from WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
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Striking Fairytale-like View of the Avon River in the Twilight Hours1 |
Stratford's
serene natural beauty created by southwestern Ontario's
diverse and lush landscape is lure enough to garner a visit, but when coupled
with the renowned Summer
Music Festival and the famous Stratford
Theatre Festival of Canada, the only thing left is to choose appropriate
accommodation.
Now this task may seem easy,
but it can be tricky finding suitable lodging and executing the perfect vacation
experience, but Stratford's varying accommodations exist to enable flexibility
within any style of holiday. Whether the stay involves a luxury hotel with full
amenities, spa packages and upscale dining for the seasoned traveller or a more
modest motel for those seeking marketplace shops and outdoor family activities,
or for anything in between, Stratford has it all covered. The local lodging
options include, hotels,
extended stay suites, inns,
conference facilities and campgrounds,
however, with over 100 to choose from, the bed
and breakfast stays tend to take priority in this town. B&B facilities
range from luxury large to cozy and practical and most are housed in old authentic
Victorian mansions. Depending on the time of year rates may fluctuate and pre-booking
well ahead is definitely encouraged during the high season for theatre that
runs spring through fall.
If travelling to the Stratford
area, visitors may find the below WorldWeb.com links informative for finding
and or booking accommodations. As well, an online map is provided complete with
all shops, restaurants, sights, transportation, accommodation and activities
so that visitors may navigate their trip beforehand.
- Accommodation
Directory - A complete accommodation directory containing detailed
information about hotels, B&Bs, luxury resorts, campgrounds and more. With
links to accommodation websites and interactive maps, this directory is designed
to help visitors find the right place to stay based on their type of trip
and their personal preferences.
- Secure
Room Reservations - A convenient online room search and reservation
page allowing the user to check for room availability and then make a secure
online reservation. Although this is a useful feature anytime of year, the
online Secure Room Reservations page is particularly helpful during busy peak
seasons.
- Maps
- The Stratford map can assist visitors in choosing where to stay by not only
indicating where accommodations are located, but also where they are in relation
to attractions, restaurants, shops, tours and transportation.
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| Stratford
Theatre and its Surrounding Park During the Summer
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LOCAL EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS
The bulk of tourism in Stratford
between May and October can be accredited to theatre enthusiasts from Canada
and around the world who flock to see the Stratford Festival, which features
features over a dozen Shakespearean
concerts and performances such as Othello,
The
Merchant of Venice and King
Lear in addition to many family productions that are offered. Several
Stratford theatres share hosting duties for the plays throughout the season
including the Festival
Theatre, Avon
Theatre, the Studio
Theatre and the Tom
Patterson Theatre, named after the festival's founder.
The Stratford
Summer Music Festival names another annual attraction and boasts showcases
of high profile artists that attract thousands of spectators to soak up sun
and song. Venues for the festival vary from indoor to outdoor including the
Knox
Presbyterian Church, Stratford
City Hall and the Festival Theatre. The musical scope of festival performers
spans over several genres and creates appeal for all types of fan base.
Locally created world-class
cuisine poses another option for the resident or travelling food lovers to indulge
in. Fine cuisine and upscale restaurants in Stratford are a direct result of
the culinary culture building up within the city's limits. Stratford
Chefs School draws some of the most renowned experts to instruct the
next generation of chefs, some of whom decide to make a run at success by starting
careers in Stratford. The internationally recognized school is unique in that
all the instructors come directly from the restaurant industry, bringing with
them the knowledge of current trends.
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| Amadeus
Haus Bed and Breakfast's Welcoming Front Steps 3 |
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Stratford's tightly knit community
has many qualities of a small town. It's typical to find a cat sunning itself
in the window of a downtown shop, or to find a bakery that offers freshly baked
goods and a welcoming smile. But, as a contrast, Stratford morphs into somewhat
of a metropolis during peak tourist season when it swells to about 20 times its
regular population. Luckily, the city's infrastructure is such that most attractions
and activities are within walking distance of each other. Lake
Victoria creates the centerpiece for downtown and the banks of the Avon
River snake throughout the city. Residents of Stratford spend much of
their time involved in river and lakeside activities. The Annual
Swan Release on the Avon River is an event not to be missed. Art
in the Park is another annual gathering where artisans share their works
and creativity with each other and the general public.
It is held downtown aside Lake Victoria.
Further, The
Quilt Exhibition, a local tradition to support finding a cure for breast
cancer, is gaining national recognition while raising the much needed funds through
community events. The majority of organization and events for The Quilt bring
supporters together at the artsy Tango
Café.
Much care goes into the
atmosphere that Stratford conveys. Confederation
Park, composed of Japanese gardens and waterfalls and built in 1967,
commemorates 100 years of confederation. Manicured lush gardens, such as downtown's
Shakespearean
Gardens along with lanterns and Victorian houses line narrow laneways
with a warm beckoning glow. Although Stratford is located in Canada, it could
just as easily blend into the English countryside. However, Stratford has
its own identity, which is evident strolling through the beautiful parks and
gardens. This artsy city is small enough to create a real sense of community,
but large enough to accommodate an annual flow of close to a million tourists
that flock here each year.
ACCOMMODATION STYLES
Bed & Breakfasts
Although named after Stratford-upon-Avon,
England, where William
Shakespeare was born, Stratford is not just associated by moniker to England,
but also mimics its country charm and character. Originally a railroad junction
and furniture manufacturing town, Stratford was forced to reinvent its economy
after a devastating industrial strike in 1933. The Shakespeare Stratford Theatre
was born in 1953 and has flourished consistently there after. Today the festival
defines much of the world's perception of Stratford and the dozens of Victorian
bed and breakfast establishments are a perfect fit to accommodate all those
Shakespearean theatre-goers
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| Annual
Release of the Swans into the Avon River
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For those interested in the
urban dynamic of Stratford, the bulk of attractions are centrally located downtown.
Shops, galleries, museums and theatres are all surrounded by the majority of bed
and breakfasts. Each property offers a unique perk or package and a personalized
touch to any stay. Acrylic
Dreams B&B is no exception. Guests can relax and enjoy pampering through
fitness therapy, yoga and reflexology after a long day of sightseeing. The Alexandra
Inn is another prime example of a Stratford bed and breakfast. An in-house
spa provides guests with therapeutic massage, paraffin heat therapy, manicures
and, of course, a full homemade breakfast is served each morning. XIS
Stratford is yet another bed and breakfast, however, it is the only one
of its kind in Stratford. Streamlined architecture forms the building's design
and modern art décor graces the walls, where contemporary chic is the general
theme. In close proximity is Gallery
Stratford, a public and interactive gallery and studio. Other art galleries,
boutiques and bistros litter the downtown streets promising one of-a-kind artisan
products, unique bargains and freshly prepared cuisine.
Aside from the inner city,
outdoor activities pose a contrasting method of discovering the Stratford area.
The climate can be quite mild and humid throughout the year, however, the snowbelt
stretches across the Great Lakes shorelines reaching towards Stratford and causing
very heavy snowfall for several weeks out of the year. As a result of all the
snow, snowmobiling, snow tubing and cross-country skiing are among the many popular
winter activities. Perth County is dotted with parks and lakes and veined with
hiking trails, creating prime adventuring for outdoor enthusiasts. When the ground
thaws and the summer prevails, boating, fishing and swimming tend to be the dominant
activities of choice.
Camping
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Stratford
Dragon Boat Race 5 |
Camping is another completely different and great way to explore the Stratford
area. Ontario's rolling hills and diverse landscape makes for spectacular scenery
and recreational opportunities. Stratford
Fair Grounds Camping is in the inner-city and offers full hook-up sites
as well as partial and more rustic lots. Inner-city camping gives campers the
best of both worlds by enabling a taste of roughing it but with the immediate
option of dining out and shopping. Take a drive and explore self-guided tours
through
Shakespeare to the Shoreline. Shopping
includes antiques and collectibles, artisan works and art galleries, farmer's
markets, gardens, live theatre, historic stops and nature walks are all offered
as themed tours. The Wildwood
Conservation Area and Wildwood
Conservation Campground and day area is located just west of Stratford
and provides guests with hundreds of standard or full hook-up campsites in addition
to the dozens of outdoor activities. Cross country skiing and hiking trails,
along with the popular and comprehensive snowmobile trail network enables an
plethora of outdoor activities.
Other Accommodations
Lest we forget the many other forms of accommodation such as the hotels and
motels along with conference
facilities, inns
and extended
stay suites. Local lodging tends to reflect the history of Stratford
in one way or another. For example, the Swan
Motel, suitably named in honour of the highly recognized swans of
the Avon River, offers an authentic, historic stay. Swans have become a symbol
to Stratford. The
Olde English Parlour Historic Inn, where history meets luxury, completes
the Shakespearean experience. Weary travellers can also seek long term or
extended stay accommodations, which can be very handy especially during the
festival season.
Transportation
Stratford
Transit provides convenient transportation within the city with bus
stops located throughout downtown and residential areas, while Greyhound
Canada and Cherrey Bus Lines offers a wider
span of travel and touring beyond the city limits. Stratford
Municipal Airport is the regional airport located on the east side of
the city. The available service connects domestic, business and freight flights
to larger metropolises such as London and Toronto. For those who would like
a tour of the city or some other form of transportation,
ways to see the town vary from touring to enjoy views atop a double decker bus
and from the leather seats of a hired luxury limousine, to rustic horse drawn
carriages and sleigh rides.
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| The
Alexandra Inn Bed & Breakfast Front Door and Sitting Room 6 |
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Irene Miller; c/o
www.imillerphoto.com; A Striking Fairytale-like View of the Avon River in
the Twilight Hours; Stratford, ON, CA
- Irene Miller; c/o
www.imillerphoto.com; Stratford Theatre and its Surrounding Park During the
Summer; Stratford, ON, CA
- c/o Amadeus Haus B&B;
Amadeus Haus Bed and Breakfast's Welcoming Front Steps; Stratford, ON, CA
- Irene Miller; c/o
www.imillerphoto.com; Annual Release of the Swans into the Avon River; Stratford,
ON, CA
- Irene Miller; c/o
www.imillerphoto.com; Stratford Dragon Boat Race; Stratford, ON, CA
- c/o Alexandra Inn;
The Alexandra Inn Bed and Breakfast Property and Grounds Showing the Front
Door and Inside the Sitting Room; Stratford, ON, CA
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