We set off in the morning and began our trip with a nice meal in the Winery Restaurant at Peller Estates in Niagara-on-the-Lake. On our way to the vineyard, some of us stopped by a peanuts store to purchase some peanuts and confectionery. After lunch, we wandered around Niagara-on-the Lake. Then we drove to Niagara Falls and watched the show, Current: Niagara's Power Transformed, in the Niagara's Parks Power station. Before long, we had seen many festive lights of various colors and forms. The Ontario Power Generation Winster Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls is Canada's largest FREE outdoor light festive, featuring more than 3 million LED lights and over 75 light displays. We drove along the festive route and appreciated the colorful illumination of the city. It was a great way to prep up for
our festive spirit!
Cambridge, located approximately 100 kilometers west of Toronto in the Region of Waterloo, is a modern city today with a rich architectural heritage. After a marvelous lunch, we walked towards the Idea Exchange Old Post Office along the Grand River. The Old Post Office is Canada's first all-digital library and divided into 4 floors with a reading area, a meeting room, a family discovery centre, a makerspace and a rooftop terrace overlooking the Grand River. It underwent a major renovation from an old post office to a well-designed library and was re-opened in 2018. It has become a signature building in the downtown of Cambridge. In this trip, we learned a lot about the heritage building and were impressed by the beauty of this city icon.
We did not need to travel far for birding. Riverwood Conservancy in Mississauga is one of the best bird-watching places close to home. It is also a habitat to nearly 180 species of resident and migratory birds. As we ventured onto the Yellow Trail, the shortest trail at Riverwood Conservancy, we photographed flying birds, birds in the feeders, flowers, plants, and enjoyed the warm and sunny weather. It was a beautiful day to gather with friends and to connect with the nature.
It was a cloudy day, but the weather did not affect our mood to sail through Peterborough Liftlock,
also known as Lock 21, the highest hydraulic boat lift in the world and opened in 1904!
Immediately after a quick lunch together, we got aboard a two-hour sight-seeing boat, where the liftlock process with live commentary by the captain began. When the boat approached the final lift,
it was raised several stories (65 feet) up in the air. The views from the top were breathtaking.
It was a unique experience that would not be forgotten. The Peterborough Liftlock on the
Trent Severn Waterway is a very popular attraction. We were fortunate enough to have been able to visit there in time before its final day of cruising.
For more information about the Peterborough Liftlock, please visit the Parks Canada website below.
A family (and friends) of enthusiastic boaters-learners cruised along the attractive waterway,
Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is one of the greatest engineering
feats of the 19th century. The Rideau Canal is the oldest continuously-operated canal system
in North America. It was a relaxing way to unwind and take in the spectacular nature,
picturesque towns and lively cities of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
For more information about the Rideau Canal, please visit this TVO video link below.
About 130 km from Toronto and 90 minutes of driving, we explored the world famous
Niagara Falls. After a relaxing lunch at the Queen Victoria Place restaurant, we marveled
at the breathtaking Niagara Falls, which is approximately 12,000 years old. The falls were formed
when melting glacier waters flowing from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and carved out a river in their descent. The river passed over the steep Niagara escarpment and began to erode its way back,
leaving behind what is known today as the Niagara Gorge. Niagara Falls erodes back
approximately 1 foot/year.
There are over 500 waterfalls in the world are taller than Niagara Falls. But Niagara Falls is
the biggest waterfalls in the world by the volume of whopping water siphoned at an
average of 750,000 gallons each second.
The Great Lakes is the largest surface freshwater system in the world, meaning about
one-third of the world’s freshwater goes over Niagara Falls.
It was a beautiful sunny day to enjoy one of the Ontario's geological treasures, the Cheltenham Badlands. The 36-hectare (91-acre) site was formed at the base of an ancient sea about 450 million years ago. It is a provincially significant Area of Natural and Scientific Interest and hosts one of the most recognizable and visited natural heritage landmarks in southern Ontario.
Ancestors of the Mississaugas of the Credit arrived here to hunt, fish and forage. They set up small, temporary villages on the river flats and practised horticulture, seasonally migrating and living lightly on the land. They stewarded this land over many generations.
The Sunflower Farm at Beaverton generously opened their gates FREE for a
"Seniors on the Farm" day to celebrate seniors and their loved ones.
Seniors were invited to enjoy the farm safely with lots of outdoor space.
The Farm was also the first ever and largest sunflower farm in Durham Region.
A point of interest: The farm's trail was shaped as a sunflower through
thousands of blooming sunflowers!
Venue : The Sunflower Farm, Beaverton
Cost : Free for seniors 60+ for that day
Venue : Port Perry and Lake Scugog
An enjoyable and fabulous full day trip to explore the quaint town of Port Perry, with lots of sunshine, laughter, walking and good food.
Fascinating shops and places included the famous Trading Post Quality Foods at Port Perry;
and lunch at Pantry Shelf Cafe & Bakery (the freshly-made pork pie that day was yummy!).
Language : English and Cantonese
Cost : Free
Date : May 28, 2021 (Friday)
Time : 10 pm (Toronto time)
7pm (Vancouver time)
There are many quaint little towns and historical waterways in Ontario!
It was a very enjoyable evening to explore some of these interesting places together with friends.
Language : English and Cantonese
Venue : Online
Cost : Free