Tag: Sightseeing

Plutarch wrote that Alexander the Great sought “to combine foreign things with things Greek.” Though more sensational than historically accurate, one could imagine Plutarch’s fictitious version of Alexander visiting Toronto’s Greektown today, laying down his sword and exclaiming, “Eureka!” And why not? “The Danforth,” as it is affectionately called by locals, is not only the largest Greek diaspora neighbourhood in North America, it has also become one of the city’s most cosmopolitan areas, making it one of Toronto’s hottest tourist destinations. Recently ranked the 3rd Greekest Place in North America, this vibrant, must-see neighbourhood, stretching along Danforth Avenue between the […]

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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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Rare timing allowed me to hang with a friend in the Bay and Bloor area of downtown. She lives in one of the older towers tucked in between Bay and Yonge Streets. It had been many years since I visited the neighbourhood and as I drove in (slowly) on Bloor Street, Toronto looked familiar to me until I came close to Yonge. Then strange new buildings greeted me and I almost lost my bearings. Once I had hidden my car in underground parking, we went for a walk – not very far as there was a heat advisory in place […]

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Durham Region in Ontario is big (about 2500 sq km) and diverse as it covers truly rural areas as well as the cities of Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa and Bowmanville. I can see why this region merits its own police force. I had the opportunity, for sad reasons, to drive the countryside between Ajax and Keswick. I could have taken the big highways (401, 404, etc.) but I wasn’t exactly in a big rush to head to a memorial service and Google Maps suggested that the highway route was the almost the same duration as the rural roads. If you […]

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This summer my family took our yearly summer visit to Toronto to see family. My uncle and aunt decided that due to the fact that my brother and I had never been, they would take us to see Niagara Falls. It was the perfect type of day, not too stuffy but nice and sunny. The parking lot was rather full, and expensive, but on a sunny day and at such a touristy place it’s understandable. Once on the boardwalk walking closer and closer to The Falls you could start to feel the mist emitting from the falls. The rapids racing […]

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Of course, by “fossils”, I mean ancient organisms preserved in stone. On a trip to Prince Edward County, we were given a tip for finding fossils at a beach in Wellington Ontario. This quiet lakeside town is on Highway 33 and it worth the visit even if you aren’t a rock hound. At the end of Beach Street, there’s a small park and beach called Wellington Rotary Beach. You can park for free and enjoy the wind off the lake and start turning over stones. Some have faint markings and other are more clear. On the day we went, the […]

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The area of Eastern Ontario along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River has a lot to offer. Take your time exploring the region and consider spending a night or two in one of the several picturesque campgrounds or inns, lodges and B&Bs that are dotted along the river. When you are driving along the boring MacDonald-Cartier Highway (a.k.a. the 401) between Montreal and Toronto exit at Ganonoque or Brockville or Cornwall depending on the direction you are going. If you are on your way to or from the United States you will be crossing at a short drive […]

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Wasaga Beach, located in Simcoe County, is not only a lovely town to visit, it also boasts the longest freshwater beach in the world. With an intriguing history that dates back to the days of fur trading, when it served as the gateway to the great Northwest, this lovely town served as a strategic location during the War of 1812; during the rest of the 19th century, lumber was the main industry, as the sandy soil here is unsuitable for farming. It was during the 1900s that families began to visit the area for its beauty. Wasaga Beach gradually became […]

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At Collingwood‘s Scenic Caves Natural Adventures, you can take an eco-adventure with zip lines, trekking through the treetops, and more; or, you can walk across the suspension bridge, which at 126 metres, is Ontario‘s longest. During the winter months, a fantastic trail system offers snowshoeing and cross country skiing; these are just a few examples of all that awaits adventurers of all ages at this magnificent natural getaway. Let’s take a closer look. Self-Guided Walking Tours: Caves and More One of the best ways to take in the natural beauty Scenic Caves Adventures offers is to take the self-guided walking […]

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North Bay was on my itinerary for a business meeting and I really dreaded going there. I had heard that it was a cultural wasteland. Was I in for a surprise! Not only is there plenty to do in North Bay in terms of culture it is also a centre for a variety of quality out-doors activities. Even better it is a mere 3 and a half hours drive from Toronto. As a summer destination North Bay it is a wonderful place to enjoy the untamed wilderness of the great Canadian Shield and in winter it is a centre for […]

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