Tag: Shopping

Carrot Common 348 DanforthAn oasis of Health & Wellness Shops tucked away in a peaceful little courtyard, featuring health foods, minerals, gourmet coffee, organic juices, massage products, books, unique jewellery and clothing, and much more. The 2nd floor is home to a host of wellness services such as massage, shiatsu, aromatherapy, acupuncture, reiki, and yoga classes. Climb up further and discover the tranquility of the Carrot Green Roof & Garden, with 8000 square feet of vegetation and garden exhibits. Moss 544 DanforthBilling itself as a “Canadian-owned-and-operated lifestyle store,” Moss offers indoor and outdoor gems for your home or cottage, everything from […]

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Bloor West Village in Toronto runs from High Park to Jane St on Bloor St. West. It’s an interesting walk to take and you’ll never know what you’ll bump into. The shot below is a gift shop specializing in Lavender. The other photo is of a church called St. Olaves. Is this the plural of Olaf? We did find an old fashioned book store, Book City. It was nice to be able to browse a variety of titles instead of insanely clicking online. I forget the name of the store, but it specialized in storage stuff and I bought a […]

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Prince Edward County is a wiggly shaped peninsula* in Lake Ontario that has a number of quaint towns. Bloomfield is perhaps the most quaint with heritage homes from pre-1879 and a main street that is pleasant to walk and shop. Back when I was a kid, the shopping on Bloomfield’s main street was limited to antique shops, a bakery and a grocery. Now some unique, non branded and fairly upscale shops exist. If you are in from Toronto or Montreal you will be pleased that you aren’t besieged with brand after brand, but can still drop some serious coin on […]

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St. Jacobs bills itself as “Ontario’s favourite rural destination”. This is no idle boast. A drive to St. Jacobs (about 14 km from Waterloo) to shop and tour the surrounding beautiful farm land is a great break from city life. For me a visit to the St. Jacobs market is a fabulous treat for the palate and the eye. It’s open Thursday and Saturday year round and on Tuesdays during the summer. This is not the usual small community farmers’ market. It is enormous and comes with surprises everywhere. There are literally hundreds of vendors of food and crafts and […]

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The drive downriver from Niagara Falls on the Niagara Parkway to Niagara-on-the-Lake is full of surprises. If you take in all the sites it will take a full day to reach Niagara-on-the-Lake. Along the way is the White Water Walk, Whirlpool Aero Car, the Butterfly Conservatory, Queenston Heights Park with Brock’s Monument celebrating the victory and death of General Isaac Brock in the war of 1812 and the McFarland House where costumed guides take you around a fine Georgian home. Turn into the town of Queenston and visit Laura Secord House the home of the Canadian heroine of the war […]

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With a population of around 9,000 people the town of Smiths Falls is only a small town, but it’s big on charm! During the summer months in particular this becomes a hive of activity as boats come and go along the famous Rideau Canal, and visitors stop to check out the historic appeal of this Eastern Ontario town. Smiths Falls is the kind of place that makes you want to stop, get out of your car, and spend some time relaxing, and if you want to stay the night you may be able to find a room in one of […]

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I recently was on a business trip to Ottawa, my first chance to visit the nation’s capital.  I didn’t have high expectations but was pleasantly surprised by my visit.  I found every person that I had cause to interact with so nice, so helpful and friendly – so Canadian!  The weather was great, and you could see what an active city it is as everyone was out on their bikes, running or just walking. My favourite place was Byward Market.  It was a bustling place at 10 am or 10 pm, and it reminded me of being out on European […]

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Ottawa has been the Capital of Canada since 1857 when Queen Victoria chose a town half way between Montreal (the French centre) and Toronto (the English centre). Since then, the Capital has flourished as a blend of the two cultures offering a unique living experience. The houses of Parliament, dating back to the 1880s, have a stunning view overlooking the Ottawa River and the historic Rideau Canal, which winds its way 198 km to Kingston Ontario. In summer, thousands of boaters travel the Rideau Canal and, in winter, it is transformed into the world’s largest skating rink. Other historical sites […]

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Visit the quaint little town of Manitowaning where the people are friendly and always have a knack for remembering your name after your first introduction. Take a moment to wander down to the waterfront to see the old Ferry boat that once traveled between South Baymouth and Tobermory or stop in at the local museum to see the wonderful history that once was classed as everyday life. Although you would think it has nothing to offer, its gift selection located in the local drug store has just what you need for those special occasions or last minute necessities. The Nappa, […]

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In my Toronto travels, anther of my favourite places was the Kensington Market located between Dundas and Baldwin Streets. I’ve been to many markets, and Kensington has come out on top. Not to mention, I’d much rather spend a day wandering around the Market than the crowded, metropolis Eaton Centre. The market has everything to make the perfect day trip. If you’re going to Toronto anytime soon, make sure you set aside a day to explore the Kensington Market. The greatest thing about the Kensington Market is the bargain shopping. Never in my life have I seen such an impressive collection […]

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