THE CANADIAN CAPITAL
getaway guide You don’t need a passport to enjoy these relaxing escapes and epic adventures. Here are some of the best staycations, day trips and long weekends (that are well worth the flight) within our own borders. BY LISA VAN DE GEYN
Charlottetown’s Victoria Row boasts more than great coffee.
Charlottetown OUR MARITIME PICK
Toronto
ENJOY A NOSTALGIC AFTERNOON:
CONNECT WITH OUR CELTIC HERITAGE:
An hour west of the capital is Summerside, the province’s second-largest city. The quaint metropolis is heavily influenced by Celtic heritage, so check the schedule at The College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada for a concert the kids will get a kick out of. Stroll the bustling boardwalk, and maybe buy a souvenir at Spinnakers’ Landing, which was fashioned after a fishing village and boasts shops and restaurants right on the waterfront. End the day with a picturesque bike ride along Confederation Trail.
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OUR ONTARIO PICK
Quebec City OUR QUEBEC PICK GO WHERE CULTURE MEETS ROMANCE:
Stroll hand-in-hand along Old Quebec’s cobblestone streets and stop in at the unique boutiques and eateries along the way. (Make a special trip to Le Croquembouche boulangerie pâtisserie on rue Saint-Joseph for its decadent but light macarons.) Connect with Canada’s Francophone culture and heritage at Musée de la civilisation, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and the historic Citadelle de Québec.
TAKE A HISTORY LESSON: The Big Smoke boasts some of the most fascinating attractions in the country, from the typical tourist hot spots such as the Royal Ontario Museum, Kensington Market and the Distillery Historic District, but don’t skip Toronto’s lesser-known historical haunts. The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library is perfect for book lovers, who can register and request to leaf through pieces in the impressive collection (which includes drafts and first editions of Canada’s most celebrated works and a 1789 BC Babylonian cuneiform tablet—the library’s oldest piece!). Afterward, head over to the Toronto Necropolis to tour one of the city’s oldest and most historic cemeteries; the High Victorian Gothic burial grounds date back to 1850, and it’s the final resting place of dignitaries such as Toronto’s first mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie.
HEAD TO A PLACE WHERE ADVENTURE AWAITS: Drive about 40 minutes north
GET A GOOD BOTTLE OF WINE (OR TWO): About two hours from Toronto,
to Mont-Sainte-Anne, where you’ll find spots for hiking, camping and mountain biking. A panoramic gondola will whisk you to gorgeous views at an elevation of 800 metres, then take in the cascading Jean-Larose Waterfall at the foot of the mountain.
Prince Edward County is a favourite of locals and visitors alike. After all, it’s been coined the gastronomic capital of Ontario, and it’s where you’ll find more than 35 wineries in addition to the Taste Trail of premier eateries. Bring your appetite (and a designated driver).
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PHOTOGRAPHY, ISTOCKPHOTO
Meet at Receiver Coffee Co. on Victoria Row for one of the best lattes in town before taking a walk to see St. Dunstan’s Basilica Parish, then head over to Province House National Historic Site (which hosts P.E.I.’s legislative assembly) and the grounds of the historic Great George Hotel. Catch a show at the Confederation Centre of the Arts (perhaps the hugely popular Anne of Green Gables musical), then swing by the waterfront and check out the shops and restaurants on Peake’s Wharf. If you’re with an active bunch, you might consider cycling through the city. Whatever you do, make it over to Cows Ice Cream, the island’s famous ice cream shop, for a scoop. Our favourites are PEI Strawberry and Moo Crunch. (Better yet, make it two scoops.)
