DebR is the Wednesday guest blogger at Create a Connection and I'm playing along. This week, she says: Imagine you've made a connection with another blogger who lives in a completely different part of the world than you do. This blogger is about to take a trip and the connection you've made is so strong that she is going to make your house one stop on her trip. (Yay!) Unfortunately she can only stay at your place for 24 hours (boo!), but she'd like to see some nearby sights while visiting with you.

Keeping in mind that time is quite limited, so you have to stick pretty close to home (although not necessarily right IN your town - just anyplace you could go as a day trip), try looking around you with the eyes of someone who has never seen your area and tell us some things you'd share with...

1. Your visitor wants to see something historical. Where would you take her and why? Well, living in the Boston area, there are MANY historical things to see! Given the time contraints, I'd probably take her to Boston and weather permitting, we'd walk part of the Freedom Trail, and check out the Paul Revere House in the North End...stopping, of course, for a cannoli and a coffe.

2. She wants to see something hysterical...well, mildly amusing anyway. She'd even go for cute, quirky, odd, or unique. Where would you take her and why? Hmmm...I'd take her to Salem, MA, home of witches, goblins & ghouls. There's enough odd & unique things there to satisfy anyone.

3. She wants to take some beautiful and/or interesting photos to fill her albums when she gets home. Where would you take her? I'd take her to Newburyport, MA. It's gorgeous, on the ocean and a quintessential New England town.

4. She'd like to buy a souvenir that will remind her of your area every time she sees it. What would you suggest and where would you go to get it? I'd take her to Faneuil Hall, where there are many, many touristy souvenirs, and I'd look for something to do with the Swan Boats ... that's so Boston AND I have many good memories of my Grandmother taking me there.

5. Wow, it's been a long day and you're both ready for a snack, or maybe even a meal. Where would you take her to really get the flavor of your area? Legal Seafood, without a doubt. Fresh New England seafood, delicious chowdah and well made drinks.

I've actually never been to Boston in all of my travels. I really need to go! And Salem sounds terrific.

I'll keep these in mind for my future visit, hopefully for more than 24 hours. Who knows, it may be 48 hours!

You sound like a great tour guide. Those are some of the things I would recommend, too, for a visit to Boston.

That sounds fun. Can we do that if I ever come visit you? ;)

Now, I'll try and do the same thing...

1. Your visitor wants to see something historical. Where would you take her and why? Hmm. I'm not entirely sure, since I haven't had a chance to visit all the historical goodies in Toronto myself :) but perhaps Casa Loma, the little castle - manshion up the hill from my friend Jonathan's place.

2. She wants to see something hysterical...well, mildly amusing anyway. She'd even go for cute, quirky, odd, or unique. Where would you take her and why? I'd give her a choice between the BATA Shoe Museum (devoted to footwear weird and wonderful) and Kensington Market (a quirky little district full of vintage clothing shops and places that sell a broad collection of...um...Stuff. It's weirdly third-world-flavored in there at times, but the atmosphere is friendly and bohemian, making it an interesting place to shop.)

3. She wants to take some beautiful and/or interesting photos to fill her albums when she gets home. Where would you take her? Depends what kind she wants! High Park for natural beauty, and perhaps downtown around the Queen Street area for photos of interesting people.

4. She'd like to buy a souvenir that will remind her of your area every time she sees it. What would you suggest and where would you go to get it? I DON'T recommend any of the chintzy souvenir shops. Perhaps something fabulous from one of the little local boutiques like Fashion Crimes would be a good reminder, or Ten Thousand Villages.

5. Wow, it's been a long day and you're both ready for a snack, or maybe even a meal. Where would you take her to really get the flavor of your area? It would depend on where we were, but Bright Pearl for dim sum is a good call, as are a number of the excellent pubs up in the part of the world where my house is.

OR, if I could talk them into it, I'd try and arrange a dinner at Jonathan and Naomi's house. The food there is always awesome. ;)

We NEED to trade visits sometime, Janet!!

I'll show you my tour if you show me yours. :-)