Shanna- A Sudbury Tourist

Northern Lights Festival Boreal

2010-07-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

Hey!
I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend.

One of the most highly anticipated summer events of the year has always been the Northern Lights Festival Boreal. Amanda and I arrived at the Festival at around 1:30pm just in time to catch some musical acts taking place on the various stages located around the grounds. With Bell Park undergoing a major face lift, this year’s festival took place at Laurentain University, which happens to be celebrating their 50th year reunion. At first I wasn’t sure what to expect with the new venue, but I was surprised that it was just as good as Bell Park minus the view of Ramsey Lake.

The Northern Lights Festival Boreal is always my favourite festival of the summer, I always look forward to it every year. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and it was extremely hot. I was shocked at how fast the festival filled up with people from all around North America and Europe as well. Everyone looked like they were having a great time. They had a childrens stage set up with musical acts for children. They were all up dancing and singing along -it was great to see them having so much fun. They had another two stages set up with different musical acts happening throughout the day. Then there was a main stage for the nightly entertainment with the beer tent. So much happening at one time….what an event.

Vendors were located throughout the site selling clothing, jewlery, and different arts and crafts. There were so many neat things to see and do. Of course what’s an event without a food court area.. They had everything from Nana's Kettle Corn, Beavertails, and My Thai Palace plus so much more, let’s put it this way, no one went home hungry, It was difficult to pick one place to snack from. Once again the Northern Lights Festival Boreal was a hit. If you didn't get the chance to check it out this summer, I suggest you try for next summer with our newly constructed amphitheater on July 8-10 2011. Its a great three days of music, art and fun! Hope to see you next year.

Italian Festival

2010-07-13T05:55:00.000-07:00

This past weekend (July 9-11), the Italian Festival took place at the Caruso Club. Like I said last year, I always look forward to the Italian Festival because I am Italian. There’s so much to do at the festival, A lot of which takes place at night, but there is still a wide variety of events happening throughout the day.

Amanda and I took the opportunity to show up at the Caruso Club at noon, just in time for lunch (we planned it that way of course ;) ). You will never go hungry at the Italian Festival because there is so much food to offer, just the way I like it. Friday nights supper had a unique twist to it. On the menu they were serving various types of dishes from the different regions of Italy. For example, from the region of Calabria (where my nonna and nonno were from) they were serving up Backala and Polenta ( Cod and cornmeal), although I never got the chance to sample it, my dad said it was delicious when he was a young boy. That was followed by the crowning of Miss Teen Caruso and Miss Caruso along with Mr. Caruso.

On Saturday they were serving porketta sandwiches (which were absolutely delicious) and sausages. Both looked extremely yummy, but I just had to go for the porketta sandwich this time. It gets even better at dinner when they have their HUGE pasta dinner, it is absolutely amazing. Nothing like a good home cooked Italian meal. Following the Pasta Dinner night, the tables were cleared and the stage was set for their talent show. The night was filled will music and talent acts.

The festival is great for every age. There is a kid zone set up for the children, a stage set up for live music, and a tent set up with lots of seating for everyone to enjoy their favourite beverage…if you know what I mean.

Ontario Summer Games 2010

2010-07-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

As some of you might already know the Ontario Summer Games are coming to Sudbury this summer August 10-13. The Ontario Games is the largest multi-sport event in the province; it prepares the athletes under 22 for national and international competition. There are going to be over 3,650 athletes, coaches and officials. This is a great opportunity to showcase what Sudbury has to offer.

I am a crazy sports fan and I couldn't be more excited for the games to begin! I personally had the opportunity to participate in the Ontario Winter Games a couple years back in female hockey. It was an amazing experience, one I will never forget……, we actually came second place! I’m sure this up and coming athletes will share in the same experience I once did.

Sudbury has so much to offer, beautiful lakes, great tourist attractions (Science North for one) and excellent restaurants.

The Ontario Summer Games will feature 32 official sports events being held at nearly 40 different venues around Sudbury.

I am definitely going out to catch some of the games. But choosing won’t come easy as there are so many? Beach volleyball is always entertaining to watch. I’ve never experienced Fencing, Rugby, Rifle or Sailing- so I really want to check all those out. But whatever sport you decide to choose one thing you shouldn’t forget is your sunscreen, as Sudbury is one of many communities that boast the most hours of sunshine per year in Canada.
Come on Sudbury let’s get excited about the games!!

Hope to see you all there :)

For more information please visit their website: http://www.2010ontariosummergames.ca/

Canada Day Celebrations

2010-07-02T07:36:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a fabulous Canada Day.

I know I sure did! The weather was great and there were so many celebrations happening around Sudbury.

First, Amanda and I went to the Sudbury Arena to join in on their Canada Day Celebrations.

The arena was packed with people wearing red and white-it was definiately the place to be.

Amanda and I arrived at the Sudbury Arena around 11:00am, just in time for the stage acts and all the amazing food. Each year the Sudbury Arena hosts Canada Day Celebrations. Inside they have a stage set up with performing arts. They have performances by Happiness is Dancing (a local dance studio), Ukrainian Dancers, Irish Dancers and the list goes on and on- they are all amazing performances. It is great to see dances from different cultures because they are all so unique and entertaining. There was such diversity in the Sudbury Arena yesterday it was amazing. Amanda and I were talking to a group of people from Saudi Arabia, it was intriguing to listen to them talk about their culture.

So, I mentioned food earlier...the Sudbury Arena is FILLED with delicious food from around the world. There is probably about 30-40 booths set up with food from around the world. The smell in that place is mouthwatering! If you love food like me, it's another reason why the Sudbury Arena was the place to be on Canada Day. You could eat for hours! One year I am going to see if I can try food from every single booth set up. I will have to start training my body for that right now, because there is just SO much food.

Science North also had Canada Day Celebrations taking place during the day and at night. Kevin and Sarah went to Science North while Amanda and I were at the Sudbury Arena. They said they had an amazing time as well. Science North has a main stage set up with bands playing throughout the day. They have a lot of activities for the whole family. There is a lot to see and do. They end the night off with fireworks at around 10:00pm. I went to see the fireworks (I wasn't missing those)- they were amazing!

Well this wraps another amazing Canada Day. I hope everyone was able to check out the Sudbury Arena or Science North or both!
:)

Blues for Food

2010-06-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Blues for Food took over Durham Street for a day of great entertainment and activities. I was really excited to go to this event because I have never been before. They were calling for thunderstorms on Saturday, so I wasn't sure if I was going to make it out. But, by about noon the sun was still shining, no sign of any rain, so I decided to head to the event (it didn't rain all day which was excellent). When I got there it was PACKED with people having a great time- listening to the live music, watching the dance performances, and enjoying all the different activities. When I first arrived, I stopped to watch the dancers perform- they were really good! I moved along down Durham Street to find a live band playing. The entertainment was amazing! They had a whole section that was specifically for children's activities- all the children looked like they were having an amazing time as well. I didn't have any cash on me, but I really wish I would have...they had beaver tails, fresh lemonade, kettle corn- YUM!... so much food...and it really looked delicious!
Getting into Blues for Food was easy, all you had to do was bring in a canned good or make a donation, which went to the Sudbury Food Bank.
It was a beautiful day at the Blues for Food and I can't wait to go back next year!

Dynamic Earth

2010-05-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

Hey :)
I hope everyone had a great week! The students and I had the opportunity to visit one of Sudbury's most popular attractions: Dynamic Earth. I've been to Dynamic Earth many times before, but they are always adding new and exciting attractions. Their newest attraction is called Strange Matters. It is all about metals, crystals, magnets and glass. You are able to try different scientific experiments dealing with modern materials. They have a great play area for the kids and so many fun activities and things to see. They have a command center where you are able to control mining machines.

When we went they had a group of kids on a scavenger hunt around Dynamic Earth. One of the items on their lists was to put on an entire mining outfit from head to toe. After they completed their task we snuck in and tried on the mining outfits ourselves. It was a good laugh.

My favorite part of Dynamic Earth is the underground mine tour. You take an elevator about 7 stories below the surface where you end up in a replica mine. It is an amazing tour and it really give you a true understanding of Sudbury's mining history. In the mine they take you on a tour through the different types of mines dating back to the early 1900's to the modern days. They outline how the mines have changed drastically throughout the years. It is very educational and the tour guides are really good with answering any questions you may have.
Make sure you dress warm! It's a little bit chilly...you think I would of learnt my lesson, I've there been so many times! Also, because it was a rainy day the ground in the mine was a little bit wet, and of course I was not wearing appropriate shoes...so wear proper shoes! (Just a couple little tips to make your experience even better!!) But all in all it was another great day at Dynamic Earth.

For more information about Dynamic Earth, visit their website at:
www.dynamicearth.ca

Science North

2010-05-13T06:07:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,

Yesterday the students and I had the opportunity to visit Science North. We were able to check out all the new attractions Science North has to offer for the summer. Their newest attraction is the Dinosaur Unearthed Exhibition. Inside they have life size animated dinosaur scupltures. They look, sound and move like real dinosaurs. They also have stations set up where you can dig for fossels. This is a great attraction for children and families. Dinosaurs Alive 3D at the IMAX is a great movie about dinosaurs and fossel findings over the past billion years.

Another fun and educational attraction offered by Science North is the Digital Planetarium. You get to sit under a 8.4 metre dome while you learn about astronomy and other space topics. It feels as though you are sitting in your backyard starring up into the sky, but BETTER. The chairs are very comfortable and it is such a relaxing environment.

Science North has a wide range of wildlidfe including the famous porcupine Quillan, a skunk named Rosie, turtles, frogs, snakes, owls and much more.

One of my favourite attractions at Science North is the Butterfly Exhibit. The Butterfly Exhibit is amazing because you are able to enter their habitat and explore all the different types of butterflies. There are over a hundred butterflies flying around, eating, resting on trees and sometimes they even land on you. It is an amazing experience and fun for everyone.

Science North is great for a day out with the family or friends.

If you require more information about their showtimes or Science North in general, visit their website at:

http://sciencenorth.ca/

Summer 2010

2010-05-12T05:55:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

Its me again, Shanna Crispo. I am back for another summer with Sudbury Tourism. I am so excited to be back, it is going to be another amazing summer with a lot of things to see and do. This week all the summer students are visiting our local attractions such as Science North and Dynamic Earth. We get the opportunity to tour our local attractions to see what they are all about and check out the newer attractions. Stay posted for blogs about our experiences with these local attractions.

As some of you might know our visitor information kiosk is moving from VIA Rail to the Market Square downtown. We will be opening June 7th and we will be there til the end of the summer. Come check out our new kiosk and come join us on the weekends to see all the great vendors Market Square will have set up.

For more information on local upcoming events and to see what we are up to...

Follow us on twitter
www.twitter.com/sudburytourism

Become a fan on faceboook
www.facebook.com/sudburytourism

Watch us on youtube
www.youtube.com/sudburytourism

End of Summer 2009

2009-08-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

It has been an amazing summer, but unfortunately the end is near. I had a great time this summer, going to all the events and learning so much about Sudbury. I had the opportunity to do things I wouldn't think of doing and I am really excited that I was able to do it. For example I probably wouldn't have went to all the festivals, but this summer I attended more than half of them and I was not disappointed by any of them. I had a great time visiting Science North and Dynamic Earth. I hadn't been to either of those places since I was younger, so it was good to catch up on everything and it was good to see how much they have expanded and added to their facilities. This summer made me realize that Sudbury is a beautiful place to live and has more to offer than people think. I can now say that I love and respect Sudbury much more than I did before. I think more people should go out and experience what Sudbury has to offer, whether it's visiting Science North or attending the festivals and events that go on around the Sudbury area.

Even though the summer is almost over that doesn't mean the fun has to stop! Visit the Sudbury Tourism website to find out what events are taking place during the 2009- 2010 season.
www.sudburytourism.ca

I had a great time blogging about everything I did this summer, unfortunately this will be my last blog for this summer. Thank you for reading and hopefully I will be back next year :)

Sudbury Hiking Trails

2009-08-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

Sara and I decided to take a hike down a couple of Sudburys Trails. There about 30 trails in the Sudbury area. Unfortunately we only had time to do 3 of them.

The first trail Sara and I hiked was the Rotary Park Trail behind Adanac Ski Hill. This trail crosses Junction Creek, passing by wetlands, and runs along the base of Adanac Ski Hill. Part of the trail runs parallel to Junction Creek, and along the trail you will see raspberry bushes that are ripe for picking midsummer. This trails is about 2.9 km and is considered an easy trail. This trail is full of nature, so many beautiful views and you are always surrounded by trees and bushes. You are even able to see the BMX course they are building for the 2010 Summer Games. If you are feeling adventurous try climbing up Adanac Ski Hill, I used to do that when I was younger. It has a great view of the city and a great place to have a picnic.

The second trail we concurred, which is one of my favorite trails in Sudbury was The Lake Laurentian Conservation Area. There are two entrances to this trail, the first being at Ramsey Lake (which is where we started) and the second is at Lake Laurentian Nature Chalet. This hike is about 23.o, perfect hike to pack a lunch and a couple of snacks. There are so many great views on this trail, for example a little spot that outlooks Ramsey Lake. A perfect spot to stop for a picnic or even a little rest. This trail is perfect for hikers, bikers and joggers. The trails are well marked and provide excellent bird watching and photo opportunities. When I was younger my parents would take my sister and I down this trail every weekend during the summer. It was a perfect way to spend time with my family as well as get some good exercise. We would pack a lunch and a couple of snacks, and when we were down our hike we always looked forward to swimming at Moonlight Beach.

The final trial we did for the day was Bell Park (aka the Boardwalk) one of the most popular trails in Sudbury. This trail is absolutely beautiful. The trail is well groomed and paved. The walkway follows the west shoreline of Ramsey Lake, curving around the lake, passing through beaches and other little stops along the way. This is another one of my favorite trails in Sudbury. It is such a beautiful hike, with so many great views of Ramsey Lake.

I wish we had time to do more of the trails around Sudbury. Hiking is one of my favorite past times and it is a great way to stay fit. I suggest you try a couple of Sudburys trails if you haven't already done so.
For more information about Sudburys Trails and where they are located visit:
www.rainbowroutes.com

Respect is Burning Supperclub

2009-07-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month in my weekly blog I wrote about the downtown core and how it has transformed into a prime location for shopping, cafes, clubs and fine dining. Well the Tourism group got an opportunity to visit one of downtown Sudbury's finest restaurants, Respect is Burning. Rob Gregorini owner of Respect is Burning was nice enough to invite us to his restaurant to taste his delightful food. As we walked through the doors we were quickly greeted by the hostess. I quickly glanced around and was immediately impressed with the decor, lighting and overall ambiance of the restaurant. As we were escorted to our seats I couldn't help but notice the various kinds of artwork and photographs scattered through out the restaurant. The staff were very polite and friendly, and offered us drinks as soon as we got seated.

Shortly after Rob Gregorini came to our table to introduce himself to us and enlightened us with a short story of the history of RiB (Respect is Burning). His story was touching and it was great to see how passionate he is about food and the work he puts into his restaurant. One of his
goals was to make Downtown Sudbury a better place to be. RiB truly adds something to the downtown and it is a great place to hang out and eat or drink.

Now lets talk about the food, one word describes it all... AMAZING!

Rob wanted to give us a little taste of everything (tour of Italy). First, Rob and his staff brought out two different types of brushetta. The first, a Deep Woods Brushetta (made with mushrooms) the second, the Original Bruschetta (made with ripened tomatoes), both of them were fabulous! With that he brought out a delicious ceaser salad. The last item he brought out for an appetizer. Yes there is more... yup, Pizza. The pizza was simply amazing, it was made with with prosciutto, mushrooms, and green olives.

After we completed our appetizers Rob brought us out baby back season ribs that were so tasty, everyone at the table just loved them!

Now it was on the main dish pasta, yummy my favorite! We were able to try two different pastas. One was penne with tomatoe sauce and white wine and procutto (my favorite) and the second one was a linguine with mushroom. Both of them were exquisite, I just couldn't get enough!

By that time I was stuffed, but of course I saved room for dessert. We went with the tiramisu; it was a great way to finish the meal because it was so light and delicious.

I had a great time at RiB, the food and the atmosphere are astonishing. The staff are all very friendly, quick and professional. Iwas very interested in the story Rob shared with us and I'm very glad he did. Its people like Rob who make Sudbury a better place for locals and visitors. I left RiB satisfied and stuffed. I can't wait for my next visit back to RiB, I sure hope its soon! I would recommend RiB to anyone who wants to taste excellent quality food in a sophisticated atmosphere. You wont be disappointed!

HEY...RiB also caters!

For more information on RiB and to check out there menu visit there
website at:
www.ribsupperclub.com

For reservations call:
705.675.5777

Dragon Boat Festival

2009-07-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

This past weekend the Dragon Boat Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary on beautiful Ramsey Lake. The opening ceremonies took place Friday night with the Chinese Heritage group performing the pre-race ritual dance and the races began on the Saturday. They were calling for rain on Saturday (race day), but that didn't stop hundreds of people from attending this years events and with close to 60 teams participating. The Dragon Boat Races was once again a big hit. The rain ended up holding off and the weather was just perfect! The Dragon Boat Festival is always a popular one. Not only do people come out to enjoy the races but the great entertainment , good food, crafts and wonderful games and activities for the children. The entertainment was fabulous, they had Chinese performers doing different dances, playing music and other amazing arts. Jenna and I were able to capture some amazing pictures and video footage of the races and the entertainment. While walking around Bell Park we were able to see all the different teams and it was nice to see how they designed their own unique team uniforms. Team spirit was alive and well at the participants village. Everyone looked awesome and it looked like they were having a really good time. We were able to catch a couple of the races and it was great to see how well some of the teams could paddle. It sure doesn't look easy. It turned out to be yet another amazing Dragon Boat Festival. If you weren't able to make it out to this one, hopefully we will see you out next year! :)

Italian Festival

2009-07-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was a busy one! Both the Italian Festival and Northern Lights Festival Boreal were going on. There were so many things to see and do, with so little time.

I always look forward to the Italian Festival every year, mainly because I am Italian. The Italian Festival always has something going on, whether it is the pageant or the pasta night. This festival is great for people of all ages. It is great to see how many people come to Sudbury from Italy just for the festival. They had a beer tent set up outside the Caruso Club where they had tables set up, live music, and food. Throughout the weekend they had different events set up, such as, the pageant with so much amazing talent, a soccer game, and activities for kids to participate in. The best thing about the Italian Festival is the food. They have so much delicious food. If you are planning to attend make sure you are ready to eat, because after all Italians love to eat! There is no way you can attend this festival without trying some of the food because it all smells so good, and it just draws you in. They always had a big lunch going on (porketta, sausage lunch), and even bigger dinner (the pasta dinner). You don't have to be Italian to attend, everyone is welcome. If you didn't have the chance to check it out this year, I suggest you try and make it next year! :)

Northern Lights Festival Boreal

2009-07-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

Hey!

I hope everyone had a good weekend!

Sara and I arrived at the NLFB at noon, just in time for all the fun to begin. It was gorgeous out, the sun was finally shining, but it wasn't overly hot, just right! The NLFB is one of Sudbury largest festivals of the summer. If you like live music, unique crafts, and good food then the NLFB was the place to be this past weekend. Sara and I were shocked at how fast the festival filled up with people. The NLFB is so overwhelming, there were so many people and so many amazing things to see and do. There were SO many people out just having a good time! Sara and I decided to walk around and take a look at everything they had. They had a lot of booths set up with homemade crafts, jewelry, pictures, and clothing.They had a lot of different types of food places set up for people to enjoy (it all smelt amazing!). It was great to see how many kids activities they had going on. For example kids yoga, face painting and arts and crafts. They even had a stage set up for kid to enjoy some story telling and sing-alongs. The moment the gates opened people were rushing to the music tents near by to catch some of the opening acts. There was always something fun and exciting going and the music never stopped. It turned out to be a great three days of music, entertainment and arts. It was great to see such a good turnout and I'm anxious to attend the NLFB next year.

Downtown Sudbury

2009-07-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

When the weather is nice and I am on my lunch break my mom and I like to take walks around downtown Sudbury. I find whenever people mention downtown they always feel as though it is unsafe or dirty. I am guilty of thinking this way too, but not anymore. I have come to find that downtown Sudbury is a wonderful place. I feel safe walking downtown, and there has never really been anything to scare me away from the downtown area. For people who are a bit frightened to walk around downtown, we have the Downtown Ambassadors patrolling the streets for your safety. There is also Lions Eye in the Sky, another means of patrolling the downtown through cameras. They are all there for the protection of Sudburys community and trying to make the downtown a safer and better place. They want more people to feel safe and comfortable downtown.

There are so many different things to see and do, and people should take the opportunity to experience it. For example there are many wonderful restaurants downtown such as Respect is Burning, Peddlers, Laughing Budha, etc. They are cute little cafes such as Books and Beans, Williams Coffee Pub, Bubble Tea and so much more. The restaurants and cafes in downtown Sudbury are endless. Wait, that’s not all, downtown also has great shopping! The Rainbow Center is located downtown, as well as other little shops along the way.

But hey, why stop there? Might as well check out the Market Square. Market Square is home to the Downtown Sudbury Farmers Market. The market features specialty crafts, fresh local produce, food and much more! Stop in at Memorial Park and check out the World War memorabilia. Memorial Park also features a water fountain that the kids just love to play in. Next time you’re in the mood for a walk, trying walking downtown!

While you’re downtown come check us out (the summer students) down at VIA railroad station, at the information booth in the back. Tell us about your experience or ask us any questions about Sudbury tourism you may have. Sudbury is a wonderful place, it's time you start experiencing it :)!

For more information please visit our website:
http://www.sudburytourism.ca/
or
http://www.downtownsudbury.com/

Canada Day

2009-07-03T05:59:00.000-07:00

Hey!

I hope everyone had a safe and Happy Canada Day!.

I had the opportunity to check out the festivities happening at the Sudbury Arena yesterday. Unfortunately the rain was coming down hard, but that didn't stop hundreds of people from coming down to enjoy the Canada Day Celebration inside the arena. The arena was jammed packed with people dressed in red and white, and it looked like everyone was having a really good time! Sara and I arrived at the arena around 11:00 am. Just in time for all the stage acts and the amazing smelling food. They had lots of food booths set up around the arena. Each booth featured food from a different ethnicity. For example they had an Italian booth, Greek booth, Chinese Booth etc. all set up with delicious looking food for people to enjoy. I was disappointed I didn’t have my wallet on me, because walking around for a couple hours smelling the amazing food sure made me hungry! I would of loved to try food from a different ethnicity, next time I know to always carry my wallet with me. They had a stage set up with live bands performing from different cultures. Next they had different dances from different cultures, including some of Sudburys own local talent from Happiness Is Dancing. I was able to catch a couple of the dancers including the Ukrainian dance and the Irish dance. It was very interesting to see the different types of dances for different cultures. There were tons of seating for people. They had tables set up on the floor, as well as seats in front of the stage. They also had the stands open for people to use, so there was plenty of seating for everyone. The diversity in Sudbury is endless, so it was amazing to see everyone come together on this very special day. Rain or shine Canada Day will always be a good time. I can't wait for next years Canada Day celebrations. :)

Finnish Festival

2009-06-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

Yesterday I attended the Finnish Festival that was taking place this weekend. The sun was shining, so I knew it was going to be a great day, and boy was it ever! It was good to see such a good turnout and the festival. Jenna and I arrived at the Finnish Festival at around 10am and there were already so many activities going on. The first major event they had going on was the boot toss. The contestants had to toss a rubber boot as far as they could. Whoever tossed their boot the furthest won the game. The second major event was the cell phone toss. Similar to the boot toss, the contestants had to toss a cell phone as far as they could. Whoever threw the cellphone the further would win a trip to Finland or Iceland. A lot of the contestant had been practicing and warming up before it was their turn, so you could just imagine how bad they wanted to win the trip. The third major event was the wife-carrying contest, a Finnish tradition. Husbands had to carry their wives through an obstacle course while being timed. Again whoever won this event won a trip to Finland or Iceland. So this was another serious event for the contestants, who were practicing and warming up before it was their turn. While all the events were going on they had live Finnish music. It was amazing to hear the music of a culture different than mine. We ran into a couple people that actually flew down to Sudbury from Finland for the festival. I was surprised that they knew so much English. We were able to have a full conversation with them in English and they understood what we were saying. It was interesting to learn about their home country and their culture. They had food and drinks booths set up as well as a face painting station.
Jenna and I surveyed people at the event, took pictures and videos.
It was great to see so many people out at the Finnish Festival on such a nice Saturday afternoon!

Science North

2009-06-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

I was also given the chance to visit Science North this past Friday. Science North brings back so many childhood memories. When I was younger I used to go once a month (if not more) with my family and friends. It is great to see how much they have added on to it. There are so many more things to see and do.
I was able to go view both the IMAXs they have going on right now: Sea Monsters 3D and Grand Canyon Adventure. Sea Monsters 3D was amazing! It feels as though you are right there with the sea creatures, so close you can touch them. Some swim so close to you, you feel as though they are going to swim right into you. Sea Monsters allows you to take a look back at what marine reptiles and what they looked like during the time of the dinosaur age. Grand Canyon Adventure deals with how the Grand Canyon River is at risk. It takes you back showing you how the river used to be, compared to what it is now. This movie takes you through a thrilling river-rafting adventure while telling a great story about the Grand Canyon.
After viewing the IMAXs I went on a little tour of Science North. There were so many amazing things to see and do! I checked out the butterfly exhibit. It is amazing to watch all the butterflies fly around you. I went around and looked at all the amazing creatures Science North has, including Quillan, the porcupine.
I also took a look at a newer exhibition called Club Genome. Club Genome teaches you how cells communicate and how DNA works. They teach you this by relating it to music. This is a fun and educational exhibit suited for people of all ages.
Going to Science North brought back so many childhood memories. I hope I get the chance to visit Science North again soon because it truly is a fun place to be.

Dynamic Earth

2009-06-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!
Today I had the chance to visit Dynamic Earth. I've been there a couple times before but they have added new attractions, so I thought it would be good to check it out again. I've already been underground about 3 times so I decided I would skip out on that and enjoy the other attractions Dynamic Earth offers. Dynamic Earth recently opened a Diamond Exhibition. This exhibition shows you how diamonds are formed, how you find them, how you cut them etc. Diamonds also has different machines that allows you to measure the size of your ring, as well as check out your diamonds to see if they are real. Unfortunately I don't have any diamonds :(!...yet...But if I did I would be sure to check them! Dynamic Earth provides people with very interesting information about Sudbury and mining. They have a booth set up where you can sit and watch about a 3 minute video on how Sudbury was formed. They have a Mining Command Center where people can operate a mine. Something exciting for the kids is Explora Mine. Kids can operate a conveyer belt and move "rocks", while using machines that are just their size. On my way out I decided to watch the 45 minute film "Forces of Nature". Forces of Nature talked about volcanos, earthquakes, and tornado. It gave details about each of them, how they occur and why, and how they can be prevented. I personally thought this film was very interesting. These natural darters are dangerous and not something I've really thought about before until now.

I've been to the Big Nickel many times before, but I thought because I was already in the area I might as well pay a visit to it. I still can't get over how amazing and unique the Big Nickel is, it sure represents Sudbury!

At the Train Station

2009-06-25T08:12:00.000-07:00

Some interesting travelers have come through the train station recently. Yesterday we had a couple traveling from Iowa City. About two weeks ago they decided to get up and go on vacation. With no real set plans they left Iowa City and traveled up north and ended up at the Canadian border and decided to cross it. For both of them this was their first time in Canada. They think it is a very beautiful place with lots of lakes (something they are not used to). They traveled to Montreal, Ottawa and then ended up in Sudbury. When they came to us they said they have no real plans as to where they are going, nor do they care. They were only staying in Sudbury for the day and then they were off to find a campground to stay for the night. We mentioned visiting Dynamic Earth or Science North and told them about a couple campground around the area to stay at for the night. I found this couple very interesting. I think it is amazing to just randomly decide to travel with no idea where you want to go and just end up in different places. They were able to see and experience so many new and different places. They had no intention to come to Canada, but then when they reached the border they thought, why not? After talking to them about their travels, it made me realize one day I wouldn't mind doing something like that. One day decide to travel with no real destination in mind, just hop in the car and go. The couple has been traveling around for about a week and a half and are still on their journey heading in the direction of home, but still making stops along the way.

You can tell its summer because a lot of people are coming into the station asking about nearby campgrounds. What better way to enjoy the summer than camping with friends and family! Sudbury and its surrounding area has a couple great campgrounds and provincial parks for people to enjoy.

My First Week

2009-06-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

My name is Shanna Crispo and I am a summer student at the City of Greater Sudbury in the Tourism department. I recently completed my first week at work and so far everything has been amazing. I really enjoy what I am doing. I get the opportunity to see what Sudbury has to offer and share my experiences with others :). After going around town and experiencing what Sudbury to offer, I truly believe Sudbury is a wonderful place with a lot of things to see and do. My co-workers are a wonderful group of people who welcomed me with open arms and they have taught me a lot within this past week. I am looking forward to the rest of the summer and I will keep everyone posted on what's happening around Sudbury :).

Day at Sudbury's Beaches

2009-06-17T07:24:00.000-07:00

Today the sun was shining so I thought it would be a perfect day to go out to the local beaches and collect some surveys. My first stop was at Bell Park. The beach was packed with little kids and students skipping school to enjoy the first nice day Sudbury has seen in a while. It was amazing to finally see people out enjoying what Sudbury has to offer. Unfortunately I wasn’t exactly dressed for the weather. I was walking around in my black work pants and a short sleeve shirt. I would of much rather of been in a bathing suit soaking up the sun like everyone else. After an hour or so of walking around filling out surveys and taking pictures it was time for me to move onto the next beach. My final stop for the day was at Moonlight beach (one of my favorite beaches in Sudbury). Moonlight wasn’t as crowded as Bell Park surprisingly. I snapped a couple pictures and filled out a couple surveys. As I was on my way out I ran into a couple that just returned from biking the trail behind Moonlight. I thought it would be a good idea to ask them about the survey. They were an older couple, both very nice people. After I asked the survey questions they asked if they could give me some feedback. I was more than welcome to listen to there feedback and took notes on what they had to say. They love biking and it is one of there favorite things to do. However, they feel as though the bike trails in Sudbury need a lot of work done on them and they need to be maintained. They said they would rather go out of town to bike because they aren’t very pleased with the conditions of the bike trails. Another interesting point they mentioned was that they aren’t so much afraid of bears but more so dogs. They said a lot of the dogs are not on leashes and they get chased by them. They pointed out a sign that stated that dogs have to be on a leash, but people weren’t following it. They feel as though the city should be stricter about this law. They also suggested the city building a dog park so dogs have a place to run around and be free without putting others in harm. I told the couple I would bring up there issues to others and hopefully together we can make Sudbury a better place for everyone to enjoy:)!