I have recently moved to Toronto and after acclimating to the city, I got curious about the countryside outside. Not much is talked of in travel circles about rural Ontario, so, I decided to rent a car and head out into South-Western part of this province.
I traveled around the Kitchener-Waterloo area, starting with Cambridge and Paris, and then headed west to Stratford, all three being extremely photogenic towns with an old-world charm. Then, while returning, I decided to make stops at various country farms and markets that sold cheese, maple-butter and lavender bouquets. I also visited Crawford lake and the Iroquoian Village of First Peoples there.
While more details are coming up in the future, here are some pictures for you all to enjoy.
The weather couldn’t be better and the following the frosty winter, all the farms were now coated with blankets of dandelion flowers as far as the eye could see.
Radio stations are a great way to peek into the vibe of local society during a road-trip, and here, the discussions ranged from why preventing wolves from mating with coyotes was necessary (to protect genetic material), to vaping spreading to rural areas from the city, and to celebrating the Mennonite heritage of the region. This helped me learn a lot about the folks here.
The people were extremely friendly – and were surprised I was from (“the far off”) Toronto – as most of their visitors were from local towns. These towns with their church steeples, stone walls, ornate architectures and walkable plazas reminded me of Europe.
I have learned a lot about rural Ontario, and taking a break from the city has energized me to move forward into this new phase of life.
What charming pictures of Southern Ontario. I’ve been to Kitchener/Waterloo but haven’t spent much time in the other towns. You should try to visit some of the parks along Georgean Bay too while you’re in TO. Maggie
Yes, there are many old small-towns here with European architectures, and lots of farms and country markets.
Thanks for the recommendation of Georgian Bay, I am planning another one in the future around Tobermory, so it’s definitely on my list.
I don’t know how molng you’re in Toronto but also consider Quebec City.
Much prettier that downtown Toronto
Haha, of course.There are parks and waterfronts here, so I’m not complaining. But yes, the buildings are all modern skyrises and its good to be around older bricks and wood cottages in the country.
Exactly
I love your photos!
There are actually a good number of day trips around Toronto, which kept me busy for three years. Then the distances quickly become an obstacle to renewing the places to visit. Enjoy your visit!