Rather than do a sequential blog of the whole holiday I am going to pick out some of the highlights - I'd be here all day if I was to talk about all the highlights. All in all this was a really fun little trip!
Niagara Falls
Well! I just don't know if I can capture in words how great it was to see this wonder of the world. It was just amazing.
We visited it at three different times and it was different and awesome each time. When we first arrived we checked into our hotel and headed straight outside to see it up and close. We hiked a small (not official lol) path down through some woods and WOW there it was. We spent as long as possible until a storm rolled in soaking us to the bone, so we ran for the cable car back up to the hotel. This weather didn't hang around thankfully and later after dinner (around sunset) we went out again for another viewing. This time from a viewing point up above where we had a great view of the horseshoe falls lit up with lights. We snaffled a good perch and sat in silence pondering this wondrous piece of nature.
And then! I got a last 30 minutes on my own the next day. Quite amusingly, while the weather was much better than the day before (lovely and sunny) the spray coming off the falls was much more, so much that my clothes ended up a little damp.
Town of Niagara
It's a quirky little town! And it's fun. By fun I also mean a little tacky/cheesy! But it really is what you make of it yourself. We had fun in the casino and celebrated a big win of €18.25!
Burlington
We visited the beautiful city of Burlington, right on the shores of Lake Ontario. A spectacular place. While there we visited with friends and were thoroughly spoiled by two great Irish folk. Thank you V&P!
Wine Country
While Canada is not famed for its wine it still has a thriving wine region with cute wineries and little farms. Actually, not entirely true. The region we visited is actually known for Ice Wine which I had never heard of before. I bought a bottle of it the airport as a gift for my mother.
After a lovely drive all over we stopped at the lovely Puddicombe Farm in Stoney Creek where we sampled a couple of their wines and then sipped a glass outside. Sitting in the warm sun on Muskoko chairs (the Canadian version of an Adirondack) watching the going ons of a real live working farm - as well as wine they also harvest apples to make cider, I thought to myself - it is a good life!
The company
I laughed and I laughed the whole trip long. Even when we took wrong turns and ended up in the middle of nowhere in Wine Country it was just more of a laugh. Yes, Grimsby, I'm looking at you lol!! *shakes fist * Actually that was probably one of most funny parts of the trip. At the end of the day it was either a laugh or cry moment - and a throw the stupid phones and google maps out the car window moment. Aahahahahahaaa! Good times in Grimsby, Canada!
The hotels
Ended up being a bit of a tour of "Hotels of Ontario". Actually had quite good luck with rooms with a couple of upgrades thrown in for good measures (A living room and fireplace in one hotel! And a large in room Jacuzzi bath in another).
Although saying all that, the hunt for the final hotel may have ended up being part of the grisly Grimsby tale so moving swiftly on....!
Road trip
This trip was organised a little bit last minute. The original plan was to do a big USA road trip taking in Memphis and Graceland (and Little Rock, Arkansas). Of course that would have been wonderful! But this was just as, if not even more wonderful!
This jeep is THE BEST road trip vehicle ever!
Tim Hortons
Forget your Starbucks, give me Tim Hortons any day. First sip I loved it, and boy did I drink a lot of it on our travels! We had some fun little "Timmies" pit stops along the way
Toronto
And of course Toronto! I spent the day in Toronto before my flight out that evening. I strolled around - saw the CN Tower - and I did a wonderful hop on, hop off bus tour. While I got a good feel for the city, I was very much a tourist so I certainly would not say no to a return visit.
What a trip! Just four full days would you believe! Four wonderful days.
If you would like to read more about my travels - and are interested in my review of travelling with Wowair click here!
