How excited was I when I received an invite to go on a press trip to my hometown? No, seriously! Like many people who live there, I rarely get a chance to actually explore Waterloo Region; most of my time is spent visiting relatives and friends. So, when Waterloo Region invited me and some other Toronto bloggers to visit St. Jacobs, Kitchener and Cambridge, I immediately jumped on board! And I’m so glad I did. The region has so much to offer: from maple sugar bush tours and the Chicopee Tube Park to St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market and the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory – there really is something for everyone. Here are the highlights from our trip:
1. St. Jacobs Horse Drawn Tours: the words “sugar bush” alone excite me! I vividly remember going on a tour when I was in elementary school so I was thrilled to relive the experience as an adult. Nathan, a Mennonite from the region and the man guiding our sleigh ride, was so passionate and knowledgeable about the sugar bush (for those unfamiliar: that’s the forested area where trees get tapped for sap which eventually gets boiled down to make delicious maple syrup). It was a cold day, but we all bundled up and went for a sleigh ride led by our beautiful horses, Duke and Mikki, followed by some hot apple cider and maple taffy by the fire. Pure magic.
2. St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market: I’m a huge fan of farmers’ markets and have been going to St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market for as long as I can remember. So when news broke out of the big fire on Labour Day I was heartbroken. I’m so glad to see the resilient vendors are still able to do business in the temporary Harvest Barn and can’t wait to revisit the market when it reopens.
4. Chicopee Tube Park: Having lived around the corner from Chicopee when I was young, I was really excited to check out the new tube park on the hill. The park is well-groomed, has friendly staff and is a great place to spend the day with the family. For adults, I’d recommend the visiting the the tube park at night (they’re open until midnight on Saturdays). You can also grab a drink or two at the Ranger Lounge as part of the festivities. Oh, and there’s a lift if you don’t feel like trekking it up the hill each time.
5. Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory: After all the winter fun, it felt incredibly nice to thaw inside the balmy conservatory. Think of it as a mini escape to Costa Rica or the Philippines (that’s where their butterflies and moths come from). With over 2000 free-flying tropical butterflies year round, the conservatory is a nature lover’s (and photographer’s) dream. Where else can you watch a Rice Paper Butterfly feed on nectar and play with a Malaysian Jungle Nymph? Oh, and the Paradise Garden Cafe serves up some great local fare!
This press trip was an eyeopening experience for me. I must admit, I had very little knowledge about all the great attractions in my own hometown, but I’m incredibly impressed and ready to discover more of Waterloo Region! And since it’s only an hour’s drive from Toronto, it makes for the perfect weekend getaway. I really hope you head out to the region and explore! Here’s some information to help you plan your trip:
- We stayed at the newly renovated Four Points by Sheraton hotel located right across from Conestoga Mall. The hotel has a heated indoor pool, free internet access and clean, spacious rooms.
- The Maple Sugar Bush Tours run every Saturday between March 1st to April 12th and leave from St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market every 20-30 mins. Admission for adults is $18.00, children 4-12 are $10.00 and children under 3 are free. The prices include activities, the ride to and from the sugar bush with the horses, pancakes and HST.
- While in the village of St. Jacobs, make sure you also check out Farm Pantry, The Mennonite Story, the Maple Syrup Museum and Block Three Brewing Co.
- If you’re looking for a place to dine in St. Jacobs, Jacob’s Grill serves up some tasty food. Their fish and chips remind me of the ones I had in Brighton!
- Oh and try to squeeze in a few hours at the Waterloo Region Museum. It’s the largest community museum in Ontario and has some really knowledgeable staff who can guide you through the region’s history. They also host many special exhibits: from now until April 30th you can see SHIPWRECK! Pirates and Treasure.
For more information about what you can do in the region visit this link. Happy planning!
All of the activities above were part of a press trip coordinated by Explore Waterloo Region. Our accommodations, meals and adventures were complimentary. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own.
No Comments