Through the eyes of Julia....

 Have you been itching to get away? Or do you crave some excitement and adventure? Traveling somewhere for a weekend can be time consuming, expensive, and requires a lot of planning. If you find yourself stuck in Toronto for a weekend this summer, this “Staycation” guide is perfect for you!

 Here are the rules: try to mimic a vacation set up as much as possible ie. Dedicate the entire weekend to spending time with only your vacation partner, be willing to splurge a little and treat yourself to dinners out as you would when on vacation, unplug from your phone social media etc. and don't go to any of your normal/familiar date places.

Friday Evening

 Once you are off work, take a few hours to unwind, get in the vacation mindset and prepare for your weekend. Based on the itinerary, locate what you'll want and need for the weekend, similar to packing for a get away.

 Head up to Mezzetta at Bathurst and St Clair for a light dinner of Tapas. Their bests include swordfish skewers with lemon juice and dill, Beef Sambousak (minced beef wrapped in puff pastry), tabouleh and falafel.

 When you are done dinner, head to Downsview Park for a 7pm drop in Trapezing Class at the Toronto Circus School.

 After all that fearless flying through the air, drinks will be well deserved. Since it is only Friday and you have a jam packed weekend ahead of you, head to Snakes and Lagers at Bathurst and College for a low key but fun evening. The bar boast craft beers and ciders from over 20 breweries and has and impressive collection of 100s of boardgames.

 If you don't indulge in the delicious snack menu at Snakes and Lagers, late night sushi at Generation Sushi around Bay and Bloor is a great option, and it's open until 2am!

 Be sure to head home and get your rest, you'll need it for the two busy days ahead of you!

Saturday

 After a nice relaxing sleep in, go for brunch on the roof top patio at Le Papillion on the Park. Rated one of the most romantic patios in Toronto, this restraunt has some of the best French Food I have ever had. I highly recommend the P'Tit Poulet Crepe.

Next stop on the staycation; Bluffers Beach to catch some sun, go roller blading or biking along the paths, and admire the scenic Scarborough Bluffs.

When you are ready to leave the beach, head over to the Archery District to channel your inner Katniss in a game of archery tag thatcombines elements from paintball, dodgeball, and archery, making it a uniquely thrilling experience.

After your busy day, you'll want to head home and clean up before a night of dinner and dancing at Lula's. Get ready to tear up the dance floor with salsa lessons in between dinner courses and live music at this Dundas West gem.

Sunday

When you Are ready to get out of bed, head to Mildred's Temple Kitchen in Liberty Village for their renowned biscuits, and blueberry buttermilk pancakes.

 If its a nice day, walk, roller blade or bike through the romantic trails in nearby High Park. Be sure to visit the gardens, waterfront and animals at the complimentary Zoo!

 If the weather isn't great, skip High Park and instead take a tour of Steam Whistle Brewery at the round house down town.

To wrap up your vacation, treat yourselves to a romantic dinner at Terroni. The restaurant has various locations, but I recommend the Adelaide location inside the beautiful and historic 1852 Adelaide court house. If you're a seafood fan, the Spaghetti in Canna a Mare is fabulous, loaded with succulent shrimp, mussels, clams, and scallops.