What do you do when you find yourself working in Michigan and only 4 hours away from Toronto and Niagara Falls? You grab your passport and head across the border for the weekend!
Toronto
If you find yourself with only 24 hours to spend in Toronto, I suggest you explore the Distillery District. Here you will find Victorian Industrial architecture fused together with 21st century design. Walk the cobblestone, pedestrian-only streets to discover shops, galleries, and restaurants that are dedicated to stimulating entertainment, arts, and culture.
Distillery District, Toronto, ON Photo Credit: Kevin Cabral
Distillery District, Toronto, ON Photo Credit: Rikki Thompson
I happened to be there on Labor Day weekend a couple years ago, and I was able to experience Artfest Toronto. The streets were lined with booths of local artists and artisans showcasing paintings, photography, sculptures and more. Check out the Distillery District’s website for more information on events and what’s happening in the area.
Sculpture in Distillery District during Artfest Toronto Photo Credit: The Julie Kinnear Team
When I’m in a new town, I love to find a brewery and try a local beer; and when you’re in Canada, you have to try food you’ve never had before, like poutine. I stopped in at Mill Street Brew Pub and tried their Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos and Poutine with a pint of beer. For those of you wondering, the poutine was fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. Everything was really good!
Mill Street Brew Pub in the Distillery District Photo Credit: Destinations Detours and Dreams
Niagara Falls
You absolutely can’t leave the area without driving over to Niagara Falls. It’s only about an hour drive from Toronto to the falls, and you won’t regret it! In my opinion, you will have the best view of both falls, the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, from the Canadian side. The power and beauty of the falls is an amazing thing to experience. Check out the video I recorded below! Notice the haze of the mist in the air as the video pans from the Canadian Horseshoe Falls to the American Falls.
You’ll also want to take a stroll through Clifton Hill, which is the town’s main street that is like an amusement park with casinos, rides, shops, restaurants, Madam Tussauds, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and much more. Of course, I couldn’t leave without stopping to try another beer! If you’re in the area, you should go to Niagara Brewing Company and get one of their souvenir pint glasses.
Clifton Hill at Night Photo Credit: Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls Fun
Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls, ON Photo Credit: Alisha Paul
No matter how you get there, a lot of fun can be had in a short weekend getaway in the Toronto and Niagara Falls area. Don’t pass up your chance to go somewhere new even if the experience will only be for a short time.
I would love to get back there one day and explore more of Canada. Have you been to Canada? If so, where are some places you’ve visited?
References
Clifton Hill. (n.d.) Retrieved September 22, 2020 from https://www.cliftonhill.com/.
Distillery District. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved September 22, 2020 from https://www.thedistillerydistrict.com/about/.
Niagara Brewing Company. (n.d.). Merchandise. Retrieved September 22, 2020 from https://shop.niagarabrewingcompany.com/.
September 23, 2020 at 6:14 pm
Looks like a fun trip!