|
|
| Home > City Guide - Toronto - Excursions | ||
|
||
|
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 – 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 to visit the gallery by public transport, travel by car is recommended (Highway 400). The gallery is open Sunday to Friday 1000-1700 (Thursday until 2000) and Saturday 1000-1600. Admission costs C$12 (concessions available); parking is an additional C$5. Elora: A pleasant, pastoral town situated about 100km (60 miles) from Toronto, Elora was founded in the 1830s by settlers harnessing the water of the Grand River to power their mill. The mill still survives, functioning these days as the Elora Mill Country Inn. The town itself offers shopping, restaurants, horse-drawn carriage rides – but 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 (entry fee: C$3.50; camping permits etc cost extra). The surrounding landscape – picturesque, gently rolling fields – is home to various Mennonite communities, a religious sect similar to the Amish who 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 (Highway 401, then Highway 6 through Guelph, then Country Road 7 to Elora). Further details are available from the Elora Information Centre (tel: (519) 846 9841; website: www.eic.elora.on.ca) and the Grand River Conservation Authority (tel: (519) 846 9742; website: www.grandriver.ca/parks/parks.cfm). For a Whole Day Niagara Falls: The 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) 356 6061; website: www.niagarafallstourism.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; cost: C$12.25). 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 the Water section). Further information on the falls is available from the Niagara Parks Commission (tel: (877) 642 7275 or (905) 371 0254; website: www.niagaraparks.com). The surrounding region offers winery tours, while the nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake (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 (website: www.shawfest.sympatico.ca), 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; e-mail: info@algonquinpark.on.ca; 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 and quickly became popular with canoeists and outdoor enthusiasts. For a day trip, it is probably wisest to take in the natural beauty from Highway 60, which runs right through the park yet still offers a decent chance for a deer or moose sighting. For a more active experience, visitors could take one of 13 hiking trails, while for educational input there is a Visitors Centre. As Algonquin Provincial Park is located 300km (186 miles) north of Toronto, individual transportation is recommended. There is a C$10 vehicle entry fee; camping permits cost extra. |
||
