The History of Guelph
Guelph, a city in Southwestern Ontario, was founded by a British development firm called the “Canada Company”, and it is known to be the first planned towns in Canada. John Galt, a well-known Scottish novelist was a Superintended in the Canada Company, and he designed Guelph to resemble a European town centre. Galt chose the name “Guelph” because it was a family name in the British Royal family that had never been used as a town name before. Thus, Guelph is referred to as “The Royal City”.
Attractions in Guelph
Guelph is recognized for its green and scenic landscapes which are complemented with historic buildings and landmarks. One historic landmark is the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, a French Gothic-style Basilica erected 120 years ago with local limestone. There are several nature walk attractions in Guelph, including the Arboretum at the University of Guelph, the University of Guelph Historical Walking Tour, a Nature Walk at Riverside Park, and the Royal Recreation Trail. In addition to outdoor hikes, take a stroll into Downtown Guelph, where visitors and locals both discover and enjoy mouth-watering delights made with local ingredients, from restaurants, cafes, pubs and coffee shops, while exploring rows of small boutiques and quaint settings.
Attraction Near Guelph
If you are in for an adventure, a 30-minute journey from Guelph leads to a popular tourist site, Elora Gorge Conservation Area, located on the city’s Western outskirts. This conservation area has 22-meter-high cliffs through which the Grand River flows, providing scenic hiking trails that overlooks to the water far below, where visitors kayak, swim and tube.
Attractions in Toronto
The Royal City of Guelph, is a 1-hour drive to Ontario's Capital City, Toronto. It is known to be highly multi-cultural with must-see attractions. Toronto's most iconic attraction is the CN Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the western hemisphere. Visitors can take a scenic ferry ride to Toronto Island which provides a great opportunity to take pictures of the Toronto skyline. This quiet escape from busy downtown, provides a chance for visitors to enjoy boating or biking along Lake Ontario.
Toronto also has many unique neighborhoods, each showing their own cultural flare. Toronto's Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in North America and borders on Kensington Market, a bohemian mix of vintage shops, funky restaurants, cafes and bars in addition to Latin American markets and food stalls. Toronto is also full of educational activities. The Toronto Zoo showcases over 5,000 animals; and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada’s largest museum of world cultures and natural history. Sports fans can catch a game from one of Toronto’s many professional sports team. The Rogers Centre is home to the baseball team, Toronto Blue Jays and the football team, The Toronto Argos. The Toronto Football Club (TFC) is Toronto’s newest sports team.
Attractions in Niagara
The Niagara Region is 90 minutes from downtown Toronto. This magnificent city is world-renowned for its breathtaking Niagara Falls. There are several exciting ways to enjoy and explore this beautiful city, including boat trips under the falls, the Niagara Skywheel, the Butterfly Conservatory, the Skylon Tower, and the Whirlpool Aerocar. Niagara is also Ontario’s leading wine destination, with beautiful landscapes and vast hills and valleys that house a portfolio of wineries, including Icewine from Inniskillin Winery – an International Award-winning winery. Visitors are able to enjoy many guided tours of Niagara’s countryside, which includes wine and cheese tasting.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, a charming city located on the banks of Lake Ontario, is a 30-minute drive away from Niagara Falls. This town is full of 19th-century Victorian charms, where locals and tourists stroll around quaint boutique stores, restaurants, and cafes surrounded by cast-iron planters full of colourful flowers and horse-drawn carriages that takes back visitors in time.
Beyond the town, visitors can take bike rides around the expansive and lush countryside studded with wineries and vineyards, as well as scenic hiking trails. The Niagara region is an all-rounder destination for visitors and locals alike, to unwind and discover Canada’s stunning charms.