When I travel, I love joining walking tours and ghost walks are a favourite of mine. I love the opportunity to learn about history and culture through a spine tingling tale and, for the most part, the ghost walks I've done have been less spooky and scary and more festive and fun. 

Having survived several ghost walks around the world, I decided I was brave enough to upgrade to a ghost bus! I was feeling courageous and I was ready to try the Dublin Ghostbus Tour. I figured it couldn't be much different from a walking tour. If anything, it would be easier – no more exerting myself with all that walking! I would just have sit back, enjoy the ride, and see the ghostly sites from the comfort of my seat.

Strolling through the grounds of Whistling Gardens early on a sunny autumn day, I was dazzled by the brilliant colors of the cheerful flowers bobbing in the breeze. Leaves of all shapes and sizes rippled from the trees and a hearty selection of wild grasses created velvety swaths, undulating and twinkling in the sun.  

Little did I realize that Whistling Gardens' most extraordinary plant would be a small, scruffy, rabbit-nibbled shrub.

The Tower of London was the first famous tourist attraction I ever set my eyes on. Studying in nearby East Sussex for a semester meant weekly field trips into London for the purpose of visiting galleries, museums, and other historic sites, with plenty of free time on the side. Rolling into London for my very first time, the gloomy and atmospheric Tower loomed in the distance, beckoning me to investigate its secrets and scandals. 

So why did it take me over 12 years to visit?

Inspired by our past success with the $200 Challenge, I was eager to take on a new travel trial. For those new to the concept, the $200 Challenge was built on a simple premise: can two people travel for two days on just $200? The answer was a resounding yes! We've had two very successful trips, in Vermont and in Algonquin Park, and even more planned for the future. It’s been so exciting to prove that wonderful, enriching, luxurious travel can be achieved on a shoestring budget. Chalk one up to great value!

Taking On A New Challenge 

But there’s more to great travel value than money and I am just as passionate about getting the best possible value for my time. I want to enjoy every experience, I never want a to waste a minute (I’m looking at you, long lines!) and I want to squeeze a lot of enjoyment out of a short trip, while never feeling rushed, overwhelmed, or missing out. I want to see beyond the most popular attractions and step a few feet off the beaten path.

The small community of Uxbridge, in Central Counties,  makes for a perfect stop for those driving through southern Ontario.  This picturesque town is pretty, friendly, and filled with amenities (including great cafes and restaurants), but one of its most interesting attractions is the former railway station. 

It's amazing to think of how this community must have once bustled with activity with passengers and cargo trains rolling in and out of town. The York Durham Heritage Railway, opened in 1996, is a tourist train operating between Stouffville, Goodwood, and Uxbridge. 

Uxbridge is just a short drive from Toronto and is an affordable day trip that can be enjoyed by all ages  - and especially history and train enthusiasts.