Best Ride Home on New Years Eve

Another year almost over and done.    At the end of the year, most people like to look back and think of all the things they feel blessed about, and take stock in things they'd like to change.    For many, the passage of another year is spent celebrating the New Year drinking with friends and family.

It's New Year's Eve Eve, and as I think about how blessed we are, I can't help but think of those who will "celebrate" a little too much tomorrow night and still need to find their way home.    There are many services in the area that specifically on New Years Eve or even all year round provide a service to pick up those who need a ride home after a night of drinking.     Many of these services will also drive your car home for you.  Here's a little list of designated driver services)...  

MISSISSAUGA , OAKVILLE,
BURLINGTON AREAS

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE's "Operation Red Nose" Burlington
http://www.sja.ca/Ontario/CommunityServices/Pages/BurlingtonOperationRedNose.aspx
PLAN AHEAD! HAVE A DESIGNATED DRIVER, STAY OVERNIGHT, CALL A CAB OR CALL OPERATION REDNOSE! For more information call 905-634-6665 or 905-484-3467

DDADD INC. Designated Drivers Against Drinking Drivers
www.cylex.ca/company/ddadd-inc--desgnated-drivers-against-drinking-drivers-17190691.html

BURLINGTON / OAKVILLE (905) 805-4DAD (4323)

MISSISSAUGA (416) 752-4DAD (4323)
Toll Free - 1-888-750-4DAD(4323)

TORONTO AREA

Professional Designated Driver Service
www.reliabledd.com
Local: 647-350-1775  or  Toll-Free: 1-877-647-1775

GTA Designated Drivers
www.gtadd.ca
Telephone: 416 951-9355

WatchMen
www.watchmenletusdrive.com
Telephone: 647 380-2989


GUELPH, KITCHENER, WATERLOO, CAMBRIDGE

Designated Drivers
Designated Drivers offers the people of Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and its suburbs a safe alternative to driving under the influence
Phone 519-760-3748

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy and SAFE 2012.

Best Proximity

One of the things I love most about living in Waterdown is how close it is to so many cool things to do.   45 minutes and you are in Toronto, 45 minutes and you are in Niagara on the Lake, and hour and you are at the border to the US in Niagara Falls, 45 minutes to Oktoberfest in Kitchener and an hour til you are in Stratford.   
Living in Southern Ontario we are such a short drive to so many great amenities and to me, Waterdown is the centre to easily get to so many wonderful places.     Hamilton and Burlington are a mere 15 minutes away (or less depending on which area you need to get to).    My husband grew up in Toronto and was very used to traffic and how much longer it took to get anywhere downtown if something big was going on.    A few years ago he went to a Bruce Springsteen Concert (his very favourite singer) at Copps Colliseum in Hamilton.    I told him where to park so he could get out quick and easy.    From his seat at Copps, trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot, getting out of the parking lot and home to our front door was 20 minutes!    Normally, it would only take 10 minutes to get from Copps to our home.   Gotta like that kind of traffic.

There are so many great things to see and do in this fantastic area.   At this time of year, my all time favourite thing is to see the National Ballet's Nutcracker at the Four Season's Centre in Toronto.    I am now spoiled by this version, and everything else just seems to pale in comparison.    I've taken my daughters to see the Nutcracker for the last 4 years, and last year I was so honoured to be able to take my Nan from Nova Scotia there to see the National Ballet's Nutcracker.   She had never been to the ballet (in her 86 years) and certainly there was nothing like that available to her living in rural Nova Scotia.    We've been too busy this year to get tickets, but we really MUST make it next year.    Hardly feels like Christmas without seeing it.    Of course, each time we go to the Four Season's Centre to see the Nutcracker, we MUST walk just further down Queen Street to see the Bay Christmas Windows, also make it up inside the Bay to Christmas Street to see the decorations and finally to go into the Eaton's Centre and marvel at the GIGANTIC Swarovski Christmas Tree.    It's incredible and everyone needs to see it at least once, especially on a sunny day when the sunlight from the skylights just make the crystals twinkle like fireworks.   

Waterdown is such a fantastic town, but drive around a little and you will come across alot of great venues and activities not a very far distance from town.    What's that saying from Ontario Tourism... Ontario, Your's to Discover!

Best Old Fashioned Christmas

As a young girl growing up on episodes of "Little House on the Prairie", I've had a romanticized view of what life was like as a "pioneer".    I've always enjoyed visiting Westfield Heritage Village, in the town of Rockton which is only 20 minutes away from Waterdown.    It is run by Conservation Hamilton and is open Sundays or holidays April through October, 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm with special programs running in December for Christmas and March for Maple Syrup season.   I highly recommend going for the Christmas celebrations.   There is a certain magic to the all the buildings and seeing the way Christmas was celebrated long before the commercialism of what we know now.

You can enjoy a leisurely day in the country as you visit over thirty five historical buildings or walk on our picturesque nature trails. Log cabins, one room school house, blacksmith shop, railway station, general store, steam locomotive and many other destinations interpreted by enthusiastic and knowledgeable costumed interpreters make your visit something special for the whole family. Don’t forget to drop in at the General Store soda shop for a light lunch, indulge in Eddie D. Cat confections or purchase one of a kind items in our gift shop. Tours are self guided or with a costumed guide on the hour.

In December, they run special programs to celebrate Christmas.    This year you can visit
Saurday, December 3, 10 & 17, 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm for ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas
Celebrate Christmas past from Georgian times to the modern era. Feel the warmth of the season through food samples, fireworks , horse and wagon rides, and a visit from Saint Nick. Eddie D. Cat Confectionery offers a wide range of sweet treats for the season or visit our one-of-a-kind Gift Shop for the perfect Christmas gift. Special event prices apply for this event – though you may use your Nature’s Rewards pass for this event.

• Adult admission – $11.00
• Senior (65+) or Student (13-17 yrs) – $10.00
• Child (6-12yrs) – $6.50 (children 5 and under are free)

Sunday, December 18, noon to 4:00 pm – Christmas Day in the Country
Enjoy an old fashioned Christmas and celebrate the season where traditions of an earlier time are brought to life. Join the parties, enjoy the food and shop for that special someone

To learn more about Westfield, please visit their website at www.westfieldheritage.com