Ontario

Take the Plunge Issue: Fall/Winter 2010 Author(s): Heather Lochner Looking for a unique getaway for you and your closest gal pals? Why not try the Scandinave Spa at Blue Mountain . Located in the ruggedly picturesque area of Georgian Bay, Ontario, Scandinave Spa is an experience unlike any other. Don’t expect to find pedicures or facials here — this spa is all about cleansing the body. Guests begin their experience by warming up in a eucalyptus steam bath or thermal hot pool. After unwinding, they plunge into a cold-water bath and finish by relaxing at an outdoor f...

Ticket to the Past Issue: Fall/Winter 2010 Author(s): Emily Tennyson Canada’s most popular museum isn’t in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal, but just outside Ottawa, the country’s lovely but oft-overlooked capital. It’s impossible, however, to overlook the vast 150-year old Canadian Museum of Civilization. The museum is located on the banks of the Ottawa River, directly across from Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, in Gatineau, Quebec. Relocated to a new building in 1989, its bold façade — designed by architect Douglas Cardinal to emulate the elements and the Canadian landscape — i...

Dashing Through the Snow Issue: Fall/Winter 2010 Author(s): Kelly Fordon What could be more exhilarating than traveling on a polar express through the deep gorges of the Agawa Canyon this winter? Perhaps only the fact that along the ride, you can unload your snowmobile and zip off through northern Ontario’s boreal forests. That’s right. The Algoma Central Railway, which begins in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and continues 296 miles to the French Canadian town of Hearst, is a literal jumping off point for incredible sledding adventures.  Riders on the Algoma Central Railway’...

Hit the Streets Issue: Spring/Summer 2010 Author(s): Peter Chakerian Considered Toronto’s “Main Street,” Yonge Street is the city’s boulevard of cosmopolitan cool. With live theatrical productions running at the Canon Theatre and the Toronto Centre for the Arts, posh accommodations and lots of great restaurants and cafes, there are plenty of places to rest during your bags-runneth-over shopping spree. Start at Yonge-Dundas Square — a modern reminiscence of London’s Piccadilly Circus — then head to College Park, Empress Walk and the vast Toronto Eaton Centre. Yonge Street...

Green Isle Issue: Spring/Summer 2010 Author(s): Emily Tennyson Finally, there’s a clearing through the pine trees where the dirt road ends. We park the car and grab our gear, ready for our Bigwin Island adventure. It’s time to board the water shuttle at Norway Point, a remote spot in the woody northern reaches of Muskoka, Ontario . What’s wrong with this picture, though? We’re not wearing hiking boots — we’re wearing golf shoes. Accessible only by boat, Bigwin is an award-winning golf destination, nestled into a two-mile-long island. Located in Lake of Bays, a...

Ride’em, Cowboys Issue: Spring/Summer 2010 Author(s): Jennifer Rogers Hold on tight — it’s rodeo season in Ontario . You don’t have to travel to the Wild West for serious rodeo action: Each summer, hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls from across Canada and the northern U.S. compete for cash prizes and pride in the Dodge Rodeo Tour , which winds through central and southern Ontario from June through September. This Canadian Cowboy Association-sanctioned tour is set up as a circuit, with 10 to 15 stops each summer. Cowboys compete for points in each round, and the top seven co...

On the Wing Issue: Spring/Summer 2010 Author(s): Emily Tennyson Swirling, hovering over the beach, a cloud forms — but it’s not white. It’s orange, and it’s fluttering. In early autumn, thousands of Monarch butterflies migrate over Point Pelee , the southernmost spot on Canada’s mainland, on their way to their winter home in Mexico. There, the butterflies feast on milkweed, their only source of food. Such is the Monarchs’ popularity that Point Pelee has a dedicated “butterfly hotline,” where visitors can call for information. A national park since 1918, Point Pelee ...

Border Vines Issue: Fall/Winter 2009 Author(s): Amy S. Eckert Ontario’s newest wine appellation — Prince Edward County — has arrived. And the region’s biggest fans are hoping no one notices. Midway between Toronto and Montreal, Prince Edward County has escaped travelers’ notice for years, set off from any expressway and outside the view of passers-by. But food and wine lovers are beginning to discover this emerging destination. Prince Edward County’s rocky, limestone-rich landscape, buffeted by bitter winters and cooled by summer lake breezes, presents challenges ...

Hat Tricks and Power Plays Issue: Fall/Winter 2009 Author(s): Lori B. Murray If you think you have what it takes to drive a puck into the net, this is your chance to prove it. At the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto , state-of-the-art interactive games create a virtual experience for visitors, with an opportunity go one-on-one with real pucks and a stick — or grab your glove and blocker and face the best shooters in the league. Take shots at real-time goals or stop the shots of National Hockey League greats like Gretzky and Messier. It’s your choice, but don’t worry — there’s ...

If the Shoe Fits Issue: Fall/Winter 2009 Author(s): Amy S. Eckert Never has a museum been so much fun. Toronto’s Bata Shoe Museum celebrates footwear in the heart of Canada’s largest city. The foremost shoe museum in North America, and one of only two such museums on the continent (the other is in Mexico), the Bata Shoe Museum houses more than 10,000 shoes spanning 5,000 years of world history. Take a close look at the collection’s oldest — 4,500-year-old Egyptian sandals of fragile-as-can-be leather — before moving on to historic footwear from six continents, includin...

Inspired by Art Issue: Fall/Winter 2009 Author(s): Sherri Telenko Uber-cool meets ancient history at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto this fall. Newly reopened after completing a $276 million renovation designed by Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry, the art gallery is host to the only Canadian stop of “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and The Great Pharaohs,” open November 24–April 2010. This traveling show shares space with European historical art, antiquities, Native Canadian and Inuit works, both past and present, and diverse contemporary exhibitions. The AGO is t...

Royal Tea Issue: Fall/Winter 2009 Author(s): Sherri Telenko Three tiers of finger foods during the afternoon English tea service set the tone for an elegant visit at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario . Petit fours and smoked salmon with cucumber on marble rye are just two options for noshing as you sip one of many black or green teas, most imported from Europe. But don’t expect stuffy; this is Canada. Yes, traditional London luxe defines this anchor property of a historic town, but it’s easy to relax as you drink a pint of Niagara’s own Be...

Hail Caesar Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): Ed Condran You’re not taking much of a gamble when you visit Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino — at least not until you hit the gaming hall, featuring myriad slot machines and a plethora of gaming tables. For those not risking cash, it’s a safe bet to indulge in the Windsor, Ontario , resort’s many amenities. There are a number of fine-dining options at Caesars Windsor, set on the banks of the Detroit River. Nero’s Steakhouse offers a variety of excellent cuts along with an excellent view of the panoramic Detroit...

Stratford, As You Like It Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): Susan R. Pollack Grab a picnic, find a bench or spread a blanket along the bank of the Avon River in Stratford, Ontario . You can feed the ducks and swans from shore, or rent a paddleboat, kayak or canoe — but don’t be surprised when trumpeters, clad in Elizabethan costumes, appear on the Festival Theatre balcony, five minutes before curtain time, to herald the next performance. That’s tradition in this charming southwest Ontario community that’s home to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival — North America’s leading class...

Wild Time Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): Sherri Telenko Lions and tigers and bears, oh yes! Not all private zoos are worth supporting, but Zooz in Stevensville, Ontario , is one of the good ones. Owned by the Tykolis family, who started the attraction as a petting zoo on a hobby farm decades ago, it’s evolved into a 108-acre park offering a clean, natural environment for its 400 exotic and domestic residents. The four-legged creatures roam in natural enclosures within yards of the two-legged visitors who pass through the gates from mid-May to mid-October. In...

Wings and Things Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): Sherri Telenko There’s a little slice of the tropics smack dab across the Canadian border.  Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls, Ontario was voted best new attraction in the city when it opened in 2002, and it still merits the kudos. A visit to this balmy, 76-degree bird zoo starts in the mini aviary where small free-flying winged creatures swoop above your head as you circle their natural habitat dotted with real nests and feeding stations. Guidebook-like signs challenge budding ornithologists to try their hand at ide...

"Wow" Factor Issue: Fall/Winter 2008 Author(s): Meredith Beverstock The Ontario Science Centre in Toronto offers much more than child’s play. After a whopping $47.5 million worth of improvements, the popular destination is ready to wow families with a range of instructive and entertaining new experiences. The Science Centre is committed to inspiring future innovators, and the majority of new exhibits focus on doing just that. Kids 8 years old and under have their own area, KidSpark, where they learn the details behind everything from building a roller coaster to operati...

Beyond the Bats Issue: Fall/Winter 2008 Author(s): Sherri Telenko Casino Rama’s name is a bit misleading. After all, with visitors to the gambling mecca in  Rama, Ontario , able to check into a 300-room all-suite hotel, dine in any of 10 restaurants, indulge in spa treatments and shop at a Native-American art gallery, this destination is much more than a mere gaming spot. Casino Rama’s luxurious, log-home decor and faux-rock walls — as well as the hotel’s blend of wood, granite, copper and water accents — aim to reflect the picturesque landscape outside. (A two-h...

Cracking the Case Issue: Fall/Winter 2008 Author(s): Meredith Beverstock Just imagine: It’s a rainy weekend, and you and several strangers have been invited to the secluded home of a famed billionaire, only to find that the relaxing vacation has been upset by a murder — and if the case isn’t solved, you could be next. The plot sounds like something out of an Agatha Christie novel, and the setting a grand manor in the English countryside. However, the mystery lies in territory much closer to home: the rich and vibrant viticulture between the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontari...

Pure Indulgence Issue: Fall/Winter 2008 Author(s): John Patrick Pullen When it comes to relaxing, all a girl really needs is a good massage. And a pedicure. And maybe a facial. And a few pieces of chocolate couldn’t hurt, either. Thankfully, The Millcroft Inn & Spa , located in the Caledon Hills region of southern Ontario , offers women plenty of ways to kick back that feature all of the above. Its majestic setting on 100 acres of woodlands and meadows certainly makes Millcroft more than worthy of calling itself “the definitive country retreat.” However, with 20 consec...

Run for the Border Issue: Fall/Winter 2008 Author(s): John Patrick Pullen The attractions that await visitors to Canada seem just as numerous and diverse as the millions of tourists who flock there every year. Whether it’s the wineries, the casinos, the family spots or the legendary Niagara Falls, seemingly no visitor’s fascination goes unfulfilled. The region’s military history is also a noteworthy draw, as evidenced by the popularity of Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake . From 1812 to 1814, Fort George was fiercely coveted by both Britain and the United States. U.S. forces...

Shining Bright Issue: Fall/Winter 2008 Author(s): Sherri Telenko Everyone loves great fireworks, and Christmas is all about lighting up the neighborhood — so why not combine the two? That’s the thinking behind Toronto ’s annual Cavalcade of Lights Festival , celebrating its 42nd year and culminating in four nights of opulent explosions in City Hall’s Nathan Phillips Square. Starting on November 29 with a tree-lighting ceremony, then continuing for three Saturdays (December 6, 13 and 20), celebrations in Toronto’s downtown focal point include public skating on the squ...

Tracking History Issue: Fall/Winter 2008 Author(s): Kathy Witt Consider it a museum on the move. The Indiana Historical Society and The Indiana Rail Road Company conceived an innovative way for Hoosiers to explore exhibits about their state: aboard the three, 65-foot, renovated freight cars of the  Indiana History Train . This fall, the traveling exhibition, “Faces of the Civil War,” focuses on the life stories of locals affected by the Civil War through hands-on activities and live performances by historical interpreters. That period of history is a meaningfu...

Hail, Caesar Issue: Bonus Online Content Summer 2008 Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek On my list of preferred vices, gambling doesn’t even break the top ten. So, I was a little out of my element when I checked into the Caesars Windsor hotel: a half-new, half-transitioned complex overlooking three miles of walking paths along the Detroit River. They say that in the age of the “new” casino, you don’t need to be a gambler to have a good time; that the fine dining, glamorous shows and occasional bout with the nickel slots combine to give you a Vegas-style experience without having to hop on ...

Picture-Perfect Purchasing Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): By Sherri Telenco, Photo Courtesy of St. Jacobs, Ontario Travelers know they’re in St. Jacobs, Ontario , when the shoulder of the road begins to widen, allowing both hulking automobiles and old-fashioned buggies to respectfully and comfortably share the road. It’s just one example of how the village is careful to strike a balance between its allure as a charming shopping destination and its history as an Old Order Mennonite community. Members of the faith first made this part of southwest Ontario their home in the 1700s, and today, visitors can lea...

Wake-Up Call in the Wild Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): Betsa Marsh The paddle silently pares away a wedge of chill water, and even the oar-end drip doesn’t make a sound. You angle your canoe into a wall of mist, and suddenly, there on the opposite side, you spot your breakfast mate: 1,200 pounds, with a fuzzy, protruding nose and a serious five-o’clock shadow. As he gently nudges lily pad roots from the lake’s edge, your guide soundlessly tops off your teacup. Good morning, Mr. Moose. “ Morning Tea with Moose ” is Northern Edge Algonquin’s three-night camping adventure...

A Sticky Situation Issue: Fall/Winter 2007 Author(s): Kathy Witt When it comes to the mouthwatering aromas of breakfast time, few are as sweet and distinctive as that of maple syrup, glistening in a bottle and just waiting to be poured over a thick stack of flapjacks. But how many kids know where their morning meals actually come from? At White Meadows Farms , a third-generation family farm located outside St. Catharines, Ontario , owners Murray and Ann Bearing gladly introduce curious families to the process that takes Canadian maple syrup from their trees and to co...

Floating Exhibits Issue: Fall/Winter 2007 Author(s): John Pullen Running 27 miles through the city of St. Catharines, Ontario , the Welland Canal allows ships to circumvent Niagara Falls when traveling from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. As the Falls suggest, the two lakes are not on even plains, so three locks inside the city limits help lower ships as they move through the canal. The Welland Canals Centre's St. Catharines Museum at Lock 3 features a viewing platform where visitors can glimpse ships from around the world as they move along the St. Lawrence Seaway. The m...

International Appeal Issue: Fall/Winter 2007 Author(s): John Pullen When most people think of casinos, they envision the lights of Las Vegas, the boardwalk of Atlantic City, or the convenience and culture of a Native American-owned gaming resort. But when card sharks want to shake the crowds, they head north to Windsor, Ontario , home to Casino Windsor , a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning resort located just across the border from Detroit. The casino's six restaurants and assorted nightlife are nearly as exciting as its slot machines and gaming tables. High rollers can do...

Seasonal Palette Issue: Fall/Winter 2007 Author(s): John Pullen Painters, writers, sculptors — for hundreds of years, artists have listened to the gentle whisper of nature to inspire their masterful works.  Ernest Hemingway's muse sounded like the waves of Key West; Ansel Adams was stirred by the trees of Yosemite. These places couldn't be more different, but they do have one thing in common: At the time the artists were nurturing a heartfelt attachment to them, they were still largely undiscovered by hordes of visitors.  Ontario is hardly uninhabited, but...

Viva Italia! Issue: Fall/Winter 2007 Author(s): Susan R. Pollack Just across the Detroit River in Canada, Windsor's East Erie Street is a bit like visiting Italy. Only without the jet lag. The 12-block Little Italy neighborhood is awash in red, white and green –– and not just from the fluttering Italian flags that seem to hang from every available post and storefront. The country's food and culture infuses everything here, drawing savvy Americans across the border to sip espresso in outdoor cafés, chitchat with friendly locals selling Italian goods, ...

Favorable Exchange Issue: Spring/Summer 2007 Author(s): Gerald Bartell Guests at Casino Niagara are rewarded for crossing the border with plenty of good games, exciting entertainment and fabulous food. The 95,000-square-foot Canadian casino offers 80 tables and some contests that go 'round the clock. You can vie with extraterrestrials on Alien Video slots or with the Sphinx on Cleopatra slots. For something exotic, roll Sic Bo, a Chinese dice game. Or play a hand of Caribbean stud poker. Traditionalists enjoy blackjack, roulette and poker, the latter going 24 hours a day. ...

The Stage is Set Issue: Spring/Summer 2007 Author(s): Linda Feagler Combine the romance of days gone by with spectacular theater, and it's easy to see why the Canadian town of Niagara-on-the-Lake attracts more than 300,000 visitors each year, eager to stroll streets filled with eclectic shops and elegant 19th-century homes now serving as bed-and-breakfasts. Taking center stage every April through November, the Shaw Festival presents a stellar lineup of diverse productions, ranging from classic dramas and musicals to premieres by contemporary playwrights. The festival wa...

Sole Mates Issue: Spring/Summer 2006 Author(s): Ellen Clark You don’t have to be a bona fide shoe fanatic to be fascinated by Toronto’s Bata Shoe Museum. In a contemporary building – designed to look like an open shoe box – more than 4,500 years of history is covered through exhibits of more than 10,000 shoes, ranging from Chinese bound-foot shoes to a pair of Elton John’s platform boots. Thanks to the “History of Western Fashion” collection, visitors can step through history from ancient times to the 20th century, one shoe at a time. Starting in 2...

Fright Nights Issue: Fall/Winter 2005 Author(s): Ellen Clark When You Go. . .  Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation, 800/338-7890 or 716/282-8992. www.niagara-usa.com Maid of the Mist Boat Tour, 716/284-8897. www.maidofthemist.com . Call for hours and admission price. Old Fort Niagara, Robert Moses Parkway, Youngstown, N.Y., 716/745-7611. www.oldfortniagara.org . Daily 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Admission $5–$8.50 Murphy Orchards, 2402 McClew Rd., Burt, N.Y., 716/778-7926. www.murphyorchards.com Becker Farms & Vizcarra Vineyards, 3760 Quaker Rd., Gasport, ...

Ancient Niagara Issue: Spring/Summer 2005 Author(s): Peter D.A. Warwick Five miles from Niagara Falls lies the largest old-growth, urban forest north of the Mason-Dixon Line: Ontario's Niagara Glen . The oldest and tallest trees in the 50-acre forest are tulip trees, which are more than 200 years old and up to 130 feet tall. The trees lie within a rock-strewn section of the Niagara Gorge. Cedars – some 400 to 600 years old – line the gorge, making this an ideal spot for hiking and exploration. Not far away, along the north shore of Lake Erie, explorers can visit a 380-milli...

The Stage is Set Issue: Spring/Summer 2005 Author(s): Linda Feagler The word Niagara conjures up images of thundering falls and a raging river. But 20 minutes down the road from Canada's renowned tourist attraction lies a pastoral world revered by theater lovers, as well as those seeking a peaceful summer retreat. For 42 seasons, the Shaw Festival has attracted more than 300,000 visitors to the picture-postcard town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Taking center stage every April through November is a stellar lineup of diverse shows, ranging from classic dramas to timeless comed...

Beacons of Light Issue: Fall/Winter 2004 Author(s): Ellen Clark If You Go ... Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse, Fort Niagara State Park, Youngstown, N.Y., 716/745-7611. Open 11 a.m.-4 p.m., July to Labor Day. Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse, Golden Hill State Park, Lower Lake Road, Barker, N.Y., 716/795-3885, 716/795-3117 (off season). Fri.-Sun. 2-4 p.m., July 1-Labor Day. Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse, 70 Lighthouse St., Rochester, N.Y., 716/621-6179. Sat.-Sun. 1-5 p.m. (or by appointment), mid-May-mid-Oct. Sodus Bay Lighthouse, 7066 Ontario St., Sodus Point, N.Y., 315/483-...

Beyond Buffalo Wings Issue: March 2004 Author(s): Gerald Bartell Somehow fast food just doesn't cap a visit to majestic Niagara Falls, easy as it may be to get a kingly burger there. Dinners that do crown a visit to this natural wonder await just down the road, in Buffalo, a city too many travelers zip past as they head to the falls. Salmon with Cajun zing, tuna with Far Eastern flair, pan-fried apples with Gallic panache — all of these culinary pleasures grace the tables of Buffalo restaurants. Oliver's is a case in point. Inside and out, this 70-year-old institutio...