Carolyn Heller - Moon Ontario

I could never have completed a project of this magnitude without the support of many people and organizations across Ontario and beyond.

Im especially grateful for the assistance of the Canadian Tourism Commission and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership, particularly the ever-helpful Helen Lovekin and Kattrin Sieber.

Thank you to Tourism Toronto, especially former media gal Justine Palinska. Also in Toronto, many thanks to Martha Chapman, Melanie Coates, Tracy Ford, Catherine Kaloutsky, Irene Knight, Jason Kucherawy, Laura Serena, and Dan Young.

Betsy Foster (Tourism Niagara) was a great help in the Niagara region, as were Clark Bernat, Colleen Cone, Holly Goertzen, Lynn Ogryzlo, Anne Robinson, Gloria Simon, Patty Szoldra and Ed Kuiper, Dianne Turner, and Helen Young.

Dana Borcea at Tourism Hamilton was a first-rate guide. Im also grateful to Tracey Desjardins, Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corporation; Cathy Rehberg, Stratford Tourism; and Marty Rice, Tourism London. More thanks to Katrena Johnston, Anne Lukin, Barrie McAndrews, Kimberley Payne, and Jenny Shantz.

In Southwestern Ontario, the team at Tourism Windsor, Essex, Pelee Island, especially Chris Ryan, Marina Garbutt, Kris Racine, and wine-and-food guru John Parent, were very helpful. Thanks, too, to Shannon Prince, Anna Walls, and Anne Marie Fortner, with bonus points to Sandra Laranja for the delicious breakfast and shelter from the Pelee Island storm.

Special thanks to the top-notch Ottawa Tourism team, especially Jantine Van Kregten and Yael Santo. Also in Ottawa, my gratitude to Caroline Ishii, Dave Loan, Shawn McCarthy, Laura Byrne Paquet, Paola St-Georges, and Shawna Wagman.

Anne Marie Forcier (Rideau Heritage Route Tourism Association) and Marie White (Lanark County Tourism) shared their enthusiasm for the Rideau region. Elsewhere in Eastern Ontario, I appreciated the support of Eileen Lum and the Northumberland Tourism staff, Greg Lister (Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism), Deanna Davies and Susan LeClair (St. Lawrence Parks Commission), Kathleen Kennedy and Melissa Larkin (Taste the County), Kathrine Christensen (1000 Islands Tourism), and Connie Markle (Tourism Kingston). Many thanks to Pam Brooks, Michael Burton, Ron Currie, Jackie DeKnock, Paul Fortier, the Irwin family, Jennifer Lyons, Anne Munro, Ben Smann, and Julia Segal.

On the Bruce Peninsula, Jamie Lee Everatt and her colleagues at Bruce County Tourism offered invaluable assistance, as did innkeeper Ann Bard. Barbara Grison gets the official travel writers assistant award, and Im thankful to Dave Peebles and Evan LeBlanc for adopting me into their extended family for Thanksgiving dinner.

Bev Hughes (Georgian Bay Destination Development Partnership) efficiently squeezed scads of activities into one jam-packed week. Elsewhere along Georgian Bay, my thanks to Graham Lamb (Georgian Bay Islands National Park), Donna MacLeod (Rainbow Country Travel Association), Bill Brodeur, Maury and Annabelle East, Liz and Kurt Frost, Patti Kendall, Adele and Paul Malcew, and Keith Saulnier. Thank you to Kathleen Trainor and Pam Bothwright (Tourism Barrie), and in Huntsville, Im grateful to Doug and Dee Howell.

My appreciation to Gladys King, Great Spirit Circle Trail, Manitoulin Island; Shawna Panas Cole, Sudbury Tourism; Ian McMillan, Tourism Sault Ste. Marie; Mike Morrow, CN/ Algoma Central Railway; and to Ontarios Wilderness Region. In Temagami, extra kudos to Caryn Colman, chef Chantelle Mousseau, and guide Kevin Crowhurst (for sharing his regional knowledge and making me French press coffee at 6 A.M.).

A special shout-out to the crew at Ontario Parks, especially Lori Waldbrook, Mike Armstrong (Awenda), Kenton Otterbein (Killbear), and the staffs at Bon Echo, Frontenac, Lake Superior, Petroglyphs, Presquile, and Sandbanks Provincial Parks. Thanks, too, to Judy Hammond (Clear Communications) for her park advice and connections.

Toasts to my generous media colleagues at the Travel Media Association of Canada, with special cheers to Ron Brown (Mr. Ontario) for sharing favorite places, Liz Campbell for her gracious hospitality, Evelyn Hannon (Journeywoman) for wisdom and banana bread, Randall Shirley for tourism contacts, and Nancy Wigston for the parking space.

And for the many others across Ontario who provided timely tips and a warm welcome, you have my gratitude.

Many thanks to the awesome team at Avalon Travel, including Grace Fujimoto, Tabitha Lahr, Kevin McLain, Mike Morgenfeld, Jen Rios, and editor extraordinaire Sabrina Young.

Back home, my appreciation to Anne Second Mom Gorsuch and Hal Second Dad Siden, to Michaela and Talia for tolerating their rambling mothers messages about Mammoth Cheeses and other oddities, and to Alan, as always, for his love and support.