Toronto, Ontario, Canada
October 2022
We started our day off bright and early as we had quite the drive (about 3 hours) to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. I had us on a strict schedule as we had traveling, sightseeing, and a hockey game planned to fill our morning and afternoon. This was my first time ever visiting Canada and I was super excited!
Once we made it to Niagara Falls, we parked and started exploring. We walked through Clifton Hill which is also known as “Street of Fun” filled with quirky attractions, shops, and restaurants. We walked along the falls and took in the beauty of this natural world wonder. I was in awe of the falls. I could watch the falls all day every day from afar of course, since up close includes a heavy misting.
We ended our pit stop by eating at The Secret Garden Restaurant and Gift Shop which overlooked the falls. This was a very unique spot with antiques and artistic creations. This is a family owned and operated business that has been running for 30 years and the vibe was definitely home like, think Grandma’s house. Avery and I shared griddle cakes (pancakes) for $14.99 CAD, he had sizzling bacon for $4.99 CAD, I had Canadian bacon for $4.99 CAD, I had half of a chilled grapefruit for $3.75 CAD, and we shared poutine fries for $9.99 CAD. I wanted to try as many Canadian staples as possible which I felt like I not only succeeded in but also enjoyed. The griddle cakes were served with the most delicious genuine Canadian Maple Syrup. To my surprise, I even enjoyed the Canadian bacon and poutine fries. However, the poutine fries were not authentic and were served with shredded cheese instead of cheese curds.
We left Niagara Falls and headed to Mississauga for a Steelheads hockey game versus Sudbury Wolves. Unfortunately, the Steelheads lost the game 6-2. The game was still exciting to watch!
After the game ended, Avery and I headed to our final destination, Toronto. We stayed at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel which was stunning and in a central location. We used their valet parking services, dropped our bags off, and went out to dinner. We ate at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. I had the most amazing three course meal consisting of a house salad with white balsamic dressing, 6oz filet with three shrimp, garlic mashed potatoes, and a mini cheesecake with fresh berries. With my meal I also had a glass of Canadian red wine. Everything was perfect from the food to the service; I had a wonderful experience.
The next day, Avery and I went to the Hockey Hall of Fame. The museum showcases ice hockey history, memorabilia, players, teams, trophies, and records. It is home to the Stanley Cup. We had a lot of fun viewing everything as well as participating in the interactive pieces such as creating our own broadcasting over memorable hockey clips, goaltending, and scoring. There were lots to do and see here and I highly recommend it as a must do activity for any hockey fan.
Before Avery and I left Toronto, we ate lunch at 3 Brasseurs (3 Yonge & Dundas Brewers) which we happened to stumble upon as we were walking to another restaurant. We saw another couple looking at the menu outside and decided to do the same. It was a good decision. I had the 3 Brasseurs Burger (100% beef patty smothered with a maple beer sauce, garnished with bacon, smoked Gouda, lettuce, tomatoes and onions, served on a toasted burger bun) for $19.45 CAD. Avery and I shared authentic poutine (cheese curds, fries, and hot poutine gravy) for $9.95 CAD and Liege Waffle (warm, buttery Belgian-style waffle served with vanilla ice cream, and their beer caramel sauce) for $6.45 CAD. Everything was so delicious! I was happy to squeeze in a few more Canadian staples and I was pleased to have authentic poutine this time around. The maple beer sauce on my burger was delicious until it wasn’t. It was tasty but it just became too sweet for me as I was finishing up the last of my burger. The poutine was the best I have had, and the waffle was scrumptious! Avery and I enjoyed the atmosphere, food, and service - I am so glad that we stumbled across this microbrewery/restaurant.
Unfortunately, after eating, it was time for us to journey back home. We had an amazing adventure together exploring so many foreign things. While our trip was short, it was jammed packed, and we did not skip a beat. Until next time, eh?
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