A little travel, whether it’s down the street to a restaurant or to a special place, is a great way to celebrate Mother’s Day and show the special lady or ladies in your life your appreciation for their year-round efforts.
A great place – although a sizable drive from Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton – is Niagara Falls where there are plenty of things for the family and Mom to enjoy.
Queen Victoria Park at the foot of Clifton Hill is the heart of Niagara Falls. The park contains a collection of unique native and international plants and a blaze of yellow and white daffodils with vibrant red tulips blooming with new growth. Walking through the park near the Falls you will enjoy a rock garden, hanging baskets, a tea rose garden and carpet bedding displays. Park benches and well-groomed lawns provide a great spot to unwind and you can even take Mom on a horse and carriage ride through the park.
If she’s looking for a ride a little more thrilling, climb aboard a one-of-a-kind boat ride into the mist. Niagara Hornblower Cruisers will take you to the base of the Falls while guaranteeing memories that will last a lifetime.
The Floral Showhouse along the Niagara Parkway opens its Hydrangea Show just in time for Mother’s Day.
Travel north along “the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world” to Niagara-on-the-Lake. This town is spectacular in May when new flowers and plants are showing off the best they have to offer.
At historic McFarland House in Niagara-on-the-Lake you can mark Mother’s Day on the patio, provided the weather co-operates. Another great spot is Queenston Heights Restaurant, which is hosting a Mother’s Day brunch.
If your mom’s more of a “wild child” take her to hangout with all the wildlife moms at Safari Niagara – moms are free on Mother’s Day.
Of course there are a lot of great places to honour Mom closer to home, so there is no excuse for not showing her a great time on her special day whether travel is involved or not.
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The Sarnia-Lambton official travel guide for 2018 is now available to the public free of charge. Pick up a copy at various locations throughout the municipality and plan your spring, summer, fall and winter activities.
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Trips are no longer just about sightseeing and checking countries off your bucket list. One of this year’s travel trends is about achievement travel. Travellers tired of doing the same old thing will seek out travel experiences that will allow them to achieve a goal or accomplish something they have never done before.
Challenging situations like completing a marathon for the first time, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or walking the Santiago de Camino, for example, will play a major factor in where travellers decide to go.
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Four Seasons has launched a new submarine experience at its Landaa Giraavaru resort in the Maldives, allowing guests to explore coral reefs and get up close to the abundant fish, sharks and turtles without the need for a wet suit. The three-seater submersible has bubble-like cockpits for 360-degree views and is designed to have minimal impact on the fragile ecosystem.
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The Peninsula New York turns 30 this year and to celebrate the hotel has announced a new Keys to the Kitchen program in partnership with some of New York City’s top restaurants. Each experience involves a meal at the restaurant of choice, then a tour of the kitchen, a meet-and-greet with the chef or a sample of a dish.
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A Bend and Beer event is taking place May 6 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Sons of Kent Brewing Company on Adelaide Street in Chatham.
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If your travels take you to Collingwood this spring or summer you should check out Collingwood Charters boat tours. The 2018 season launches May 19 and the company offers sightseeing tours on Georgian Bay, sunset cruises, local wine and beer tours, dinner cruises and wedding cruises. The “Huronic” is a 65-foot tour boat that holds up to 70 passengers. It is the only tour boat in Collingwood with an LCBO license and provides indoor and outdoor seating on 2 decks.
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Speaking of Collingwood, the 16th annual Taste of the Town event sponsored by the local Rotary Club will take place June 10 at Sunset Point Park. The event is an outdoor garden party fundraiser featuring food from the finest restaurants in south Georgian Bay and beer from around the world.
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Coming in June, a new and original installation from Canadian artist and visionary architect Philip Beesley will be on display at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Philip Beesley Transforming Space and Iris van Herpen: Transforming Fashion will run concurrently at the museum from June 2 to Oct. 8.
“Beesley has created a visually striking and original installation that will surprise and delight ROM visitors,” says John Basseches, ROM director and CEO. “To step into a Beesley landscape is to enter into a responsive space that erases the boundary between art and spectator to provide an immersive experience.’
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The 2018 Natural World Summit on the Environment is slated for May 24-25 at Rene Caisse Theatre in Bracebridge. The summit aims to understand and promote a variety of perspectives to examine how to bring ethics into the relationship with the biosphere. The summit will explore the role of cultures, religions and science in building a more balanced and ethical understanding of the planet. Speakers will include Stephen Scharper of the University of Toronto, Meg Lowman of the California Academy of Sciences, John Smol of Queen’s University, Stuart Chapin of the University of Alaska, James Gordon of Guelph and Dan Longboat of Trent University.
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A number of area golf enthusiasts are planning to head to Florida in early May to take in The Players Championship, one of the PGA Tour’s most prestigious and watched events scheduled for May 8-13 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra. The world-renowned par 72 course is home to one of the most challenging holes in golf, the island hole 17. The course is the crown jewel of northeast Florida and ranked among the top places to golf in the world.
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When is the May holiday weekend and Victoria Day this year? Victoria Day falls on Monday, May 21, meaning the May long weekend lasts from Saturday, May 19 to Monday, May 21.
In Quebec the holiday is officially known as National Patriot’s Day and coincides with Victoria Day. Sorry Nova Scotia, Victoria Day is not considered a paid holiday.
With one paid holiday given, why not tack on the Friday preceding the weekend or the Tuesday immediately following to make it a May extra long weekend? And how to make use of that time off? By shaking off winter’s chill by greeting summer with a trip away.
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A War of 1812 Officers Day event is slated for May 19 at historic Fort George near Niagara-on-the-Lake. The historic fortification built between 1796 and 1802 is host to a wide variety of fun and education events throughout the year. But long before it became a site of learning the site saw more than its fair share of battles and played an important role in the defence of Upper Canada.
During Canada Day celebrations on July 1 join the Friends of Fort George for a barbecue followed by a concert and dazzling display of fireworks.
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Expedia Cruiseship Centers is offering a chance to win a free cruise for two to the Caribbean. The grand prize includes a seven-night cruise with airfare, a $5,000 U.S. value. Visit the company email site for details.
More than 40 vendors have already signed up for a Craftacular planned for May 26 in Wasaga Beach. Admission is free with a donation to the local food bank. The event will take place at Lighthouse Community Church.
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Stratford is in fourth place on a list of the nine best cities in Canada to which to retire. With its pristine location along the Avon River, Stratford has been voted the “prettiest city in the world.”
What would be better than to retire in pure beauty, even though Stratford offers much more than beauty? The city offers two state-of-the-art medical facilities and is home to the Stratford Festival, a classical theatre group that pays homage to the works of Shakespeare.
Along with theatre, Stratford is home to many museums and antique stores. It’s the perfect place for those with a passion for the past.
Dubbed Canada’s premier arts town, Stratford will definitely meet the needs of those seeking beauty and art in retirement.
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A Vendor Expo is slated for May 5 at the Bradley Convention Centre in Chatham and a Game of Thrones trivia night at the Chatham-Kent Public Library will take place May 7 at 6:30 p.m. The Chatham branch of the Chatham-Kent Public Library will hold its annual spring book sale May 23-26. Retrofest 2018 in Chatham will take place May 25-26.
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Country music artist Bobby Wills will perform June 1 at the Tillsonburg Bandshell Bash. Also featured will be Celtic rock band “Mudmen” and The Small Town Girls.
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There is still time to take in the eighth bi-annual Canadian Carvapoolza this weekend on Bury Road at Highgate. This event is totally created for artists who want to share, learn and excel in chainsaw sculpture/carving in a non-competitive atmosphere. More than 25 sculptors/carvers are on hand creating their works of art.
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Readers are invited to submit their questions or suggestions on travel close to home or far away to travel writer Bob Boughner at [email protected].