[arch-events] Archcon: planning of activities
Hey guys, As we know by now, Toronto has many things to do. [1] Since Archcon is at the end of my 14-day stay, I would like to know the planning for the "archcon tourist days" (referred to as ATD from now on) on july 24-25 in advance, so I can adapt my planning accordingly. One of the things I'm thinking about especially, is the trip to the Niagara falls. Dusty and I are definitely going to do this, but do we plan this on the ATD or before? If we plan it on the ATD, more people can share the fun experience, but some people may not be interested in it. I'll put it differently: who wants to go to the Niagara falls but can only do it on the ATD ? But there's more. What about a trip to the clairville conservation area (near to conference)? center island? ontario palace? CN tower? things that are probably all must-do's, but probably not to be done twice. Some other things, I wouldn't mind visiting more then once. E.g. The Linux Caffe I know it's probably hard to plan this advance, as opinions will be cast mostly at the conf (the brainstorm is even planned on day 2 in the evening), but it's gonna suck for me if we decide to do things I've already done (some short things are easily opt-out, but not big ones like day trips or amusement parks), or the other way around, if I skip something and we end up not doing it during the ATD. How can we tackle this problem? Or is the idea to do smaller less invasive things during the ATD like wandering around and having a drink? [1] http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Archcon_extra_activities
I expect people will split into groups to go and do whatever they want. If there's anything you've done already, you can join a different group, so you don't have to plan too much for that. I will do Niagara falls with you and anyone else that wants to come, probably before the conference, rather than on the weekend after. If other people want to go down there on the weekend, though, then we can do something else while they do that. There is so much to do and see in Toronto that people will have to pick and choose which packages they're most interested in maintaining, as it were. ;-) Dusty On 4 July 2010 12:14, Dieter Plaetinck <dieter@plaetinck.be> wrote:
Hey guys, As we know by now, Toronto has many things to do. [1]
Since Archcon is at the end of my 14-day stay, I would like to know the planning for the "archcon tourist days" (referred to as ATD from now on) on july 24-25 in advance, so I can adapt my planning accordingly.
One of the things I'm thinking about especially, is the trip to the Niagara falls. Dusty and I are definitely going to do this, but do we plan this on the ATD or before? If we plan it on the ATD, more people can share the fun experience, but some people may not be interested in it. I'll put it differently: who wants to go to the Niagara falls but can only do it on the ATD ?
But there's more. What about a trip to the clairville conservation area (near to conference)? center island? ontario palace? CN tower? things that are probably all must-do's, but probably not to be done twice.
Some other things, I wouldn't mind visiting more then once. E.g. The Linux Caffe
I know it's probably hard to plan this advance, as opinions will be cast mostly at the conf (the brainstorm is even planned on day 2 in the evening), but it's gonna suck for me if we decide to do things I've already done (some short things are easily opt-out, but not big ones like day trips or amusement parks), or the other way around, if I skip something and we end up not doing it during the ATD.
How can we tackle this problem? Or is the idea to do smaller less invasive things during the ATD like wandering around and having a drink?
[1] http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Archcon_extra_activities _______________________________________________ arch-events mailing list arch-events@archlinux.org http://mailman.archlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/arch-events
-- Ask me about custom python and web development services.
On Mon, 5 Jul 2010 17:29:47 -0600 Dusty Phillips <dusty@archlinux.ca> wrote:
I expect people will split into groups to go and do whatever they want. If there's anything you've done already, you can join a different group, so you don't have to plan too much for that. I will do Niagara falls with you and anyone else that wants to come, probably before the conference, rather than on the weekend after. If other people want to go down there on the weekend, though, then we can do something else while they do that. There is so much to do and see in Toronto that people will have to pick and choose which packages they're most interested in maintaining, as it were. ;-)
Dusty
OK ! Any specific reason for doing the falls before the conf? Like, in the weekend there are more tourists in the area, or what? I found these organised tours, which are supposedly pretty good: http://www.toursinniagara.com/tour_info.html But also, Barbara (the woman of my bed and breakfast) also does a niagara falls tour, we get more input in the program (we can stay longer in the evening, eat where we want, etc). If you want, I can forward you some mails with more info. There's also a dude who did some further recommendations for things to do at the Falls (such as "create your own trip"), see the comments at http://dieter.plaetinck.be/off_to_toronto_july_14-28_Archcon If it were up to me I think I would take Barbara's tour, but surely you guys know the area better (Loui and Ricardo reading?), so I want your input! Dieter
Any specific reason for doing the falls before the conf? Like, in the weekend there are more tourists in the area, or what?
It'll be crowded any day of the week, at that time of year, but weekends will certainly be crazy. My main reason for keeping the weekend free is that I am *guessing* that most conference goers will not be doing the Niagara trip because it's a long ways out and people who are only coming for a couple days extra (unlike you and I) will want to spend that time doing "many things" in Toronto, rather than one thing travelling to the falls.
I found these organised tours, which are supposedly pretty good: http://www.toursinniagara.com/tour_info.html
But also, Barbara (the woman of my bed and breakfast) also does a niagara falls tour, we get more input in the program (we can stay longer in the evening, eat where we want, etc). If you want, I can forward you some mails with more info.
There's also a dude who did some further recommendations for things to do at the Falls (such as "create your own trip"), see the comments at http://dieter.plaetinck.be/off_to_toronto_july_14-28_Archcon
If it were up to me I think I would take Barbara's tour, but surely you guys know the area better (Loui and Ricardo reading?), so I want your input!
I've been to the falls twice (I love it there, that's why I'll go back with you :-D), once a friend drove my sister and I down there, and the second time, some friends and I went down on the Greyhound (bus service). It hadn't crossed my mind to do a tour, however, Greyhound tickets are $20-$30 one way, and don't include any of the attractions in Niagara or a city bus pass or taxi fare from the Greyhound station to the falls, so $60 or so for a tour is a good deal. So I agree that Barbara's tour might be the best way to go. Would be fairly relaxed, and we'll probably see more stuff that way. So, summary, my votes: * You and I attending for sure, not sure if anyone else would join us * sometime before the conference, rather than on the weekend after * barbara's tour sounds good. Dusty
On Tue, 6 Jul 2010 11:55:27 -0600 Dusty Phillips <dusty@archlinux.ca> wrote:
I've been to the falls twice (I love it there, that's why I'll go back with you :-D), once a friend drove my sister and I down there, and the second time, some friends and I went down on the Greyhound (bus service). It hadn't crossed my mind to do a tour, however, Greyhound tickets are $20-$30 one way, and don't include any of the attractions in Niagara or a city bus pass or taxi fare from the Greyhound station to the falls, so $60 or so for a tour is a good deal.
So I agree that Barbara's tour might be the best way to go. Would be fairly relaxed, and we'll probably see more stuff that way.
So, summary, my votes: * You and I attending for sure, not sure if anyone else would join us * sometime before the conference, rather than on the weekend after * barbara's tour sounds good.
Ok, let me paraphrase what Barbara said to me about her tour: - full day from 9 to 9/10 ("chariots of fire" tour is 7-4) - personalized tour - boat ride "maid of the myst" not included in price, but we can do it if we want and she highly recommends it. according to http://www.maidofthemist.com/en/ it's 15.6$ per person. - includes: whirlpool, power station (option), queenston heights, floral clock (or just drive by it), town of niagara-on-the-lake (we choose how long we want to stay). more options: butterfly conservatory, botanical gardens, a walk along the raging river with 7-9 foot high waves, jet boats @ niagara-on-the-lake, wine tasting - food in the evening: @ skylon tower, or on the way back at jordon road leasurely dinner overlooking the lake. - she has a van which can easily host 5 people, she lives near the humbert college north campus, so if we want this tour, we need to go to her place first or ask her to pick us up (at an extra fee). the chariots of fire has a pickup spot in dixon - 75$ per person. if we're with 5, it's 65$ per person, if we're with only 2 I'm not sure if that's enough. We can check this later with her. but 3 people is fine. Dieter
looks like the canadiana inn also does tours: Niagara Falls Day Trips: Leaves every day in morning and return around 8pm, with free time at the falls Includes tour of Queenston Heights, Brock's Monument, the world's largest natural whirlpool, Clifton Hill, and much, much more Stops at winery on the way for free wine tasting Costs between $40 and $50 no mention of the maid of the myst tour, power station, niagara-on-the-lake, butterfly conservatory, botanical gardens, a walk along the river, skylon tower (some these things are probably too obvious or not worth talking about. i dunno) probably the offer is only for people who reside at the canadiana inn (like me!), but i could ask. ah, the paradox of choice ;) Dieter
On 08/07/10 05:17, Dieter Plaetinck wrote:
looks like the canadiana inn also does tours:
Niagara Falls Day Trips:
Leaves every day in morning and return around 8pm, with free time at the falls Includes tour of Queenston Heights, Brock's Monument, the world's largest natural whirlpool, Clifton Hill, and much, much more Stops at winery on the way for free wine tasting Costs between $40 and $50
no mention of the maid of the myst tour, power station, niagara-on-the-lake, butterfly conservatory, botanical gardens, a walk along the river, skylon tower (some these things are probably too obvious or not worth talking about. i dunno)
probably the offer is only for people who reside at the canadiana inn (like me!), but i could ask.
ah, the paradox of choice ;)
Having done this recently, it is probably offered by your inn but run by a separate tour company. Most of them will include a ticket for the Maid of the Mist and give you some time at Niagara-on-the-Lake and at the falls itself to walk around. Allan
On 7 July 2010 13:17, Dieter Plaetinck <dieter@plaetinck.be> wrote:
looks like the canadiana inn also does tours:
Niagara Falls Day Trips:
Leaves every day in morning and return around 8pm, with free time at the falls Includes tour of Queenston Heights, Brock's Monument, the world's largest natural whirlpool, Clifton Hill, and much, much more Stops at winery on the way for free wine tasting Costs between $40 and $50
no mention of the maid of the myst tour, power station, niagara-on-the-lake, butterfly conservatory, botanical gardens, a walk along the river, skylon tower (some these things are probably too obvious or not worth talking about. i dunno)
probably the offer is only for people who reside at the canadiana inn (like me!), but i could ask.
ah, the paradox of choice ;)
Choose your trips like you choose your linux distro: keep it simple! ;-) I'll be game for whatever suits you best. I wouldn't mind seeing some of those other attractions, especially niagara-on-the-lake (I've heard it's where all the people rich enough to take a helicopter to Toronto every morning live... nice mansions. ;). I'll probably be in Toronto again before you, so you decide what you want to see and do most. If I miss anything, I'll do it another time. Dusty
participants (3)
-
Allan McRae
-
Dieter Plaetinck
-
Dusty Phillips