Tag: Museums

The Bata Shoe Museum is a fairly new (1995) place to check out in Toronto. The obvious question for people with no sense of fashion (e.g. me) is “how could there be enough about shoes for a museum?” Well, I’m a nincompoop on that point. I was drawn in on the first level to the early history of shoes and how different ancient cultures took shoes from foot protection to haute couture. There was a floor dedicated to high Arctic clothing and footwear that showed just how smart indigenous peoples were at working with the available material. This leads us […]

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I dropped through the ROM on Monday January 6 with my 12-year-old daughter — the Monday after the holidays is a nearly perfect time to go; everyone else is back at work or school so we had the place to ourselves. We missed the Mesopotamia exhibit by a day but saw the spectacular Wildlife Photographer of the year show (an extra $5 for adults unless you’re a member, but well worth it) and of course the dinosaurs. Since the gallery was so empty we watched many of the short and excellent videos displayed on touch-screens throughout the dinosaur gallery. Looking […]

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It’s surprising what changes 5 years can bring for a former Torontonian.  The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, affectionately called the ROM, has expanded and offers many hours of learning.  I recently paid a visit to the ROM with my 10 year old daughter and 4 year old son.  We arrived mid morning on a hot, sticky July day and discovered for those of you who haven’t been to the ROM in a while that the main entrance is on Bloor St. around the corner from its old entrance on Queen’s Park. Currently the ROM has a special exhibition “Ultimate […]

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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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Hamilton is all too frequently missed on the drive from Toronto to Niagara Falls or vice versa. While it once was a city with serious air pollution, a virtually inaccessible waterfront and lots of heavy industry, it now has clean air, a beautiful park on Hamilton harbour in Burlington Bay and the steel mills are not the massive polluters that they once were. So leave the Queen Elizabeth Highway and have a visit. There is much to see. Here are a few recommendations. The Royal Botanical Gardens Hamilton’s great glory are the Royal Botanical Gardens. Hamilton should really be called […]

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In Peterborough and the surrounding area, you’ll find enough attractions to keep you busy for weeks, or even months, on end. With splendid natural features, plenty of cultural activities, and wonderful dining and entertainment opportunities, the region offers something for everyone. Let’s take a closer look at just a few of the many destinations around Peterborough. Lang Pioneer Village What better way to learn more about a place, than by stepping right into its history? Lang Pioneer Village, located a quick 10 km east of Peterborough, offers a trip back in time to the 19th century. Created as an interactive […]

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Enjoy Spectacular Sculptures on London Ontario‘s Tree Trunk Tour. Truly a one of a kind walking tour, this incredible cooperative art project transforms unhealthy trees into works of art everyone can enjoy for free. Before artists begin, the trees are carefully cut to maximise their potential; then, with chainsaws and other carving tools, they are shaped into stunning sculptures. One of the first trees you’ll see on the tour is at 382 King street; it is called Donohue’s Canadiana and features a number of birds and animals as well as beautiful images of Canada’s most iconic plant life. Along the […]

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The Kitchener–Waterloo area offers an abundance of fantastic opportunities for fun and relaxation. While you might know that the region is a great place for skiing and snowboarding, you might not be aware of some of the lesser-known attractions the area has to offer. Here are just a few to whet your appetite for adventure. Woodside National Historic Site The boyhood home of Canada’s longest serving Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, the Woodside National Historic Site features a beautiful 1853 home which has been completely restored to its 1890’s Victorian state, as well as beautiful grounds that were saved […]

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The Dundurn National Historic Site is one of Hamilton‘s most popular destinations and home to both the Hamilton Military Museum and Dundurn Castle. With extensive grounds and green spaces, it is a wonderful place for the entire family to spend a day steeped in history. The crown jewel of the site is Dundurn Castle, which was the home of Sir Allan Napier MacNab, who fought in the war of 1812 when he was just 14 years old, and who later led his own militia and received a knighthood in 1838 for his role in suppressing the Upper Canada Rebellion. He […]

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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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