Awenda Provincial Park, Ontario

October 2011

Situated near Penetanguishene on Georgian Bay, Awenda Provincial Park is one of the most popular parks in Ontario. The great thing about Awenda is that it’s only a 2 hour drive from Toronto therefore making it an easy day trip if one wants to escape the city briefly. The park offers magnificent views of Georgian Bay and has several clean beaches making it ideal for swimming. There are over 30 kms of trails for hiking and biking that provide nice views of Georgian Bay. The 4 km return Beach Trail skirts the shoreline and allows visitors to walk along the park’s four beaches. The Beach Trail also provides a great view of Giant’s Tomb Island in the distance which is also part of Awenda Provincial Park.

The longest of the trails, the Bluff Trail (hike and bike) which is a 13km circular trail offers wonderful views of Georgian Bay from a 60 meter high bluff especially in the fall when the leaves have fallen from the trees.The Wendat Trail is a 5 km loop trail that circles Kettle Lake. There are plenty of opportunities on this trail to view red-winged blackbirds and blue herons in the swamps surrounding the lake. The Nippising Trail provides nice views of the forest canopy as you descend or climb the 155 step staircase of the Nipissing Bluff. I’ve been to Awenda many times but never during autumn. Awenda is one of the nicest parks to view the autumn colours which usually peak during the second week in October. A favourite hike of mine which showcases Awenda’s brilliant foliage is to start at the parking lot at First Beach and take the Nippising Trail to the Bluff Trail. Follow the Bluff Trail to Kettle Lake and then do a loop around the lake and return to the parking lot the same way you came. The total distance of the hike is around 12 kms. After working up a sweat it’s really nice to spend the rest of the day enjoying the beach and if possible do stay around for the spectacular Georgian Bay sunsets.



1st beach, Awenda Provincial Park

View of Tomb Island from 1st beach

Bluff Trail on the way to Kettle Lake

 

Kettle Lake 

 

Awenda Park Drive

 

Boardwalk through marsh area at far end of Kettle Lake

 

 

 

For more information visit the following related links.

Ontario Parks:Awenda Provincial Park

Friends of Awenda Provincial Park

 

 

 



Niagara Botanical Gardens- Niagara Falls, Ontario

September 2011

The Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens are located on the scenic Niagara Parkway around 9 km north of the Falls. The gardens cover an area of 100 acres and are one of the largest and most diverse plant collections in Canada. The gardens features over 3000 different types of plants including deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs, herbaceous perennials, alpines, native plants, rhododendrons, azaleas, vines, roses, tropical, aquatic plants, shade, herb and vegetable plantings , and many landscape features such as ponds, pergolas and waterfalls. Not to miss in spring the spectacular blossoms of Crabapple Vista.

There are several footpaths that wind past ponds and an arboretum which includes one of finest collections of ornamental trees and shrubs in Canada.

The Botanical Gardens are open to the public free of charge every day of the year. The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory are also located within the gardens but charge an admission fee. It takes around 2 hours to cover all the gardens. Add another hour if planning to visit the Butterfly Conservatory.

While in the area be sure to visit the Niagara Glen Nature Centre which features beautiful trails leading into the Niagara gorge .It is located on the parkway very close to the gardens.

 The Rose Garden with its classic pergola is reminiscent of an English estate garden covers an area of 2 acres and features over 50 rose beds and over 2400 hybrid tea, floribunda, grandiflora and climbing roses.

 

 

 

 

 

The Herb Garden is a formal style garden that feature displays of world culinary, medicinal, perfume and aromatic plants. The 560 sq.meters (6000 sq feet garden ) is enclosed by an Oriental Cedar Hedge and is composed of flagstone pathways, brick bed-edging, unique obelisks, and Haddonstone urns. The garden also features an “inner room” of hedge walls, where a knot garden and sundial can be found in the centre.

A large cortan steel butterfly sculpture and butterfly garden which attracts native butterflies marks the entrance to the Butterfly Conservatory which is filled with over 2,000 free-flying butterflies.

 

For more information visit the following related links.

Niagara Botanical Gardens Map

Niagara Botanical Gardens Facts and Informaton

1.  

Niagara Glen Nature Centre- Niagara Falls, Ontario

September 2011

Niagara Glen Nature Centre is a hidden gem that few people know about and miss entirely while visiting the Niagara Falls area. It is situated on the Niagara Parkway about 8 kilometers north of Niagara Falls midpoint between Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Glen features several kilometers of marked trails that wind their way through a pristine pocket of Carolinian forest, unique rock formations, huge boulders and spectacular gorge scenery. A metal staircase descends into the gorge providing access to the network of trails that will take you deeper into the gorge and close to the water’s edge.
Follow the River Path trail which runs along the Niagara River with amazing close-up views of its turbulent water and gorge. Most often you will see the Whirlpool Jet making its way up and down the river as it rides the Class 5 rapids.


Across the river is the US side. The US side also has a network of trails that connect Devil’s Hole State Park with Whirlpool State Park where awesome views of the river, gorge and whirlpool can be seen. A visit to these 2 New York state parks will not disappoint.

Other points of interest in the area include Queenston Heights and the Niagara Botanical Gardens which is only a few minutes away.


View of Niagara River from Niagara recreational trail at Niagara Glen visitor centre

 

 

 

 

Niagara Glen hiking trail

 

 

For more information visit the following related links.
Niagara Parks:Niagara Glen
Niagara Glen Trail Map

Thousand Islands Day Cruise, Ontario

August 2011

The Thousand Islands are located in the St-Lawrence River between Brockville and Kingston about a 3 hour drive from Toronto and Montreal. The islands straddle the Canada-US border. Around 21 one of these islands form The St-Lawrence Islands National Park. There are close to 1800 islands that range in various sizes. The largest of the islands is Wolfe Island which is located entirely in Ontario.

The islands are dotted with beautiful homes and mansions as this was once the playground for wealthy US industrialists who built summer homes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

There is lots to see and do while in the area such as kayaking, power boating, sailing, biking, camping, fishing, swimming and picnicking but by far the best way to see the islands is by taking a day cruise. There are many companies that offer boat cruises departing from various locations lasting anywhere from 1hr to 5hrs. The longer duration cruises actually allow passengers to disembark and visit popular attractions such as Boldt Castle and Singer Castle which are located in the US.

These photos were taken from a 1 hr cruise on the Gananoque Boat Line out of the Canadian town of Ivy Lea.The cruise is a perfect introduction to the islands hitting the the most popular attrations.

Thousand Islands Bridge view from Ivy Lea

The Thousand Islands Bridge built in 1937 spans the St-Lawrence and connects New York with Ontario in the middle of the Thousand Islands Region.

Millionaire's Row features many stately summer homes which are seen on the boat cruise.

Zavicon Islands contain the smallest international bridge in the world connecting Canada(left) with the US (right)
 

 

Boldt Castle is located on Heart Island in the 1000 Islands, Alexandria Bay, New York. Boldt Castle (www.boldtcastle.info ) which is a replica of a Rhineland castle was built by Mr. Boldt a powerful hotel magnate for $2.5 million. The castle has 120 rooms and is located on a beautiful surrounding landscape that can be visited by tourists. Some boat tours from the US and Canada make stopovers on the island allowing passengers to take a tour of the inside of the castle.

 

Boldt Castle Boathouse

The Thousand Islands region is dotted with many lighthouses.

 

For more information visit the following related links.

Visit the 1000 Islands:The Official Tourism Bureau

1000 Islands.com

Gananoque Boat Line

Rockport Boat Line

Griffis Sculpture Park, New York

August 2011

Griffis Sculpture Park is located in Ashford Hollow, south of Buffalo, New York. The park features a collection of interesting,artistic and very creative sculptures set among a backdrop of rolling hills, ponds, and forests. Founded by Larry Griffis and inspired by the ancient ruins of Hadrian’s Villa in Italy, the outdoor park now features over 250 unique sculptures over 400 acres of land. The park is split into 2 sections: The Rohr Hill Road Site and the Mill Valley Road Site. The Rohr Hill features dozens of towering sculptures set in fields and woods just off the road. The Mill Valley Road Site is made up of both easy and strenous hiking trails that meander pass the various sculptures and also through a variety of terrain providing nice views of the surrounding hills.



The Bathers

 

 

 

 



The Rohr Hill features dozens of towering sculptures set in fields and woods just off the road.

 

 

 

For more information visit the following related links.

Griffis Sculpture Park
Wikipedia:Griffis Sculpture Park

Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York

August 2011

Forest Glass by Katherine Gray

The Corning Museum of Glass is situated in the Finger Lakes region of New York State in the town of Corning. The museum explores the various facets of glass including art, history, culture, science and technology, craft, and design. The museum is a non-profit educational institution that plays a significant role in preserving and expanding the world's understanding of glass.

The museum has a collection more than 45,000 glass objects, spanning 3,500 years of glassmaking history. It has collections from virtually every country in the world in every historical period in glassmaking going all the way back to antiquity. The museum also has an impressive collection of contemporary artworks from some very well known artists.

There are also various hands one exhibits to explore, live narrated glassmaking demonstrations and glass working workshops. One can easily spend the whole day here. It is also a great place to bring the whole family. While in the area be sure to visit the very beautiful Watkins Glen State Park which is only a 30 minute drive away.



Red Pyramid by Stanislav Libensky

Atlantica by Sidney Waugh. Atlantica is a 300 pound sculpture of a mermaid ridingon the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.



This chess set consists of pieces that are made in the form of Jewish and Roman Catholic religious figures.

 

 

Tower Sculpture containing 600 glass bowls

 



Corning Museum gift shop

 For more information visit the following related links.
Official website: Corning Museum of Glass