Festive Season in Stratford, Ontario

We love the festive season because it is not only a time for families and friends to gather in celebration of the end of a year, but also a time to admire the coziness, beauty, and magical time of winter. Just in time for the holiday season, we spent a weekend at The River Merchant Inn located in Stratford, Ontario to enjoy the Holiday Light displays, Outdoor Christmas Market, Santa’s Parade of Lights, and to go on the Christmas and Chocolate Trails.

Road Trip to Stratford

Stratford Ontario, a quaint little town couple of hours from Toronto, is perfect for a weekend getaway or an impromptu road trip. Theatre is what has always attracted us to Stratford, but once you are there the serene atmosphere by the river, beautiful gardens, and all the little retail shops and restaurants around town will surely keep everyone in the family busy.

Little Women at Stratford Festival

This iconic city hall is a national historic site located in the centre of Stratford, Ontario; a charming small town well-known for its theatre, art, and music. We love visiting Stratford, which is a couple of hours from the GTA to watch outstanding theatrical performances at Stratford Festival. We enjoy walking along the river and surrounding area to admire the beautiful gardens and the overall atmosphere, as well as exploring businesses and restaurants in downtown Stratford.

Exploring the heritage of Stratford and Perth County

We spent a few days towards the end of our summer vacation exploring the heritage, trails, theatre, and outdoor activities in Stratford and Perth County. While enjoying the activities in this area, we stayed at Forest Motel and Woodland Retreat located in Stratford. It is a family friendly woodland retreat close to all the amenities, a few minutes from the Stratford Festival Theatre. 

Grand Magic and Stratford's New Savour and Sip Trail

Stratford, Ontario is an attractive small town that draws us for its theatre, restaurants, and its peaceful environment. Every time we visit, there is so much to enjoy for everyone in the family from its interesting trails to the culinary scene! 

We had an amazing time exploring Stratford's new Savour & Sip Trail! This fabulous seasonal culinary trail aligns with the Al Fresco dining season. Everyone in our family loved the variety of take-out savoury treats and sweets we got to choose from in this trail, for our fun and unique picnic experience.

Discovering the Chocolate Trail and the outdoors in Stratford and Perth County

During our trip to Stratford and Perth County, we not only explored its heritage by visiting museums and historical sites, but also explored its rich theatre and the arts. We also participated in unique trails, crafted our own candles, enjoyed beautifully maintained gardens, and went on boat rides.

Day trip to Stratford, Ontario Billy Elliot the Musical and Tours

Nolen Dubuc (centre) as Billy Elliot with members of the company in Billy Elliot the Musical. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann. Property of the Stratford Festival posted with permission from Stratford Festival

Exploring theatre and the arts in Stratford, Ontario is always a pleasurable experience for the entire family. Last summer, when we went to see the play The Music Man we also toured the Costume Warehouse. This year, we watched the musical Billy Elliot, and enjoyed a tour of the garden and a set changeover tour. 

Theatre and the arts in Stratford, Ontario

We love being creative every opportunity we get. Sometimes, we find the need for a little inspiration to spark our creative energy, and we got this when we went to see the play The Music Man, and took a tour of the Costume Warehouse during our time in Stratford and Perth County. 

Holiday Gift Guide

As the end of the year approaches and the holiday season is around the corner, we put together a list of items that would make wonderful gifts for family and friends! Take a look at the list for unique gift ideas from memories, games, books to toys. Enter the giveaways below to have the gifts delivered before the holidays!

Understanding Food and Spices

Over the years, I have experimented with different spices while cooking and baking - either adding or swapping it to get flavours we enjoy. Reflecting back, I feel my journey to understand, know, and appreciate different spices was because of my opportunities to experiment and include it into our meals. This has made me feel comfortable in deciding which flavours would work well, and which spices I want to add.