Oshawa, Kitchener, London and Chatham-Kent - we keep going!

During our trip, we touched the border with the United States several times. Now, however, we are heading directly towards it, to Chatham-Kent, a city that shares one of its lakes with the USA ( Lake St. Clair). The journey from Peterborough takes over four hours but we will make stops in some interesting towns along the way so understandably arrive later.

Fast travel to the border with America

Then we drive right past the outskirts of Toronto without stopping - we'll be back in a few days so there will be no shortage of opportunities to explore this beautiful city. We will make a stop only in Kitchener, where the Oktoberfest takes place every year, the largest festival of this type, right after the original one, organized in Munich. Kitchener also houses the Homer Watson House & Gallery, a museum dedicated to the famous Canadian painter. Watson was the founder of the Canadian Art Club, and the beautiful landscapes of Canada painted by him still delight visitors with their amazing charm.

The city is also home to Woodside - the home of William Lyon Mackenzie King, the Canadian prime minister who has been famous for the longest tenure in his position. The building was restored to its former Victorian style, and was also considered the Woodside National Historic Site of Canada. The pearl of Kitchener is Victoria Park, located in the heart of the old part of the city, as well as the Grand River (Canadian Heritage River), from which residents draw drinking water.

Far from England - London

The next city we pass is London. One of its attractions is the Cathedral of St. Peter's Cathedral (St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica), a stately structure with soaring towers and an ornate facade. The colorful metal trees standing in the center are also interesting - they are an original example of modern art. A real oasis of beauty and peace is the oldest building in the city, the Eldon House, built in 1834. The historic residence has practically not changed since its inception. It is now open to the public to see the family heirlooms, furniture and valuables of the Harris family to which it once belonged. The gardens next to the house are also delightful

After visiting the mansion, we move on to finally reach Chatham-Kent. We are less than 1.5 hours away.

Something for bird lovers like Chatham - Kent

The main advantages of the city, invariably tempting tourists, are white, sandy beaches, unlimited fishing opportunities, as well as wide recreational areas, which include, among others Rondeau Provincial Park and Wheatley Provincial Park. Clearville Park is particularly beautiful, where people who long for a break from civilization will find an abundance of nature and numerous walking paths, allowing to contemplate the beauty of the surroundings in silence. Anglers have a chance to catch rainbow trout and salmon here, while romantics will be delighted with the sunsets by the lake. The park is a natural habitat for many species of birds. There are those who say that he makes Chatham-Kent one of North America's most attractive destinations for ornithology enthusiasts. The richness of bird species living here attracts them from all over the country (and maybe the world). You can put up a tent in it from May to October - there is a large campsite here. In turn, campers can stay in one of the two above-mentioned parks or on one of the numerous private campsites, incl. Camper's Cove and Mitchell's Bay Marine Park. The Woolmans Wood Tourist Caravan and Camping Park (Rochester Road) , where prices start from $ 20 / person, is especially recommended. per day.

Chatham-Kent, apart from lush greenery, also attracts with historic buildings and close proximity to Walpole Island , an Indian reserve. It is located right on the Michigan border and is also known as Bkejwanong . Another attraction of the city is the Chatham Capitol Theater. When it was opened in 1930, it was the largest theater in the region - it has 1,210 seats . Currently, it hosts regular performances, and has recently undergone a major renovation. Every year the city hosts the "Retrofest" festival, during which a number of vintage cars pass through the streets.

Rest among the greenery

As you can see, a relatively small city has a lot to offer to tourists. Interesting attractions and beautiful landscapes interspersed with lakes can tempt you to stay longer. So we're staying here to recharge before the final part of the journey - we're slowly heading towards Toronto, where the finish of our trip is. We chose the aforementioned Woolmans Wood Tourist Caravan and Camping Park as a place to rest, and after a decent sleep we will go to meet one of Canada's greatest attractions - Niagara Falls awaits us.