Westminster Travel Trips

A few years ago the United Nations selected Canada as the # 1 country for quality of life, ahead of the United States and European countries. And if you needed proof of that, anyone who’s lived in Oakville – for 24 hours or for 70 years – can provide it. It’s easy to see why Oakville is THE exemplary microcosm of Canada – no two ways about it.

To see is to believe goes the popular saying. Pictures aren’t enough to profile this part of the world effectively. You have to feel Oakville and allow it to creep into your being before you can exclaim, “ah, but of course!”

Oakville is part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and is a 30-minute drive from downtown. It is a full service urban center but has none of the city pollution and noise that many North American cities are notorious for. You get to enjoy city amenities but with that small town ambience – a certain quaintness if you will – because this lakeside community is rich in history.

Where were you in 1827?

This was the year that Oakville was born. Today, it is one of Ontario’s best residential enclaves, and is home to over 260 local and international corporations that take up prominent positions in the automotive, pharmaceutical, technology and aerospace industries – just a sample of numerous business endeavors that constitute the economic core of Oakville.

What makes it such a prized location? Wholesome neighborhoods and excellent schools are two reasons. The 145,000 residents enjoy a high standard of living (household median income is $86,000.00).

Things to Do

If you’re visiting Oakville for the first time and you’re itching for a round of golf, you have a choice of seven golf courses, one of them the PGA-acclaimed Glen Abbey Golf Course. If you prefer the water over the greens, Oakville has two harbors. And if you simply want to stretch your legs and wander around after a long, drawn-out business meeting, the town has 2,400 acres of park space.

Wives accompanying husbands on business trips have about 400 shops, boutiques and restaurants to while away their time. Bike and hiker trails, some of them in close proximity to Lake Ontario, also abound in Oakville.

If Oakville has a prosperous $80 million tourism industry and receives about 1.4 million visitors annually, that should be a good enough reason to put it on your travel agenda for next summer.

Entertainment and Culture

Oakville is far from a sleepy town. The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts has a year-round schedule of theatre, dance, music and comedy shows. Do an enlightening tour of the museum in Erchless Estate and take a leisurely stroll in art galleries and historical associations. Or just gaze at the local architecture – particularly in preservation sites.

Speaking of festivities, there’s wholesome family fun in the annual Waterfront Festival and Festival of Classics and Jazz. And speaking of wholesome, the Oakville Santa Claus Parade will bring color to the bleak winter months: 50 floats, 12 marching bands, mascots and puppets – and yes, throw in the clowns.

You think you’re too old for Santa? Drop by anyway. When you leave, the assurance that there are very likeable spots left on earth will make you smile.

Places to Stay

Oakville has accommodations to meet every budget. The big name hotels – Marriott, Park Plaza and the Hilton – are examples. If you want a home-cooked breakfast and a taste of Oakville hospitality, there are bed and breakfast places as well as camp sites and low-end accommodations.

Holiday Inn Select Oakville 2525 Wyecroft Road Oakville, ON Canada Reservations: 1-800-359-6279

Hilton Garden Inn Oakville 2774 South Sheridan Way Oakville, ON Canada Reservations: 1-800-359-6279

Monte Carlo Inn Oakville Suites 374 South Service Road East Oakville, ON Canada Reservations: 1-800-359-6279

Country Inn Oakville 2930 South Sheridan Way Oakville, ON Canada Reservations: 1-800-359-6279

Oakville Plaza Hotel 360 Oakville Place Drive Oakville, ON Canada Reservations: 1-800-359-6279

Copyright 2006 Jason Seib

Jason Seib has been a resident of the Oakville Ontario area for the last 15 years and runs his own industrial property management firm as well as a local community information and classified ad site
http://www.myoakville.net

Chicago is famed for a number of things, but many people don’t associate the city with its amazing park district. This is a shame because with more than 7300 acres of parkland, encompassing 552 parks, 16 lagoons, 33 beaches and housing one of the world’s largest fountains, it is truly a great place to visit.

One of the most impressive and popular landmarks is definitely the Buckingham Fountain. The fountain is a great draw for tourists when it is turned on in April to signal the onset of summer. Constructed of Georgia pink marble, the attraction was first opened in May 1927 and still puts on spectacular 20 minute displays every day from mid April through to early fall, on the hour every hour between 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The displays consist of all the fountain’s 134 jets shooting approximately 14,100 gallons of water per minute, with the center jet shooting 150 feet into the air accompanied by a tremendous light and music presentation.

The fountain was originally designed by Edward H. Bennett, influenced by the Latona Basin in Louis XIV’s gardens at Versailles, to represent Lake Michigan with four sea horses, created by Marcel Loyau, to symbolize the four states that touch the lake.

The fountain was dedicated to the people of Chicago in 1927 in memory of Clarence Buckingham, the late brother of Kate Buckingham who commissioned the creation of the structure. Kate Buckingham had a vision to construct a fountain which created the effect of “soft moonlight”, and she worked tirelessly with the fountain’s many technicians to test out a variety of colors for the glass filters and different water currents in order to produce a mystical, ethereal feel to the whole piece.

The pond life around the area is often teeming with frogs, herons, and dragonflies, and the shrubs are frequently filled with resting migratory birds; the lush prairie region is also embedded with native grasses and wildflowers, making the Park District of Chicago a beautiful and serene place to go to while staying in the city. It is within easy distance of the Sears tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world, with its new Skydeck, the up market Merchandise Mart Mall, which will make even the most enthusiastic of power shoppers happy, and luxury hotels like the fabulous Conrad Hotel – so you can get a taste of nature but enjoy all the luxury and amenities that a big city can provide.

Andrew Regan is an online journalist who enjoys socialising at his local Edinburgh rugby club.

Staying at a Bed and Breakfast is a fantastic experience. You get great food, friendly hosts and an atmosphere you can’t find in a traditional hotel. Our top 5 reasons to stay at a Bed and Breakfast are:

1. Exceptionally prepared home cooked breakfasts
Like the name suggests a bed and breakfast will serve you breakfast! Most bed and breakfast owners take great pride in their breakfasts offering a wide variety of dishes to fit your needs or requirements. This may include fresh fruit, hot meals, cereal or other delicious foods. Make sure you let you host know about any special dietary requirements.

2. Free extras (Internet, DVD, jacuzzi)
No more paying for movies! Many B&B’s offer DVD players, free Internet access or if you’re really lucky a jacuzzi. Most hotels would require you to pay for each of these separately. A bed and breakfast includes them as part of the experience. What a great way to relax after a long day of sight seeing!

3. Bed and Breakfasts are friendlier
Why stay in a hotel room where you are just another customer? Bed and breakfast owners appreciate you. They want you to have a good time and will make your stay an enjoyable one. Bed and breakfast owners offer you a unique insight into the local community. They can tell you about places to visit, special events, or just offer you the chance to make a new friend.

4. Unique Experiences
The bed and breakfast experience is unique. The exist in different locations, and offer different services. For example, some bed and breakfasts offer packages that are not available through a standard hotel chain. Bed and breakfast inns located on a ranch or lake may offer horseback riding or fishing as part of your visit. Staying at a bed and breakfast may also give you discounts on a round of golf, dinner at restaurant, or nature trips.

5. Comfort and quiet
Last but not least a bed and breakfast offers you peace and quiet. No noisy neighbors in the next room, no sounds of water running through the pipes at odd hours, just peace and quiet. If you can, find one that is located in a quiet neighborhood with a garden or a nice view. You can then spend your days just relaxing and staring out at the ocean or something similar.

On your next vacation stay at a bed and breakfast. They offer far more services than a traditional hotel chain, higher quality food and a personal touch that cannot be beat!

Shawn is the owner of The Bed and Breakfast Connector directory. North America’s newest travel resource.