Discovering Hidden Gems

In celebration of Canada's 150th birthday, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) is launching a fun contest to find the top 150 hidden travel gems in our country. IHG® sponsored this hotel stay and my participation in this campaign. All opinions and thoughts expressed our my own. 

While staying at Holiday Inn Express and Suites Vaughan-Southwest, we explored a few gems in the area that we think every family will enjoy visiting! These attractions are educational, exciting, and fun for everyone in the family. 

Visiting the Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival is the best way to tap into Spring; it makes us anticipate the upcoming beautiful weather! Kortright Centre is a few minutes from Holiday Inn Express and Suites Vaughan-Southwest. 

It is fabulous to take a stroll and explore how maple syrup was discovered as sweetwater by the Aboriginal peoples, then how Pioneers made maple syrup, and a demonstration of how sap is turned into syrup by modern day farmers. 

This year the festival will be running until April 2nd. When we were at Kortright, we also got to participate and interact with the Reptilia exhibit, Live Birds of Prey interactions, live band, face painting, and wagon rides. There are lots of activities to do at Kortright Centre throughout the year.

Reptilia Zoo is a fantastic indoor attraction to visit anytime of the year, while staying at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Vaughan-Southwest. As we went into the 15,000 square foot exhibit, we were overcome with a variety of emotions from excitement, curiosity, admiration and even a little bit of fear. Reptilia Zoo is Canada's largest reptile zoo. We can check out the exhibits on our own or take a guided tour. Watch the below video to take a peek... 
They have live shows hosted by enthusiastic and knowledgeable zookeepers throughout the day where we get to learn about the amazing creatures, and get a chance to feel and touch them. We can watch the zookeepers at work as they prepare meals in the Creature Kitchen, and during four public feedings. It was a marvelous experience seeing the 1200 lbs. crocodile, 20 feet python, 14 feet king cobra, and more. Our experience at the Reptilia Zoo was an unforgettable one!

This IHG® hotel location is also close to Vaughan Mills Mall, Legoland Discover Center, lots of restaurants, and Canada's Wonderland. 

We enjoy our stays at IHG® hotels because of their courteous staff, proximity to different attractions, and clean rooms with amenities that make the stay feel at home. These hotels are ideal when travelling for business or pleasure. There are 177 hotels and 31 more coming under the IHG® brand that we can choose to stay at when exploring these destinations and making memories.

Contest:

Celebrate Canada by sharing your hidden gem and win IHG® Rewards Club points to use towards your ultimate Canadian getaway. 

• Grand Prize: 1 million IHG® Rewards Club points on May 31st, 2017
• 1st Runner Up: 50,000 IHG® Rewards Club points drawn on March 31st, 2017
• 2nd Runner Up: 50,000 IHG® Rewards Club points drawn on April 30th, 2017

At the end of the contest, we will be able to see the top 150 destinations Canadians from coast to coast have shared that will inspire summer travel.

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