Day 1 Breakfast. Brantford, home of hockey player Wayne Gretzky. Visit the Bell Homestead National Historic Site, including a tour of the Bell’s 1870s home, restored and furnished as it was when Alexander Graham Bell first conceived the idea for the telephone here in 1874. The Henderson Home next door, Canada’s first telephone business office, provides a glimpse into the telephone’s evolution. Option to see Canadian Holstein Museum with its history of the diary industry. After lunch and a stroll through the lovely gardens on the bank of the Grand River we visit the Kanata Iroquoian Village with its longhouse, palisade, and cedar tree maze, where history is combined with fun learning environment. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2 Breakfast. This morning we visit first the village of St.George with its unique shops including Robert Hall where we see how pewter is made. Next the town of Paris, with its cobblestone buildings, taking time to stroll along the main street, which is built on the bank of the river. Option to visit Mary Maxim, Canada’s best known craft house. We head next for Port Dover, for lunch of fresh pickerel or yellow perch. We have time now for strolling the shops, many nautical themes, others with antiques, visiting the Harbour Museum or just beach watching.
Enjoy Walters Family Dinner Theatre on their family farm. Overnight.
Day 3 Breakfast. Travel to London, the birthplace of Insulin. Banting House National Historic Site occupies the house in which Dr. Banting lived and practiced medicine. Lunch Option to see Guy Lombardo Musuem (memories of the big band that played so many New Years) or take a tour of the Labatt “Hometown” Brewery from beginning of barley malt and hops to the finished product. Official beer tasting of 6 different brands of Labatt to follow. Head for Port Stanley Terminal Rail Train for a ride. Time for French Fries at Mackies. Overnight.
Day 4 Breakfast. On our way to Stratford we pass through St. Mary’s, called Stonetown, appropriately with its numerous limestone buildings and home of St. Mary’s cement. Witness white swans on the Avon River. After lunch, we take a backstage and costume warehouse tour of the Shakespearean festival.
