kids to like skiing - The Globe and Mail:

Kids First Ski Lesson-Sunny warm winter day

The above link to this article in the Globe and Mail offers up a number of tips to get your kids interested in skiing. From what I see with kids today the best way into skiing might be via snowboarding.
I was very impressed last year when I took "the boys" for their first ski lessons at Snow Valley Resort.  However, I carefully picked the day as not too cold, sunny with some fresh snow.  They loved the 1/2 day outing.
Regardless the best thing we can do for our kids today is get them outdoors be it downhill skiing,
snowboarding, cross country skiing, or snowshoeing. If you live in the GTA the options are endless for travel north in Ontario. I learned to cross country in community parks in Cambridge Ontario, I then started downhill skiing near Barrie when my son wanted to start.

Check out the options available for families this winter.  See 100's of Ontario winter getaway options north of Toronto

War of 1812 angst results in Ottawa pick as Canada's capital

Who Knew?  On this day December 31 in 1857 Queen Victoria picked Ottawa over Toronto (now the Provincial Capital), and Kingston (the former capital of Canada).

Queen Victoria

American Invasion Still A Worry 
War of 1812 angst still existed. Bytown (now Ottawa) was far enough away from the border to make it suitable against potential American expansionism.

The Railway Factor 
The railway had arrived providing adequate transportation between Toronto and Montreal.

The Political Factor
Competing for the rights to the new capital were Quebec City, Toronto, Montreal and Kingston.


The reason for the new Ottawa, according to the Globe and Mail's Joe Friesen in a" Moment in Time" quotes Queen Victoria.  Ottawa "combines more advantages than any other place in Canada."  Friessen ads, " a typically Canadian compromise."

Suggested Three Capital Road Trip

Canadian history buffs might consider the 3 capital tour on a circuitous route from Toronto to Kingston to Ottawa back to Toronto through the Algonquin Park area via Highway 60 & Highway 11. 

Stay in Kingston Ontario Hotels or my preference, the 1850’s Tuscany villa,  Rosemount Bed & Breakfast Inn.

Pick your Ottawa Hotels  and on the way back check the interesting towns, villages and spots in the Algonquin Area