Daytrips to the Mountains

**MAY LONG WEEKEND SPECIAL** **SAVE $$$** **Was $3,950 NOW $3,555** **SOLO Was $4,695 NOW $4,297** CALL ME BY WEDNESDAY MAY 20 6:00PM or while space lasts (905) 471 7843 **PLEASE NOTE -THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THIS TRIP -Meetup will not let me post it all. For the FULL Itinerary - please email me at traveltheworldhorizons@gmail.com and I will send it you you. It is important for you to have the most info you can get to make a decision** HI EVERYONE SO EXCITED TO BRING BACK THE SPAIN PORTUGAL MORROCCO LAND PACKAGE I BOOKED FOR YEARS! This is land not a cruise! 14 Days - 3 Countries -11 Cities! 13 Breakfasts - 5 Dinners TAILORED BY YOU! This is ALWAYS our most popular land trip. It is incredible value and an incredible agenda. If you are looking to get back to a land trip AND travel with an EPIC JOURNEY this is it! $200.00 Non refundable deposit - call me at (905) 471 7843 occupancy - incredible value for this trip! $3550.00 Double Occupancy based on 2 sharing including all taxes and fees, - see full list of inclusions at the bottom. Very limited single supplement spaces ON SALE AS WELL $4297.50 OCTOBER 10 - 23 2026 FLIGHT - We will book through Trafalgar or use your points or I will help you. Stay extra time at either end. Meals * 15 Breakfasts * 6 Three-course dinners **First class travel Highlights -What You Can Expect On Your Trip** An expert Travel Director and professional Driver Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted Many meals and daily breakfasts included City orientation tours Audio headsets are provided throughout your holiday to enhance your included sightseeing experiences Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries Return ferry crossing between Spain and Morocco Extensive variety of Choice Experiences On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may Sightseeing Highlights * Casablanca View the Corniche and see the Hassan II Mosque during sightseeing with a Local Specialist * Fátima Visit the celebrated shrine * Fes Sightseeing includes a walking tour of the Medina and views of the Royal Palace * Granada Enjoy a scenic drive to this Moorish city * Lisbon View Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries on your sightseeing tour with your Local Specialist * Madrid Sightseeing with your Local Specialist includes views of the Royal Palace, Retiro Park and the Cibeles Fountain * Marrakesh Visit Bahia Palace and Djemaa el-Fna Square during your sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist * Rabat View the Mausoleum and Royal Palace during your orientation * Salamanca Orientation of this university city includes views of the Plaza Mayor * Seville Sightseeing with your Local Specialist includes views of the Cathedral, Plaza de Espana and Giralda Tower * Toledo Sightseeing with your Local Specialist includes views of the synagogue and cathedral. Visit a steel workshop * NOT INCLUDED * No early check in/late checkout included. * International flights * Travel insurance, visas and items of a personal nature. * Gratuities to Travel Director, Coach Drivers and Local Experts. * $200.00 Non Refundable Deposit You will be crossing by Ferry the Straight of Gibraltar from Spain to Africa - Morocco - this included. LeeAnn (905) 471 7843 INSURANCE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ASK ME FOR DETAILS You need a Passport with minimum 6 months remaining from date of arrival. Prices/itinerary can change any time. Costsaver a division of Trafalgar - YOUR CHOICE Travel Agency Nexion 380 Wellington St Tower B 6th Floor London #67927204 (519) 660 6966 Hope you can join us for this incredible vacation Included Sightseeing Casablanca View the Corniche and see the Hassan II Mosque during sightseeing with a Local Guide Fes Sightseeing includes a walking tour of the Medina and views of the Royal Palace Granada Enjoy a scenic drive to this Moorish city Lisbon View Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries on your sightseeing tour with your Local Guide Madrid See the Royal Palace, Cibeles Fountain and Retiro Park on a sightseeing tour with a Local Guide Marrakesh Visit Dar El Bacha and Djemaa el-Fna Square during your sightseeing tour Rabat View the Mausoleum and Royal Palace during your orientation Seville Sightseeing with your Local Guide includes views of the Cathedral and Giralda Tower Toledo Sightseeing with your Local Guide includes views of the synagogue and cathedral, enjoy a visit to a steel workshop The spaces go FAST so please call me at (905) 471 7843 to get on board. This is a trip to look forward to!!! Please read complete agenda! This is my 13 time booking this amazing vacation! YES! 13 x But not since the Pandemic.

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** For those of you who work weekdays and would like the chance to walk on a weekend or Holiday I am doing a special walk this Monday. The only authorized cemeteries within York were Anglican or Roman Catholic. Citizens who did not belong to either church had no choice but to find burial arrangements outside York. The General Burying Ground received Royal Assent in 1826 and land that came to be known as Potters Field was acquired and started operation soon afterwards. Over time, additional cemetery lands were added and in 1873, a new cemetery available to all citizens was established. The new cemetery was situated on the farm land of the Cawthra family near Yonge Street. This walk is for all fitness levels. Please dress for the weather. This walk will begin and end outside the Yorkminster Park Baptist Church at 1585 Yonge Street just north of Heath Street. This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person! This tour has space for **11** explorers, so if you do plan on attending please secure your tickets early. \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

Hello Everyone! Cycling season has started again and the the Go Trains are running to and from Niagara again. Since this is early in the season and we're all probably a bit rusty. This ride will be a steady Niagara Ride for experienced cyclists. I'll be following the route to Niagara that we most usually used in the past (for those people who have done it before). We'll be aiming for a group speed of about 22-28 km/hr. If you've never done a ride to Niagara, it's about 5-6 hours of actual biking time from Oakville. The terrain is mostly flat around the lakeshore, with a few more hills after we turn inland through wine country and a few more hills just before we come to Niagara Falls. Road Bike are strongly recommended, but can also be done by Cyclocross, Gravel, or Hybrid bikes (if you're a strong rider). Please have your bike in good riding condition to avoid mechanical delays. Make sure you have enough tools/equipment to repair any tire flats if you have one. There is NO vehicle support for this ride, so we're kinda on our own. We'll be aiming for a group speed of about 22-28 km/hr, so if you can not maintain that speed, you will have to proceed on your own. There will be plenty of drop out points where you can catch transit back to Toronto if you run into mechanical or health problems. **IMPORTANT NOTE:** The safety of our rides is really important. It is essential to know and practice how to ride in a group safely, exercise good judgment and thus not endanger others. Please have emergency contact number easily accessible either on yourself or on your phone. **Cycling on the road is inherently dangerous and holds the risk of injury and even death. Riders are responsible for riding within their limits as well as assisting others to make sure our rides and events are safe and enjoyable. By taking part in this event you attest: a) you are in good health, b) you participate at your own risks, and c) you release the organizer(s) from any responsibility.** We encourage each other, lead by example and provide advice intended to help other riders be safe and improve their skills. **Speed: 22-28 km/hr** **Length: \~118km** (but if you start from Humber Bridge in Toronto, it'll be closer to 160 km - 100 miles.) **Link to a map of the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39630077** If you've haven't done this ride before, please download or print a copy of the route in case you get separated (it has happened before!). **Endpoint: Grand Central Bar and Grill** (4573 Queen St, Niagara Falls) **Inventory:** Road Bike Recommended. Head Light & Tail Light Helmet (mandatory) Sunscreen Water Snacks - power bars, trail mix, etc. **Costs:** Fare for return GO train. For people planning to go back to Toronto/Oakville via Go Train, there's currently a promotion for $10 with the weekend pass; otherwise it's about $18-20 with Presto. Here's the link to the GO train $10 weekend day pass promotion: [https://www.gotransit.com/en/travelling-with-us/promotions-and-events/weekend-passes-with-go](https://www.gotransit.com/en/travelling-with-us/promotions-and-events/weekend-passes-with-go) You can only buy it online, and the pass will be emailed to you. It's cheaper than paying with Presto. Bring money for any drinks, snack, meals at any of our stops. Mainly, the Croissant Express Bakery in Oakville (near the beginning), the Tim Hortons in Winona (around the midway point), and Grand Central Sport Bar and Grill (at the end) at Niagara. We'll meet and leave from Croissant Express Bakery (just next to Aroma Espresso Bar) in Oakville at 7:45am. Try to arrive there a bit earlier (and have a drink or snack while you're waiting). I'll be cycling down to Oakville from Georgetown, but if you're cycling from Toronto, you should probably leave from the Humber Bridge at least from 6:00 to make it to Oakville by 7:45 to 8:00. Alternatively, if you don't want to cycle from Toronto to Oakville, you can also just take the morning Go train/GoBus from Toronto to Oakville Go station (which is only about 3km North from Croissant Express) and meet us at Croissant Express. I believe if you buy the Go Train day pass, it will cover the trip from Toronto to Oakville as well. The goal is the reach Niagara by 2:00pm so we can grab a drink and bite at Grand Central, before having to catch the 4:02pm Go Train back to Oakville/Toronto (arriving at 5:48pm/6:27pm, so you should still have your night free to go out, etc). Otherwise the next Go Train leaving Niagara is at 8:00pm. Hopefully, I would like to do a ride down to Niagara every few weeks during the summer. **Weather Update: Right now, the weather is looking favorable for Monday (12-26c; 20% pop; 9-13km/h S wind); but if it changes, I may have to postpone the ride to another weekend.** Peter.

Hi everyone!! 💖 This is now our FOURTH book club meetup! I can’t wait to get to know you all more, hang out and talk books. For this meeting we’ll be FINISHING Born, Darkly (Book 1 of the Darkly Madly Duet) by Trisha Wolfe. ALSO!!!!!! We are STARTING a new book called The Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole!!! Please read the first 17 chapters before coming so we have lots to discuss!!! If you are new, you don’t have to read Born Darkly and could just start the new book (it’s up to you! We’ll still spend a bit of time discussing it!) Don’t stress if you’re new or didn’t make it to the last meetup! This is a super chill group and we’re mostly here to chat, vibe, and obsess over books together. Can’t wait to see you all!! 📚✨

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/toronto-ON/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

On **Saturday, May 23rd**, let’s get our hearts pumping and our stomachs growling. We’re hitting the [Crothers Woods](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/crothers-woods-and-brickwotks-9914464) trails for a brisk city ravine loop before heading to the **Evergreen Brick Works**. The pace will be snappy—think "I have a lunch date later" fast. We’ll be hunting down those legendary tapioca crepes and empanadas like they’re the last pieces of gear at an MEC sale. * **The Mission:** An 8.5 km jaunt in about 2 hours. Level 2 if you please. * **The Schedule:** Meet at **9:30 AM**. You’ll be back on your couch by 12:45 PM. * **The Spot:** [50-58 True Davidson Dr.](https://www.google.ca/maps/place/43%C2%B041'36.9%22N+79%C2%B022'00.2%22W/@43.693588,-79.3672642,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d43.6935869!4d-79.3667166) 1. What3words [https://what3words.com/using.cashier.rainy](https://what3words.com/using.cashier.rainy) The first time I saw your hiking boots, I knew we were all **sole-mates**. Don’t leave me hanging. Gadi

Mental Health, how do you understand it? How can you improve it? How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went? Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence? Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp. This group is hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

We'll get in around 4 miles at Three Creeks Metro Parks, primarily natural trails. 17-18 minute miles, no one left behind, and faster walkers are free to lead out. Optional lunch after! If you're joining for hiking all the metro parks, this is the sixth one!

We may pick a specific topic and post in advance or may discuss current events and various ad hoc topics . We would love to spend time hanging out and getting to know one another. Atheist, agnostics, other non-theists, and atheist-friendly people are welcome to join us. Note: COUNT operates a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions (http://www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions/) to promote discussions among members and visitors.

**History** The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville. Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people. As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support. The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts. In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area. **Map of the Park** Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks. The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.

Come assist Van Buren Shelter (https://ymcacolumbus.org/locations/vanburen) staff in serving dinners and cleaning up on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Dinner for the women is 5-6 pm and for the families is 6:15-7:15 pm. There is ample free parking available in the shelter's lot. The recommended area to park is in green in the image above. There will be a new entrance for the time being. We are asking all volunteers to enter through the Donation Dock door, the orange mark on the image above. This door is located between the Single Adults and Family Shelter. You will see 2 large garage doors with a large green trash compactor in the center. Please head to the closest garage door to the building wall, with a ramp leading up. There, you will see a door with a sign stating instructions on how to enter the building. Please ring the doorbell, and a staff member will come and escort you into the building. If a staff member takes longer than 5 minutes, please call the front desk at 614-689-2020. This is a new process for us, and we do not want to keep you waiting! We appreciate your patience as we navigate this temporary change. The shelter needs a volunteer count the day before the event so sign-up ends Monday at 4:50 PM. Afterwards some of us go to the Omnipresent Atheists Weekly Meetup in progress to have a bit to eat or drink (http://www.meetup.com/omnipresentatheists/). Volunteers must be 14 or older. Since we will be working around families, the YMCA does not permit volunteering by individuals with convictions for violent or sexual crimes. The YMCA reserves the right to run background checks on volunteers. For questions, comment on this page or contact: Andrew, awhit12@yahoo.com, (614)937-5802 (cell). Please let Andrew know if you volunteer anytime other than our COUNT events so that he can count your hours toward our service record.

We'll hike four miles at Walnut Woods, which is generally a pretty easy hike - doing the Sweetgum Trail Loop and then out and back on the Monarch Loop to get us to 4 miles. Pace around 17-18 minute miles with no one left behind, and faster walkers can lead out ahead. Optional lunch at Brewdog or Canal Winchester.