The Old Spaghetti Factory Location: The Esplanade just east of Yonge Street in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood Cool Fact: A place for celebrity sightings! The Old Spaghetti Factory is one of Toronto’s landmark restaurants (and my old employer), and is a spot suitable for people of all ages and on all budgets. The restaurant is built in an old, turn of the century factory building that has been declared an historic site. Inside, people of all ages can enjoy sitting at tables in a carousel, a streetcar, an elevator (the doors are open!), or in a bed. “The Spag” seats close to 700 people and is one of the most popular restaurants in the city. Often, theatre-goers will eat here first as it is near multiple theatres, The Air Canada Centre, The Rogers Centre, and the Sony Centre. If you’re planning on eating as a large group (10 or more), this restaurant is extremely accommodating. The menu specialises in, you guessed it, spaghetti. They do offer gluten free menu options, and have lots for vegetarians and meat lovers alike. Meals range from $12-$22, and most entree orders include salad, (amazing) bread, entree, and dessert. The food quality isn’t 5-star, but you go to the Spag for the experience. The ambiance and serving staff are the highlights for this restaurant. Beyond the dining experience, the restaurant also has a gift shop and lounge area. In the summer months, The Old Spaghetti Factory opens its patio! This is my favourite section for both the day and night. Umbrellas provide shade from the hot sun, and the wrought iron tables add flair to the street side ambiance in Toronto’s Little France. Fun: 10 Exciting: 8 Price Range: roughly $15 per person without alcohol (including tip) Overall: 10 Tip: Make a reservation! The waiting list gets crazy in there But if you like an aperitif before dinner, the lounge is where most diners wait for their tables.

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How do you perceive South Africa now, before your trip there? I see South Africa as an incredibly diverse country full of unpredictability and adventure. The South African people have been through so much, so I perceive the country as being one of hope and promise and celebrating life. Everyone I have met from there has been really friendly. South Africa is also a big “unknown” for me, and I imagine a lot of large insects and large animals, so there is a healthy dose danger and adrenaline as well! How you think visiting the country will change your perceptions? That’s my favourite part of travelling – losing the fear and embracing the similarities and differences in cultures all over the world. The cool thing about this trip to South Africa is that I don’t have very many preconceptions, so I’m looking forward to having my eyes opened. What are you most looking forward to during your stay in South Africa? My tour of the National Reserve! I can’t wait for the wildlife and the scenery. Everything I’ve seen in pictures of Africa is so different from Canada that it should be really unforgettable in real life. I’m also really looking forward to meeting the people and learning about their way of life. I’m a big fan of trying new foods, and I have a passion for cities, so it will be really fun to explore cities so far from my own. I’m pretty excited about the nightlife, too! I hear it’s great. What are some of your other favourite travel destinations? So far, my top three are Madrid, Spain (I loved it…I could live there); the Andes (especially Banos, Ecuador; and Cusco, Peru thus far) in spite of altitude sickness…!; and Cayo Coco, Cuba for its marvellous beaches. What do you know about the South African culture? I don’t know very much about it yet. I do know that it is a tribal country with 11 official languages and that there is still fairly severe racial discrimination in the aftermath of Apartheid. At one point, the housing situation was such that blacks couldn’t live next to whites, so there were either brown people in between or space was allotted. I found that very fascinating. Sport is very important for the locals in SA. Do you plan to attend any sports events? I don’t have a specific plan for it – but I would love to see a football match I’m not sure what my full itinerary looks like just yet, but I’m hoping to fit in a sports game and some adventure sport if I can. Who do you think are the most famous South Africans? Nelson Mandela – hands down! Charlize Theron Desmond Tutu Thank you so much - we here at WAYN hope that you have a magnificent time in South Africa !

The Ontario Science Centre Location: East York, just south of Eglinton on Don Mills Rd. Cool Fact: If you spent two minutes at every exhibit and activity, it would take you three days to see it all! The Ontario Science Centre was created for Canada's 100th birthday, and was originally called The Centennial Centre for Science and Technology. It's a great day trip Option for families, with many many activities for the kids, and has some excellent and educational exhibits for adults, too. There are daycamps, a waterpark, and fun interactive games for the kids (and adults, if you're anything like me!), and IMAX films and more traditional exhibits for everyone. This summer, the Science Centre is featuring a live lizards and snakes exhibit with over 50 rare and interesting species of reptile (legless lizards?! So cool.); the Science of Spying exhibit that displays the most recent spy technologies and explains the skills and abilities needed to accomplish spy missions. There is a very exciting interactive element where you are invited to use what you've learned on a short mission! In October, the world-renowned Body Worlds exhibit returns to Toronto! Body Worlds displays whole body plastinates (think: preserved humans without skin!) to showcase how the heart nourrishes, regulates, and sustains life. 68 Canadians donated their bodies for this project. The Science Centre is also home to a great IMAX theatre full of fun, educational films. My mum, sister, and I went to see The Alps, a story of a man who lost his father on the Eiger and takes on the north face in his honour. The theatre is also playing Under the Sea, Journey to Mecca, and STAR TREK. Fun: 7 Exciting: 6 Admission: Adult: Science Centre - $18, IMAX - $12, together - $25 Youth and Senior: Science Centre - $13.50, IMAX - $9, together - $19 Child: Science Centre - $11, IMAX - $8, together - $15

Canada’s Wonderland Location: Maple, ON – a twenty minute drive/bus ride from Toronto Cool Fact: This is Canada’s “Premiere Theme Park” Hello summer Canada’s Wonderland opens again for the season on May 4th I couldn’t be more excited. The general theme is Paramount motion pictures, so rides include Top Gun where your feet dangle from the seats, and Tomb Raider where you lie on your stomach and ride head first. There are also kid-friendly sections, one of which has a Nickelodeon theme. The park holds over 250 attractions (think: games, live performances, old fashioned candy shops, gift shops, and restaurants) 65 thrill rides, and 20 acres of water park. The best time to go to the park is actually on weekdays – to avoid the insane lines. However, the weekend is usually the most convenient, and it will give you full days to check out the huge park. Or, if you live in Ontario and get a season’s pass (pays for itself after 2 visits), you can do what my best friend and I do: go after work New to the park this year is The Behemoth, the tallest (70 m) and longest rollercoaster in Canada. Last year, they added The Italian Job, by far the fastest rollercoaster in the park. But, my favourite is still The Bat. It has one loop, and goes forwards and backwards. Fabulous. Tomb Raider is a definite second. The most famous ride at the park is The Great Canadian Mine Buster. It’s a huge, creaky old wooden coaster, one of the park originals. Parking is tricky for this park. Luckily there is a reliable GO bus from Toronto’s York Mills subway station for $8 (Canadian) round trip. Fun: 10 Exciting: 10 Admission: $41.34 for an adult day pass ($29.35 for kiddos) Overall: 11 Tip: Wear your bathing suit! Some of the rides involve water.

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