Lost in Ontario: Stratford

Throughout my younger years, I often went on day trips to Stratford with my family. I fondly remember afternoon strolls along the Avon river with an ice cream cone in hand as we admired the swans and the large weeping willows that cascaded into the river. I quickly fell in love with the small town charm that the town undeniably exudes. In my late teens, I had the pleasure of calling Stratford home for a short period of time during my involvement in the performing arts. Until this day it holds a very special place in my heart. From its beautiful Victorian architecture, to its unique local shops and incredible cuisine, Stratford is truly deserving of the European town it was named after.

I recently visited Stratford and fell in love with it all over again. Here are my highlights from my trip.

Getting there: Stratford is located about 2 hours from Toronto, making it the perfect day trip.
From Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal Take highway 401 west to Interchange 278 at Kitchener. Take highway 8 west (through Kitchener) then join highway 7/8 west towards Stratford.

Stratford Perth Museum
Highlight: Justin Bieber: Steps to Stardom Exhibit
My day started off at the Stratford Perth Museum where I visited the 'Justin Bieber: Steps to Stardom Exhibit'. It's probably no surprise to most of you that Justin Bieber grew up in Stratford, Ontario. Long before he exploded into international stardom, the singer sang at local spots around the town. The exhibit is quite interesting and documents Justin’s journey as he started out in the small town. Justin's family works with the museum to ensure the exhibit is perfectly curated and up to speed with his current life events. You’ll even find a few pieces from his recent wedding. While I can't quite call myself as a true 'belieber', I do enjoy his music and there's no question he has talent. I would definitely recommend visiting the museum and exhibit.

Edison’s Café Bar
After the museum it was time for some lunch. I popped into Edison’s Café Bar for a delicious lunch and hot beverage to warm up from the brisk autumn air. Edison’s Cafe Bar is a really nice quality coffee shop. I settled for the charcoal latte and an avocado toast with smoked salmon. It was delicious.

Avon River
Next on the list: The Avon River. Ah, the memories! This river runs along Stratford and is very picturesque. Swans are plentiful and several bridges cross over the river including the Huron Street Bridge with its beautifully ornate stone arches. You could easily be in a small European town. You can enjoy an ice cream cone, pack a picnic, take a walk or even enjoy a water activity. My partner and I decided to kayak and I couldn’t recommend it enough. You can rent kayaks at Avon Boat Rentals. We spotted many swans, ducks and even blue heron.

Rhéo Thompson
After a wonderful kayak through the Avon River, we worked up an appetite for a sweet treat. It was time to visit one of my all time favourite candy stores. Rhéo Thompson is a candy store that specializes in premium chocolate goodness. They are famous for their Mint Smoothies, which come in milk or semi-sweet dark chocolate with the perfect hint of mint. They are TO DIE FOR. These are hands down my favourite chocolates of ALL TIME and anybody that i've introduced them to (either stocking stuffers or as gifts) have fallen in love with them. I have come all the way to Stratford before, solely to stock up on these. They're THAT good.

Black Swan Brewing Co.
Next on the agenda was to soak in the afternoon sun with a nice refreshing beer at Black Swan Brewing Co. We opted for ‘the flight’ which included a tasting of five different types of beer. It’s a small, intimate brewery with great quality beer. My favourite was the IPA which had the perfect combination of bitter and sweet.

Braai House
Stratford has many great restaurant options and I couldn't leave for the day without trying Braai House. Braai House is a South African inspired restaurant that focuses on open-fire cooking. This was one of the best dining experiences that I have had in a very long time. From the modern decor, to the perfectly selected background music, the owners of the restaurant left no stone unturned. The food was delicious and while every single plate we ate was perfect, the pizza was incredible. By far, one of the best wood oven pizzas that I have ever had. It had such an incredible smoky flavour. The restaurant brews their own beer and have great selections available. It was the perfect way to end the day.

Stratford Festival
While things are currently on hold due to Covid-19, I couldn't possibly write a blog post with out including the famous Stratford Festival. The festival draws crowds from all over the world and i've had the pleasure of watching a few plays in the past. It's absolutely incredible. While the 2020 season was cancelled due to Covid-19, this is a must do, once things are up and running again.

I can’t express enough how special this charming little town is to me. I encourage you to visit and get lost in its beauty.

What are your favourite charming towns? Comment below!

A huge thanks to Stratford Tourism for sponsoring this post. All reviews and opinions are my very own.