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Boughner: Visiting picturesque Elora in the late winter

Ice climbing in the Elora Gorge is just one of the many activities available this month in picturesque Elora.

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Ice climbing in the Elora Gorge is just one of the many activities available this month in picturesque Elora.

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The 20-metre high man-made ice wall is open to experienced climbers and beginners, who can learn the ropes of ice climbing from experts.

Also visit the historic Elora Mill Hotel and Spa, located in a stone building originally constructed in 1832. Those who want some pampering after a day of snowshoeing or hiking on nearby trails can choose from a wide selection of treatments at the hotel’s cliff-side spa. The hotel features a heated outdoor pool that allows visitors to take in the beauty of the gorge all winter long.

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Put on a pair of snowshoes and hit the trails at the Wellington County Museum and Archives, a national historic site located directly across from the Elora Gorge. You might also want to spend a night or two in one of four shipping containers that have been repurposed and transformed into tastefully decorated self-catering suites complete with private patio and hot tub.

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There are several great vantage points off the beaten track in Elora and neighbouring Fergus for hikers to soak up winter views of the gorges created by the Grand and Irvine rivers. The Victoria Park trail has a lookout spot known as Lover’s Leap for a stunning bird’s-eye view, as well as side trails to access the river bed below.

The David Street Bridge right in the village of Elora offers incredible views of the gorge more than 20 metres below. Templin Gardens in nearby Fergus provides spectacular scenery on the banks of the Grand River and is located just steps from the village’s main street.


The inaugural Detroit Bourbon Fest is slated for April 4 at the Belle Isle Boat House. The Detroit Whisky Festival is scheduled for March 13 at Eastern Market in Detroit. Hundreds of whiskeys, scotches and bourbons will be available for purchase.

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March marks the start of spring and a sweet tasting tradition. Join the Essex Region Conservation Authority as it celebrates maple syrup’s natural and cultural heritage. Wear your boots this weekend to Essex County’s premier maple syrup festival at the John R. Park Homestead. Make maple taffy in the snow and see syrup being made the pioneer way. Enjoy demonstrations and hands-on activities. A maple March break for families at the homestead from March 17 to March 20. Tour the site with interpreters, help carry sap pails and a wooden yoke, and try your hand taping a tree with a brace and bit. An old-fashioned sugaring off party is scheduled for March 17 at 7 p.m.


Judas Priest is bringing their 50 Heavy Metal Years celebration to Detroit’s Fox Theatre on Sept. 23 while Loverboy and George Thorogood will perform April 30 at Caesars Windsor.

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Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic, opens today at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. The exhibition features more than 200 works spanning over 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh history from 1914 to present.


Two new exhibitions are being offered this spring at the Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery in Sarnia. The exhibitions are titled Inaabiwin, which means “movement of light,” and Confluence by photographer Meryl McMaster. The shows run until May 3. Also opening on April 1 is a Group of Seven exhibition commemorating their formation as a group 100 years ago.


Looking for a unique lodging in Toronto? If so you might consider the Broadview Hotel’s Summit Lodge, a pop-up offering the perfect winter escape. The Summit Lodge provides visitors with a vibrant, cosy and instagram-worthy winter lodge right in the heart of downtown Toronto. Apart from giving you that ski resort feel, it features many backdrop displays including a ski lift and a wall created from wine barrel tops. For more information call 416-362-8439 or visit the Broadview Hotel website.

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The boardwalk at Point Pelee is considered one of the top 10 most breathtaking boardwalk trails in Canada. Point Pelee is the second smallest, yet most ecologically diverse, national park in Canada, with more than 300 different species of migratory birds and 750 native plants, some of which are endangered. The boardwalk stretches across the 15-kilometre park and gives access to the marshy landscape.


Did you know that Sable Island in Nova Scotia has more wild horses than people? The horses of Sable Island are a national wonder.

Sitting far out in the Atlantic Ocean with its crescent-shaped sandbar emerging from the expanse of the sea, the remote spot is one of Canada’s furthest offshore islands. There are no trees on the island and, instead, boasts shifting sand dunes as well as marram grass and other low-growing vegetation. This protected National Park Reserve is home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna, including a rare horse breed, the Sable Island horse. The 550 free-roaming wild horses are the only permanent residents on the island. In the past, horses used to be rounded up and shipped off the island to be used in coal mines on Cape Breton Island. The island and the horses have since been given full protection from human interference.

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The many horses and other species that call the island home brave the extreme weather conditions of what has been named “graveyard of the Atlantic.” More than 350 vessels have been wrecked due to the rough seas, fog and submerged sandbars that surround the island. Fewer than 400 people visit the island annually.


You can now make camping reservations at national parks across Canada. Park Canada’s online reservation service makes it easier than ever to plan your next outdoor experience. Reservations for 2020 started in January, with bookings available at most locations until the end of March. You can book at over 36 national parks and conservation sites.


The spring forecast for 2020 in Southwestern Ontario indicates that warm temperatures are on the way, but they’re coming along slowly. According to the Weather Network, we can expect at least a few more weeks of colder-than-normal weather before consistent warmth sets in. And when spring does arrive in earnest it will be accompanied by a lot of rain.

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The good news is that temperatures over the next three months will be warmer than the previous two springs.


At least one Iranian business in Toronto has become the target of rumours and discrimination in the face of global panic over the coronavirus. Iran has become a new hotspot for the virus with the highest number of cases and deaths outside mainland China and South Korea. Chinatowns all over Canada have seen a dramatic decline in foot traffic while Chinese restaurants in Toronto cite a decrease in customers. Now it seems some Iranian businesses are encountering the same problem. Khorak Supermarket on Yonge Street in North York has taken to social media to dispel rumours connecting it to the novel illness. A number of Canada’s latest cases have been individuals who recently travelled to Iran.

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Winter is coming to an end, which means it’s time to spruce up your home and welcome the beauty that spring has to offer. This year, save money on expensive spring decor and build on your DIY skills at Canada Blooms Home and Garden Show in Toronto. For 24 years, Canada Blooms has been offering visitors the opportunity to interact, create and gain inspiration with their breathtaking gardens and home displays March 13 to 22 at the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place. This year, Canada Blooms is offering six workshops led by garden professionals to help you create a DIY masterpiece.


The new Wendy film, inspired by the classic movie Peter Pan, will make its debut March 15 in Antigua, where is was partially filmed. One of the filming locations was the famed Hell’s Gate in Antiqua’s North Sound. Hell’s Gate has amazing rock formations, including caves, a bridge and a natural Jacuzzi. You can snorkel Antigua’s coral reefs at several sites enroute to Hell’s Gate.

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Antigua is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea and has been voted the Caribbean’s most romantic destination.


Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski, one of the most luxurious non all-inclusive hotels in Cuba, officially opened this week. Its private location allows guests to feel isolated from the crowds and have a relaxing time in a voluptuous setting. Not only does Cuba have some of the most spectacular beaches in the Caribbean, but it is a destination rich in culture, history and leisure activities.


Readers are invited to submit their questions and suggestions on travel close to home or far away to travel writer Bob Boughner at bobgboughner@gmail.com

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