Posts by: AnneC

There are well over one hundred lighthouses to visit in Ontario, so adding a stop at one of these beautiful monuments to maritime history as you travel to other attractions is not at all difficult. Offering excellent photo opportunities and some incredible views, these lighthouses vary in age, size, and intensity. Here are just a few favourites; you’re sure to add more to your personal list as you travel from one place to the next. Gibraltar Point Lighthouse Toronto‘s first lighthouse, the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse was built in 1808. Originally 52 feet tall, it was raised by 30 feet in […]

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The Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Centre, which is also known as the Manitou Mounds, is a place of outstanding natural beauty as well as a place of rich cultural and historical significance. It is located on Shaw Rd, near Stratten Ontario. This is about 65 km west of Fort Frances and about 32 km from Rainy River, which is the end of Highway 11 at the Minnesota border. Normally people driving across Canada head up Highway 71 toward Kenora. This site is worth the detour. Inhabited continually for more than eight thousand years, this national historic site is staffed by members of […]

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Founded in 1858, Allan Gardens is one of Toronto‘s oldest parks. While it does have a playground for children and a pair of fenced areas where off-leash dogs can run free, it’s main feature is the conservatory. Open every day of the year, and free to the public, the conservatory features five magnificent turn of the century greenhouses brimming with plants including hibiscus and orchids; you’ll find plants in bloom no matter when you visit. In all, the conservatory’s greenhouses cover an astonishing 16,000 square feet. The Palm House, which is the conservatory’s centrepiece, was built in 1910 to replace […]

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The Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington cover more than 1,000 hectares along Lake Ontario’s western tip, and feature an incredible array of both indoor and outdoor plantings. The gardens also host an extensive public research library, and offers more than one hundred workshops and lectures each year, including children’s programs, cooking instruction, seasonal bloom festivals, hands-on gardening studies, arts and crafts festivals, and a number of lectures. Complete with a Carolinian forest, a garden containing curative secrets, a wilderness, a wetland, and the world’s largest collection of lilacs, the Royal Botanical Gardens are the perfect place for a quick getaway […]

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When visiting Toronto, a fantastic place for the entire family to spend the day is Black Creek Pioneer Village, which features thirty-five restored buildings, plenty of animals, and interpreters dressed in historic costume, carrying out a variety of living history activities that range from blacksmithing to woodworking. More than just a museum, the village offers weekly demonstrations of various types, plus it hosts special events throughout the year. With green spaces and historic gardens that hearken back to the slower-paced days of the pioneers, the village offers an astonishing look into the lives of average people who lived more than […]

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Tobermory‘s Fathom Five National Marine Park was instituted to protect and preserve the islands, waters, and shoreline of Georgian Bay. With a number of exhibits that highlight the area’s natural history as well as the seafaring history of the Upper Bruce Peninsula from 1852 to present day, it offers a fascinating look at both the ecosystem and cultural history of the area. The park includes a portion of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere, and offers a number of interpretive programs between June and September. Visit during the third weekend of August to take part in the Marine Heritage Festival, or […]

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At Canada’s House of Commons in Ottawa, you can see for yourself where Parliament’s legislative process takes place. Featuring an incredible heritage collection located in several historic government buildings, right atop Parliament Hill, the House of Commons has several areas that are open to the public or which are open for guided tours offered by the Public Information Office. Art, architecture, artifacts, and more can be seen, making this a destination Canadians and visitors to the country alike should visit. Highlights of a Visit to the House of Commons Some of the most beautiful areas to see include the Peace […]

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