42 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday April 21, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Virginia Beach is just a day's drive away A day of driving, 10 hours from Toronto to be more specific and Virginia Beach beckons. You can be down the road on the tee and playing championship golf courses for better prices than you pay at home, and I might add better weather. It is certainly tempting to pack everyone in the car and take off, right now, but for those of you who have to wait till summer in Canada, mark off late August and September. Why? Virginia Beach is giving Canadians one more reason to "Live the Beach Life." The resort city is introducing "Canada Weeks," offering Canadians an extra night free in Virginia Beach during the last two weeks of August and from September 3-29. They like us, so this is a new promotion, just for Canadians. Canadian visitors who book six nights to stay at a participating hotel during the travel dates above will receive an additional room nights free. easy way to combine an urban adventure in the United States capital with a seaside escape to the coast. The "Surf and the City" concept eight-day itinerary, includes an option stop at Busch Garden's theme park. Here is how it works; you spend your weekends in Washington, DC when the city is not as crowded, and hotel rates are less, and your weekdays in Virginia Beach. Along the way you can add a stop at Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, and yes there is a roller-coaster, the park is unveiling Griffon, the world's tallest and first floorless dive coaster. You'll climb 205 feet on the floorless coaster before dropping 90 degrees straight down at 75 mph. You do it, and then write and tell me all about it, I'm chicken... Washington, is the present home of George Bush but also home to a fascinating collection of historic neighbourhoods and lots of trendy shops and restaurants. The new attractions are interesting too like the International Spy Museum, and renovated National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum, and opening this fall the world's first interactive museum dedicated to the news, opens its doors. You can order your Virginia Beach and Washington, DC Vacation Planner at www.vbfun.com or www.washington.org. I have not been to this famous capital city since I stayed in the same hotel at the same time as President Reagan was shot, and that was a while ago, it is time for me to go again, and as you might have guessed, I'm always up for a beach. I'll see you there. You can find out more online at: http://www.vbfun.com/visitors/international/canadaWeeks/default.asp. -- Sam Ion can be reached at sion10@cogeco.ca For those who prefer to fly, Virginia Beach is located just 20 minutes from Norfolk International Airport, which hosts most major airline carriers and offers 200 flights daily. With warm weather to soothe the soul, Virginia Beach promises an ideal getaway for family fun. For general information on Virginia Beach, call 1-888-6275243. This year the Washington tourist board and Virginia Beach have teamed up to offer us an If you have a news tip or story idea, call the Oakville Beaver at 845-3824. EUROPE EUROPE RO RO 35 5 Trafalgar/Insight/ Globus Sale! E 00604023 $ 150 150 0 00 ON SELECTED DEPARTURES! ! off p.p. Book by April 30th 146 Lakeshore Rd. Travel Choice E. 905-842-4999 BY SIGNATURE VACATIONS 350 Cabana Rd.lakeshore@travelchoice.ca E. 519-969-8041 DON'T JUST SEE THE WORLD, EXPERIENCE IT... Creating memorable vacations is our travel agency's specialty, and thanks to our Ensemble On Location program, we are able to offer you extraordinary experiences beyond the boundaries of your imagination. With the help of our resourceful in-destination specialists, you'll enjoy personalized attention, unique travel ideas, expert planning and much more. DISCOVERY WORLD OFFERS FREE AIR ON ANTARCTICA EXPEDITIONS Exclusive Tours, GSA for Discovery World Cruises in Canada, announces free round-trip Economy Class air transportation from major Canadian gateways on two select 2007-2008 winter cruises that visit Antarctica. Typically, Discovery combines exotic itineraries with hotel stays to create their cruise-tour vacations and passengers can expect this with this promotion. The 20-night "Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia" cruise-tour, departing November 26, 2007, includes two hotel nights in Buenos Aires, before joining the ship in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost town, and another overnight in Buenos Aires after the cruise. From Ushuaia, passengers will cruise to West Point and Port Stanley in the Falklands and on to South Georgia, home of the colorful King penguins. Three ports in South Georgia; Grytviken, Elsehul and Gold Harbour, will offer the opportunity to set foot on Antarctica and participate in small boat sightseeing around the shoreline. The 15-night "Antarctica I" cruise-tour, departing December 12, 2007, also includes three nights in Buenos Aires. Passengers will cruise past the grand ice-scapes of Antarctica and go ashore for up-close encounters with rare wildlife. Discovery World Cruises was awarded the 2006 "Best Value" in the Specialty Cruises category from the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society. Discovery World Cruises' free air promotion offers round-trip air transportation from major North American gateway cities. For more information, give us a call. McTavish Travel proudly celebrating 35 years of service excellence in 2007. Gina Cheng Together with these experts, our agency can design a vacation experience that allows you to enjoy every chapter, every page and every word of life's journeys. Try learning to dance at the hands of a Flamenco dancer in Spain, the art of preparing fine cuisine in France, or experience wine tasting in Italy. The sky is truly the limit, so share your dreams with one of our travel professionals and we'll help make them a reality. Allow yourself to be inspired by the sampling of one-of-a-kind experiences that our travel agency can arrange for you. Visit McTavish At: www.mctavishtravel.com Oakville Town Centre I 300 North Service Road, W. Oakville 905.849.0333 www.totaltravel-oakville.com Ont Reg No 2766538 Ont Reg No 2766538 Relax... you're with us 221 Lakeshore Road E. Oakville Location: 905-337-2228 wwwhookedoncruising.com 146 Lakeshore Rd. E. 905-842-4999 lakeshore@travelchoice.ca Oakville Town Centre I 300 North Service Road, W. Oakville 905.849.0333 www.totaltravel-oakville.com Voted Best Travel Agency Best Cruise Company Best Travel Agent Thanks Oakville! Hopedale Shopping Centre 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville (905) 827-1100 fax: (905) 827-4982 e-mail: travel@mctavish.com