Ontario

Fresh and Fun Issue: Spring/Summer 2013 Author(s): Emily Tennyson Any girls outing at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market must incorporate two key elements – shopping bags and stretchy pants. Willpower meets its match inside this sprawling 200-year-old brick market, where aisles of delicacies await. Where to start? Perhaps with ruby-red strawberries or emerald-hued asparagus? Then try bruschetta, oysters and croissants — and that’s just at the first stall. It can take hours to sample the delectable offerings of more than 120 vendors. Decisions are difficult. Should the ladie...

Brides, Bites and Barbecue Issue: Spring/Summer 2013 Author(s): —Elizabeth J. Musgrave If you can dream of whipping it up in the kitchen, you can probably find it on the calendar at The Urban Element, located at Old Fire Station No. 11 in the historic Ottawa area of Hintonburg. The atmosphere of the landmark building inspires cooks of all expertise levels to try new experiences with owners Carley and Oliver Schelck. A calendar of ever-changing culinary experiences is offered year-round with seasonal changes. Weeklong camps for kids, weekender cuisine for couples and one-night classes are s...

He Shoots, He Scores! Issue: Spring/Summer 2013 Author(s): Matthew Biddle The puck finally dropped this January, after a four-month NHL lockout significantly shortened the 2012–13 season and left fans starved for some action. No worries: The Hockey Hall of Fame, a 60,000-square-foot shrine to the game and its greatest players, will give even the most casual of hockey fans something to cheer about.  Situated on the corner of Yonge and Front streets in Toronto, Ontario, the Hall of Fame inducts players, coaches, commentators, officials and other hockey notables into its ran...

Fall in Love With Ontario Issue: Fall/Winter 2012 Author(s): Patricia Bates Canadian Thanksgiving is a children’s cornucopia in October in the Niagara Region. There’s a horn-of-plenty of activities for kids, whether it’s smashing pumpkins, grinding corn or turkey trotting through Ontario. The family feast begins Oct. 5–8 at the Balls Falls Thanksgiving Festival in Jordan, Ontario, with living-history demonstrations on Aboriginal traditions, minstrels and magicians wandering through the site, and blacksmith and grist mill tours. More than 125 juried artisans display rustic furni...

Look, No Hands Issue: Spring/Summer 2012 Author(s): Susan R. Pollack Thrill-seekers are flocking to Toronto, Ontario’s iconic CN Tower to live life on the edge. They’re literally hanging out on a five-foot wide ledge around the observation deck at a dizzying 116 stories — or 1,168 feet — above ground. EdgeWalk , the new attraction on one of the planet’s tallest buildings, is the first of its kind in North America. It’s billed as the world’s highest full-circle, hands-free walk. From May to October, adventurous types ages 13 and up can don red spacesuit-like uniforms and ...

English-Style Pampering Issue: Spring/Summer 2012 Author(s): Emily Tennyson The winding gravel road curves past lofty oaks. Ahead, a century-old red brick manor home framed with white pillars awaits. Bikes rest jauntily against the entrance, where a golden retriever lounges. Inside, pale yellow walls boast venerable oils, antiques abound and, in the back, an elegantly subdued dining room overlooks a wildly lush garden. The Cotswolds? Cornwall? Try Cambridge, Ontario . Once a private home, Langdon Hall Country House Hotel and Spa opened in 1989 as a hotel. It exudes calm, Englis...

‘Canoe’ Imagine the History? Issue: Spring/Summer 2012 Author(s): Emily Tennyson What do an English Prince, an indoor waterfall and Pierre Trudeau have in common? All are integral to the Canadian Canoe Museum , a 15-year-old shrine to the most Canadian form of transportation: the canoe. The sleek, modern museum pursues a simple, distinct mission: To preserve and celebrate this ancient art. Located in Peterborough , a verdant pocket of Ontario “cottage country,” the museum started as one man’s personal collection. However, when its numbers topped 600 boats, donors and government join...

Fun at the Falls Issue: Spring/Summer 2012 Author(s): Matthew Biddle While looking awestruck upon the majestic, thundering wonder of Niagara Falls, one can be forgiven for ignoring the neon lights and playful music nearby on Clifton Hill . But don’t stare too long — on this street in Ontario , Canada , an entertainment mecca awaits. Clifton Hill is a strip of attractions leading down to the Falls. For children, the street feels like a larger-than-life carnival as they race from site to site, pausing briefly to enjoy an ice cream cone along the way. The Niagara SkyWheel, ...