One-Tank Trip
for Oct. 21/17
(c) By Jim Fox
The vibrant reds and
oranges of maple trees are “really popping” now across Ontario as the fall
burst of colour reaches its peak.
Don’t miss the show
while taking one-tank trips to pumpkin patches, apple orchards, fall fairs and
festivals because it might not last long.
Ontario Tourism
reports the colour change has passed 50 per cent while most areas are reporting
leaves falling before they hit their peak colour.
 |
| Vibrant colours dot the countryside across Ontario with the fall leaf spectacle. (Barbara Fox photo) |
“Ontario is the
premier destination to enjoy the annual spectacle of summer’s lush greenery
transformed into a mosaic of magnificent rich shades of red,
orange and yellow,” says the province’s Fall Colour Progression Report.
Northern regions and
centrally in Algonquin Park have a colour change from 60 per cent to 90 per
cent now, with the numbers less in the south.
Falling for fall
Kevin Forget of the
Ontario Travel Information Centre in Barrie gives his suggestions on things to
see and do closer to home.
Southwestern Ontario
has about a 50-per-cent colour change with predominant colours of yellow and
orange with pockets of red.
Some of the “best
viewing opportunities” are the Elora Gorge with its riverside trails and scenic
overlooks that provide hikers with “stunning views.”
Just outside London
is Thorndale’s Apple Land Station that’s a “great spot for apple picking and pumpkins,
and famous for their mile-high apple pies,” Forget said.
The Elora Cataract
Trailway is a 47-kilometre route linking the Credit Valley watershed to the
Grand River along an old CP Rail bed.
It runs through
rolling countryside east of Elora, historic Fergus and past Belwood Lake that
shows off the “beautiful changing scenery.”
 |
| Viewing the fall colours on the Trent-Severn Waterway at the Big Chute Marine Railway. (Jim Fox photo) |
Savour the flavours
of the harvest at Stratford’s Pumpkin Trail that include freshly baked pies, fudge,
pumpkin soup and spiced coffee through Oct. 31.
Get lost in the Thamesville
Corn Maze, ride the cow train, meet the animals and marvel at the corn cannon.
In Windsor, Essex
and district, navigate the scenic shorelines along the St. Clair River and Lake
Huron by motorcycle, Forget suggests.
“Hop on a bike to pedal
the peninsula from Windsor’s stunning riverfront to the province’s most southern
national park – Leamington’s Point Pelee.”
Reapers Realm hosts
a haunted forest ride and has the Vault of Terror, coffin rides and Reapers
Putt Putt for “a lot of terrifying fun for the whole family, if you dare.”
Down Niagara way,
the colour change is creeping past 35 per cent with lots of yellows, greens and
pockets of red and orange.
Touring tips
include Brock’s Monument at Queenston Heights and along the Niagara River
Parkway from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake.
 |
| Royal Mail Ship Segwun plying the blue-black Lake Muskoka waters in the fall. |
Cycle the parkway bike
path by bicycle or one built for two from Zoom or join the company on a guided
winery or craft brewery tour.
“From haunted barns
to wagon rides and a bucking cow ride, there’s lots of fun to be had at
Howells Pumpkin Farm.”
With colours more
than half done in York, Durham, Hills of Headwaters and Hockley Valley, a great
viewing spot is the McMichael gallery in Kleinburg.
Surrounded by forested
landscape, paths and hiking trails, its 6,000-piece Canadian art collection
includes works by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, First Nations, Metis and
Inuit artists.
Toronto and area is
passing the 50-per-cent hump with still time for a guided family nature hike in
High Park.
They’re led by
nature interpreters who show the natural wonders including savannahs, woodlands
and wetlands.
Go to the top of
the CN Tower for a bird’s eye view of the city’s colours with two new floor-to-ceiling
window walls for spectacular views.
To learn the latest
about the colour progression and trip tips, go to www.ontariotravel.net
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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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