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Ontario, Canada
Jenny Dixon11/ 8/2008
FLYING to Ontario for a tour of the region I had little idea what lay in store for me.
I knew it was home to the iconic natural wonder Niagara Falls and that Toronto is something of a shoppers’ paradise, especially with the exchange rate firmly in British tourists’ favour.
What I didn’t anticipate stumbling upon were thriving vineyards, a chance to watch elephants frolic in a lake and a plethora of museums and art galleries in a region of immense significance in Canada’s history.
These unexpected tourist lures made for a trip that encompassed adventure, culture, relaxation, shopping and fun - the perfect blend for any family or couple.
Getting to Ontario is incredibly easy with direct, reasonably priced flights from Manchester to: Hamilton (with Flyglobespan) and Toronto (with Air Transat).
Hamilton has a small airport but don’t be fooled - it is not just a place to pick up a hire car it’s a gateway to an unforgettable holiday.
Less than an hour’s drive from Niagara Falls and Toronto, Hamilton provided me with a convenient base from which to explore the area.
Haven
The city is situated next to Lake Ontario, although it is hard to distinguish it as a ‘lake’ given that its shores are imperceptible due to the scale of the place.
Hamilton is at heart a centre for industry, reflected in the nickname ‘Steel Town’, but like Manchester it is reinventing itself - with artists taking up residence, a wide range of renovation and conservation projects underway and the air of a city waiting to be discovered by the broader world.
The stars are taking note - Bruce Springsteen recently performed at the concert venue there while Bob Dylan and Cirque de Soleil are also set to appear.
I stayed at the comfortable and welcoming Sheraton Hotel, which is centrally located and boasts its own gym, swimming pool, bar and restaurant.
Conveniently, the hotel is also attached to a shopping arcade and situated directly opposite the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
The gallery’s permanent collection, featuring displays of contemporary, Canadian and religious art, is free to enter while there is paid for access to the temporary exhibition, which currently houses ‘Inspiration East’ showcasing Asian art including the kimonos of the most famous Geisha of the 20th century Ichimaru.
The gallery is in many ways a microcosm of the wider city community, which hosts a broad mix of ethnicities. For tourists this means culinary experiences from around the globe are available - from Lebanese to Italian and Thai.
But it is just outside the city boundaries that Hamilton truly becomes a must-see. For horticulturalists the Royal Botanical Gardens nurture a diverse range of flower and plant species.
Even this man-made haven, however, cannot match what Mother Nature provided on Hamilton’s doorstep - the Niagara Escarpment. A number of forest trails give walkers the opportunity to glimpse beautiful waterfalls, tiny in comparison to the escarpment’s name-sake but impressive all the same.
Discovery
The peace of the countryside is all encompassing once you get a few miles out of the city but just short of 200 years ago the land that surrounds Hamilton was anything but serene. Once a year the battle-cries ring out in a military re-enactment to mark the day that the British defeated the Americans in a significant battle of the War of 1812.
The past is brought to life by museum tour guides who don the costume of their forefathers. The Battlefield House Museum and Park comprises the Gage Homestead. Built in 1796 it captures the way of life for the relatively well-to-do Gages family, who sheltered in the basement while the Battle of Stoney Creek raged outside.
More grand is Dundurn Castle, home of the Premier of United Canadas Sir Allan Napier MacNab, who had a significant impact on the development of the region. Visitors can take an illuminating tour of the house and servants’ quarters, which sheds light on a period of Canadian history of which I was, ashamedly, largely unaware.
This break proved to be one of perpetual discovery, and not merely of culture within the walls of an art gallery or museum.
Pretty much every tourist attraction came as a pleasant surprise, given my ignorance of what Ontario had to offer the traveller - I didn't even expect the hot weather and sunshine that prevailed for most of my stay.
So forgive me for balking at the idea of an African Lion Safari, in an area that resides in minus temperatures for much of the winter season.
Apparently, however, the colder months are no deterrent to bringing the wilds of Africa to Ontario; the elephants are particularly partial to playing around in the snow.
The giant thick-skinned beasts are one of the greatest lures to the African Lion Safari. Other animals have to be viewed from the car, but guests can get within close proximity to the docile elephants - hitch a ride, watch them take a dip in the lake or, I’m told, see them indulge in a bit of art therapy!
While the kids will undoubtedly enjoy viewing more than 1,000 birds and animals, petting the friendlier park residents or making a splash in the water park, adults too seem drawn to this place - one website cited it as a top spot to take your date!
Being a more traditional player in the dating game I prefer to glam up for an expensive dinner rather than go down the safari route and if that’s your style Hamilton has the spa to have you feeling like a million dollars.
Three hours of pampering at LubaMera Spa, which involved honey being smeared over my arms, legs and face, had me feeling ready for whatever else Ontario had to throw at me.
Attractions galore
ADRENALINE and I are not the greatest of companions, so when I realised that a helicopter tour over Niagara Falls was ‘the thing to do’ I was a little apprehensive.
Nevertheless there is no better way to be introduced to the spectacle of the falls than by air. A thrilling nine-minute tour, with Niagara Helicopters Limited, took me high above the thundering waterfall and the town that has been built around it.
There was a full commentary to accompany the trip but at that height the mind drifts and all you can really take in are the stunning views and the spectacle of what lies below.
But it is only when you get on the Maid in the Mist [pictured right] that you truly realise the power and ferocity that defines Niagara.
A boat takes you as close as safely possible to the tumultuous torrent. The blue sky turns to grey mist, the sun seems to disappear, serenity is lost in the drumming beat of the rushing water - and you get very wet!
The Canadians have certainly capitalised on man’s desire to feel first-hand the awesome force of nature, with ‘journey behind the falls’ now also available.
Unfortunately I didn’t have time to view the waterfall from every conceivable angle but I did give Niagara’s Fury a go, a new attraction designed to explain Niagara’s formation and allow visitors to experience what it was like at the moment the waterfall was created.
I have to admit I’m not sure how accurate the reconstruction was, given that it was introduced by a cartoon squirrel and involved the floor shaking and yet more water, but I’m sure that kids are less cynical than me, and the 360 degree video show was impressive.
‘Fury’ is located in a brand new shopping complex, with a restaurant boasting a jaw-dropping view, and a glossy finish that makes those Niagara branded trinkets all the more alluring.
Fear not, however, Niagara doesn’t do pushy tourism, it is inviting rather than in your face - there are well-tended parks dotted around the town if you need a break from the casino or the strip, which is teeming with weird and wonderful museums, restaurants and shops.
Visitors are advised to drop into the tourist office, located next to the IMAX theatre, where discount vouchers for many of the attractions, including nearby theme-parks, are available and bureau staff will help to plan your stay.
If it is escapism you’re after then try a visit to the wine region, just 20 minutes’ drive away from the town. Vast vineyards offer wanna-be connoisseurs like me the chance to indulge in a tasting session and a tour. I visited the family-run Chateau des Charmes to see where and how the wines are made and learn more about the vineyard’s heritage. People from all over the world travel to Niagara’s wineries, and I doubt even the French could fault the quality, and beauty, of the enormous grape harvest or the rich flavours it produces.
Niagara will suit any palate - red, white or rose - fun, relaxation or revelation it is a good idea to spend a night or two there to taste all it has to offer.
Shop until you drop
ARE Canadians cool? If I based my conclusions on the jibes of American comedians, and on the evidence of one of the country’s most famous exports Celine Dion, the answer would be no.
Wrong. Canadians are cool - very cool, as I discovered wandering through the trendy soho district of Toronto.
The urban shops sell all the paraphernalia needed to ensure you are at the cutting edge of fashion. So blatantly out of place did I feel among the hip kids that I bought myself some purple over-sized sunglasses - a spur of the moment purchase after some fashion savvy youngster told me they were ‘very cute’.
I removed my over-the-top shades as soon as I made it into the main shopping hub - it turns out not everyone has to parade around in luminous eyewear.
The Eaton Mall is a shopaholic’s paradise, with 350 shops.
If it is possible to get drunk on retail then in the PATH - Toronto’s underground city - you get so inebriated that by the end you have to stagger back to your hotel. The subterranean shopping concourse is 16 miles long with more than 1,000 shops and in winter it means shoppers don’t have to step out into the freezing streets - Manchester take note!
The Eaton Centre and its surroundings boasted all the big brands, from H&M and Mango to Levis and Nike, and, an added bonus, you can almost halve the figure on the price tag which makes most items seem like bargains.
Just like in England, Canada is currently in the midst of a credit crunch meaning many stores are offering discounts of up to 70 per cent on some stock.
Unfortunately I had neglected to bring a large enough suitcase to take full advantage, so I trundled off with two t-shirts to explore the city further.
There is plenty to see and do, art galleries, harbour tours and museums to name but a few, however, my plane was departing in a few hours so I opted to scale the world-famous CN Tower.
Once at the top I got to enjoy the panoramic views of the bustling, modern city and Lake Ontario, while enjoying a late lunch of Caesar salad in the restaurant/bar.
A few hours later I was taking in the same view from the plane, which would be landing in Manchester less than seven hours later, reflecting on a great trip.
TRAVEL FACTS:
Flights: Manchester to Hamilton with Flyglobespan from £197 one-way (www.flyglobespan.com).
Manchester to Toronto withAir Transat from £199 one way (www.airtransat.co.uk).
Hamilton: Tourist information at
www.tourismhamilton.com
Sheraton Hotel:
www.sheraton.com/Hamilton
Hamilton Art Gallery:
www.artgalleryofhamilton.com
African Lion Safari:
www.lionsafari.com
Royal Botanical Gardens:
www.rbg.ca
Hamilton Museums:
www.hamilton.ca/museums
LubaMera Spa:
www.lubamera.com
Niagara: Tourist information
www.niagarafallstourism.com
Niagara Helicopter Tours:
www.niagarahelicopters.com
Chateau des Charmes: Daily tours, costing $5 per person, visit the website:
www.chateaudescharmes.com
Toronto:
www.torontotourism.com
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