wh-Discover-Main-March26

Barrie: About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to explore. This series of day trips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province, and show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

According to Statistics Canada, Barrie is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada. But you needn’t scrutinize population charts to appreciate the development this community on the western arm of Lake Simcoe is experiencing. It’s obvious from the ever-increasing activities available to day visitors and overnighters. As the population has swelled, so too have the art and cultural opportunities, and the diversity of cuisines served in local restaurants. One constant about Barrie that’s always been a crowd-pleaser: its robust portfolio of outdoor pursuits, which starts on the city’s revamped waterfront.

In the morning: Follow Highway 400 north to Barrie and take the Bayfield Street exit toward downtown. There’s plenty of roadside and municipal parking near Bayfield and Simcoe streets near the Kempenfelt Bay waterfront.

Make a beeline to <a href="http://www.homesteadartisanbakery.com/contactus">Homestead Artisan Bakery</a>, which specializes in long-ferment sourdough breads and baked goods. A helping of sourdough waffles – slathered with fresh berries, whipping cream, berry compote and maple syrup – will fuel you for the morning activities ahead.

After your hearty breakfast, head to Centennial Beach and Heritage Park (a few minutes away by foot) where you’ll have options to walk, rollerblade or cycle the seven-kilometre waterfront trail, go kayaking or canoeing, hop on a stand-up paddleboard, or let the kids have fun at the 13,000-square-foot inflatable waterpark. If you are interested, <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/ours-to-discover/ours-to-discover-barrie/madcatebikes.ca">Born</a> to Ride offers cycle rentals and guided tours of the area.

Retrieve your car for a five-minute drive to <a href="https://www.barrie.ca/Living/ParksTrails/Parks/Pages/Parks-Listing.aspx">Arboretum Sunnidale Park and Living Walk</a>. It is home to the Every Kid’s A Hero Inclusive Adventure Playground that empowers youngsters with mobility impairments or disabilities, as well as people with hearing and visual impairments, to enjoy outdoor recreation. You can also follow the interactive QR code-based tree walk, which prompts visitors to identify trees and other elements in the local ecosystem.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-166819" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-Discover-MacLaren-March26-2048x1152-1.jpeg" alt="Downtown Barrie’s MacLaren Art Centre" width="2048" height="1152" />

Hop back in your car for a 10-minute jaunt over to Bayfield Street, and then north on Highway 26, which will take you to the Simcoe County Museum. It includes a collection of 16 heritage buildings, interactive displays and five indoor galleries chronicling local history. There’s even an outdoor ice-skating trail during winter.

Around noon: <a href="https://pizzeriaitaliarestaurant.ca/">Pizzeria Italia</a> has been serving traditional Italian food in Barrie since 1966. Its meatball sandwich is delicious, and, over the years, the kitchen hasn’t given in and dialled down the garlic intensity of its requisite Caesar salad.

After lunch, make time to visit the contemporary Canadian art collection at the <a href="https://maclarenart.com/">MacLaren Art Centre</a> across the street from the restaurant. Later, walk around the corner to the <a href="https://www.flyingmonkeys.ca/taproom/">Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery</a> to purchase a take-home six-pack of one of their award-winning craft brews.

After retrieving your car make a quick stop at <a href="https://sigridsbakery.com/">Sigrid’s Café &amp; Fine Bakery</a>, which is run by the fourth generation of European-trained bakers. Take your pick of cookies, pastries, torts or poppy seed cake to enjoy during your 20-minute drive to your next stop.

In the afternoon: Hop back onto Highway 400 and drive north until you reach Horseshoe Valley Road and <a href="https://horseshoeresort.com/">Horseshoe Valley Resort</a>. This four-season venue offers a variety of winter activities (skiing, snow tubing, snowboarding and snowshoeing), as well as warmer-weather adventures (fat biking, hiking, off-road riding and tree-top trekking).
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-166820" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-Discover-Fat-March26-2048x1368-1.jpeg" alt="Horseshoe Valley Resort" width="2048" height="1368" />

Your last stop for the afternoon will resonate with anyone who’s watched an episode of “Antiques Road Show.” <a href="https://roadshowantiquesmall.com/">Road Show Antiques</a>, just south of Barrie next to the 400 Market on Highway 400, is open daily. Browse its 32,000 square feet of antiques, collectibles, vintage and retro pieces. Making sure you have an empty car trunk will be handy for this day trip, because you will want to bring some of your finds home with you.

In the evening:  All that shopping will mean you’re ready for dinner. <a href="https://www.thecrazyfoxbistro.com/">The Crazy Fox Bistro</a>, a mainstay since 1986, is one of the finer casual dining options in Barrie. Appetizers range from flatbreads to Itsumo tuna, while main courses include pan-seared pickerel, duck confit, filet mignon and crab and lobster mezzaluna. Opt to sit on the patio during the warm months.

For your main event of the evening, you can sit back and watch horseracing at <a href="http://www.georgiandowns.com/">Georgian Downs</a> on the outskirts of Barrie, or take in a performance at the <a href="https://www.barrie.ca/Living/RecreationFacilities/Pages/Sadlon-Arena.aspx">Sadlon Arena</a>, formerly the Barrie Molson Centre. Before the drive back to Toronto, consider stopping at the <a href="https://www.commongoodcafe.ca/">Common Good Café &amp; Social House</a>, where you can enjoy a cocktail (if you aren’t the designated driver) or coffee on the patio or in the lounge while listening to live music. The perfect end to a perfect day in Barrie.
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Consult the provincial website (ontario.ca) for the most up-to-date information and contact individual businesses ahead of your trip
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Listen to “<a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/Barrie-Uncovered---The-Podcast-Edition-p1242560/">Barrie Uncovered: The Podcast Edition</a>.” <a href="https://tunein.com/radio/Arts--Culture-Podcasts-g3430/">This arts and culture program features conversations with Barrie-based artists and entrepreneurs. Find it at barrieuncovered.ca.</a>
<h3>TIMELINE: Drive guide</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>8 a.m.Leave Toronto</li>
</ul>
Drive north on Hwy 400
<ul>
 	<li>9 a.m. Homestead Artisan Bakery</li>
 	<li>10 a.m.Centennial Park &amp; Heritage Park</li>
 	<li>11 a.m.Sunnidale Park Arboretum and Living Walk</li>
 	<li>11:45 a.m. Simcoe County Museum</li>
 	<li>12:45 a.m. Pizzeria Italia</li>
 	<li>2 p.m.Horseshoe Valley Resort</li>
 	<li>4:45 p.m.Road Show Antiques</li>
 	<li>6 p.m.Crazy Fox Bistro</li>
 	<li>7:30 p.m. Sadlon Arena or Georgian Downs</li>
</ul>
NOTE: Times are suggestions only

Ours to Discover: Barrie

wh-DiscoverQuebec-Village-March19

In this four-part series, Wheels takes a road trip through Quebec, learning more about the people, culture and history of Ontario’s eastern neighbour. We learn why La Belle Province is “Ours to Discover” this winter and beyond. This week, we wrap up the series by exploring the Laurentides region. 

The Laurentides region of Quebec is split between its mountainous north and the rolling plains in the south – fertile grounds for recreational activities and agriculture. Located near its centre is Mont-Tremblant, a vacation playground full of ski hills, lakes and trails waiting to be explored. In the south, the area around Mirabel is ripe with local products, including fruit orchards, vegetable gardens and beekeepers.
<h3>DAY ONE</h3>
In the morning: Fill up on breakfast at La Traite restaurant in Wendake’s Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations before leaving for Mont-Tremblant. Drive west on Autoroute 40 toward Montreal before merging onto routes 640 and then north on 15. Depending on traffic, the journey will take under four hours.

In the afternoon: Arriving in Mont-Tremblant Village, check in at the Fairmont Tremblant. The resort is conveniently located at the base of the ski hill, steps from the gondola and with easy access to the community’s restaurants and stores. The hotel features 314 guest rooms including 62 suites with views of the ski hill, woods or village. Amenities at the Fairmont include a fitness centre, indoor and outdoor pools, onsite lounges and restaurants, and an equipment rental service if you didn’t bring your own skis.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Tremblant-March19-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-166039" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Tremblant-March19-scaled.jpg" alt="Quebec" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

A short walk away is the pedestrian-only village, but that doesn’t mean you only need to go on foot. Le Cabriolet, an aerial bucket-shaped lift, runs from the Place des Voyageurs opposite the main parking lot to near the base of the ski hill, giving you a bird’s-eye view of the village. Walking down Rue des Ramparts, be sure to take a moment to admire Vieux-Tremblant, a collection of historic buildings that were moved to the village from the area.

In the evening: Stop for dinner at La Pizzateria in the village and enjoy one of its many pies, such as its Mexican pizza with onions, calabrese sausage,  hot peppers, olives and mozzarella, or its coriander shrimp topped with ginger, sun-dried tomatoes, basil and mozzarella.
<h3>DAY TWO </h3>
In the morning: Fuel up for an active day with breakfast at the Fairmont’s Le Comptoir Cuisine Italienne. It’s The Giant features two eggs, bacon, ham, sausages, baked beans, sautéed potatoes and toasts, or try the crepes filled seasonal berries and topped with maple syrup.

Head to the summit of Mont-Tremblant. The Algonquin people who lived in the area called the mountain Manitou-Ewitchi-Saga and believed a mysterious being – Manitou – would make it tremble. Tremblant is French for “trembling,” and the region has experienced earthquakes.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Tram-March19-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-166040" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Tram-March19-scaled.jpg" alt="Quebec" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

Ride the Panoramic Gondola to the top of the mountain, which reaches an elevation of 875 metres. The ride includes views of the village and Lac Tremblant at it heads up the slope. At the summit, you are awarded with a 360-degree panorama of the region, including the Parc National du Mont-Tremblant which stretches 1,510 square kilometres to the north.

In the afternoon: Mont-Tremblant is a winter playground, with various outdoor activities you can take part in. There are 102 ski trails on four slopes to try out, depending on your skill level. If you need help or have questions, look for one of the volunteers wearing yellow jackets.

For those who want to try something different, the area also offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, tubing and fat biking, and skating. You can also head out on and dune buggy tour, where you navigate the winding mountain trails on the edge of the national park.

In the evening: Stop for dinner at the Fairmont’s Choux Gras Brasserie Culinaire and enjoy dishes that range from pan-seared salmon and veal osso buco to a seafood platter piled high with lobster, octopus, scallops, snow crab and more.
<h3>DAY THREE</h3>
In the morning: After breakfast at the hotel, begin your drive south by following Autoroute 15 and then turning west on Route 158 just past the city of Saint-Jérôme. After a few minutes you will arrive at Les Serres Bertrande, a specialty grocery store.

The family-run business stocks food items by local producers, including maple-pepper jelly, balsamic glazes and tomato ketchups and confits, as well as small home decor items. It is known for its tomatoes, which are grown in a greenhouse on site. Be sure to try one of its famous tomato sandwiches.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Tomato-March19-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-166041" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Tomato-March19-scaled.jpg" alt="Quebec" width="2560" height="1920" /></a>

Continue your tour of local producers by visiting Route des Gerbes d'Angelica in Mirabel. Started by 15 friends who bought 94 acres of land in 2008, it is a collection vegetable and flower gardens. The self-taught farmers turn their products into marinades, flavoured oils, sauces, frozen prepared meals and freeze-dried and crystalized products.

In the afternoon: Before beginning your drive back to Ontario, pick up a few products from the region to take home. Intermiel is an apiary and meadery where you can learn all about the process of harvesting the honey from its 5,000 hives. Its selection of products are made using all parts of the honey-making process, including fresh liquid honey, honeycomb, ointments and candles. There is also a mead tasting area to sample different varieties, like it’s Médiéval, which is aged in oak barrels.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Apples-March19-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-166043" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Apples-March19-scaled.jpg" alt="Quebec" width="1920" height="2560" /></a>

Next drive the short distance to Les Vergers Lafrance in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac. The family-run business includes a sugar shack and 30 hectares of fruit trees – apple, pear and plum – and vines. Apples are the real stars here, with more than 20 varieties, some available year-round at its store. It also sells ciders and spirits featuring the apples from its orchards (a cidery is located a short drive from the shop). Be sure to pick up a bottle of its ice, sparkling or still ciders to enjoy at home while reliving your memories of Quebec.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Dehydrated-March19-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-166042" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Dehydrated-March19-scaled.jpg" alt="Quebec" width="1920" height="2560" /></a>

The Toronto Star has partnered with Bonjour Quebec to bring you this road trip series. The writer travelled as a guest of Bonjour Quebec, which did not review or approve this article.
<h3>Side trip</h3>
If you prefer waiting until morning before driving back to Ontario, spend the night at L'Oasis de l'Île, a calming retreat on a small island in Saint-Eustache. It features 21 rooms and a relaxation area with hot and cold baths, a whirlpool pool and dry sauna.
<h3> COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Consult the provincial website for the most up-to-date information and contact individual businesses to confirm how they’re currently operating.
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Enjoy you travels through the countryside by listening to traditional Quebecois folk music, like the songs of La Bottine Souriante, a Juno-award winning group that first formed in the late 1970s.

Ours to Discover: Quebec – The Laurentides

wh-DiscoverQuebec-City-March12 (1)

In this four-part series, Wheels takes a road trip through Quebec, learning more about the people, culture and history of Ontario’s eastern neighbour. We learn why La Belle Province is “Ours to Discover” this winter and beyond. In part three, we leave the Eastern Townships for the provincial capital.
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Consult the provincial website for the most up-to-date information and contact individual businesses to confirm how they’re currently operating.

It is still possible in some spots in Quebec City to stand in a place that hasn’t changed in hundreds of years. It is part of the charm of this gem of New France, founded in 1608 on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. A trip to this part of the province allows you to not only see history, but also touch and immerse yourself in a bygone era. And this ability extends well beyond the walls of its old city to the communities surrounding the provincial capital.
<h3>DAY ONE</h3>
In the morning: After enjoying the continental breakfast at Grand Times Hotel Sherbrooke, leave the city and head back toward Lennoxville to Brûlerie Faro – a popular fair trade coffee shop – to get a latte to go. Follow the Chemins des Cantons heritage route toward the town of Eaton-Corner, where, just before you arrive, is one of the panoramic sheds that dot the region.

Offering views of New Hampshire, this shed – it has a swing bench – also contains information about the local area, how it was settled and the local towns. There is also a map of the Chemins des Cantons so you can position yourself geographically and locate other sheds in the area.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Augustines-March12-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165957" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Augustines-March12-scaled.jpg" alt="Discover Quebec" width="1900" height="2560" /></a>

Continue driving to Cookshire-Eaton, a community named after captain John Cook, a loyalist who settled the area in 1795. The community is home to the first school built in the Eastern Townships and an arrangement of standing stones, commemorating the Scottish heritage of the region.

In the afternoon: Enjoy a leisurely lunch at La Mante du Carré in Danville. This restaurant is also a community market full of fresh produce, preserves, cheeses and meat from more than 200 vendors. The dishes on its menu can only be made using Canadian ingredients, with 80 per cent sourced within 150 kilometres, 15 per cent from across Canada and only five per cent – mainly tea, chocolate and coffee – from outside the country.

After lunch, check out the small park next to the restaurant, which features a director’s chair in honour of Mack Sennett, the Hollywood silent film producer of the Keystone Cops, who was born in the city. Leaving Danville, follow routes 116 and 162 to Autoroute 20 – the Trans-Canada Highway – northeast toward Quebec City, a roughly two-hour drive.

In the evening: Located on the edge of the old city, Le Monastère des Augustines is easy to access by car for those hesitant about driving through the narrow roadways of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. A former convent started by the Augustinian sisters in the 1600s, the building is now a wellness hotel with accommodations in the former cloister. It includes spartan single and double occupancy rooms in the former cells (small sleeping rooms) used by the nuns, shared bathroom facilities, and contemporary rooms with ensuites. None of the rooms have TVs.

Once checked in, take a moment to orientate yourself by exploring the cobbled streets of the old Quebec City and enjoy dinner at the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, one of the most photographed buildings in the province. The hotel is home to Sam Bistro – where you can enjoy cod fish and chips or flat iron steak – and the Champlain Restaurant. It serves modern regional cuisine, with dishes that include braised wild hare and deer loin with smoked beet root.
<h3>DAY TWO </h3>
In the morning: In keeping with the history of the convent, the continental-style breakfast at des Augustines is a silent affair, allowing the opportunity for contemplation. After eating, be sure to visit the museum, which chronicles the story of the Augustinian sisters and how they offered the first form of health care in New France. The cloister is part of the larger Hôtel-Dieu, which was the first hospital established north of Mexico City in the Americas, and also houses the skull of St. Jean de Brébeuf, a Jesuit missionary in New France who was canonized in 1930.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Market-March12-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165954" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Market-March12-scaled.jpg" alt="Quebec City" width="1920" height="2560" /></a>

The main entrance to its museum includes a “baby hatch” dating from the early 1800s. Over the years, an estimated 1,400 orphaned babies were left in the door, which rotates once closed. Many of the children died, while others were adopted or reunited with their families.

In the afternoon: Head to the lower section of the old city for lunch at Le Don, Quebec City’s first fully vegan restaurant. Its menu includes delicious items that include beet tartare, mushroom fettuccine, bibimbap and burrito bowls.

From the restaurant it is a short walk to the Musée de la civilization, where you can take in the “People of Québec… Then and Now” exhibit. Featuring more than 375 artifacts and documents, it offers insight into the culture of the province, from the Indigenous peoples who first inhabited the site, the transition from French to English rule, and the legacy of the Quiet Revolution.

Follow it up by exploring many of Quebec City’s historic sites, from Maison Jacquet, the oldest surviving house in the city dating from 1675, to La Citadelle de Québec, the star-shaped fortifications built between 1820 to 1850 that now houses a museum full of artifacts including medals and uniforms.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Museum-March12-2-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165952" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Museum-March12-2-scaled.jpg" alt="Quebec City" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

In the evening: Enjoy a sumptuous modern dinner featuring organic ingredients at Bistro L'Orygine. Its five course Discovery Menu – with the option of also having wine pairings – include dishes such as mackerel with pickled leak, roasted venison, Cornish hen with Charlevoix chorizo, and hazelnut churros.
<h3>DAY THREE</h3>
In the morning: Located just a 15-minute drive east from the old city, Montmorency Falls is an 83-metre-high waterfall next to the St. Lawrence River. The park around it includes a walking path and bridge that crosses the top of the waterway, as well as a seasonal zipline and via ferrata (climbing) circuit on the cliffs next to the falls.

After enjoying the view, continue along the New France Route. Drive east along Route 360 and follow one of the oldest roads in the province. Sites of interest include the Charleville Manor that was built between 1660 and 1667, the municipality of L'Ange-Gardien with its well-preserved architecture, the Petit-Pré mill built in 1696 in Château-Richer, and the Aux Trois Couvents, a former convent turned into a museum.

 In the afternoon: Head to the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations in Wendake, a 30-minute drive northwest of the old city. The 55-room hotel is operated by the Huron-Wendat community, with the works of local artists – like beaver pelt pillows – featured in the decor. After dropping your bags in your room, visit the onsite museum, a circular space where the history and heritage of the Huron-Wendat people are recounted through documents, artifacts, paintings and clothing.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Wendake-March12-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165949" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Wendake-March12-scaled.jpg" alt="Discover Quebec" width="2560" height="1700" /></a>

In the evening: Visit the Ekionkiestha’ National Longhouse – a recreation of a traditional village surrounded by a wooden palisade – next to the hotel for its Myth and Legends evening. An Indigenous storyteller recounts stories, such as its creation myth or how the bear clan received its name, but also offers insight into the importance of longhouses to families and different clans.

After, head to dinner at the La Traite, the hotel’s onsite restaurant which features traditional ingredients used in contemporary dishes. Start with the Bannock bread before enjoying Appalachian red deer tartare, braised bison rib, morels with wild rice or slow-cooked duck breast.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Longhouse-March12-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165956" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Longhouse-March12-scaled.jpg" alt="Quebec City" width="1900" height="2560" /></a>
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Millions of Canadians and Americans can trace their family history to the early settlers of New France. The podcast “Maples Stars and Stripes” offers armchair genealogist tips on how to use and locate French-Canadian sources so they can trace their family trees.
<h3>Coming up:</h3>
Next week we drive from Quebec City to Mont-Tremblant and the Laurentides region.

The Toronto Star has partnered with Bonjour Quebec to bring you this road trip series. The writer travelled as a guest of Bonjour Quebec, which did not review or approve this article.

&nbsp;

Ours to Discover: Quebec – the Quebec City area

wh-DiscoverQuebec-Painting-March5 (6)

In this four-part series, Wheels takes a road trip through Quebec, learning more about the people, culture and history of Ontario’s eastern neighbour. We learn why La Belle Province is “Ours to Discover” this winter and beyond. This week, we continue exploring Montreal before heading to the Eastern Townships. 

No matter where you are in the province, Quebec is full of creative people and spaces waiting to be discovered. From impressive murals and immersive experiences, to mystery novels and innovative cuisine, there is something to appeal to all your senses. Experience some of this urban energy in Montreal before heading to the Eastern Townships to explore its small towns and cities.
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Consult the provincial website for the most up-to-date information and contact individual businesses to confirm how they’re currently operating.
<h3>DAY ONE</h3>
In the morning: Grab some bagels from one of the Montreal’s iconic spots – like the famous St-Viateur Bagel Shop, which has been operating since 1957 – before heading to Mont Royal Park. Explore the trails that weave through the park, located in the city’s central hill, and see if you can find its iconic Catholic cross – it is lit up each night – that overlooks the eastern side of Montreal.

If you prefer to be inside, head to the Biodome in Montreal’s Olympic Park, where you can experience the wonders of nature indoors. Walking through the expansive building, you will encounter plants and animals from different ecosystems across North and South America, including a tropical rainforest, the polar regions (including penguins from Antarctica) and the Laurentian Forest.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Bio-March5-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165783" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Bio-March5-2.jpg" alt="Quebec" width="5616" height="3744" /></a>

In the afternoon: Fuel up on fresh bread, pastries, cheeses and coffee at one of the city’s markets, such as the Jean Talon Market in Little Italy or the Marché Atwater close to the Lachine Canal. If you want to learn more about the markets in Montreal, Spade &amp; Palacio offers a Beyond the Market walking tour of the different venues in the city starting in May. It currently offers a two-hour Montreal Mural Art Tour, which includes 20 massive works ranging from two- to nine-stories high, on weekend afternoons (it will take place daily beginning in May).

In the evening: Start by taking a spin in one of the climate-controlled gondolas at La Grande Roue de Montréal. Located in the Old Port, this Ferris wheel soars 60 metres high, offering one-of-a-kind views of the city and St. Lawrence River. After, explore Old Montreal, and enjoy dinner at one of its many amazing restaurants.

Follow dinner by heading to the Palais des congrès de Montréal for OASIS Immersion, a sound and light show where the floors, walls and ceilings of three gallery spaces transform into ethereal landscapes of plants, geometric shapes and crystal-like patterns set to music. It is a walk-through experience with distanced seating areas, so you can pass through each gallery at your own pace.
<h3>DAY TWO </h3>
In the morning: Leaving Montreal, head across the Samuel de Champlain Bridge to explore Quebec’s Eastern Townships, a series of small villages and cities located between the St. Lawrence River and the border with the United States. Take Autoroute 10 before driving south on Autoroute 35 and then turning east onto Route 202.

This round-about journey takes longer to get to your destination, Knowlton, but follows a portion of the Chemin des Canton, offering insight into some of the communities – such as Bedford and Cowansville – settled by Americans and the British in the 1800s. It also follows part of the Route des vins, which highlights wineries and associated businesses that operate in this part of the province.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Oasis-March5-3-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165782" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Oasis-March5-3-scaled.jpg" alt="Quebec" width="2560" height="1920" /></a>

In the afternoon: Park in the town of Knowlton and visit a couple of its antique stores for hidden gems ranging from porcelain cups and plates to ceramics and jewelry, before ordering lunch at Restaurant Sapin Cuisine du Village.

Knowlton is inspiration for the fictional town of Three Pines in the “Chief Inspector Armand Gamache” mystery novels written by Canadian author Louise Penny, who lives in the area. Local resident Danielle Viau operates Three Pine Tours from May through October. Viau gives guided excursions of the real-life locations that Penny transformed into the fictional settings in her novels.

The Lac-Brome Museum houses a clue-filled painting which was created for the movie adaptation of Penny’s book “Still Life,” while Brome Lake Books has a Three Pines corner filled with copies of her novels and other memorabilia.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-ThreePines-March5-5-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165778" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-ThreePines-March5-5-scaled.jpg" alt="Quebec" width="1920" height="2560" /></a>

Leaving Knowlton, head to the Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, a Benedictine monastery founded more than a century ago next to Lake Memphremagog. A community of about 30 monks still live at the monastery, spending their time in religious contemplation but also working the abbey’s farm and orchards. Products crafted by the community, including cheeses, fruit compotes, spreads and ciders, are sold in its gift shop. The monastery also inspired a location in Penny’s novels.

In the evening: Drive to the nearby community of Magog and check into Hotel Verso, a recently remodelled hotel featuring 54 rooms. First opened 70 years ago, Verso embraces its original mid-century modern esthetic, and some rooms include fireplaces and balconies. Records featuring some of Quebec’s singing legends from the 1960s and 1970s are framed and decorate the walls (verso means back, a clever nod to the records’ B-sides).

The hotel is located on Lake Memphremagog, with easy access to the waterfront pathway that runs through the part of Magog. Stretch your legs before dinner and be sure to check out the statue of Memphre, a lake monster that is said to reside in this 40-kilometre-long lake that stretches into Vermont.

Back at the Verso, sit down to a meal at the hotel’s restaurant, Kóz, with its menu inspired by Greek and Turkish cuisine. Start with the chicken koftas or eggplant and tomato salad before enjoying the rack of lamb served with pearl onions, grape tomatoes, grilled eggplant, salsa verde, pistachios, pomegranate and grilled lemon.
<h3>DAY THREE                                                                                                                                      </h3>
In the morning: Drive 10 minutes from the hotel to Mont-Orford National Park, where you can spend your morning discovering some of its more than 58 square kilometres of mature forests, lakes and rolling mountains. Winter hiking is a great introduction to the park, with a 3.5-kilometre marked trail accessible near the Le Cerisier Discovery and Visitors Centre, where you can also rent crampons. If you feel like burning off a few more calories, you can also rent cross-country skiing equipment, snowshoes and fat bikes.

In the afternoon: Get back into your car and drive a half-hour west along Autoroute 10, and then Route 410, to Lennoxville, a suburb of nearby Sherbrooke. The community was founded in 1871 and is home to Bishop's University, a small liberal arts institution. Drop by the Upland Cultural and Heritage Centre, which is housed in an 1862 Neo-Georgian home and features historical artifacts and exhibits of local art and crafts. It also hosts a traditional British afternoon tea, complete with scones, pastries, cucumber sandwiches and Devonshire cream during part of the year.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Tea-March5-4-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165779" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Tea-March5-4-scaled.jpg" alt="Quebec" width="1920" height="2560" /></a>

After, head to the Golden Lion Pub and – once you designate a driver – try one of its six ales on tap, such as the Lion’s Pride, a dark brown ale, or its hoppier Bishop’s Best Bitter. Founded in 1973, the pub is a popular spot among university students and locals. In 1986 it become the first microbrewery to operate in Quebec.

In the evening: Finish your tour of the Eastern Townships by checking in at the Grand Times Hotel Sherbrooke. Centrally located downtown, the hotel has the feel of a New York hotel, with concrete and steel features and comfortable rooms to unwind in after your drive.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Sherbrooke-March5-1-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165780" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Sherbrooke-March5-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Quebec" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

Walk the pathway around the Lac des Nation, located behind the hotel, and admire the scenery as well as the community’s Sports Hall of Fame, featuring granite plaques bearing the names and achievements of prominent local athletes, that lines the route.

After, dine on seasonal fare at Restaurant Auguste, located in historic downtown Sherbrooke. Sit at one of its tables or at the bar, where you can watch the chef’s create dishes such as duck and pistachio terrine, English-style fried haddock and homemade black pudding.
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Download an audiobook of one of Louise Penny’s “Armand Gamache” novels and try to identify some of the local sites that inspired her work. Or listen to her latest novel, “State of Terror,” co-written with Hillary Rodham Clinton and narrated by multiple Oscar nominee Joan Allen.
<h3>Coming up</h3>
Next week we head from the Eastern Townships to the provincial capital, Quebec City.

The Toronto Star has partnered with Bonjour Quebec to bring you this road trip series. The writer travelled as a guest of Bonjour Quebec, which did not review or approve this article.

Ours to Discover: Quebec – Montreal to the Eastern Townships

wh-DiscoverQuebec-Museum-Feb26

In this 4-week special series, Wheels takes a road trip through Quebec, learning more about the people, culture and history of Ontario’s eastern neighbour. We learn why La Belle Province is “Ours to Discover” this winter and beyond. 

For hundreds of years, the Ottawa River was a watery roadway – a chemins d’eau – that allowed Indigenous peoples and later the voyageurs and coureurs des bois to travel and trade. They paddled upstream to the Mattawa River and, after a portage near present day North Bay, onto Lake Nippising, the French River and the Great Lakes. But this road trip is a journey east not west to learn more about French-Canadian culture. It is a voyage through Quebec’s Outaouais region, the northside of the Ottawa River, eastward to Montreal.
<h2>COVID-19 need to know</h2>
A vaccine passport is currently in place for Quebec. Consult the provincial website for the most up-to-date information and contact individual businesses to confirm how they’re currently operating.
<h3>DAY ONE</h3>
In the morning: Take Hwy 401 east from Toronto, turning north on Hwy 416. The drive to Ottawa will take just over four hours depending on traffic.

In the afternoon: Arriving in the nation’s capital, cross one of the bridges spanning the Ottawa River to Gatineau. Located across the waterway from Parliament Hill, the Canadian Museum of History chronicles the story of this region of North America we now call Canada.

The lower level of the building is dedicated to Indigenous culture, with a grand hall showcasing six traditional houses against a Pacific Coast backdrop, totem poles and the plaster pattern for “Spirit of Haida Gwaii” sculpture by Haida artist Bill Reid. Beyond the hall are the exhibits “First Peoples of the Northwest Coast” and “From Time Immemorial: Tsimshian Prehistory”, which are full of historic and contemporary artifacts.

The museum’s third and fourth floor are dedicated to the Canadian History Hall, which is designed to guide you from Indigenous creation stories to modern Canada. Among the exhibits are those about the formation of New France and more recent events, including Expo ’67, the October Crisis and the Meech Lake Accord.

Leaving Gatineau, drive north along Autoroute 5 for half an hour to the picturesque village of Wakefield. Located on the Gatineau River, it is known for its artistic community, and is home to small cafes, pubs, galleries and even a covered bridge.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Fireplace-Feb26-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165586" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Fireplace-Feb26-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

In the evening: Check into the historic Wakefield Mill Hotel and Spa that boasts 40 guest rooms split between the original 1838 building and a modern structure a short walk away. Once settled in, take advantage of one of the treatments at its Holtz Spa in Nature or explore Gatineau Park, a 361-square-kilometre recreational area steps from the Inn’s entrance. For dinner, sit in the main dining room of the hotel restaurant, La Muse, or book one of its Starlight Chalets, glassed-in tables for two located outside near the waterfall that once powered the mill, and enjoy traditional French and Quebecois cuisine.
<h3>DAY TWO </h3>
In the morning: After a breakfast of buttermilk and orange zest French toast at La Muse, drive back toward Gatineau and merge east onto Autoroute 50 toward Montebello. In less than an hour and a half, take the exit for Route 323, but before driving south toward town, drive north a couple of minutes to Parc Omega. A day pass ranges from $33.05 for adults to $13.92 for kids two to five years old.

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Operating for more than 30 years, the park is home to around 450 wild animals – among them bison, caribou, bears and wolves – that roam more than 2,200 acres. A series of roadways meander through the park, so you can drive to different areas and watch the animals in a natural setting.

A popular activity is to buy a bag of carrots for $3.25 from the Park House and feed the elk from your car at one of the first stops along the route. It isn’t uncommon to see the animals milling around vehicles as young children wave carrots at them. Drive slowly and take you time so you don’t miss anything.

In the afternoon: Follow Route 323 south toward the community of Montebello to enjoy a wood-fired pizza at Le Bistro before walking Rue Notre-Dame and exploring some of its stores and artisanal shops, such as the chocolate makers at Chocomotive and the soaps and beauty products made from lavender at Lavandine et Cie.

Stay at the historic Fairmont le Chateau Montebello, a resort on the bank of the Ottawa River that offers snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, along with skating, fat biking and tubing. It also houses a spa and an aquatic centre with health club.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Montebello-Feb26-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165585" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Montebello-Feb26-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="1713" height="2560" /></a>

The resort is located on the site of the Seigneurie de la Petite-Nation, an estate once owned by Bishop Montmorency de Laval, the first Roman Catholic bishop of New France. It was later purchased by the Papineau family, and was the home of Louis-Joseph Papineau, who played a role in the Rebellion of 1837 and whose manor house is still located on the property.

The resort’s main building was constructed from 10,000 hand-cut red cedar logs from British Columbia and features a central open rotunda with four guest wings extending from it. Originally a private retreat called The Seignory Club, it hosted Canada’s business and political elite, royalty and Hollywood stars. The interior of the rotunda features two upper-level balconies, the walls of which chronicle the property’s impressive history. Be sure to get there by 2 p.m. so you can take part in its last curling clinic of the day and try sliding rocks down its indoor rink.

In the evening: Seated at a table in resort’s Aux Chantignoles restaurant, start with a bowl of its famous onion soup featuring Montebello cheese before dining on the pan-seared gnocchi served with bison and a bone marrow and red onion puree. After, enjoy a glass of wine and spend the evening playing complimentary board games around the rotunda’s multi-sided central fireplace, its chimney rises 20 metres above the lobby.
<h3>DAY THREE</h3>
In the morning: Montreal is only an hour-and-a-half drive from Montebello, so there is ample time to enjoy a breakfast at the resort before continuing east on Autoroute 50. Once you arrive in Montreal, head straight to Place Ville Marie.

Recently remodeled, it features opportunities for shopping and is the temporary home of the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal while its original location at the Place des festivals undergoes a redesign and extension. Its current exhibit, called “Terror Contagion,” mixes art, activism, architecture and investigate journalism to explore human rights and environmental crimes.

A few steps away from the museum is Le Cathcart Restaurants &amp; Biergarten, a newly opened food hall perfect for a light lunch. Try the chicken bowl filled with rice, pico de gallo, feta cheese and a crema lima sauce from Tulum Taqueria, or an order of pho or pad Thai from southeast Asian kiosk Hà.

In the afternoon: There is no shortage of things to do in Montreal, but to get a true sense of the city’s history spend an afternoon at Pointe-à-Callière, an archeological museum built over the site of Fort Ville-Marie, which was established 1642. At the museum, you can walk on a glass floor over the archeological remains of the fort, see the stone walks of later buildings, and also stroll through a sewer tunnel dating from the 1830s.

Check into the Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain for the night. Recently remodeled, the hotel is located downtown within walking distance of the Bell Centre, Place Ville Marie and the old city. Its contemporary rooms are sumptuous and comfortable, with ensuites that include heated toilet seats.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Marie-Feb26-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-165587 size-full" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-DiscoverQuebec-Marie-Feb26-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="1707" height="2560" /></a>

In the evening: Depending on how hungry you are, you can head straight to dinner or experience one of the immersive lightshows the city is famous for. The Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal is home to “Aura,” a 20-minute experience where enchanting visuals are projected on the interior walls, columns and ceiling of the Gothic revival building accompanied by a sound show. After, it is a two-minute walk from the basilica to Babacool MTL,  a modern eastern Mediterranean restaurant with a menu featuring shared plates of labneh, heated olives, braised lamb and tomato and cumin shrimp.
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Quebecois culture is rich with great music, so create a playlist featuring some of its most-loved singers from the last 100 years, such as La Bolduc (Mary Travers), Michel Louvain, Robert Charlebois, Pierre Lalonde, Jean Leloup and Celine Dion’s early French-language songs.
<h3>Coming up</h3>
Next week we continue exploring Montreal followed by the Eastern Townships.

DISCLAIMER: The Toronto Star has partnered with Bonjour Quebec to bring you this road trip series. The writer travelled as a guest of Bonjour Quebec, which did not review or approve this article.

Ours to Discover: Quebec – Following the chemins d'eau

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to get ready to explore — but only if COVID-19 conditions make it safe to do so. 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.”

One of the sweetest Canadian adventures you can go on in late winter is to visit a sugar shack. Luckily, we have plenty of maple syrup producers waiting to be discovered a few hours’ drive outside of Toronto. While many have had to limit their experiences for visitors this upcoming season, there are still plenty of maple farms that will be open for tours, tastings and shopping. The season kicks off in early March, so bundle up – much, if not all, of your visit will be outdoors – and get ready to learn more about this iconic Canadian staple.
<h3>Richardson’s Farm and Market</h3>
Buy tickets in advance for the Family Experience at Richardson’s Farm and Market in Dunnville, a 90-minute drive southwest from Toronto and located next to Grand River near the north shore of Lake Erie. At Richardson’s you’ll get to tap a tree, learn how to boil sap in a hollow log and enjoy a decadent pancake brunch. In addition to the maple goods (think butter, sugar, toffee, salad dressing and tea), you can also stock up your pantry with the farm’s fruit and veggies. For a self-guided experience, tour the grounds on your own and learn about maple syrup through the informative storyboards that you’ll find along its trail. Before you leave, pick up a breakfast kit complete with pancake mix, sausages and maple syrup to take home.

[caption id="attachment_165484" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-Discover-RIchardson-Feb19-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-165484" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-Discover-RIchardson-Feb19-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1707" /></a> Tour guide Jim Douglas shares information about how maple syrup is collected and processed, as well as some of its health benefits, with guests on the Richardsons Farm and Market sugar bush tour.[/caption]
<h3>Trillium Ridge Sugarworks</h3>
Although its pancake breakfasts are on hiatus this year, Trillium Ridge Sugarworks, located a two-and-a-half-hour drive east of Toronto on Highway 401 – and then a short drive north from Exit 566 – is worth the trip. It features 100 acres with an impressive 10,000 taps, so you can experience a healthy, invigorating dose of forest bathing while wandering around the sugarbush. After you’ve racked up some steps on your Fitbit, and have seen the tapped trees firsthand, head back to the shack to purchase some syrup, which won second place in last year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Its’ delicious flavour is courtesy of the sugarbush’s limestone-rich soil, according to owner Terry Gervais.
<h3>Pefferlaw Creek Farms Maple Syrup</h3>
Enjoy a sleigh ride at Pefferlaw Creek Farms Maple Syrup in Uxbridge, just over an hour drive north from Toronto, and devour maple taffy after your tour of its pancake house (if it is open). Pefferlaw Creek has something for everyone: a demo for kids on how to tap a tree and hang a bucket to collect the sap. For mom and dad, the chance to learn all about the technical side of a certified organic maple syrup operation. Its sugar bush spreads out over four forests totalling 400 acres, with 40,000 taps. At the store, pick up a taster pack, which features the four different grades of syrup so you can taste test what you learned on your tour. There is also Pefferlaw’s must-not-miss syrup aged in bourbon barrels. You can drive to the farm by heading north on Highway 404 before heading east on Regional Road 31 and then north again on Concession Road 6.
<h3>Mountsberg Sugarbush </h3>
For a magical winter night, reserve a spot on an evening tour of the Mountsberg Sugarbush, located an hour’s drive west along Highway 401 from Toronto near Campbellville. Held Thursdays to Sundays, the excursion includes a guided tour of its trails, a wagon ride, and local musicians performing by the fire pit. Families with young kids will want to visit Mountsberg’s daytime Maple Town, which is jam-packed with activities – think maple samples, scavenger hunts, a natural playground built from repurposed trees, and sheep, donkeys and goats to meet in the animal barn.

[caption id="attachment_165483" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-Discover-Mountsberg-Feb19-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-165483" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-Discover-Mountsberg-Feb19-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1493" /></a> It's maple syrup season, the Mountsberg sugarbush has been producing for more than 150 years, tapping it's approximately 300 sugar maples each spring, transforming the clear sap into sweet maple syrup.[/caption]
<h3>Wheelers Maple Products</h3>
A three-and-a-half-hour drive east of Toronto in the Lanark Highlands, you will find Wheelers Maple Products. The site includes a sugar camp, pancake house and a museum that holds a Guinness World Record for having the largest collection of artifacts about maple syrup. After you learn about how Indigenous people discovered and used maple syrup, and the production techniques utilized by settlers, you’ll have a whole new appreciation for that sticky, sweet deliciousness you pour onto your flapjacks.

At its pancake house, be sure to also try the sausages, they’re homemade. Don’t be shy about chatting with the staff; they’re likely a Wheeler since the operation has been family-owned since the farm’s first trees were tapped in 1978. They will know the ins and outs of maple syrup production and the must-see sites on the farm.
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Get into a maple syrup frame of mind by listening to the “Making Maple Syrup!” episode of the podcast “Getting Dirty,” where guests Cynthia and Ritchie Duffy talk about the syrup-making process. They also cover how to tell good syrup from bad – so you’ll be an aficionado by the time you arrive at the sugar shack.
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Ontario is follow provincial COVID-19 guidelines. Some attractions and businesses may be closed or operating at a reduced capacity. Consult the provincial website (ontario.ca) for the most up-to-date information and contact individual businesses ahead of your trip to confirm how they’re currently operating.

Ours to Discover: Sugar shacks, A sweet drive

wh-DiscoverOakville-Main-Feb12 (1)

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to get ready to explore — but only if COVID-19 conditions make it safe to do so. 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.”

It’s rare to find a place that exudes a small town feeling, but has all the amenities often only found in larger urban centres. Nestled next to the sprawling city of Mississauga, Oakville is a haven for high street shops and gourmet restaurants, with a huge variety of walking trails and harbourfront views that are hard to match.

In the morning: As long as it’s not rush hour, the drive from Toronto west along the Queen Elizabeth Way is easy and should take less than an hour. Turn off at one of the exits and head south into the heart of Oakville.

I recommend using the most easternmost exit at Ford Drive, which will allow you to take Lakeshore Road East (which turns into Lakeshore Road West). Cruise into the heart of downtown and continue past the many stores (for now) until you reach Bronte Harbour, turning south on East Street and west on Ontario Street. This drive will take about 20 minutes from the QEW, but it is well worth it as you pass some of the impressive houses located on the picturesque shore of Lake Ontario.

Park at the harbour and take a stroll along the lake through the Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park. Admire the boats docked at the Outer Harbour Marina and be sure to snap a selfie next to the iconic lighthouse.

[caption id="attachment_165369" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-DiscoverOakville-Bronte-Feb12-2-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-165369" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-DiscoverOakville-Bronte-Feb12-2-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1743" /></a> A woman enjoys a morning walk along the waterfront promenade in Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park, as snow flurries begins to fall. The marina slips are empty with the onset of winter, but the colourfully painted Muskoka chairs that still line the park pathways are reminder that spring officially arrives in just over two months at 5:37a.m. on March 20.[/caption]

If it is open for the season, stop by the Bronte Boathouse for brunch or an early lunch. Get a seat on the large deck outside, if you can, and enjoy the sights and sounds of being near the water. During the warmer months, don’t forget to hit Duckie’s Dairy Bar for an ice-cream dessert.

Stroll around the area, heading west on Ontario Street and up Bronte Road. At the intersection of the two streets, you’ll find the Bronte Butterfly Gazebo, where you might just stumble across one of the many weddings that are held there throughout the year. Walk along the boardwalk before returning to your car to drive into town for some retail therapy.

In the afternoon: Besides a multi-level parking garage and several open lots, there is usually street parking available on Lakeshore Road East. The latter is right near the many clothing, coffee, home furnishings, food shops and restaurants found downtown. Do some window shopping, stop in for a latte and enjoy a lunch.

Stores include highly curated consignment shops like By Consignment (for amazing deals on designer duds), or Tocca Finita for the latest women’s fashions. Don’t forget to pop into The British Grocer for your Cornish pasties, Curly Wurlys and maybe even some haggis and black pudding.

[caption id="attachment_165366" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-DiscoverOakville-Museum-Feb12-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-165366" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-DiscoverOakville-Museum-Feb12-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1709" /></a> Oakville Museum[/caption]

After lunch, and some shopping, head to the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate to learn about the history of this lakeside community. Currently open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the estate was once home to the founders of the town, the Chisholm family. It features restored rooms, an exhibit on the community’s Black history and “The Underground Railroad - Next Stop Freedom” presentation.

[caption id="attachment_165368" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-DiscoverOakville-Knox-Feb12-3-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-165368" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-DiscoverOakville-Knox-Feb12-3-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover Oakville" width="2560" height="1758" /></a> Follow it up with a visit to the Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre, a 12-acre property that includes an 1826-built house and a barn from 1827 that has been turned into a unique space to exhibit art by well-known and emerging artists. Classes, concerts and workshops are also held at the centre.[/caption]

In the evening: Your dinner choices in Oakville are varied both in terms of price and cuisine. If you have the kids with you, The Works Craft Burgers &amp; Beer will hit the spot with its patty selection, while Colossus Greek Taverna is a big family favourite for its menu of authentic dishes. If you’re looking for a gourmet meal, Oliver’s Steakhouse is renowned for its choice cuts and seafood offerings. You can also venture to Cork’s Restaurant, which serves Spanish, Portuguese and American tapas.

By the time you finish your dinner, it might just be getting darker outside. Within 10 minutes of Oakville’s centre is the 5 Drive-In. You’re in for a treat if it’s open. Located on Ninth Line, the theatre screens a variety of movies throughout the year.

&nbsp;
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Learn more about the community with the #OurOakville Podcast, which can be downloaded from oakville.ca. Each episode includes conversations about creating a sense of community in the town.
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Ontario is following provincial COVID-19 guidelines. Some attractions and businesses may be closed or operating at a reduced capacity. Consult the provincial website (ontario.ca) for the most up-to-date information and contact individual businesses ahead of your trip to confirm how they’re currently operating.
<h3>Drive guide</h3>
<ul>
 	<li> 10 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
</ul>
Drive west on the Queen Elizabeth Way

Take the Ford Drive South exit
<ul>
 	<li> 11 a.m. Bronte Harbour</li>
 	<li> Noon Boardwalk</li>
 	<li> 1 p.m. Lunch and shopping</li>
 	<li> 2:30 p.m. Oakville Museum</li>
 	<li> 3:30 p.m. Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre</li>
 	<li> 5 p.m. Dinner</li>
 	<li> 7 p.m. 5 Drive-In</li>
</ul>
Note: times are suggestions only

Ours to Discover: Oakville...Spend time visiting a neighbour

21214.JPG

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to get ready to explore — but only if COVID-19 conditions make it safe to do so. 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.”

&nbsp;

For many of us, road trips often wind down during the colder months, but there is still much to enjoy during this season. Add some camping and glamping adventures to your calendar to help you learn how to embrace winter and all it has to offer. If you’re a newbie to this type of experience, be honest with yourself. Depending on your comfort zone, you can make a reservation in a heated yurt or simply bring your tent and a sleeping bag designed for winter camping. While these five destinations range from just dipping your toe into winter glamping to a full-on winter warrior-level outing, all of them will find you surrounded by a majestic blanket of snow – and will make you love the season a little more.
<h3>Lanark County Treehouse</h3>
Built 20 years ago using recycled and donated materials, this eco-friendly, two-level treehouse in the Lanark Highlands is a four-hour drive from Toronto along Highway 7. Available on Airbnb, this unique lodging sleeps eight and is heated by a wood-pellet stove so you’ll be warm and cosy inside. It is also pet-friendly (past guests have brought everything from a pot-bellied pig to a goat). The treehouse is perched over the Mississippi River, so you can enjoy the icy view as you play boardgames, or, better yet, while relaxing in the hot tub. Explore Lanark County’s many distilleries, including Perth Brewery and Stalwart Brewing Company, if you’re looking for something to do other than snowshoeing.
<h3>Glen Oro Farm</h3>
Snatch up a cancellation for a stay in one of Glen Oro Farm’s Stargazer Domes if you’re keen on seeing the stars as you drift off to sleep (openings are posted on its Instagram stories) or book an equally spectacular stay in one of its Explorer’s Tents. Equipped with a wood-pellet stove, king-sized bed and chairs, you’ll hardly feel put out with these home comforts, and you can decompress with a visit to the wood-fired sauna, which has a stunning view of the forest. During your stay, learn basic horsemanship as you ride, groom and care for the farm’s horses during a boutique trail ride experience. Don’t feel like cooking during your glamping trip? Book Laforet Catering to cook your meal of locally sourced ingredients over an open fire. Glen Oro Farm is a one-and-a-half-hour drive north of Toronto, along Highway 400, and is located between Barrie and Orillia.
<h3>Nature’s Harmony Eco-Lodge</h3>
A four-hour drive from Toronto following highways 401 and 11 north, followed by 17 east, Mattawa is a small community near the Mattawa River and set against the backdrop of the Canadian Shield. It is also where you’ll find Nature’s Harmony Eco-Lodge. Book its authentic, handmade Mongolian yurt – where you’ll find traditional paintings decorating the interior poles and doors – along with a bed, Moroccan-style sofa, and a wood stove to keep you toasty. Nature’s Harmony is off the grid with no cell service, allowing you to truly disconnect. Fill your time untethered from your smartphone by tubing down the property’s seven-lane sledding hill or 20 kilometres of trails to explore by kick sled. The sled is equipped with runners that you stand on, kicking at the ground to propel yourself forward. There is a seat in front for a passenger and handles for the kicker to hold.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-Discover-Kicksled-Feb5-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165136" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-Discover-Kicksled-Feb5-3.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="1411" height="2124" /></a>
<h3>Voyageur Quest</h3>
If you’ve camped in the summer and are keen to try it in the winter, get the know-how by booking the Winter Experience with Voyageur Quest. The quest takes place in Algonquin Park, about a three-and-a-half-hour drive north from Toronto. During the excursion you will learn basic winter camping skills, including how to haul toboggans loaded with all of your gear through the snow, and the proper way to set up a winter campsite. Be sure to take in the beauty of Algonquin Park during a snowshoe trek to Surprise Lake.
<h3>Arrowhead Provincial Park</h3>
Seasoned winter campers will want to make the two-and-a-half-hour drive north of Toronto along Highway 400, and then take Highway 11 to Arrowhead Provincial Park. Along with all of your winter camping gear, be sure to pack your cross-country skis, snowshoes and skates, or, if you want to pack lighter, rent them at the park. Arrowhead has top notch trails for both hiking and skiing, so plan on doing both. At night, check out its famous skating trail, a 1.3-kilometre icy path that winds through the forest. Make sure to pre-book your tickets as it is often sold out. If you’re not feeling up to setting up a camp, you can also reserve one of the park’s cabins.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-Discover-Arrowhead-Feb5-1-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-165137" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wh-Discover-Arrowhead-Feb5-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>
<h3>For the drive</h3>
The Group of Seven were known for painting Ontario’s Canadian Shield landscape, including its beauty in winter. They also influenced artists from various mediums over the years, including the Rheostatics, who released the album “Music Inspired by the Group of Seven” in 1995.
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Ontario is follow provincial COVID-19 guidelines. Some attractions and businesses may be closed or operating at a reduced capacity. Consult the provincial website (<a href="http://www.ontario.ca">ontario.ca</a>) for the most up-to-date information and contact individual businesses ahead of your trip to confirm how they’re currently operating.

Ours to Discover: Winter Camping

wh-Discover-Tunnel-Jan29 (1)

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to get ready to explore — but only if COVID-19 conditions make it safe to do so. 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.”

&nbsp;

The majestic St. Lawrence River shaped the physical and cultural landscape of southeastern Ontario. In the days of early Upper Canada, the waterway was an important route for ships moving cargo and people inland toward the Great Lakes. Two cities — Brockville and Cornwall —celebrate the spirit of this early history and, together, make for a great weekend getaway from Toronto.
<h3>DAY ONE</h3>
In the morning:  It’s a bit of a drive from Toronto to this part of the province. Count on a three-and-a-half-hour drive east along Highway 401 to Brockville. You’ll know you’re getting close because the landscape changes from rolling agricultural land to the rugged, granite outcrops of the Frontenac Arch, a southerly protrusion of the Canadian Shield.

Around noon: Once in Brockville, head for King Street and find a parking spot. Everything is walkable from this downtown artery, including small eateries and the city’s main attractions. Stop at the family-owned Tait’s Fresh Start, a Brockville mainstay for more than a century. Tait’s is known for its sandwiches, hearty soups, homestyle chili and pulled pork served on a fresh-baked kaiser roll. If the weather co-operates, it’s a quick stroll to a picnic table at Blockhouse Island, where you can eat lunch and watch the ships cruising by on the St. Lawrence River.

The city is home to a Canadian first, the Brockville Railway Tunnel, a historic feat of design and engineering completed years before construction on the Canadian Pacific Railway even broke ground.

The arched-stone tunnel was completed in 1860 to connect the main railway line to the city’s industrial waterfront. Trains ran through the railway tunnel for more than a century, including wood burning, then steam and eventually diesel locomotives. Depending on the season, visitors can walk the 525-metre tunnel — which stays at a consistent 13 C all year — while enjoying a sound and light show projected on its walls.

In the afternoon: Continue your drive east to Cornwall along the waterfront-hugging Highway 2. Make a stop at the Windmill Brewery, a family-owned brewery near Johnstown. Pick up some souvenir bottles of the 1838 Pilsner, its flagship Czech-style beer commemorating the bloody Battle of the Windmill, which saw a group of Americans attempt to invade Upper Canada.

The story of Upper Canada runs deep in this part of the province, with several choices for history buffs to enjoy. Hop back onto Highway 401 and drive east for a half-hour to Upper Canada Village. This historic property features interpreters in traditional period costume, creating a “living history” of the 1860s. Step into an authentic working bakery, sawmill, blacksmith, schoolhouse and cheese factory.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Upper-Jan29-2.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-164978" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Upper-Jan29-2.png" alt="Brockville" width="2048" height="1365" /></a>

On the outskirts of Cornwall at Long Sault, you can visit the restored heritage buildings at the Lost Villages Museum. These sites preserve the story and artifacts of small communities which existed along the river, prior to flooding as part of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project construction in the late 1950s. Both historical attractions are open seasonally, so check their opening dates before leaving.

Cornwall is known for the Riverside Trail, part of a larger recreational path following the St. Lawrence River. In town, cyclists, runners and walkers can enjoy water bottle refill stations, park benches, nature trails and picnic areas. Cyclists can also explore the pathway from Cornwall to Upper Canada Village — running more than 40 kilometres – along the Long Sault Parkway, a series of islands connected by a quiet roadway just west of the city. The Cornwall Civic Complex in Lamoureux Park is a great starting spot, with free parking steps away from downtown.

In the evening: Bed down at Auberge Chesley’s Inn, a heritage bed and breakfast located on traditional lands of the Mohawk Akwesasne Community in the heart of Cornwall. The inn provides complimentary bicycles and is close to the cycling trails. Or consider a unique overnight experience by staying at the Montgomery House on the edge of Upper Canada Village. The historic, log building combines modern comforts with 19th century charm and sleeps eight. It includes a fully equipped kitchen.

For dinner, drop by the upscale Truffles Burger Bar, where its patties are anything but ordinary. Choices include the Giant Beef Burger — 12-ounces of beef — or more unique choices like kangaroo, bison, elk, boar and lentil. If burgers are not your thing, you can opt for its bucket of deep-fried chicken with sauce and fries on the side.
<h3>DAY TWO</h3>
In the morning: The saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is celebrated in Cornwall, which is the birthplace of the McIntosh, Canada’s national apple. In town, they like to brag that every McIntosh in the world is related to the first Mac picked here in 1830. Scour the local bakeries for apple-flavoured pastries and baked goods. Grab a coffee to go and hit the road; it’s time to start driving west again toward Toronto.

Drive along Highway 2 to the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary, just past Ingleside. The sanctuary has more than eight kilometres of self-guided nature trails through a variety of wildlife habitats, including forests, old fields, wetlands and open water. Birders and nature lovers can view almost 200 bird species, take a stroll or peek into the Interpretive Centre. Take note that dogs are not permitted on the sanctuary’s trails.

 In the afternoon: After enjoying the area’s natural attractions, get onto Highway 401 and head toward Brockville to grab some lunch from one of its downtown eateries. The highway exit for Stewart Boulevard leads right past the historic and British-classical design County Court House (a National Historic Site) and to the Aquatarium, Brockville’s anchor attraction on the waterfront. Aquatarium is a hands-on, interactive discovery centre exploring the colourful seafaring history, culture and ecosystems of the St. Lawrence waterway. There are exhibits about pirates and shipwrecks, a climbing course designed to look like a recreation of the rigging of a sailing ship, several large aquariums and an underwater observation bubble.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Aquatarium-Jan29-9-3.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-164980" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Aquatarium-Jan29-9-3.png" alt="Ours to Discover" width="6000" height="4000" /></a>

The drive home west along Highway 401 goes by a little faster if you watch for the changes in geography — wave goodbye to the mesmerizing Canadian Shield, enjoy the rolling hills of Northumberland County and look for views of Lake Ontario. Before you know it, you’ll see the tall buildings of the Toronto skyline on the horizon.
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Pick up some books about the region and entertain your driver along the way. “Voices from the Lost Villages” by Rosemary Rutley tells the story of the towns lost with the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway. On the fiction side “All My Worldly Goods” is a mystery novel by local author Maggie Wheeler, who weaves the history of the region into her story.
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Ontario is currently in a modified Step 2 of its “roadmap to reopen,” with indoor dinning banned. The Niagara region is currently dealing with the rise of the Omicron virus. Some restaurants are providing curbside pickup and takeout service. Please call ahead to confirm. Many businesses are open, also with limited capacity.  Visit niagararegion.ca for the latest information on COVID-19 in the area.
<h3>Drive guide</h3>
Day one
<ul>
 	<li> 7:30 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
</ul>
Drive east on Highway 401
<ul>
 	<li> 11 a.m. Tait’s Fresh Start</li>
 	<li> Noon Brockville Railway Tunnel</li>
 	<li> 1 p.m. Windmill Brewery</li>
 	<li> 2 p.m. Upper Canada Village</li>
 	<li> 4 p.m. Lost Villages Museum</li>
 	<li> 5 p.m. Riverside Trail</li>
 	<li> 6 p.m. Check into hotel</li>
 	<li>7 p.m. Truffles Burger Bar</li>
</ul>
Day two
<ul>
 	<li> 9 a.m. Cornwall bakery</li>
 	<li> 10 a.m. Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary</li>
 	<li> Noon Lunch in Brockville</li>
 	<li> 1 p.m. Aquatarium</li>
 	<li> 3 p.m. Drive back to Toronto</li>
</ul>

Ours to Discover: Brockville and Cornwall

The new Windsor to Detroit Bridge, named the Gordie Howe Bridge will be built down river from the existing privately owned Ambassador Bridge. The owner of the Ambassador Bridge, Manuel "Matty" Moroun, wants to twin his span.

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to get ready to explore — but only if COVID-19 conditions make it safe to do so. 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.”

As a city best known for its link to Canada’s automotive industry, Windsor may not be the most alluring road trip destination. Scratch beneath its industrial surface, however, and you’ll find a vibrant city with an up-and-coming culinary scene and mild winter weather thanks to its location near Ontario’s southernmost point. Here’s how to make the most of a two-day getaway to Canada’s border town.
<h3>DAY ONE</h3>
In the morning: Windsor can be reached in about four hours following a straight-shot southwest down Highway 401. If time allows, consider taking the longer, scenic route along Highway 3, which traverses the pleasant Lake Erie shoreline. Another option is to take Highway 2 once you hit Kitchener-Waterloo to swap bland highway scenery for bucolic Ontario farmscapes.

In the afternoon: Kick off your Windsor weekend at Armando’s Pizza and get a taste of the city’s most iconic contribution to Canada’s culinary landscape. This long-running restaurant is one of several local joints specializing in Windsor-style pizza, a distinctive thin-crust pie with eyebrow-raising (but delicious) toppings that include canned mushrooms and shredded pepperoni.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Pizza-Jan22-3-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-164852" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Pizza-Jan22-3-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

After getting your ’za fix, learn about Windsor’s role in shaping the Canadian whisky industry at the Hiram Walker &amp; Sons Distillery. Sign up for a guided tasting to sample some of the many whiskies produced at this landmark facility.

Save time to wander around the surrounding Walkerville District, a historic neighbourhood where heritage buildings meld with modern shops, restaurants and bars. Stop by the Urban Art Market to hunt for made-in-Windsor souvenirs or check out the local artwork on display at the Walkerville Artists Collective.

In the evening: Stop at your hotel for a pre-dinner refresh. For a classic and relaxing stay, opt for A Hidden Gem Bed and Breakfast, which is set amid Walkerville’s atmospheric streets. Or, if you prefer a name-brand hotel with a view, try the Holiday Inn Express Windsor Waterfront, where many rooms overlook the Detroit River skyline.

Afterwards, head to hotspot Gladstone Commons (or opt to order out and enjoy at your hotel) for seasonal small plates paired with nano brews and inventive cocktails. Helmed by chef Dana Friis – who previously worked at Vancouver’s Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill — Gladstone Commons’ ever-changing menus are thoughtful but approachable. Expect dishes like bison short ribs with wild mushrooms or butternut squash agnolotti.

Swing by cosy cocktail bar Blind Owl for after-dinner drinks. Blind Owl draws inspiration from Windsor’s rum-running history for its imaginative cocktails and “hidden” entrance.
<h3>DAY TWO</h3>
In the morning: Start your day right with breakfast at the Twisted Apron, a much-loved restaurant known for its playful, homestyle fare. Take a post-breakfast stroll through Old Sandwich Town, one of Ontario’s oldest settlements. Here you’ll find a number of significant historic buildings, including the Sandwich First Baptist Church, which was established by former slaves who arrived in Canada via the Underground Railroad.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Apron-Jan22-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-164855" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Apron-Jan22-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1703" /></a>

In the afternoon: Time to refuel at Mamo Burger Bar, a casual spot known for its local beef patties which are freshly-ground onsite every day. Next up is the Art Gallery of Windsor, which is set in a lovely waterfront location. The gallery features more than 4,000 pieces of contemporary art, spanning from painting and photography to multimedia installations and sculptures, with a focus on Canadian works. QR codes placed throughout the gallery will guide you to some of the highlights.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Gallery-Jan22-1-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-164853" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Gallery-Jan22-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

In the late afternoon: Before heading back to Toronto, bundle up for a walk along the city’s five-kilometre riverfront trail, which offers attractive views of the Detroit skyline. You’ll pass through Dieppe Gardens, which is home to the Spirit of Windsor, an early 20th-century steam locomotive that now stands as a tribute to the Canadian railroad industry. See more than 30 large-scale outdoor sculptures at the Windsor Sculpture Park, which is located close to the beginning of the trail near the Ambassador Bridge. Warm up with a hot drink and a snack at Anchor Coffee House, a cafe that sources its beans from various Canadian coffee roasters, and then hit the road.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Sculpture-Jan22-2-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-164851" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Sculpture-Jan22-2-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Ontario is currently in a modified Step 2 of its “roadmap to reopen,” with indoor dinning banned. Some attractions may be closed or operating at a reduced capacity. Consult the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit for the most up-to-date information and contact individual businesses ahead of your trip to confirm how they’re currently operating.
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Create a road trip playlist featuring tunes from some of the notable musicians to emerge from the City of Roses. Progressive rock band The Tea Party was formed in Windsor in the 1990s. For a different homegrown vibe, you can also add the music of country-pop singer Shania Twain and R&amp;B artist Tamia.

&nbsp;

TIMELINE: Drive guide

Day one
<ul>
 	<li> 8 a.m. Depart Toronto</li>
</ul>
Drive southwest on Highway 401

Take Exit 13 for Dougall Parkway
<ul>
 	<li> Noon Lunch at Armando’s Pizza</li>
 	<li> 2 p.m. Hiram Walker &amp; Sons Distillery</li>
 	<li> 3 p.m. Walkerville District</li>
 	<li> 6 p.m. Gladstone Commons</li>
 	<li> 8 p.m. Blind Owl Bar</li>
</ul>
Day two
<ul>
 	<li> 9 a.m. Twisted Apron</li>
 	<li> 10:30 a.m. Old Sandwich Town</li>
 	<li> Noon Mamo Burger Bar</li>
 	<li> 1 p.m. Art Gallery of Windsor</li>
 	<li> 3 p.m. Riverfront Trail</li>
 	<li> 4:30 p.m. Anchor Coffee House</li>
 	<li> 5 p.m. Drive back to Toronto</li>
</ul>

Ours to Discover: Windsor

WH-Discover-City-Jan15-11

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to get ready to explore — but only if COVID-19 conditions make it safe to do so. 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.”

Ontario’s version of London may not have the gravitas of its British namesake, but visitors will find themselves pleasantly surprised by its big-city-meets-small-town charms. With its well-preserved historic sites, as well as restaurants and breweries, the Forest City makes for a fulfilling daytrip from Toronto. This one-day itinerary takes in some of the highlights of this cheerful riverside town.

In the morning: Leave Toronto by around 8 a.m., driving west on Highway 403 and continue to Highway 401. You should arrive at your first stop, the Bag Lady Sandwich Shop, at about 10 a.m., depending on traffic. The walls of this quirky cafe are lined with vintage kitsch, ranging from nostalgic board games to Polaroid cameras and retro cookbooks.
Next, make your way to Covent Garden Market, a beloved London landmark with roots dating back to the 19th-century. Set in a handsome brick building, the market’s interior features dozens of local vendors selling fresh produce, specialty foods and other one-of-a-kind goods. Weather permitting, strap on your skates and hit the free outdoor rink located in front of the market at the Rotary Square. After showing off your best on-ice moves, pop across the street for a hot drink at Fire Roasted Coffee Co., which hand roasts its ethically sourced coffee beans onsite.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/WH-Discover-Market-Jan15-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-164745" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/WH-Discover-Market-Jan15-2.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="1280" height="737" /></a>

In the afternoon: Ride your caffeine buzz to the Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery to see one of the largest collections of contemporary ceramics in Canada. Featuring more than 100 artists from across the country, the gallery showcases everything from small, giftable items like teapots to large-scale sculptures, as well as special rotating solo and group exhibitions.
It’s time for a lunch stop at Wisdom Cafe, an inviting teashop and creperie. Order one of their savoury, housemade Japanese-style crepes, which are rolled into handheld cones and packed with fillings like smoked applewood ham or salmon and goat cheese.
After lunch, winter sports fans can head to Boler Mountain for an afternoon of skiing and snowboarding. The ski resort features 15 runs geared toward various skill levels, along with a three-run tube park. Alternatively, if you prefer culture over outdoorsy activities, learn about London’s place in medical history at Banting House, a national historic site that’s recognized as the place where, in 1920, Dr. Frederick Banting came up with the research idea that led to the discovery of insulin. The house now serves as a museum dedicated to Banting’s life and work.
Continue your exploration of the city’s past at nearby Eldon House, London’s oldest surviving residence, which was originally built in 1834. The house’s interior and exterior have been preserved in their 19th-century style, offering visitors insight into life in London during this time period.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/WH-Discover-Hunter-Jan15-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-164746" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/WH-Discover-Hunter-Jan15-3.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="854" height="1280" /></a>
Work up an appetite for dinner with a walk along Richmond Row, a pretty commercial strip that’s home to more than 200 retailers and restaurants. Stop in Grow and Bloom for flowers, plants and thoughtfully curated decor items, or admire the collection at long-running clothing boutique Saffron Road (and its lifestyle-oriented shop-within-a-shop Lofthouse Living). In the evening: For dinner, dig into dishes like freshly shucked oysters or braised beef cheek and birria tacos at Hunter &amp; Co. You’d be remiss to leave London without experiencing its thriving craft beer scene. Before starting your journey back to Toronto, swing by Anderson Craft Ales, a family-owned and operated brewery known for its small-batch, handcrafted beers. Pick up a six-pack of their classic Cream Ale, a Canadian Brewing Awards’ gold medal winner, and one of their rotating seasonal brews to take home.

For the drive
Get the backstory on London’s link to one of the most significant health-care discoveries of the 20th century by listening to the “Stuff You Missed in History Class” podcast’s two-part episode on “A History of Diabetes.” London continues to be known as an important hub for medical research today. It is home  to three major hospitals, as well as Western University and its Schulich School of Medicine.

COVID-19 need to know

Ontario is currently in a modified Step 2 of its “roadmap to reopen,” with indoor dinning banned. Some attractions may be closed or operating at a reduced capacity. Consult the Middlesex-London Health Unit for the most up-to-date information and contact individual businesses ahead of your trip to confirm how they’re currently operating.

TIMELINE: Drive Guide
<ul>
 	<li> 8 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
</ul>
Drive west on Highway 403

Take Exit 189 for Highbury Avenue South
<ul>
 	<li> 10 a.m. Bag Lady Variety</li>
 	<li> 11 a.m. Covent Garden Market</li>
 	<li> 12:30 p.m. Fire Roasted Coffee Co.</li>
 	<li>1 p.m. Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery</li>
 	<li> 1:30 p.m. Wisdom Café</li>
 	<li> 3 p.m. Boler Mountain, Banting House and Eldon House</li>
 	<li> 5:30 p.m. Richmond Row</li>
 	<li> 6:30 p.m. Hunter &amp; Co.</li>
</ul>
Note: Times are suggestions only

Ours to Discover: London

scWeatherStand

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to get ready to explore — but only if COVID-19 conditions make it safe to do so. 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.”

 

Often bypassed by people headed to neighbouring Niagara-on-the-Lake or Niagara Falls, St. Catharines is a city full of surprises and well worth a visit. Founded in the late 1700s, it was once the home of abolitionist Harriet Tubman, was a key link in the history of Great Lakes shipping thanks to the Welland Canal, and is crisscrossed by recreational trails. A visit here will give you a new appreciation for this city on the shore of Lake Ontario.

In the morning: Leave Toronto around 8 a.m., driving along the Queen Elizabeth Way west and you should arrive in St. Catharines by 10 a.m. On your way, take the exit for Jordan Road and visit Upper Canada Cheese in Jordan Station, where you can sample and buy its popular varieties, such as its delectable Nosy Goat and Niagara Comfort Cheese. If you’re visiting on a Friday, you’re in luck: that’s the day it has fresh curds for purchase.

Get back on the highway and continue to the exit for Lake Street, which will take you into St. Catharines. Begin your visit by stopping by the historic Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church on Geneva Street, a cultural treasure that was once attended by abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Though not open to the public during the pandemic, you can still admire the storied building and the historic plaques that tells its story.

[caption id="attachment_164553" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Church-Jan8-2-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-164553" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Church-Jan8-2-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1828" /></a> After your drive, take some time to stretch your legs by walking along the Welland Canal Parkways Trail, or – if there is snow on the ground – snowshoeing or cross-country skiing along its pathway. The 45-kilometre-long trail stretches from St. Catharines to Port Colborne, offering a relatively flat, paved surface that is also perfect for in-line skating or biking during warmer months. Depending on timing, you might find yourself beside a 26,000-ton ship as it makes its 226 metres climb through the locks up the Niagara Escarpment. If you want to learn more about the region’s proud shipping history, be sure to visit the Welland Canal Museum at Lock 3.[/caption]

For another outdoor walking option, try the scenic, 5.3-kilometre St. Catharines section of the Bruce Trail. Winding past Brock University on the Niagara Escarpment, the trail is beautiful but not challenging, so you’ll have plenty of steam left for the rest of the day’s explorations. There is also the 10.3-kilometre Merritt Trail, named for William Hamilton Merritt, builder of the Welland Canal and an abolitionist colleague of Tubman. This woodsy walking trail winds its way beside Twelve Mile Creek and passes through downtown.

Around noon: All that exercise has probably left you hungry, so head to Cold Break Brewery on St. Paul Street West. Its friendly, making-beer-while-you-watch atmosphere will keep you entertained, and both the brews and the bites are great. Have a pint of Krispy Cream Ale or a Lakeside Spruce Beer Seltzer, and chat with the brew master while you inhale an order of delicious Viscious Fishus Tacos.

Save room for a takeout dessert from Beechwood Doughnuts, also on St. Paul Street, Niagara’s first and only vegan doughnut shop. Everything is decadent and the shop is popular, often selling out before its closes at 5 p.m.

With doughnut in hand, stroll to Montebello Park, one of the city’s most beautiful green spaces. In non-pandemic times, Montebello, with its Victorian-style pavilion and bandshell, hosts the annual Niagara Wine Festival featuring tastings, food and entertainment for 10 days each September. Its famous rose garden is empty of blooms during the winter, but you’ll enjoy learning that this 2.49-hectare oasis was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also created New York City’s Central Park.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Trail-Jan8-3-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-164550" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Trail-Jan8-3-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="1926" height="2560" /></a>

In the afternoon: Port Dalhousie, St. Catharines’ lakeside enclave, is not only a summertime favorite with boaters, but is also home to Lakeside Park and 68 hand-carved animals who circle on a covered antique carousel. They’re currently taking a pandemic rest but be sure to bring the kids back next summer when they hope to be back in business. In the meantime, take a walk on the newly renovated pier and gaze over Lake Ontario’s wild waves before making the short drive to the famous Henley Rowing Course, which has hosted many world rowing championships and will soon welcome the 2022 Canada Games rowing events.

No visit to St. Catharines would be complete without tasting some of the sweet products from our region’s trees and vines.  Stop at White Meadows Maple Syrup on Effingham Street, where you’ll enjoy a tasting board of four flavors of maple syrup, five gourmet maple treats and a tempting stack of mini pancakes. After, drop by Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery on Pelham Road to meet the winemakers and sample its finest products. You can buy a bottle of their ice wine (they make three varieties) or a late harvest Vidal to take home.

[caption id="attachment_164551" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Maple-Jan8-4-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-164551" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wh-Discover-Maple-Jan8-4-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1688" /></a> Spring is almost here and this weekend was the first weekend for tours through the sugar bush at White Meadows Farms on Saturday, March 2, 2019. The tours run all weekend from 10a.m. to 3p.m. until the first weekend of April. Julie Jocsak/ St. Catharines Standard[/caption]

You’ll want to gather a few other treats as souvenirs of your visit, so make a stop at Bushel &amp; Peck on Lake Street to buy some local produce and a jar of schmaltz. Yes, that’s chicken fat and nothing you fry in it will ever be less than fabulous. While you’re in a sinful frame of mind, visit Chocolates Etc. on Welland Avenue for a box of handmade icewine chocolates.

In the early evening: For dinner, you’ll love the beer-battered haddock at The Merchant Ale House on St. Paul Street, made with its own Blonde Bombshell beer and served with coleslaw and tartar sauce. The food is great, but the location is even better – right beside the entrance to the Meridian Centre and just down the street from the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre, where you can enjoy some entertainment before heading home. Catch an Ice Dogs hockey game at the Meridian Centre or see a show at the arts centre. Tom Cochrane, an Edith Piaf tribute, Johnny Reid and Drag Queen Storytime are all playing to limited capacity audiences in the coming months. For the complete lineup, check <a href="http://www.firstontariopac.ca">firstontariopac.ca.</a>

&nbsp;
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Learn more about Harriet Tubman by downloading the “Stuff You Missed in History Class” episode about the abolitionist, Underground Railroad leader and spy for the Union during the Civil War (U.S.). “Harriet Tubman &amp; the Underground Railroad (Part 1)” delved into her story and unravels some of the myths surrounding her. It is available from iHeart Podcast Network.
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
The Niagara region is currently dealing with the rise of the Omicron virus. Some restaurants are offering indoor service at reduced capacity, while others are providing curbside pickup and takeout service. Most businesses are open, also with limited capacity.  Visit niagararegion.ca for the latest information on COVID-19 in the area.

&nbsp;
<h3> Drive Guide</h3>
<ul>
 	<li> 8 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
 	<li>Drive west on the Queen Elizabeth Way</li>
 	<li> 10 a.m. Upper Canada Cheese Company</li>
 	<li> 10:30 a.m. Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church</li>
 	<li> Noon: Cold Break Brewery followed by a doughnut from Beechwood Doughnuts</li>
 	<li> 1 p.m. Montebello Park</li>
 	<li> 2 p.m. Port Dalhousie</li>
 	<li> 3 p.m. White Meadows Farms</li>
 	<li> 4 p.m. Henry of Pelham Winery</li>
 	<li> 6 p.m. Merchant Ale House</li>
</ul>
Note: Times are suggestions only

Ours to Discover: St. Catharines

WH-Discover-Scandineve-Jan1

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to get ready to explore — but only when it is safe to do so. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province and across Canada, ands show you why this country is “Ours to Discover.”

The ancient Greeks were onto something when they used bathing and spas as a form of therapy. Take a cue from them this winter and make a road trip to a spa. Having weathered the unprecedented times of the pandemic, escaping for a day of pampering is precisely the self-care we could all use right now. It’s also a great way to enjoy a fresh start to the year ahead. From getting those tight muscles expertly kneaded to giving your skin the TLC it’s crying out for, visiting any one of these five serene spas will allow you an opportunity to regroup and recharge.
<h3>OSpa</h3>
About an hour-and-a half-drive from Toronto, OSpa can be found at the Oban Inn, a boutique hotel in Niagara-On-The-Lake. The calming contemporary space — with a striking domed brick ceiling in the spa’s lounge — exudes an intimate ambiance. Visit a winery or two in the morning and then stop into OSpa for its Grape Seed and Algae Signature Body Wrap. Featuring local red grape seed extract, this antiaging and detoxifying 85-minute wrap begins with a dry exfoliation. Then, once the treatment is applied, you’re wrapped up in warm sheets like a burrito and the therapist treats your scalp, face and feet while the polyphenols, iodine and vitamins work on the rest of your body. After you shower it off, you’re slathered with a warm hydrating lotion infused with essential oils. You’ll leave feeling reborn.

Getting there: Take the Queen Elizabeth Way west out of Toronto toward the Niagara Region, followed by Regional Road 55 to Niagara-on-the-Lake.
<h3>Elora Mill Hotel and Spa</h3>
For nature lovers looking for some spa time, a 90-minute drive northwest from Toronto in the quaint town of Elora is the Elora Mill Hotel and Spa. The spa overlooks Elora’s star attraction, the stunning Elora Gorge. Take in the breathtaking cliffside view from the hot tub before you enjoy the bliss of your treatment, with the spa’s guest experience liaison looking after every detail of your visit. Try its Rose Quartz Restorative Body Treatment, a massage treatment that harnesses the healing and radiant energies of rose quartz crystals. Afterwards, feeling rejuvenated and your skin expertly tended to, you’ll glow inside and out and all of that pandemic stress will feel much more manageable.

Getting there: Drive west on Highway 401 toward Guelph and then head north on Highway 6, or by following the Queen Elizabeth Way to just before Hamilton and then heading north on Highway 6.
<h3>Langdon Hall</h3>
A Relais &amp; Château property, Cambridge’s Langdon Hall Country House and Spa (about an hour’s drive west from Toronto) is one of only 14 properties in Canada with this prestigious designation, which recognizes its superior dining, accommodations and architecture. Driving up to stately Langdon Hall, which was built around 1898 and is surrounded by a Carolinian forest, will make you feel like a member of Canada’s historical high society. But, once in the spa and wrapped up in your bathrobe, the spa’s Valmont facials will transport you to present-day bliss.

Getting there: Take Highway 401 west to Cambridge.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/WH-Discover-Langdon-Jan1-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-164443" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/WH-Discover-Langdon-Jan1-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="1707" height="2560" /></a>
<h3>Ste. Anne’s Spa</h3>
About a 90-minute drive east of Toronto in Grafton, you’ll find the 1800s fieldstone castle that houses Ste. Anne’s Spa. Outside is an expansive hydrotherapy are — including a lazy river and warming room — while inside are 30 treatment rooms where you can let go of the stresses you’ve been holding onto. Put yourself in the capable hands of one of the spa’s therapists and try its Rose Petal and Honey Body Wrap. Using rose petals from the property’s gardens and honey from its bees, your tired soles get a rose tea foot bath, followed by a massage using a rose and honey mask. Once wrapped up in warm sheets, your scalp gets some attention with an aromatic massage. Shower off the mask, slip back into your fluffy robe and head straight to lunch. Don’t worry, nearly all of the spa’s guests will be in their robes, too.

Getting there: Drive on Highway 401 east to Grafton, which is just past Cobourg.
<h3><a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/WH-Discover-StAnne-Jan1-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-164444" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/WH-Discover-StAnne-Jan1-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1707" /></a> Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain</h3>
Enjoy an invigorating water circuit experience just a two-hour drive north from Toronto at the sprawling 25-acre property of Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain in Grey County. Never been to a hydrotherapy spa? You start in a hot bath to warm up for 10 minutes (there’s a thermal waterfall, steam room or sauna, too). Then, to release toxins from your body, you plunge into cold water (about seven to 13 C) for 10 or 15 seconds to get your heart rate and endorphins going. Return to a resting heart rate by spending 15 minutes in the solarium or by one of the spa’s outdoor fireplaces, then repeat the whole circuit another few times. Once done and bundled up you stroll through the property’s forest bathing trail, which features eight spots where you are invited to stop, reflect and take in the moment.

Getting there: Drive on Highway 400 north toward Barrie, taking Highway 26 west to Collingwood.
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Get into a relaxed frame of mind for the drive by listening to BBC 3’s “Slow Radio” podcast, which features ambient sounds from places around the world, such as an episode that takes you from London to the Suffolk coast by bike. Listening will allow you to let yourself slow down mentally, setting the tone for a day of rest and relaxation
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Note that the government-mandated proof of vaccination rule is in effect. Check provincial guidelines (ontario.ca) and contact the businesses before you head out on your spa excursion.

Ours to Discover: Five sensational spas for some rest and relaxation

Galt 1.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, and shows you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

With historic limestone buildings and a riverside setting that feels reminiscent of a European town, it’s no wonder Cambridge has become a popular filming site for TV shows and movies like the “Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Queen’s Gambit” and “Red.” In addition to its romantic architecture are an abundance of hiking routes, a handful of top-notch restaurants and an easy-going vibe makes Cambridge ideal for a quick day trip from Toronto. Here’s how to explore the best it has to offer on a day trip.

In the morning: Leave Toronto by around 8 a.m., heading west on Hwy 401. It’s slightly more than an hour’s drive to your first stop, Monigram Coffee Roasters. This small-batch roaster is located in a century-old building in Cambridge’s storied Galt neighbourhood. Pick from a range of coffee blends – all of which are brewed from ethically-sourced beans and roasted on site – paired with a light pastry or a filling bagel sandwich.

Linger over your coffee in Monigram’s charming interior or take your drink to-go on a self-guided tour around Galt, one of three small town that merged to form the City of Cambridge in 1973. A designated heritage district, Galt’s scenic location on the Grand River and 19th-century limestone buildings create an enchanting ambiance. Check out the stately homes along Lansdowne Road and Brant Street, admire the beautiful architecture of buildings like the Galt Collegiate Institute and the Central Presbyterian Church, and take a photo in front of the “Wings” mural on Ainslie Street South.

Cap off your morning at the Fashion History Museum, which houses an impressive collection of artifacts dating back to the 17th century. Peruse more than 12,000 pieces – including a hat worn by Julia Grant, wife of U.S President Ulysses S. Grant – and its extensive library of fashion publications and documents.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-DiscoverCambridge-Fashion-May14-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-168274" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-DiscoverCambridge-Fashion-May14-scaled.jpg" alt="Discover Cambridge" width="2560" height="1807" /></a>

In the early afternoon: For a casual lunch, order a Holey Burger – a burger with a hole in its middle – and hand-cut fries from seasonal hot dog shack LA Franks. It is a local institution that’s been serving comfort food for almost 30 years. Or, if the mood calls for something more upscale, head to Cambridge Mills and enjoy farm-to-table fare served in a former mill building with lovely river views.

After lunch, it's time for an insect encounter at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, which is home to more than 40 butterfly species. You’ll be surrounded by thousands of butterflies, as well as small birds and plants, as you stroll through the conservatory’s 10,000 square-foot tropical garden.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-DiscoverCambridge-Butterfly-May14-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-168275" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-DiscoverCambridge-Butterfly-May14-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1375" /></a>

In the late afternoon: Pop into Reids Chocolate, a family-owned chocolatier that’s been operating in Cambridge for more than 70 years. Grab some sea salties – vanilla caramels covered in chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt – or its beer brittle to munch on now or to take home as a souvenir (or both).

Discover Cambridge’s great outdoors with a walk along some of its nearly 58 kilometres of trails. The Grand Trunk Trail, which follows the Grand River south for 10 kilometres through Cambridge, is a popular option that includes a picturesque waterfall, pretty forested areas and a few interesting sites, including a 19th-century mill.

Be sure to have binoculars handy if you choose the Bob McMullen Linear Trail, which is known for its excellent birdwatching. Or you might prefer the Mill Run Trail loop, which offers pleasant views of the river and a trio of mill runs (water channels dug in the ground to power watermills).

In the evening: By now you'll have worked up a sufficient appetite for dinner. Book your reservation well in advance for a meal at Langdon Hall, which regularly ranks among the best restaurants, not just in Cambridge but in all of Canada. Chef Jason Bangerter draws inspiration from Langdon Hall’s 75-acre estate for an outstanding seasonal menu.

Vegetables, herbs and honey produced right on Langdon Hall’s grounds are complemented by other local bounty sourced from nearby farmers and foragers. A classically elegant dining room and exquisite plating complete this memorable dining experience.

After a magical dinner, make your way back to Toronto or stay a little longer to take in an evening show at the Hamilton Family Theatre, a modern 500-seat facility that hosts a variety of musicals, plays and other live performances.

If you're not ready to leave, turn your day trip into a weekend getaway and splurge on an overnight stay in Langdon Hall’s luxury estate accommodations. Spend the second day of your trip exploring the property’s idyllic grounds and enjoying a treatment at its stunning spa.

COVID-19 need to know

Cambridge is following Ontario’s COVID-19 guidelines. Some businesses may request you wear a mask. Contact individual businesses to find out how they’re currently operating.

For the drive

Familiarize yourself with Cambridge's past and present by listening to the “Explore Our Story” podcast, which recently launched its second season. Hosted by local historian and city archivist Dan Schmalz, the podcast chronicles notable moments in the city’s history, spanning from its settlement more than 200 years ago to the present.

TIMELINE: Drive guide
<ul>
 	<li> 8 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
</ul>
Drive west on Hwy 401
<ul>
 	<li> 9:30 a.m. Monigram Coffee Roasters</li>
 	<li> 10 a.m. Stroll around Galt</li>
 	<li> 11:30 a.m. Fashion History Museum</li>
 	<li> 12:30 p.m. LA Franks</li>
 	<li> 2 p.m. Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory</li>
 	<li> 3:30 p.m. Reids Chocolate</li>
 	<li> 4 p.m. Trail walk</li>
 	<li> 6 p.m. Langdon Hall</li>
</ul>
Note: Times are suggestions only

Ours to Discover: Cambridge, A classic city close to home

wh-DiscoverManitoulin-Bridal-May7

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.”

At 2,766 square kilometres, Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron is the largest freshwater island in the world — and features no fewer than 100 inland lakes. It is also the ancestral home to six Anishinaabe First Nations, with its name meaning Spirit Island in Ojibway. A three-day visit offers the chance to explore ancient hiking trails, a legend-steeped waterfall, First Nations heritage sites and hands-on Indigenous cultural experiences.

DAY ONE
In the morning

It will take a few hours to get to Manitoulin Island, so leave Toronto around 7:30 a.m. so you can maximize your time there once you arrive. Head north on Highway 400, which will turn into Highway 69, and follow it until you reach Highway 17 near Sudbury. Follow the roadway west and then take Highway 6 to Little Current, located on the island. The journey should take around five-and-a-half hours.

In the afternoon
Fill your tummy by enjoying an order of barbecue chicken flatbread or fish tacos from Elliott’s Restaurant. Eat in or nab one of the picnic tables at Low Island Park, located on the waterfront. From there, drive west on Highway 540 to the start of the Cup and Saucer Hiking Trail. This five-kilometre loop trail includes a stretch along a 70-metre-high cliff that offers great views of Lake Huron.

Drive back to Little Current and check in at the Manitoulin Inn and Conference Centre, which is First Nations-owned and operated. The room decor and teepee-like lobby reflect local Indigenous traditions, as does the food served at the North 46 Restaurant, where the menu includes bison chili and Anishinaabe tacos with fried bread.

In the evening

Visit the nearby Little Current Swing Bridge, which opens every two hours to allow boats through the North Channel. It’s one of the only swing bridges still operating in Canada. After, stop at the Outpost General Store for souvenirs you’ll use, such as custom-knit toques and Manitoulin-branded t-shirts, before enjoying a dinner of locally caught trout, white fish or pickerel at the Anchor Inn Grill.

[caption id="attachment_168044" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-DiscoverManitoulin-Culture-May7-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-168044" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-DiscoverManitoulin-Culture-May7-scaled.jpg" alt="Discover Manitoulin" width="2560" height="1707" /></a> M'CHIGEENG, ON- NOVEMBER 7 - A display of quill art by Nico Williams of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation near Sarnia is on display in the foyer of the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation. Anong Beam, is the curator of the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation on Manitoulin Island in M'Chigeeng. November 7, 2017. Steve Russell/Toronto Star[/caption]

DAY TWO
In the morning

Have breakfast at the inn before getting in your car for the 45-minute drive along Highway 6 to Manitowaning, where you can peruse the Indigenous art exhibits at K.B. Reynolds Mastin Gallery, located in the Debajehmujig Creation Centre. From there, it’s a short walk to the Assiginack Museum Heritage Complex, which is dedicated to the history of the island.

Across the road from the museum is Loco Beanz, where you can grab a Hot Smoothie or North Channel Chai for the drive along Cardell Street (which turns into Wikwemikong Way) to Wikwemikong, the island’s largest First Nation community.
In the afternoon
Wikwemikong Tourism offers a two-hour culinary excursion starting daily at noon that involves foraging and storytelling along the Bebamikawe Memorial Trail. It includes stops to admire the views of La Cloche Mountains, the North Channel and the traditional fishing grounds of the Anishnaabek of Wikwemikong. There are three different culinary outings, one of which is the Clay-Baked Georgian Bay Trout and Tea, with each hosted by Indigenous guides and ending with a full meal that you help prepare.

Following lunch, you can head to the gift shop at the Wikwemikong Tourist Information Centre to shop for hand-crafted jewellery or moccasins, rent a bike to explore the community, or head to King’s Bay Beach on the sandy shoreline of Lake Huron for a swim.

In the evening
Head for an early dinner at Ed’s Family Restaurant in Wikwemikong, where you can enjoy piles of homemade bread along with burgers, fish and chips or hot sandwiches. After dinner, visit the Meeshkodewaang boat ramp for Paddle the Night Sky. This canoe excursion is led by Indigenous guides who share stories and legends of water spirits, tales of battles with the Iroquois, and teachings about the constellations. The outing ends with fireside tea.
Drive back to Little Current and end your day with a Bridal Veil Pale Ale or Cup and Saucer English Ale at Manitoulin Brewing, which hosts evening entertainment during summer months.
DAY THREE
In the morning
After breakfast, drive west for 80 minutes on Highway 540 to Misery Bay Provincial Park. You can break up the ride with a stop at New Grain Kitchen in Gore Bay to purchase maple and oat sourdough along with some Thunder Oak Smoked Gouda as a snack. At the park, follow the hiking trails that take you past huge chunks of dolomite ground flat by glaciers along with bird-viewing platforms.

Hop back in the car and drive east on the 540 to the 10-metre high Bridal Veil Falls, located near the town of Kagawong. Interpretive plaques near its base tell the story of the Legend of Maswein, his experiences at the waterfall and his encounter with the Great Spirit Manitou

Head to the community of M’Chigeeng for lunch at Maggie’s Café – its cobb salad is worth a try – and to spend time at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation to learn more about the island’s various First Nation clans as well as traditional artwork, including porcupine quill boxes, ash and sweetgrass baskets and antler carvings.

In the afternoon

Head east on Highway 542 and then Highway 6 to South Baymouth to catch the two-hour car ferry that crossed Lake Huron to Tobermory. From there you can continue your journey back to Toronto.

For the drive

The “Island of Great Spirit - the Legacy of Manitoulin” podcast features short chapters that cover various aspects of the history and culture of Manitoulin Island, from the original Odawa peoples to today’s inhabitants. It is available through Apple Podcasts.

COVID-19 need to know

Manitoulin Island follows Ontario’s provincial COVID-19 guidelines. Contact individual businesses in advance to determine their preferred protocols.

Drive guide

Day one
<ul>
 	<li> 7:30 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
 	<li> 1 pm. <a href="https://www.elliottsmanitoulin.com/menus">Elliott’s Restaurant</a></li>
 	<li> 1:30 p.m.Low Island Park</li>
 	<li> 2:30 p.m.Cup and Saucer Nature Reserve</li>
 	<li>5:30 p.m. Manitoulin Inn and Conference Centre</li>
 	<li>7 p.m. Anchor Inn Grill</li>
</ul>
Day Two
<ul>
 	<li> 10 a.m. K.B. Reynolds Mastin Gallery</li>
 	<li> 11 a.m. Assiginack Museum Heritage Complex</li>
 	<li> NoonBebamikawe Memorial Trail Indigenous Experience</li>
 	<li>5 p.m. Ed’s Family Restaurant</li>
 	<li>7 p.m. Paddle the Night Sky</li>
</ul>
Day three
<ul>
 	<li> 9 a.m. New Grain Kitchen</li>
 	<li> 11 a.m. Misery Bay Provincial Park</li>
 	<li> Noon Bridal Veil Falls</li>
 	<li>1 p.m. Maggie’s Café</li>
 	<li>2 p.m. Ojibwe Cultural Foundation</li>
</ul>

Ours to Discover: Manitoulin Island

wh-Discover-Motor-Main-April30

Ever since his dad started bringing home a weekly Matchbox or Hot Wheels toy as a toddler, Matthew has had a slightly unhealthy obsession with everything motorized. When an opportunity was presented in 2006 to start writing about his experiences, he jumped at the chance and hasn’t looked back. And while he still relishes every chance he gets behind the wheel of something with a performance bent (and preferably three pedals), his happy place is being somewhere, anywhere on a motorcycle.

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 longer, warmer days now a reality, motorcycle enthusiasts around the Greater Toronto Area are unplugging their vehicle’s trickle chargers, checking their tire pressure, and taking their bikes out of winter hibernation. While slogging through the clogged streets of the city is torturous to say the least, there are routes near Toronto where you and your motorized steed can enjoy the open road. Here are five motorcycle rides full of curves, scenic views and places to stop and stretch your legs.

Ride No. 1

Roughly 80 kilometres northwest of Toronto, Forks of the Credit and Hockley Valley roads are nothing short than a rite of passage for motorcyclists. Start by driving north along Mississauga Road to the village of Belfountain in Caledon, where you will find Forks of the Credit Road.

Riding it east, the roadway’s seven kilometres of peg-grinding asphalt winds its way downhill and includes a hairpin turn. You may need a jolt of coffee for this one, so stop at The Common Good, located in the historic Belfountain General Store building, before you head out. Remember, speed limits on this road are strictly enforced, so do behave.

Once you hit the junction where Forks of the Credit meets Highway 10, head north until you reach Hockley Valley Road in Orangeville and hang a right. While not as twisty as Forks of the Credit, this ribbon of asphalt keeps riders engaged with 15 kms of curves and undulations. If you have the time, a detour to visit nearby Mono Cliffs Provincial Park is never a bad idea. Or, if you prefer a quick pop-cultural stop, stay on the road to visit the motel that doubled as The Rosebud on “Schitt’s Creek.”

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Motor-Motel-April30-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167868" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Motor-Motel-April30-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1381" /></a>

Ride No. 2

The Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland County are home to an incredible collection of roadways perfect for motorcycle rides. One of my favourites is the 45-km stretch of County Road 507 from Buckhorn to Gooderham. The road is bordered by Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park, so the scenery is an impressive mix of lakes, streams and rivers. You may even spot a moose or two grazing near the roadside.

When you arrive in Gooderham, you can either keep riding north on the equally incredible Glamorgan Road to Haliburton (stop for a Kawartha Dairy ice cream at Cool Licks), east on County Road 503 to Coboconk or west on Highway 118 to Cardiff. If you decide on the last route, be sure to stop at Swiss Bear Cafe Bistro &amp; Express near Apsley for a schnitzel sandwich. Its options include the Polish, topped with sauerkraut, Dijon mustard, onion and pickle, and the Slaw, covered in coleslaw and barbecue sauce.

Ride No. 3

A meandering ride into Ontario’s wine country along the Niagara Parkway never disappoints. Hugging the Niagara River from the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake, what the busy Parkway lacks in pace it makes up for with its scenery. The spectacular Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls is roughly located at the halfway point of this route.

While in Niagara Falls you can hop off your bike to explore the carnival-like atmosphere of Clifton Hill, take your chances at the Fallsview Casino Resort or Casino Niagara, or go for a ride on the Maid of the Mist.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Motor-Matt-April30.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167869" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Motor-Matt-April30.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2048" height="1152" /></a>

Ride No. 4

Arguably one of the best combinations of scenery and rider engagement, Highway 141, cutting through the Muskoka and Parry Sound regions, is a bucket list drive for motorcycle enthusiasts. The roadway stretches between Highway 400 in the west and Highway 11 in the east.

I like to turn off the 400 at Lake Joseph Road and head north to Hayes Corner before driving east on the 141. Bordered by an incredible cliff face and the gorgeous Lake Rosseau, the west end of this route is particularly picturesque. But don’t turn around after getting that shot of your bike by the lake. The entirety of this highway feels like a route that was mapped out by engineers following a kitten batting a ball of yarn around.

If time allows, complete a Muskoka loop by going south on Highway 11 and turning off in Gravenhurst to follow Highway 169 into Bala. From there you can take Muskoka District Road 38 back to the 400 to return to Toronto.

Ride No. 5

The Trans Canada Trail is an extensive 28,000 km network of mostly off-road routes stretching across the country. Located next to Dart Cup Road in Campbellford, about a two-and-half hour drive east of Toronto, is a section of the trail where motorcyclists can ride.

Heading east along the trail, it features a mix of surfaces, takes riders through portions of a former rail corridor into the community of Stirling and Highway 62. In the south, the trail forks so you can either head north toward Marmora, Madoc, Tweed and Bancroft (all of which are great rides) or you can continue on to Corbyville, where one of the region’s nicest patios awaits next the Moira River at Signal Brewery.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Motor-General-April30-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167870" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Motor-General-April30-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

The trails are mixed use, so you will be sharing it with ATVs, dirt bikes, bicycles and pedestrians alike. You will need a day pass from the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance but trust me when I say it’s well worth the cost.

Ours to Discover: Motorcycle Routes

stcNOTLFlowers

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 cyclist, shopper, wine enthusiast or theatre lover, a day in Niagara-on-the-Lake is just what you need. This picturesque community, located where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, is full of amazing shops, restaurants and historic sites. It is also home to the world-renown Shaw Festival, which is now celebrating its 60th anniversary. Here are some ideas on how to spend a day exploring everything this town has to offer.

In the morning 

Leave downtown Toronto heading west along the Queen Elizabeth Way. Allowing for a bit of traffic, you’ll be in Niagara-on-the-Lake in two hours. Take the exit at Glendale Avenue and follow the signs, which will take you to Niagara Stone Road and into the old town.

While there are several art galleries to visit in Niagara-on-the-Lake, three must-sees are conveniently located on Queen Street. Wander through Upper Canada Native Art, which showcases the work of noted Indigenous artists such as Frank Polson, Manasie Akpaliapik, Cyril Henry and Rebecca Maracle. The focus of the gallery is on Inuit and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) art, and its selection of giftware by Canadian artisans is impressive.

The All In The Wild Gallery and the Edward Spera Gallery are a nature lover’s dream. The first features photographs by Jason Leo Bantle, whose mission is to increase appreciation, awareness, respect and enjoyment of nature and wildlife, while the later features paintings and prints featuring animals by Edward Spera. If he is there, be sure to ask Spera about his time in Africa while you marvel at the incredible detail in his paintings.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-NOTL-Spera-April23.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167670" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-NOTL-Spera-April23.jpg" alt="OUrs to Discover" width="2000" height="1200" /></a>

After, continue along Queen Street before turning right at the town clock tower and following Queen’s Parade to Fort George National Historic Site. Peek inside to learn about the fortification’s significance during the War of 1812.

A trip to Niagara is all about goodies. Start at Greaves Jams &amp; Marmalades for jars of heavenly concoctions, before heading to The Maple Syrup Store By White Meadows for its selections of maple-infused spreads, sauces and chocolates. If Fido’s feelings were hurt that you left him at home, pop into Puppy and Dog Fashion Ltd. for canine raingear to fit any pooch from chihuahuas to labradoodles.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-NOTL-Fort-April23.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167671" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-NOTL-Fort-April23.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2121" height="1414" /></a>

If you love all things Santa Clause, check out the Just Christmas store, where they are still singing “Jingle Bells” in summer, before heading over to Budapest Bakeshop to discover chimney cakes, dough cooked on a conical spindle that comes out of the oven crispy and delicious. You can have one plain or covered in cinnamon and sugar, aged cheddar, pizza fixings or filled with anything from cream to sausage.

Around noon

There are plenty of lunch options in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Stop at Walker’s Country Market, a large fruit and vegetable stand and shop brimming with fresh goodies and home-baked treats. Pick up an assortment for a picnic lunch next to the Niagara River or shore of Lake Ontario.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-NOTL-Budapest-April23-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167672" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-NOTL-Budapest-April23-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="1920" height="2560" /></a>

For a sit-down lunch, visit Two Sisters Vineyards for fabulous thin-crust pizza, enjoy farm-to-table treats at the Winery Restaurant at Peller Estates, or grab at table at the Shaw Café &amp; Wine Bar, located across the street from the Royal George Theatre. Don’t miss its charcuterie platter, featuring delicious prosciutto among other delights. If the sun is shining, ask for a patio table.

In the afternoon

Enjoy a matinee performance at the Shaw Festival. During April, the featured show is “Cyrano de Bergerac,” which is being staged at the Royal George Theatre. Depending on what day you visit, there are also post-play chats as part of the festival’s Continue the Conversation series, and activities and seminars held as part of its Beyond the Stage programming. Other plays being performed at Shaw this season include “Damn Yankees,” “Gaslight,” “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “Too Good to Be True.” Visit the festival website for a full list, dates and times.

If you prefer an active afternoon, book a cycling tour ahead of time with Premium Electric Bike Rentals and The Grape Escape Wine Tours or with Zoom Leisure Bike Rental and Wine Tours in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Both offer rentals as well as guided excursions to area vineyards.

If you would rather sip more and pedal less, you can also book tours that ferry you between wineries in a van. Or designate a driver and create your own afternoon itinerary. There are several vineyards within a 15-minute drive of the old town, including Trius Winery, Peller Estates, Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate and Wayne Gretzky Estates.

Prefer ale? Two microbreweries, Niagara Oast House Brewers and Silversmith Brewing Company, offer tasting flights and are both located on Niagara Stone Road.

End you afternoon by feeling like a kid again at the Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe. Bursting with humbugs, gumballs, licorice and every other sugary confection you can imagine, this spot is also a treasure trove of classic toys you may have forgotten but really loved, like blow-up Bozo the Clown punching bags.

In the evening

Whether you’ve shopped, sipped, cycled or enjoyed a show, you’ll want to end your Niagara-on-the-Lake adventure on a culinary high note. The Epicurean has a wonderful menu and tables outside under the trees where the atmosphere is magical. Start with its feta bruschetta topped with Roma tomatoes, red onions and herbs before dinning on lamb chops served with a rosemary and red wine reduction.

For something more formal, the Prince of Wales is home to the Noble Restaurant, the Drawing Room and the Charcuterie and Panini Lounge. Alternatively, The Old Winery Restaurant &amp; Wine Bar on Hwy. 55 – on your drive back to the Queen Elizabeth Way – is an excellent family-friendly choice known for its homemade Italian dishes, like its arancini with garlic aioli and tomato sauce.

COVID-19 need to know

Niagara-on-the-Lake is following Ontario’s provincial COVID-19 guidelines. Contact individual businesses ahead of your trip to find out how they’re currently operating.

For the drive

Learn more about area vineyards with the “Wine Stuff &amp; Wine” podcast, which delves into viticulture in the community of Niagara-On-The-Lake. It is available from SoundCloud. For more information, follow @winestuffpodcast on Instagram.

Ours to Discover: Niagara-on-the-Lake

Byward Market William Street

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.”

Despite a few late-season snowfalls, Spring is here, and it’s time to get outdoors and enjoy the milder weather. Events are back on in Ottawa, after two years of shutdowns and postponements, and the downtown core is open for business. Come immerse yourself in the vibrant colours of the Canadian Tulip Festival and reacquaint yourself with the city after a long winter.

DAY ONE

In the morning: It is around a four-and-a-half-hour drive to the nation’s capital from Toronto, following Hwy 401 eastward. Just over an hour after leaving, take Concession Road 4 and drive to 5th Line in Port Hope for a farm-fresh breakfast at Haute Goat. Enjoy homemade frittata, available at the farm on weekends from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., before spending time with its Nigerian dwarf goats, Icelandic horses, alpacas and chickens. Head back to the 401 and continue driving east before heading north on Hwy 416 toward Ottawa.

In the afternoon: You’ll arrive in Ottawa in time for lunch, so take a wander down vibrant Elgin Street and stop at Citizen, just around the corner on Gilmour Steet. Try its Mariposa duck-filled egg rolls served with fried rice, and fermented gochujang sauce. After, continue walking on Elgin toward Bank Street and treat yourself at Moo Shu, a small-batch ice cream maker with unique flavours, including Hong Kong milk tea, lime lea and fresh mint. It also scoops plenty of vegan options.

Guided tours of Parliament Hill are set to relaunch starting May 20, allowing visitors an opportunity to view the country’s seat of power. An ambitious, decade-long project is currently underway to refurbish and modernize the entire site, but you can still tour the West Block of The House of Commons and the Senate, temporarily located within a historic Beaux-Arts style former train station a short walk away.

If you prefer an active afternoon, rent a bicycle from Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals on Sparks Street, a quick 10-minute walk from Elgin. Either sign up for a guided tour or explore on your own with the help of the trail map you’ll receive with your rental.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Ottawa-Bike-April16-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167397" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Ottawa-Bike-April16-scaled.jpg" alt="Ottawa" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>

In the evening: Stay in the heart of Ottawa’s historic ByWard Market by checking in to the Andaz Ottawa Hotel. This chic accommodation’s large floor-to-ceiling windows provide amazing views of Parliament Hill and the busy market area. Keep your eyes peeled for the copper accents in the lobby and guest rooms, which pay homage to the metal famously used to top the nearby parliament buildings.

Head to Copper Spirits and Sights, the hotel’s rooftop bar and the highest in the city, for cocktails with a view over the downtown core. For dinner, enjoy Middle Eastern dishes at Fairouz Cafe, in the ByWard Market. Choose its Fairouz Feast option for four diners that includes a sizzling meat platter, riz asfar, pitas, dips, stuffed grape leaves, olives and dessert.

Now that live performances are back, you can catch a hockey game, comedy or music show at the Canadian Tire Centre in nearby Kanata. While you're in the suburbs, check out Evergreen Craft Ales, just a three-minute drive from the arena, which grew from a garage-based micro-brewery into a large taproom and patio. If you prefer to stay downtown, sample a few brews at Lowertown Brewery on York Street, instead.

DAY TWO  

In the morning: Start your day at one of Ottawa’s most popular breakfast spots, Wilf &amp; Ada’s, on Bank Street, which is close to the Canadian Museum of Nature. You’ll find all the usual breakfast platters and French toast favourites, as well as the dish Eggs in Purgatory, featuring poached eggs in a tangy tomato sauce and topped with grana Padano cheese.

[caption id="attachment_167396" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Ottawa-Museum-April16-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167396" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Ottawa-Museum-April16-scaled.jpg" alt="Ottawa" width="2560" height="1440" /></a> Iceberg sculpture at Canadian Museum of Nature[/caption]

After you eat, walk over to the castle-like museum on McLeod Street and explore four floors dedicated to mammals, dinosaurs, birds and water life. Don't miss the Landscapes of Canada Gardens’ outdoor experience, highlighting 60 species of plants and trees from the boreal forests, Arctic tundra and prairie grasslands.

In the early afternoon: Make the eight-minute drive or half-hour walk to Dow’s Lake Pavilion and stop for a waterfront lunch at the Umbrella Bar. If the weather is fine, grab a spot on the resort-inspired patio that features cute hanging chairs with views of the lake. Choose from comfort food options like macaroni and cheese, burgers and fried chicken.

Following lunch, cross the street to Commissioners’ Park, and revel in the colours of springtime by admiring the more than one million cheerful tulips that line its flowerbeds. Plan your visit to fall between May 13 and 23 so you can take part in the 70th anniversary of the Canadian Tulip Festival.

In late afternoon: For one last Ottawa activity before you head home, take a spin around Dow’s Lake on a canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard or paddleboat, which are available to rent between May and October.

Begin your drive back to Toronto by heading south along Hwy 416 toward the 401. For a break along the way, stop in historic Brockville and stroll through its historic railway tunnel, which runs between downtown and the waterfront and was the first constructed in Canada. It usually opens for the season around Easter weekend.

If you're traveling with children, visit the Aquatarium at Tall Ships Landing before it closes at 5 p.m. to see otters, amphibians, fish and other underwater sea creatures. Kids can also learn all about hydroelectric power and climb onboard the “HMS Ontario” to experience the life of a historic sea captain.

COVID-19 need to know

Ottawa is following Ontario’s provincial COVID-19 guidelines. Contact individual businesses ahead of your trip to find out how they’re currently operating.

For the drive

Get a taste of Ottawa’s music scene by listening to “The Love Local Music” podcast from The Ottawa Music Industry Coalition. Foodies might prefer “At The Pass with Adam Vettorel,” a podcast hosted by a celebrated local chef.

TIMELINE: Drive Guide

Day one
<ul>
 	<li> 8 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
</ul>
Drive east on Hwy 401 and north on Hwy
<ul>
 	<li> 1.30 p.m. Citizen</li>
 	<li> 3 p.m. Moo Shu</li>
 	<li> 3:30 p.m. Parliament Hill</li>
 	<li> 6 p.m. Andaz Hotel</li>
 	<li> 7:30 p.m. Fairouz Cafe</li>
</ul>
Day two
<ul>
 	<li> 9 a.m. Wilf and Ada’s</li>
 	<li> 10 a.m. Canadian Museum of Nature</li>
 	<li> 12 p.m. Umbrella Bar</li>
 	<li> 1 p.m. Commissioner’s Park</li>
 	<li> 3 p.m. Drive back to Toronto</li>
</ul>
NOTE: Times are suggestions only

Ours to Discover: Ottawa

wh-Discover-Paris-Main-April9

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.”

Paris is always a good idea. But you need not travel all the way to France. A day trip to Paris, Ont., will appeal to everyone from history buffs to adventure lovers. While it is not named after the City of Love, the Paris that’s a 90-minute drive from Toronto is named for its gypsum deposits, a key ingredient in plaster of Paris.

This community certainly holds its own when it comes to charm. Once dubbed the province’s prettiest town, Paris is located where the Nith River empties into the Grand River. Whatever your passion, the abundance of shopping, dining spots, historical buildings and outdoor fun will leave everyone happy during a day trip.

In the morning: From Toronto, head west on Highway 403 and make your first stop in Brantford at the Bell Homestead National Historic Site, where Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1874. On your tour of the property, you’ll discover how the Bell family lived in Melville House, which was owned by Bell’s father, Alexander Melville Bell, and learn how the younger Bell first began working on the creation of the telephone and how his invention changed over the years.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Paris-Bell-April9.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-167250" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Paris-Bell-April9.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover: Paris" width="2000" height="1199" /></a>

Next, take King George Road to Elberta Farms Country Market in Paris to pick up some pantry staples and foodie delights. Offering seasonal fruit and vegetavles, it also carries products such as loafs of Beatrix Boulanger’s apple sourdough bread and homemade carrot cake jam from The Jelly Girls.

From there, you’re less than a 10-minute drive to the centre of Paris. Make you first stop the Paris Wincey Mills Co., a late-1800s building that now houses a market hall featuring local vendors and office spaces on its upper floors. Among the retailers are the award-winning The Udder Way Artisan Cheese Company, Bird &amp; Bee Vintage, a boutique full of unique finds, and The Paris Apothecary, a wellness store carrying naturally made products.

By now, you’re probably feeling hungry, so head to Arepa Love – also located in the building – for delectable sandwiches. Its meaty Pepito Rumbero features fresh arepas (a cornmeal cake) filled with seasoned sirloin, onions, peppers, feta, and microgreens with irresistible Iberian ham-flavoured potato chips served on the side.

In the afternoon: Paris is the cobblestone capital of Canada and following the walking tour available online from the Paris Museum will give you a good snapshot of the town. The tour includes historical treasures, from the beautiful Arlington Hotel, built circa 1888, to the striking masonry of the Norman Hamilton home.

While you’re on the tour, be sure to take a few minutes and pop through the doors of the different local retailers you pass along the way. Interior design lovers will want to check out Pursuit of Home for a fantastic selection of vintage and mid-century furniture mixed in with modern accessories. Also, be sure to stop at Paris Bakery, located on Grand River Street North. The shop has been around since 1927 and serves up classics such strudels and homemade Twix candy bar-like treats.

Drop your purchases in the trunk of your car and drive the short distance – you can also walk – to Penmans Dam Park to enjoy the view of the Grand River, which was designated a Canadian Heritage River in 1994 thanks in part to its industrial heritage and its popularity for watersports. That heritage can still be seen, as the dam that crosses the river was built in 1918 to power the Penmans clothing company’s mill.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Paris-River-April9.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167248" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-Paris-River-April9.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover: Paris" width="2121" height="1414" /></a>

After enjoying a few photo opportunities by the water, drive back through Paris to Lion’s Park, located on the Nith River. Here you can explore the 270-metre Sensory Trail, an accessible, interactive walk that features a guided rope, braille signs, musical instruments and a sensory garden.

In the evening: For a small town, there’s plenty of dining options in Paris. Restaurants Capeesh Craft Kitchen &amp; Cellar and  Stillwaters Plate &amp; Pour both have varied menus where even the pickiest eaters will find something delicious to eat (although the Prince Edward Island crab cakes at Stllwaters, which is helmed by a “Top Chef Canada” alum William Thompson, may have a slight edge). Both restaurants also offer views of the Grand River.

For something more casual, the Cobblestone Public House – a sister restaurant to the Capeesh and Stillwaters – serves classic pub favourites you can enjoy will taking in the waterfront views from its patio. If you are celebrating a milestone or special event, consider the Juniper Dining Co., which features an impressive cocktail menu and elevated fare such as bone marrow and steak tartare and Muscovy duck breast with heirloom beets.

TIMELINE: Drive guide
<ul>
 	<li> 8:45 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
</ul>
Drive west on Highway 403.

Take Exit 41
<ul>
 	<li> 10 a.m. Bell Homestead National Historic Site</li>
 	<li> 11:30 a.m. Elberta Farms Country Market</li>
 	<li> 12:30 p.m. Paris Wincey Mills Co.</li>
 	<li> 2:30 p.m. Self-guided walking tour</li>
 	<li> 4 p.m. Penmans Dam Park</li>
 	<li> 5 p.m. Lion’s Park</li>
 	<li> 6:30 p.m. Dinner</li>
</ul>
Note: times are suggestions only

COVID-19 need to know

Paris is following Ontario’s provincial COVID-19 guidelines. Contact individual businesses ahead of your trip to find out how they’re currently operating.

For the drive

Alexander Graham Bell made the first long distance phone call from a shop in Paris to the Bell Homestead in Brantford. Learn more about the inventor by listening to “Unsound: The Legacy of Alexander Graham Bell” episode of the CBC Radio podcast “Ideas.”

Ours to Discover: Paris

Kitchener Market.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, and show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

Home to the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo have a youthful energy thanks to their large student population. Affectionately known as the K-W or K-Dub, these twin communities host the world’s largest Oktoberfest outside of Munich each fall, but you’ll feel the German influences all year. From antique markets to locally focused restaurants, Kitchener-Waterloo also knows how to embrace the best of all things homegrown and homemade. Here’s your plan for a one-day escape in the area.

In the morning: Leave Toronto around 8 a.m., driving west on Highway 401. It’s just over an hour’s ride to your first stop, The Yeti Cafe, an artsy breakfast spot featuring playfully named dishes, like the Sasquatch, an artisan bun topped with avocado, cheddar, tomato, slaw and greens with aioli. Choose to sit on this homey cafe’s heated patio and fuel up for you day of exploring with a cup of house-roasted coffee along with the Pregnant Cowgirl, an organic multigrain bagel with bacon, a fried egg and cheese.

[caption id="attachment_166994" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-KW-Yeti-April2-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-166994" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-KW-Yeti-April2-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover Kitchener - Waterloo" width="2560" height="1578" /></a> The Yeti Cafe's Pregnant Cowgirl is a substantial breakfast sandwich Uploaded by: Charbonneau, Darick[/caption]

If you’re making this road trip with your kids, don’t miss TheMuseum in Kitchener, which highlights hands-on activities related to the arts, science and technology. Its five floors feature interactive permanent and rotating exhibitions, including a virtual graffiti wall and a stop-motion animation studio.

Adults may find the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery is more their cup of tea. It is the only art gallery in the country devoted to contemporary works of ceramic, enamel and glass. Its shop is an excellent spot to pick up handmade pieces by artists from across Canada.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-KW-Clay-April2.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-166996" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-KW-Clay-April2.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover Kitchener-Waterloo" width="640" height="480" /></a>

Head to the Kitchener Market and experience its local vibe. Vendors have been selling fresh produce, meat, and dairy at this market for more than 150 years. There’s often live entertainment and other programming taking place, and its busy Saturday farmers’ market includes food stalls and artisan vendors. For lunch, the Caribbean Kitchen, located in the market’s food hall, is a must for jerk chicken roti or an oxtail platter with rice and beans.

In the afternoon: Next up is shopping in St. Jacobs, a walkable village found just north of Waterloo with a large Old Order Mennonite population. It’s not uncommon to see horse-drawn buggies clip-clopping down streets teeming with shops dedicated to decor, clothing, and artisan wares such as pottery and quilts. Don’t miss Market Road Antiques, a sprawling shop featuring more than 100 vendors selling vintage furniture, jewelry and other collectibles.

If you have time to squeeze in a photo opportunity, drive 12 kilometres northwest of St. Jacobs to the hamlet of West Montrose. There you can strike your best pose in front of the Kissing Bridge, one of the few remaining wooden covered bridges in Canada.

After a few hours of shopping, it’s time to discover Kitchener-Waterloo’s creative side by following the Art Fresco Table Trail, a series of colourful picnic tables located in outdoor areas around the region. Be sure to swing by the picnic table found at Four All Ice Cream Scoop Shop, where you can also grab a waffle cone topped with small-batch ice cream made from local Guernsey cow’s milk. It also offers plant-based alternatives, like sorbets, for dairy-free folks.

If you prefer a guided walk, you can sign up for the murals and outdoor gallery excursion with Stroll Walking Tours. If art isn’t your thing, Stroll also has tours that explore other elements of Kitchener-Waterloo’s history and culture, including one dedicated to the region’s earliest Black settlers.

[caption id="attachment_166997" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-KW-Bridge-April2-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-166997" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wh-Discover-KW-Bridge-April2-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover Kitchener- Waterloo" width="2560" height="1677" /></a> A horse and buggy crosses the Kissing Bridge in Waterloo Region November 1, 2011. Philip Walker, Record Staff[/caption]

In the evening: For dinner, you can’t go wrong with the locally driven menu at S&amp;V Uptown. Formerly known as Swine &amp; Vine, the restaurant recently rebranded, expanded its culinary offerings and moved into stylish new digs on King Street. Notable chef Jonathan Gushue, who previously helmed the kitchen at Langdon Hall in Cambridge, is now its culinary director and has designed a menu filled with delicious and surprising dishes. Start with the caramelized calves’ tongue with salsa verde before tucking into braised pork ragu with saffron pasta sheets.

End your evening by catching a performance of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, one of Canada’s leading orchestras. It puts on an array of pop, baroque, classical and family-friendly concerts at various venues around the region. Finally, pick up a ramen kit from local noodle shop Crafty Ramen – which offers all the essentials needed to make restaurant-quality ramen at home (including house made Ontario wheat noodles) – to take back with you to Toronto.

COVID-19 need to know

Kitchener-Waterloo is following Ontario’s provincial COVID-19 guidelines. Some local businesses may request that visitors wear masks. Contact individual businesses ahead of your trip to find out how they’re currently operating.

For the drive

Kitchener-Waterloo has a remarkable history tied to blues music. The city is the home of the massive annual Kitchener Blues Festival and has hosted performers such as Buddy Guy and Koko Taylor. Get a feel for the soundtrack to the city by listening to the music of Mel Brown, a famed American-born blues guitarist and singer who called Kitchener home for the last three decades of his life.

TIMELINE: Drive guide
<ul>
 	<li> 8 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
</ul>
Drive west on Hwy 401

Take exit ON-8 for Kitchener-Waterloo
<ul>
 	<li> 9:30 a.m. The Yeti Cafe</li>
 	<li> 11 a.m. TheMuseum or Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery</li>
 	<li> 12:30 p.m. Kitchener Market</li>
 	<li> 2 p.m. St. Jacobs and the Kissing Bridge</li>
 	<li> 4 p.m. Art Fresco Table Trail</li>
 	<li> 6 p.m. SV Uptown</li>
 	<li> 8 p.m. Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony</li>
 	<li> 9:45 p.m. Crafty Ramen</li>
 	<li> 10 p.m. Drive back to Toronto</li>
</ul>
Note: Times are suggestions only

The writer was hosted by some of the featured businesses, which did not review or approve this article before print.

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