Take a break this mid-March across Ontario

   One-Tank Trip for March 5/16

   (c) By Jim Fox

   This March Break “Tap into Maple,” take a guided Segway tour around Toronto’s Distillery District, spend the night at the Toronto Zoo and explore the great outdoors.

   Ontario’s Lake Country is where maple syrup producers have been harvesting the sap for more than a century.

   The area, north of Barrie and taking in Orillia, has its annual Tap into Maple passport with 24 locations along the maple route and sweet events.

Tom Shaw shows the traditional method of tapping maple trees with a hand drill used by his grandfather Norman who founded the syrup business. (Jim Fox photo)

   Stop by Shaw’s maple syrup operation to visit the sugar bush and pancake house that’s open daily now through mid-April from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ontarioslakecountry.com/tapintomaple

   Here’s a chance to ride a Segway, those “two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered electric vehicles,” around Toronto’s Distillery District.

   Segway Ontario guides lead participants and tell “some wild historical facts about Toronto through the ages.”

   Other fun recommended by Tourism Toronto is a kid’s overnight pyjama party at the zoo with an educational program, bedtime snack and accommodation on cots.

   Zoo visitors can learn about wildlife conservation and Canada’s first giant panda cubs.

Observe marine life above in Shark Bay’s tunnel at Ripley’s Aquarium.

   Discover the underwater world at Ripley’s Aquarium and explore a “magical realm” at the Royal Ontario Museum’s Enchanted March Break.

   Take a walk on the wild side with EdgeWalk at the CN Tower that’s open during that week and then starts its season on April 11.

   This is the world’s highest outdoor walk on a building, while inside take the elevator to the glass floor observation deck and Sky Terrace.

   Join Safari Jeff at the Ontario Science Centre to learn about “amazing animals,” see cool science demonstrations and tour the Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age exhibition.

   LEGO fans will find more than three-million bricks with Kingdom Quest, 4-D cinema, master model builder and Miniland at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.

   Wizard World, at the Better Living Centre, is an indoor fun park with 20 mechanical and inflatable rides, crafts, animals and elephant rides.

   Toronto ComicCon returns March 18 to 20 at the Metro Convention Centre with celebrities, artist and writers along with workshops.

Segway Ontario offers guided two-wheeled tours of the Distillery District in Toronto.

   The Toronto Sportsmen’s Show, March 16 to 20, is now at the International Centre on Airport Road, with everything about the great outdoors.

   Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles is at the Princess of Wales Theatre, March 15 to 20, for a “multi-media spectacular that takes you on a musical journey through the life and times of the world’s most celebrated band.”

   At Second City, Super Dude and Doctor Rude, March 14 to 18, is where kids make the rules and the Supercrew goes on a “wild musical adventure filled with jet packs, secret lairs and selfies.” Details: seetorontonow.com

   The magic continues

   Disney on Ice is coming to Toronto, London and Hamilton.

   There’s 100 Years of Magic, March 17 to 20, at the Rogers Centre in Toronto that’s a skating spectacular including the wintry wonderland of Frozen with Anna, Elsa and Olaf.

The Disney characters gather for the 100 Years of Magic ice spectacular. (Feld Entertainment)

   Mickey Mouse leads a parade of some 50 characters including Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Disney princesses such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Snow White and Tiana.

   There are also “exciting moments” from Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Disney’s Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast.

   Disney on Ice presents Dare to Dream with princess stories and fairy tales at Budweiser Gardens in London from March 10 to 13 and FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, March 17 to 20.

All the cast appears in the finale of Disney on Ice’s Dare to Dream. (Feld Entertainment)

    The live production features scenes from Tangled, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and the Princess and the Frog. disneyonice.ca; 1-855-985-5000

   For the senses

   Give the kids a sensory treat at Ontario Parks with “sugaring off’ at Bronte Creek Provincial Park in Oakville.

   The maple syrup event includes making maple taffy on the snow, a pancake house, wagon rides and visiting animals at the park’s Spruce Lane Farm.

   Waterfowl Weekend to witness the spring phenomenon of thousands of ducks, geese and swans returning is March 19 and 20 at Presqu’ile Provincial Park on Lake Ontario near Brighton.

   The tundra swans are returning to their nesting grounds in the Arctic and will stop over by Pinery Provincial Park on Lake Huron. ontarioparks.com

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca