The 'RHOA' Ladies Just Showed Us Toronto Is The Girls' Trip You Didn't Know You Needed
Last weekend, The Real Housewives of Atlanta shut down Caribana and proved that Canada is the impromptu girls trip you didn't know you needed.
Known for being one of Canada's largest street parades, our favorite Georgia peaches made it clear that they did not come to play. Celebrating the 52nd anniversary of Caribana, Kandi Burruss, Cynthia Bailey, Porsha Williams, and Kenya Moore were glammed and jeweled from head-to-toe in their carnival costumes and from the looks of their social media, Toronto did not disappoint.
Although you can only partake in this Caribbean music festival once a year, there are tons of other squad-friendly experiences that you and your besties can experience together for the first time.
The only thing better than a weekend in the 6 is spending it with your squad, and xoNecole is here to give you the ultimate girl's guide to Toronto for a trip that you and your tribe will never forget. If you and your girls are considering catching a flight to Canada, here are 6 spots you should check out while you're there:
Museum of Illusions
If you've been lucky enough to check out the Museum of Illusions in New York, you'll love the Instagram-worthy content you'll be able to capture at the Museum of Illusions in Toronto. Coined as a "fitness center for the brain," this attraction is sure to be a win for all age groups and offers a sensory experience that will give your girls trip a one-of-a-kind, not to mention it costs less than $25 bucks.
Body Blitz Spa
You and your tribe deserve to be pampered like the queens that you are, so level up your self-care game and head over to one of the most highly recommended spas in Toronto. Known for their therapeutic Dead Sea salt pool and eucalyptus steam room, this facility offers packages, starting at $195 for three hours and also offers a 10% off discount for groups.
The Distillery District
You can leave your rental car at the hotel for this pedestrian-only attraction. Don't let the Distillery Districts old towne vibe fool you. The dope mix of vintage and contemporary makes for a great day of art, food, and getting lit at some of the local bars. If you make it down to the district during the winter months, you'll also get a glimpse of the annual Christmas Market and Toronto Light Festival.
CF Toronto Eaton Center
No matter how different you and your friends may be from one another, there's no doubt that the CF Toronto Eaton Centre will have options that your whole tribe will love. With over 250 stores in one mall, this attraction is any shopper's dream, and if you're balling on a budget, it can also be a good place to grab a bite to eat and people watch.
Ripley's Aquarium
If you and your girls are looking for a walk on the wild side, Ripley's Aquarium offers an array of over 20,000 aquatic animals and the longest underwater viewing tunnel in North America. If you're feeling bad and bougie, the aquarium also offers a service where you can hire your own professional photographer to get some high-quality shots of you and your girls during your experience.
CN Tower
The tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere now offers an adrenaline-inducing experience that you and your girls need to add to your bucket list ASAP. Standing at more than 500 miles high, you can get your whole life at the CN Tower, which offers a variety of experiences including but not limited to eating at a revolving restaurant in the sky and standing hands-free off the edge of a building that overlooks the city (if you're brave). Even if you decide to play it safe, even your least adventurous homegirl will get a kick out of this attraction.
Featured image by Instagram/@Porsha4Real.
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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