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Excursions
For a Half Day
McMichael Canadian Art Collection: Situated 40km (25 miles) northwest of the city centre, in the picturesque village of Kleinburg, the McMichael (tel: (905) 893 1121 or (888) 213 1121; website: www.mcmichael.com) possesses one of the largest collections of 20th-century Canadian art. Works on permanent display include many by the country’s most prominent painters – Emily Carr, Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven – in a body of work matched in spirit by the gallery’s forested setting. The gallery also has a strong collection of contemporary First Nations and Inuit works. Temporary exhibitions are hosted throughout the year. Although it is possible for one to visit the gallery by public transport, travel by car is recommended (the route is along Highway 400). The gallery is open daily 1000–1600 (November–April) and daily 1000–1700 (May–October). Admission costs C$15 (concessions available) and parking is an additional C$5.
Elora: A pleasant, pastoral town situated approximately 100km (60 miles) from Toronto, Elora was founded by settlers harnessing the water of the Grand River to power their mill, in the 1830s. The mill still survives, functioning these days as the Elora Mill Country Inn. The town itself offers shopping, restaurants and horse-drawn carriage rides, although its real appeal is as a base from which to explore the surrounding countryside. The Elora Gorge is a three-kilometre-long (two-mile) scenic limestone gorge lined with cedars. Entrance is C$3.75 (late April to mid October); camping permits and inner tube hire cost extra. The surrounding landscape – picturesque, gently rolling fields – is home to various Mennonite communities, a religious sect similar to the Amish, whose members have chosen to live without technology. They can often be seen travelling along the side of the road in horse-drawn wagons and their quaint farms make for soothing roadside scenery. Although coach transport is available, getting there by car is recommended (the route is along Highway 401, then Highway 6 through Guelph, then County Road 7 to Elora). Further details are available from the Elora Information Centre (tel: (519) 846 9841; website: www.ferguselora.com) and the Grand River Conservation Authority (tel: (519) 846 9742; website: www.grandriver.ca/parks/parks.cfm).
For a Whole Day
Niagara Falls: World-renowned Niagara Falls has attracted visitors since the first human inhabitants set eyes upon it and is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in North America. Although Niagara is not the highest waterfall in the world, it carries a staggering 168,000 cubic metres (219,600 cubic yards) of water per minute over a drop of 51m (167ft). The surrounding town of Niagara Falls (tel: (905) 356 6061 or (800) 563 2557; website: www.discoverniagara.com) is a notorious honeymoon destination, although a tad on the kitsch side. It offers lots of activities for the visitor, including a casino, the Skylon observation tower and boat tours of the falls aboard the Maid of the Mist (tel: (905) 358 5781; website: www.maidofthemist.com) at a cost of C$13 (April–October). Niagara Falls is located 130km (81 miles) west of Toronto and can be reached by car, coach, train or a hydrofoil and coach trip (see Getting There By Water). Further information on the falls is available from the Niagara Parks Commission (tel: (905) 371 0254 or (877) 642 7275; website: www.niagaraparks.com).
The surrounding region offers winery tours, while the nearby town of Niagara-on-the-Lake (tel: (905) 468 1950; website: www.niagaraonthelake.com) is home to a wealth of theatres, tree-lined 19th-century streets and picturesque inns. The main draw for many visitors is the annual Shaw Festival (tel: (800) 511 7429; website: www.shawfest.com), which has specialised in the plays of Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries for the last four decades.
Algonquin Provincial Park: For many visitors, Algonquin Provincial Park (tel: (705) 633 5572; website: www.algonquinpark.on.ca) captures the archetypal Canadian boreal landscape – shimmering blue lakes, towering pines and granite rock faces carved by the retreating glaciers. The park was established in 1893, in a rugged, beautiful region of southern Ontario – located 300km (186 miles) north of Toronto – and quickly became popular with canoeists and outdoor enthusiasts. For a day trip, it is probably wisest for visitors to take in the natural beauty from Highway 60, which runs right through the park, offering a decent chance for a deer or moose sighting. For a more active experience, visitors could take one of more than a dozen hiking trails, while for educational input there is a Visitors Centre, located on Highway 60, 43km (27 miles) from the west gate and 13km (eight miles) west of the east gate. The centre is open weekends only in winter and daily the rest of the year. Individual transportation is recommended for travelling to and around the park. The park is accessible daily 24 hours; camping is possible all year round and permits are required – these should be booked in advance, especially during the peak summer dates. There is a C$12 vehicle entry fee and camping permits cost extra.
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Excursions