Butter Tart Festival

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to explore. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province, ands show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

Butter tarts, those delicious, flaky pastries filled with buttery, sugary sweetness that you can find in most supermarkets and country general stores across Ontario, date back to more than a century. In fact, recipes for them can be found in cookbooks dating from the early 1900s.

Ontario’s even got a couple of butter tart trails, including the Wellington County Butter Tart Trail and the Kawartha Northumberland Butter Tart Tour. For the ultimate autumn daytrip, we opted to try the closer-to-Toronto trail in Wellington County and explored a handful of its 23 stops.

In the morning: Leaving Toronto, head west on Highway 401 before driving north on Highway 410. From there, continue along Highway 10 before turning west onto Highway 24 toward Erin. Make Holtom’s Bakery your first stop on your butter tart experience.

This charming spot has a nostalgic, old fashioned bakery aesthetic. Its family recipes, with everything baked from scratch, have been passed down for generations. Once you’ve picked up some of its butter tarts, spend some time exploring Erin.

This quaint town, and the surrounding communities of Guelph and Rockwood, has a picturesque Hallmark movie vibe – for example, it’s not hard to imagine bumping into that old high school flame while visiting the corn mazes at Thatcher Farms Butcher Shop, Bakery &amp; Farm Market or Strom's Farm &amp; Bakery.

<img class="size-full wp-image-172172" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-DiscoverTarts-Museum-Oct15.jpg" alt="Butter Tart" width="2000" height="1312" />

Head next to Belwood Country Market in Belwood, located about a 30-minute drive northwest of Erin. This spot is renowned for its butter tarts – it sells upward of 270,000 of them each year – with choices ranging from plain to raisin and pecan. There are also several unique flavours, including Skor, Reese’s Peanut, white chocolate blueberry, coconut-raspberry and seasonal options, too (think dark chocolate cranberry for Christmas and maple bacon around Canada Day).

Around noon: Next up, make the short drive to downtown Fergus to visit The Red Door and pick up some gluten-free butter tarts for your friends who can’t indulge in the traditional versions. Enter through the red door on the side of the building and be prepared to enjoy a delicious lunch. Its menu has options for everyone, including those on restricted diets, such as its dairy-free soup of the day or its vegetarian portobello mushroom sandwich.

In the afternoon: After lunch, head over to the Wellington County Museum and Archives. This National Historic Site operated as a poor house in the late 1800s, providing shelter and a place of work for the homeless and destitute. Now a museum, it features nine galleries that share the stories of the people and places of Wellington County.

From the museum, head to Gerrie’s Garden Centre and Farm Market in nearby Elora. It’s the Mennonite-style market you wish you had in your neighbourhood for all of your grocery needs. Add some of their gluten-free tarts to your cart, and while you’re there pick up some fall decor for your garden.

If you’re feeling the need for some exercise, park the car and explore the Elora Gorge Trail, an easy four-and-a-half-kilometre path that delivers fantastic views of the gorge.

Drive next to the outskirts of Elora to Dar’s Country Market where you can score gluten-free butter tarts along with local produce and a selection of gourmet foods. You won’t regret picking up some its juicy barbecue ribs or freshly baked chicken pot pies to enjoy for dinner once you get home.

Next up, stop into The Right Spot Restaurant &amp; Baked Goods in the town of Alma. This family restaurant sells classic butter tarts (plain, raisin and pecan) but is known for its apple-cinnamon butter tarts. Pastry lovers will also want to pick up a coconut cream or lemon meringue pie – customers have been known to drive for hours to enjoy a slice.

Next, drive to Drayton, known for its historic opera house from 1902, to pick up some butter tarts at À La Mode, a cute coffee shop located downtown. After, head north to Arthur, billed as Canada’s most patriotic village, is to check out its historical murals, including the Pioneer Mural (which features images of the community’s early European settlers) on the side of building that once housed the Arthur Registry Office.

Finally, make your last stop of the day HomeStyle Flavours in the community of Palmerston. This horse and buggy-style business will give you a glimpse into the local Mennonite culture and its traditional baking techniques. If you need a healthy fix to balance all of the sweet baked goods you’ve been sampling, pick up one of its hefty sandwiches to share on the drive home.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-172173 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-DiscoverTarts-Stroms-Oct15-scaled.jpg" alt="Butter Tart" width="2560" height="1700" />

For the Drive

You’ll have plenty to listen to as you explore the Wellington Butter Tart Trail. For the drive out, listen to CBC Radio’s “The Butter Tart: Iconic Canadian Treat or Outdated Sweet?” in which foodies debate the dessert’s iconic status. And on the way home, check out North Americana Podcast’s “An American Foodie Dishes on the Ontario Butter Tart Trail.”

TIMELINE: Drive Guide
<ul>
 	<li> 9 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
 	<li> 10 a.m. Holtom’s Bakery</li>
 	<li> 11 a.m. Belwood Country Market</li>
 	<li> Noon The Red Door</li>
 	<li> 1 p.m. Wellington County Museum and Archives</li>
 	<li> 2 p.m. Gerrie’s Garden Centre and Farm Market</li>
 	<li> 3 p.m. Dar’s Country Market, The Right Spot and À La Mode</li>
 	<li>4 p.m. Arthur’s Murals</li>
 	<li>5 p.m. HomeStyle Flavours</li>
</ul>
Note: Times are suggestions only

Ours to Discover: Butter-tart trails offer a day of exploring and a delicious sugar high

Bala Cran Fest crans.JPG

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to explore. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province, ands show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

With autumn officially here, it is harvest time in many places across the province – including in Bala. This community, located on Highway 169 between Gravenhurst and Parry Sound, is the cranberry capital of Canada and the perfect spot for a mid-fall visit. Get ready to experience a dose of bright colours, and not just from those rapidly changing leaves.

In the morning: Leaving Toronto, drive north on Highway 400 toward Gravenhurst before heading west on Highway 169. The journey should take about two-and-a-half hours. Bala is part of the larger municipality of Muskoka Lakes and plays host to a popular cranberry festival each October – which this year takes place from the 14 to the 16.

Make Muskoka Lakes Farm &amp; Winery your first stop. Located just a short drive past Bala, it is one of only two cranberry marshes in Ontario. (The one other is in Greely, a rural community near Ottawa. While too far to visit on a day trip from Toronto, Upper Canada Cranberries is a unique spot to see while in the nation’s capital.)

<img class="size-full wp-image-172067" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-DiscoverCranberry-Beer-Oct8-1.jpg" alt="Cranberry" width="2000" height="1383" />

Muskoka Lakes Farm &amp; Winery is home to the Johnston Cranberry Marsh where, in the fall, you can see the bright red berries being harvested, go on a wagon or walking tour of its trails, and get into the actual bog by taking a Cranberry Plunge (be sure to book in advance). Wearing a pair of waterproof waders, you can walk through the marsh water to where the cranberries have been collected in a heart-shaped area for the ultimate fall-harvest photo opportunity.

Throughout the year, the business also hosts a bog-to-bottle experience, where visitors will be taken on a guided tour to learn how the cranberries are processed, and wine tastings – all are made from cranberries and blueberries (as well as apple, in the case of its Georgian Bay Rosé). The winery also produces cider, which you can purchase in the shop alongside a selection of preserves, baked goods and hot sauces.

Around noon: Spend a couple of hours exploring the Muskoka Cranberry Route. This route includes more than 30 stops across the region, so you’ll have to narrow down your stops if you are only on a day trip. Make your choices while eating lunch at Bala Bay Takeaway. The restaurant serves several cranberry infused items, including its chicken wrap and the tartar sauce to go accompany its fish and chips.

In the afternoon: Following lunch make sure to visit the Clear Lake Brewing Co., one of the stops along the Muskoka Cranberry Route, in the nearby community of Torrance. Purchase a day pass so you can experience its Muskoka BeerSpa and kick back for a couple of hours by enjoying its hot tubs, pool, saunas, loungers and gardens. Those not driving can enjoy the brewery’s Cranberry Radler – made with Muskoka cranberry juice – or its refreshing craft beer cocktail, the Radler Rocket.

<img class="size-full wp-image-172068" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-DiscoverCranberry-Bracebridge-Oct8-1.jpg" alt="Cranberry" width="2500" height="1667" />

Once you are rejuvenated, drive to Bracebridge, less than 40-minutes away, to pick up a few treats on your way back to Toronto. Stop at Rich Hill Candles for some beautiful cranberry-scented candles before popping into Unique Muskoka for some cranberry jalapeno jelly – the perfect hot and spicy addition to your cheese boards.

Finally, stop into the Muskoka Olive Oil Co. for a bottle of cranberry-pear olive oil (great for dipping some crusty bread into) and some of North Country Fudge’s decadent cranberry-raspberry fudge. With souvenirs and gifts procured, start your drive back to the city.

For the drive

Listen to “The Cranberry Chronicles,” a podcast from the Cranberry Institute, in which the host, a registered dietitian nutritionist, speaks with health and industry experts about this antioxidant-rich fruit.

<img class="size-full wp-image-172069" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-DiscoverCranberry-Hand-Oct8-1.jpg" alt="Cranberry" width="1576" height="1152" />

TIMELINE: Drive Guide
<ul>
 	<li> 8 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
 	<li> 10:30 a.m. Muskoka Lakes Farm &amp; Winery</li>
 	<li> 12:30 p.m. Bala Bay Takeaway</li>
 	<li> 1 p.m. Clear Lake Brewing Co.</li>
 	<li> 3:30 p.m. Shop in Bracebridge</li>
 	<li> 5 p.m. Drive back to Toronto</li>
</ul>
Note: Times are suggestions only

Ours to Discover: Fall is officially cranberry season

wh-DiscoverAlgonquin-Heritage-Sept24

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to explore. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province, ands show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

Renowned for its forested hiking trails and beautiful rivers and lakes, Algonquin Provincial Park is a camp-lover’s dream. For those looking to explore the area with an effortless itinerary, this overnight trip to the southern boundary of the park will give you a taste of the outdoors along with plenty of self-care luxuries.

DAY ONE

In the morning: Pack a snackable breakfast for the drive and head north on Highway 404 before taking County Road 48 and Highway 35 toward Minden. In two-and-a-half hours, you’ll find yourself in the township of Minden Hills, where history buffs might want to make a stop at the Minden Hills Museum &amp; Heritage Village.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-171701" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/wh-DiscoverAlgonquin-Gallery-Sept24.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2551" height="2136" />

Started in 1984, the site is composed of several heritage buildings, including a church, former schoolhouse, log house and blacksmith shop. The village is open seasonally Tuesdays to Saturdays from late May through early October, and admission is by donation.

[caption id="attachment_171704" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="size-full wp-image-171704" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/wh-DiscoverAlgonquin-School-Sept24-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1618" /> ????????????????????????????????????[/caption]

If the village is closed, the Minden Hills Cultural Centre is also home to the Agnes Jamieson Public Art Gallery, which is open all year. Its current exhibit, called “Places Count, Minden 2022,” is by local artists Chris Hanson and Hendrika Sonnenberg. It is on display through Oct. 26.

Booklovers, on the other hand, will not want to miss the World’s Smallest Bookstore, located on County Road 503. This tiny 10-foot by 10-foot bookstore is worth a quick stop, even if only for an Instagram photo of this converted chicken coop. The story is open 24 hours a day and is self-serve on an honour system with a suggested $3 per book.

Around noon: Continue driving northeast and head for lunch at the South Algonquin Diner in Wilberforce, where you’ll find classics such as burgers and fish and chips alongside specialty sandwiches including crab salad and Montreal smoked meat.

After your meal, check into NOMI Resort, which you’ll find just outside of the south end of Algonquin Park near Harcourt. About to undergo a major expansion with modern, upscale private villas, NOMI’s current accommodations in the main inn offer a simple cottage-chic aesthetic with cozy rooms decked out with niceties such as Frette linens and a Nespresso machine (perfect for brewing some coffee to enjoy the sunrise with).

In the afternoon: Pull on your hiking boots and walk 20 minutes from the resort to the trailhead for High Falls (Remember that you’ll need an Algonquin Provincial Park permit for day use, which you can buy online before you leave on your road trip). The 70-minute roundtrip leads you through hardwood forest and features some rocky terrain that’ll make you grateful for your hiking footwear. You’ll be able to view the water moving downstream toward the falls once you reach the end of the trail.

The exhilarating waterfall might inspire you to get onto the water so once you make it back to NOMI, hit up its private beach on Benoir Lake to enjoy some stand-up paddleboarding – or simply take a dip and kick back in a Muskoka chair from the dock.

In the evening: Something about that fresh cottage-country air works up an appetite. Head to the lower level of NOMI to Lands 8FIFTY restaurant, named after the 850 acres of land surrounding the resort.

Its menu offers favourites that are a step above what you might expect in your relaxed surroundings. Pan-seared steelhead trout, with a perfectly crisp skin, is served atop beet hummus and lentil succotash and tomato salsa, while its plate of chorizo and shrimp pasta is extra decadent thanks to a lemon-truffle emulsified butter. After dinner, head outside to enjoy the bonfire underneath the starry sky.

DAY TWO

In the morning: After breakfast at the resort (the eggs benedict’s hollandaise sauce features orange and sumac), drive along County Road 10 to Deep Roots Adventure to rent some kayaks. You’ll launch into Benoir Lake from just from behind the outfitting shop and after a short paddle you’ll have entered Algonquin Provincial Park.

After admiring the turning leaves from the water, paddle back to shore and return your kayaks to Deep Roots before heading to lunch next door at AM/PM Outdoor Gourmet. Enjoy one of its scrumptious sandwiches (daily specials might include Italian muffuletta or lemon pepper chicken) or some street meat (from Soloways Hot Dog Factory Outlet right next door).

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-171703" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/wh-DiscoverAlgonquin-Kayaks-Sept24.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2124" height="1412" />

In the afternoon: Head to the resort’s spa for some pampering. From a massage with an expert RMT, customized to your body’s needs, to its Doctor Babor Pro Signature Facial (which targets skin’s hydration and vitality), you’ll make your afternoon drive back to Toronto glowing and feeling like a new person.

For the Drive

Give a listen to a few episodes of the podcast “Algonquin Defining Moments,” which dishes on the human history of Algonquin Park from the 1890s, including stories about its Wildlife Research Station and Algonquin’s Renaissance Man: artist, writer, teacher and avid canoeist Don Lloyd.

TIMELINE: Drive guide

Day One
<ul>
 	<li> 9 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
 	<li> 11:30 a.m. Minden Hills Museum &amp; Heritage Village</li>
 	<li> 12:30 p.m. South Algonquin Diner</li>
 	<li> 2 p.m. NOMI Resort</li>
 	<li> 3 p.m. High Falls trail</li>
 	<li> 5 p.m. Benoir Lake</li>
 	<li> 7 p.m. Lands 8FIFTY</li>
</ul>
Day Two
<ul>
 	<li> 9:30 a.m. Deep Roots Adventure</li>
 	<li> 11:30 a.m. AM/PM Outdoor Gourmet</li>
 	<li> 1 p.m. NOMI Resort Spa</li>
 	<li> 3 p.m. Drive back to Toronto</li>
</ul>

Enjoy a nature retreat without roughing it at edge of Algonquin Provincial Park

FridayHarbourOverview

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to explore. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province, ands show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

With its rural landscape – there seems to be farm stands selling fresh eggs and corn around every turn – it hardly seems possible that Innisfil is located merely an hour’s drive from Toronto’s urban landscape. A day trip to this rural town along the western shore of lake Simcoe, and just south of Barrie, will leave you feeling like you are far away from the city.

In the morning: Grab a breakfast smoothie to enjoy in your car as you drive north on Highway 400 toward Barrie. After 60 minutes take the exit for Cookstown, located in southwest Innisfil. This area is known as the antiques capital off southern Ontario, with several opportunities to shop, browse and barter.

Located in a beautiful 100-year-old barn, the Cookstown Antique Market features 35 dealers selling everything from delicate glassware to home accessories and vintage clothing. The market is spread over two floors, with 6,000 square feet waiting for you to discover.

<img class="size-full wp-image-170978" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/wh-DiscoverInnisfil-Antique-Aug27.jpg" alt="Innisfil" width="427" height="640" />

Once you’ve scored your secondhand treasures, drive less than 15 minutes to the 400 Market. Only open on Saturdays and Sundays, it features numerous vendors selling typical flea market merchandise – like T-shirts and smartphone cases – in its main area, while the adjoining Roadshow Antiques is full of surprises.

The 32,000-square-foot centre features stall after stall filled with vintage furniture pieces, rare collectibles and bric-a-brac, such as retro glass Coke bottles stilled filled with pop.

Around noon: By now, your stomach may be starting to grumble, so pack your purchases into the trunk and drive to Friday Harbour Resort. This community on the shores of Lake Simcoe features a marina, beach, restaurants and more – and much of the property’s amenities are open to the public.

Once parked, walk over to the Beach Club Restaurant. While its seaside-chic decor is comfortable and inviting, you may find it hard to resist the views of Lake Simcoe from the patio. As for the menu, you can choose from classics such as fish and chips and burgers, all with a twist. Everything here is Mediterranean inspired. Its classic cheeseburger is made with a juicy lamb kofta patty rather than beef, while its fish and chips features a helping of coleslaw spiced with za'atar seasoning.

In the afternoon: Ward off your post-meal sluggishness with a little movement. If you want to experience Lake Simcoe, rent some watersport equipment – paddleboards, canoes, kayaks or water bikes – from the resort’s Outdoor Activity Centre.

If you prefer to stay on land, you can rent a bike to explore the nearby Nature Preserve at Friday Harbour. This 200-acre sanctuary features accessible trails that weave around tall trees and cross over small streams, offering an idyllic escape from the bustling marina area.

If you prefer indulging in some retail therapy, stroll over to shops located at The Promenade at Friday Harbour. Stop into K9 Pawvengers for treats for your pup, Sweet Harbour Toy &amp; Candy Co. for some Kawartha Dairy ice cream, and Feather and Stone boutique to peruse its curated mix of clothing and accessories.

In the late afternoon: Wrap up your lakeside sojourn by driving back to Cookstown to Laura’s Farm Stand, which is open from late July until October, to get some fresh produce to take home. It is also home to impressive sunflower fields that are in bloom during August and September.

<img class="size-full wp-image-170976" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/wh-DiscoverInnisfil-Sunflower-Aug27.jpg" alt="Innisfil" width="2000" height="1502" />

A one-kilometres trail weaves through the farm’s flower fields, and you can pick your own flowers – including zinnias, cosmos, dahlias and gladioli – to take home with you. If you visit around mid-September or in October, you can select your own pumpkin from the farm’s patch.

For the drive

Innisfil isn’t just farms and antiques. During your drive, listen to the “Innisfil Accelerates” podcast, which explores the town’s tech startups and the topic of smart cities. Host Danny Riendeau interviews a different expert in each episode.

TIMELINE: Drive Guide
<ul>
 	<li> 9 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
</ul>
Drive north of Highway 400
<ul>
 	<li> 10 a.m. Cookstown Antique Market</li>
 	<li> 11:30 a.m. 400 Market</li>
 	<li> 1 p.m. The Beach Club</li>
 	<li> 2 p.m. Lake Simcoe or the Nature Preserve at Friday Harbour</li>
 	<li> 3:30 p.m. The Promenade at Friday Harbour</li>
 	<li> 4:30 p.m. Laura’s Farm Stand</li>
</ul>
NOTE: Times are suggestions only

For a portion of this trip, the writer was hosted by Friday Harbour Resort, which did not review or approve this article before print.

Ours to discover: Innisfil, Ont. has antiques, sunflowers and a resort vibe

wh-DistanceCycling-Main-Aug20

Evan Hogarth was only half joking. “I’m going to ride one of our e-bikes from Toronto to Montreal to have poutine,” he said at the cycle shop where he works.

He was thinking of doing something along the lines of the “Top Gear” television specials or the Ewan McGregor-led series “Long Way Round.” In both cases, vehicles are used in nontraditional ways by the show’s cast. Think 4x4s crossing South America or a motorcycle ride heading east from London to New York City.

To Hogarth’s surprise, his bosses at Beachman Bikes on Dundas Street, Ben Taylor and Steve Payne, said, “Let’s do it.”

The plan: Hogarth would make a roughly 600-kilometre trek from Toronto to Montreal using one of e-bikes that Beachman makes, unassisted other than a cache of a dozen extra batteries. Those would be brought by Taylor, who would follow along in a vehicle as Hogarth navigated secondary roads and avoided the main highways. Around every 70 to 100 kilometres, they would stop to swap the bike’s batteries.

“This is a bike that doesn’t go any more than 90 kilometres a day at most,” said Hogarth, who added they spent time getting the e-bike into tip-top shape before starting the two-day ride to Montreal. They planed to camp overnight along their route.

On a Monday in late July – during a week when summer temperatures weren’t too high – Hogarth set out at 8 a.m. He would complete up to 100 kilometres before stopping for five minutes to swap the battery and eat one of the sandwiches he carried in his backpack.

By 8 p.m., he had arrived in Gananoque, where, instead of camping, Hogarth found an alternative. “I was exhausted and didn’t want to pitch a tent on the side of a road,” said Hogarth, who decided to sleep at a friend’s house.

While the Beachman e-bike requires no pedaling – it runs fully on an electric motor – Hogarth said it was still challenging to ride over long distances. “The majority of the ride was fun, but at around the 250-kilometre mark of the first day, my back was hurting and my arms and legs – I was pretty much done at that point,” he said.

He also got a sunburn on his arms after starting out in the morning in only a t-shirt.

Biking along a multi-day route or tour is not new – think cycling the Loire Valley in France or the P'tit Train du Nord linear park in Quebec – but e-bikes do permit riders to travel further and faster in a day.

“Diving into 600 kilometres is a long time to sit on an e-bike,” said Bud Jorgensen of Cycle Canada. “If you push too hard, you may damage your muscles or a part of your body by overstressing it.”

Cycle Canada offers a program to help people interested in biking longer distances to train their bodies for the experience. It sees cyclists increase how far they travel over the course of months, usually accumulating 1,000 kilometres after half a year.

While Hogarth set out on his own for his first long-distance ride, Jorgensen recommends joining a cycling club as you’ll learn essential safety skills, including group-riding skills, which is something you need to work at.

“If you’re too close to someone in front of you and your front wheel touches their back wheel, you will fall, it’s almost guaranteed,” Jorgensen said.

While physical fitness is a key part of biking long distances, he said you also should not overlook the other benefits of being in a cycling club where there is a broad range of interests, knowledge and experiences. “When you come together as a group, it’s not usually about what your physical strengths are,” he said.

At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Hogarth was back on the e-bike, arriving in Montreal at 6 p.m. As planned, he and Taylor went straight to a couple of the city’s most popular poutine spots, La Banquise and Patati Patata.

Once they had their fill of fries, cheese curds and gravy, they packed the e-bike into Taylor’s vehicle and began their journey back to Toronto – Hogarth sleeping through the drive.

Having time to rest since his July poutine trek, Hogarth is already planning his next long-distance ride. “I don’t know what it’ll be yet, but we’ll be doing something bigger and better – either a longer distance or a different type of terrain,” he said.

Getting bike-travel ready

Whether you plan to pedal a regular bike or ride an e-bike, Cycle Canada’s Bud Jorgensen has some tips to make sure you are ready for your two-wheeled journey.

What to wear: Plan your cycling wardrobe to include layers. “Cross-country ski people know how to layer well and the clothing requirements for cyclists and cross-country skiers is similar,” said Jorgensen. He advises paying attention to the weather forecast so you know what conditions to expect. And don’t forget your high-visibility gear for safety purposes, he said.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-170848" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/wh-DistanceCycling-Roadside-Aug20-scaled.jpg" alt="Distance Cycling" width="2560" height="1709" />

Where to go: Riding on your own will help you understand what traffic conditions you’re comfortable with so you can plan your route (remember, biking is not permitted on some Ontario highways). To take that responsibility of your plate, cycling tour groups, such as Cycle Canada and those listed on ontariobybike.ca, develop group rides of varying skill levels with carefully assessed routes.

What to know: At a minimum, you need to know how to change a flat tire, said Jorgensen. “Typically, cyclists carry a spare tube, but with bike technology changing rapidly, there are tubeless tires, too,” he said. He advises you practice changing your tire at home, so you know how to do it on the road. And like with your car, take your bike into the shop regularly to have it checked out. “You want to be confident the bike is not going to have any problems to deal with on the road.”

Forget the plane, train or automobile. Some people are choosing to travel by bike instead

as physical distancing is still encouraged as the city continues to slow the spread of COVID-19

Making a left turn on your bike at an intersection might make you feel vulnerable, but making a right turn can be tricky, too.

To start, although you’re on a bike, act as though you’re a car when you need to make a right turn where there is no designated cycling lane. That means you should be in the right-most lane and positioning yourself one meter from the curb.

Next, shoulder-check to see if there are any cars behind you. Besides making you aware of your surroundings, this acts as a signal to any drivers behind you that you are going to change your biking pattern. Then, make your right-turn hand signal – sticking your right arm out straight and pointing – before proceeding to make your turn once the way is clear of pedestrians crossing the street.

If there are cars in front of you waiting to make a right turn, wait in the line of traffic leading up to the intersection until it is your turn. Don’t hug the curb and squeeze by the cars so you can reach the corner faster. While you might feel safer hugging the curb rather than being toward the middle of the lane, some drivers might see this as an invitation to pass and turn ahead of you, said Keagan Gartz, executive director of the biking advocacy group Cycle Toronto. She said this “right hook” is one of the most common injuries among cyclists.

In situations where there is a bicycle lane or cycle track separated from the car lane by a solid white line, the Toronto Cycling Handbook said bicyclists have the right of way. Drivers should wait in their lane – and not merge into the bike lane (unless it is indicated they can) – and yield to cyclists until it is safe to turn. If there is a dashed line, the handbook said drivers can enter the cycling lane to turn and cyclists should pass on the left or wait behind the vehicle.

“Advice I give to bikers? Give space and use your best judgment if a car’s wheels are turning,” Gartz said. When it comes to biking safety, she said one of the most important things cyclists should remember is to be clear with their movements.

Cyclists, don’t get it wrong: Here’s how to turn right properly

wh-BikeEtiquette-July23

More people have started cycling the past couple of years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning there are now more bikes on the road. This has left some drivers wondering how they can better share the road with bicyclists.

You might find yourself understandably frustrated when a cyclist races through a red light, creating a dangerous situation for everyone. Or you might be annoyed by a guy pedaling the wrong direction down a one-way street. When it comes to sharing the road with cyclists, how could you be a better driver when cyclists seem to make their own rules?

Let’s start with the basics: To be a better driver around people who are on bicycles, be sure to make eye contact and always signal when you are switching lanes, making a turn or changing directions. And always check for cyclists before opening your car door. The Dutch reach, when you open your car door with their hand furthest away from it, so you have to turn your body and check behind you, is one method.

If you encounter a cyclist doing something that’s against the law or a bylaw, take a moment to pause and think about why they are doing it said Keagan Gartz, executive director of Cycle Toronto, a non-profit cycling advocacy organization.

“If they’re going the wrong way down a street, it’s not necessarily because it’s the shortest way,” she said. “Maybe their route is down Ossington, a terrifyingly busy street, and they’ve decided to take their chances in a low-risk environment – a street where the cars are going slowly.”

Asking yourself why the cyclist is doing what they’re doing will reduce road rage and build empathy, Gartz said. “You may not immediately understand why someone is biking on the sidewalk or the wrong way on a one-way street, but by asking ‘Why,’ you may discover that the answer will almost always be because there is no safe alternative.”

How do I share the road with cyclists when I am driving?

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You’re biking in downtown Toronto – one metre from the curb and parked vehicles – and feeling pretty confident with your new city cycling skills. Then you reach an intersection where the traffic lights are about to turn red, and you need to make a left turn. As you approach the intersection you realize you have no idea where you should turn.

Which lane should you be in? Should you be hugging the left or right side of the lane? And can you ride in between the cars up to the stop line so you are all set to go once the light turns green? Many cyclists in the city have found themselves asking the same questions.

First off, you should “take the lane,” meaning you should be in the middle of your lane as though you’re a car, said certified Can-Bike instructor Joey Schwartz. As for which lane to make your turn from, get into the right-most lane that takes you where you’re going, he said. If there is a left-turning lane, take it. If two lanes can turn left, then be in the right-most one. The idea is that after you complete you turn, you can easily position yourself again one metre from the curb or parked vehicles.

That said, it’s normal to feel vulnerable at a busy intersection. If you feel timid, you can make your turn in two stages. First, cross the intersection when the light is green and then wait at the opposite corner in the direction you want to go in. It’s legal to be adjacent to pedestrians at a crosswalk, said Keagan Gartz, executive director of Cycle Toronto. Plus, not only is it fine to make the crossing in two stages, you also can stay on your bike and ride across. There is no need to dismount and walk, Gartz said. “Just don’t get mixed in, weaving in and out, around the pedestrians,” she said.

What’s the proper way to make a left turn on your bike?

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You’re walking down the sidewalk when you hear the ding of a bell or feel a rush of air a few inches away from you. It could be a child on a tricycle, a commuter on their bike with a front basket full of a few items for dinner, or a food courier on a fat bike or scooter with a boxy carrying case strapped to their back.

In Toronto, a city bylaw states that only people under the age of 14 are allowed to ride their bikes on a sidewalk. But in other municipalities, it differs. For example, in Mississauga it’s based not on age but rather the size of your bike wheels, said certified Can-Bike instructor Joey Schwartz.

While you might feel safer biking on the sidewalk, Schwartz, whose teaches riders about the safe operation of a bicycle, said it’s actually more dangerous for cyclists.

“Someone might open their car door, not expecting someone to be riding a bike on the sidewalk, and then you’re doored,” he said. The danger also comes down to the fact there are no rules on the sidewalk the same way there are on roadways. “For example, how a pedestrian might walk and change direction is unpredictable,” Schwartz said.

Being predictable in your actions, he said, is one of Can-Bike’s core values. Just as riding a bike on the sidewalk is unpredictable, so is weaving in and out of the spaces between parked cars, Schwartz said. You’re not graciously giving extra space to cars so that they may pass you, but rather you’re creating a potentially dangerous situation due to your unpredictability.

He said you should ride in a straight line, one metre from parked cars. Consider a driver who’s conscientiously doing the Dutch reach – that is when they open their car with their hand furthest from the door, so they have to turn their body and check behind them. When you are weaving while biking, and don’t follow a straight line, that driver won’t see you.

Who is allowed to ride a bike on the sidewalk?

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About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to explore. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province, ands show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

Whether you’re a pandemic plant parent or a seasoned green thumb, get inspired for your gardening season with a series of day trips to discover the splendor of some wonderful gardens that are a short drive from Toronto. And, as a bonus, research shows spending time in green spaces helps to boost your mood and creativity.

Royal Botanical Gardens

Just under an hour’s drive west from Toronto, and located just south of Highway 403 in Burlington, the Royal Botanical Gardens features four formal garden areas and its Arboretum –  more a recreation of an English landscape with trees and plants than a flower garden.

Does size matter? When it comes to the impressive Royal it does. This is the biggest botanical garden in Canada, where you’ll find 300 acres of cultivated grounds, 27 kilometres of trails and upwards of 231,000 individual plants. With so much to see, be sure to check its website before you go to find out what is in bloom.

And here is an insider tip: if you find the Royal’s main grounds to be too crowded, head to the more secluded Laking Garden for a contemplative moment. It is set on terraces and is home to the irises and peonies, as well as a heritage garden featuring mixed edible and medicinal plants.

And for the best mashup of tech and flora, plan a visit to the Royal’s Hendrie Park before the end of August to experience “Seeing the Invisible,” an augmented reality sculpture exhibit that brings together art and nature.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/wh-Discover-Gardens-Royal-June11.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-168925" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/wh-Discover-Gardens-Royal-June11.jpg" alt="Ours to discover" width="2200" height="1233" /></a>

Toronto Botanical Gardens

Located a 30-minute drive from downtown on Lawrence Avenue East in North York, the Toronto Botanical Gardens features 17 gardens over its nearly four acres of property. The little ones will love the Teaching Garden, while the adults in your group will gravitate to the Floral Hall Courtyard, which boasts fruit trees and fragrant shrubs.

Like last year, it has also created the Trial Garden, where it experiments with bold combinations of hundreds annuals, perennials and cultivars – plants cultivated through selective breeding to showcase certain traits. It is one of the best spots to snap photos during a visit.

If you’re looking to up your own green-thumb game, check out their programming, which ranges from learning about horticulture therapy and pollinator gardens to yoga classes and a primer on botanical drawing.

Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens

Tucked between Adelaide Avenue and Gibb Street in Oshawa, roughly an hour’s drive east of Toronto, the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens is composed of a series of parks and gardens along Oshawa Creek. Its various areas include its beloved Peony Garden, which is home to one of the largest peony collections in North America.

Visitors can follow secluded trails that lead you past water features and seemingly endless greenery including enormous shade trees that provide relief on humid summer days. You will easily forget you’re in the heart of the city.

If you are a cyclist, be sure to bring your bike with you so you can explore the garden’s Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path, a seven-kilometre paved multi-use recreational trail that stretches from the garden south to Lakeview Park. Or, if you have the time and skills, a serious biker can ride from the Toronto to Oshawa in three-and-a-half hours.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/wh-Discover-Gardens-Oshawa-June11.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-168927" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/wh-Discover-Gardens-Oshawa-June11.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="1400" height="935" /></a>

Whistling Gardens

Nested in the community of Wilsonville, about a 90-minute drive west of Toronto on Highway 403 and south of Brantford, the Whistling Gardens is where you’ll find a floral collection featuring more than 8,000 perennials, including some 400 varieties of irises, around 600 varieties of peonies and several thousand lilies.

But it’s the conifer garden that steals the show at Whistling. It includes varieties found no where else in Canada, including one of the rarest plants of the planet, the Baishan Fir from southern Zhejiang province in eastern China.

Making the garden even more spectacular to visit is its’ Palace of Versailles-inspired water theatre, which puts on quite a performance thanks to the state-of-the-art fountains that spray water choreographed to original music.

Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens

Established in 1936, this stunning European-style gardens occupies the 99 acres of land along the Niagara Parkway. This botanical garden may leave you feeling like it is time to redesign the green space at your own home – even if its just switching out your basic planters for something a little more Romanesque.

With the garden blooming all season long, it’s worth making several 90-minute drives to Niagara Falls during the spring and summer to see how its plants and blooms changes over the months.

As you enter the Botanical Gardens, prepare yourself for the jaw-droppingly beautiful Welcome Plaza, where you’ll find more than 80,000 annuals grown onsite in its greenhouse. Be sure to take a deep breath in the herb garden to take in the delicious fragrances and plan to spend meandering in the rose garden, which features more than 2,400 roses. It is one of largest and most impressive Victorian rose gardens  in North America.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/wh-Discover-Gardens-Niagara-June11-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-168926" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/wh-Discover-Gardens-Niagara-June11-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

Karen Kwan

Articles by Karen Kwan