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The view from the webcam overlooking the the market square in Kingston, Ontario - currently in use as a skating rink.
During the warmer months on weekends the market is bustling with locals picking up produce from local farms. There are normally a number of interesting craft vendors there too.
Curbside Cycle (412 Bloor St. West in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood) must be one of the best bike shops on the continent. With gear from companies like Batavus, Brompton, Brooks, Chrome, Devinci, Freitag, Gary Fisher, Lemond, Marin, Ortlieb and Sigg just to name a few, this is the best collection of cycling products I have ever seen assembled in one shop. The shop's second floor "bike gallery" displays the European bikes and accessories in more of a boutique setting. The shop prides itself on promoting cycling for transportation, for offering an excellent range of cycling products (in particular for women) and a welcoming attitude for experienced cyclists and neophytes alike.
The essential question when arriving in a place is "where to get a cup of coffee?". Well if you find yourself on Toronto's Roncesvalles Ave. the answer is Cherry Bomb Coffee . Owners John and Sarah are very serious about creating the perfect pour starting with fresh roasted beans from craft roaster Dark City Coffee handled with confidence by an experienced barista. Cherry Bomb also offers a daily selection of fresh baked biscotti, muffins, croissants, scones, etc. that match the coffee in quality.
The owners are dedicated cyclists and the shop's "bike wall" is reserved for the display of, well...a bike, normally a vintage road or randonneur machine. The morning rush is an event at Cherry Bomb with people on their way to work, mothers with strollers and bicycle couriers all queued up for their morning brew.
bar seating
child friendly
bike friendly
just plain friendly
Cherry Bomb Coffee
79 Roncesvalles Ave.
Toronto, ON
People ask me, "so where are you from?" I never seem to know how to answer that question. The easier question for me to answer, normally posed by anyone who knows me, is "so where are you now?" The current answer is Calgary. Since I seem to have been fortunate enough to have lived in and traveled to some truly amazing parts of Canada, I decided to start this blog to begin to collect those bits of important information about a place that are normally overlooked in the tourism board marketing brochure.
I have often wondered what it must be like traveling to Canada from another country and trying to figure out were to stay, eat or spend your time. There are some reasonably good online sources of information for some places, but more often than not the search engine rankings are dominated by the big hotel chains, discount travel service providers, and unbearably dull municipal tourism sites.
My hope is that this blog will evolve to become a comprehensive guide to the best things to experience in Canada. No village is too small, no local attraction too insignificant not to be worth mentioning if you think it is worth a visit. I invite locals to share their knowledge of place, and visitors to express their recommendations, opinions and observations.
Now just where to put the first pin in the map...
