Party like its 2020 coming up in the falls, Toronto, Royal Botanical Gardens

   One-Tank Trip for Dec. 28/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

   They’re gonna party like it’s 1999 – make that 2020 – in Niagara Falls for the bash of the year, both of them.

   Ringing in the New Year with the backdrop of the falls has been a popular family event on the eve of the advancing calendar year.

   The free party in Queen Victoria Park on the Niagara Parkway has performances by singer Bryan Adams, Walk Off the Earth and local pop star Valerie Borghesi.

Fireworks will light up the night over Niagara Falls to welcome 2020.

   Hosted in partnership with the City of Niagara Falls, the outdoor event from 8:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. features two fireworks displays.

   Entertainment and the first fireworks over the falls at 9:15 p.m. are for the benefit of kids and others who can’t make it to the awaited midnight hour.

Hop on the Blumination Dream Trail for a Hallmark Christmas movie feel

   One-Tank Trip for Dec. 21/19

   (BLUE)

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Looking like a scene right out of a Hallmark Christmas movie, Blue Mountain Village is sparkling for the season.

   This cobblestoned pedestrian village near Collingwood is framed by turn-of-the-century architecture and alight with the Blumination Dream Trail’s “awe-inspiring” displays.

   The spectacle lasts until March 28 and after last year’s popular inaugural year, there is more inventive technology with one-million lights that are bigger and brighter.

A scenic winter scene at Blue Mountain Village.

    This is a “complimentary experience for all to enjoy,” with a one-kilometre winter stroll through the heights of innovation to the edge of your imagination, said Patti Kendall of  the Blue Mountain Village Association.

   “Follow the trail along beautiful, tree-lined pedestrian streets and pathways through the village and around the mill pond to discover magical, mega-watt light displays,” she added.

On the Road again with the newly revised Along Interstate 75 by Dave Hunter

   One-Tank Trip for Dec. 14/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

   There’s a definitive driving guide for snowbirds, fun-in-the-sun Disney and cruise-ship seekers venturing along the I-75 to Florida.

   Rely on Canadian Dave Hunter to tell you where to go and how to get there on this several tank trip along the “Expressway to the Sun” that picks up where Highway 401 ends in Windsor/Detroit.

   Hot off the press and with online updates is Dave and wife Kathy’s labour of love – the 20th edition of Along Interstate75.

   It contains entertaining local knowledge and insider information about virtually everything that exists along the 1,542 kilometres of blacktop and cement.

   Splitting their time between home in Mississauga and Lakeland, Fla. at their “winter writing retreat,” this bi-annual edition is completely revised.

   That means the amazing fact is the guide provides information about everything at each exit including gas stations, restaurants, lodging, rest areas and local attractions – and on which side of the highway.

   It also tells of road conditions, speed limits, radar enforcement hot spots that are extremely accurate and the safest lanes.

   All this is packed into each page that covers 40 kilometres for about 30 minutes of driving.

   “New is access to your secret information and update website to keep the book up-to-date before you travel,” Hunter said.

   “Every few weeks, I update the site with new material such as maps and articles and post any major changes affecting the I-75 drive,” he added.

Your kiss is on my list on the Waterloo Region Mistletoe Trail; Wonders of Winter; Gifts of Light

   One-Tank Trip for Dec. 7/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Pucker up! The Explore Waterloo Region Mistletoe Trail returns for the holidays.

   This fun initiative in the Kitchener-Waterloo area features seven “Instagramable locations” where mistletoe has been hung.

Kissing under the outdoor mistletoe is a Waterloo Region holiday tradition.

    Every photo submitted qualifies to win the romantic Mistletoe Trail Date Night Package.

   The locations are where visitors are invited to stop by for a shareable moment – whether that is “a hug, a kiss and definitely a picture or selfie,” said Minto Schneider, CEO of the Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corp.

   “Visitors and locals are looking for things to do now that the cold weather is here,” she said.

   This is called a fun way to encourage people to get outdoors to explore the region with family and friends.

Guelph Arts Council exhibitions at 10C Shared Space

Guelph, Ontario – Guelph Arts Council is pleased to announce exhibitions in the street-level community gallery at 10C Shared Space, 42 Carden St. The exhibitions feature work by GAC’s artist members, with gallery hours Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.to 5 p.m.

Artist Brian Johnston’s The Halo Project runs from now through Dec. 13.

The project is a photographic portrayal of individual identity in a world of complex cultural, political, educational, spiritual and relational diversity.

Brian uses mixed media approaches to explore the human condition and its spiritual relevance - to capture the invisible behind the visible. Join us for an opening and artist’s talk on Thursday, Dec.5 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Hanging loose on popular cruise ship Christmas and New Year's sailings

   Out to Sea for Nov. 30/19

      ---

   (c) By Jim and Barb Fox      

   They say there’s no place like home for the holidays and many people are making that home a cruise ship.

   So popular are cruises for Christmas and New Year’s that it’s best to secure a cabin now for next year.

   “The reality is that these sailings are at the most popular time of the year, so space might be really tight this close in,” said Vance Gulliksen of Carnival Cruise Line.

 

This feature is posted on our Out to Sea blog at:

 

https://outtoseatravel.blogspot.com/2019/12/hanging-loose-on-popular-cruise-ship.html

 

 

Detroit gets decked out for the holidays; parades, shows, shopping, fun

   One-Tank Trip for Nov. 23/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Metro Detroit is getting all decked out for the holidays – and there couldn’t be a better time to visit.

   Starting with the U.S. Thanksgiving next Thursday and then less than a month until Christmas, this “come-back” metropolis is thriving.

   It’s “Go Time Detroit” as Thrillist, the online travel website, named it “one of America’s most fun cities.”

America’s Thanksgiving Parade

    Starting downtown, some attractions are the Thanksgiving Day parade, “pop-up” Christmas stores, decorated trees, special shows at the Fisher and Fox theatres and Noel Night in the Cultural Center.

   In the metro area, there’s Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village, lavish decorations at the Dearborn Inn and historic ones at auto baron homes.

   They’ve kicked off the season with the lighting of a huge Norwegian spruce wrapped in 19,000 multi-colored lights and ornaments at Campus Martius Park.

Holiday inspirations featured at Christmas shows and events

   One-Tank Trip for Nov. 16/19

      (c) By Jim Fox

   The International Centre in Mississauga will be turned into a winter wonderland as the holiday spirit returns for the Seasons Christmas Show.

   Happening from Nov. 22 to 24, show-goers can “add some sparkle to holiday shopping,” said publicist Jakki Roussel.

   There are craft workshops, holiday inspired stage presentations and Santa posing for photos beside a giant Christmas tree.

The Seasons Christmas Show is a popular place for shoppers.

    Some 100 artisans, along with talented food-makers and do-it-yourself crafters, will show seasonal decor ideas and handmade items.

   The Makeful Market has “pretty quirky gifts” for stocking stuffers including avocado hand cream, beer-infused mustards, espresso face balm and edible ornaments, Roussel said.

McMichael Canadian Art Collection to host Group of Seven centennial exhibition

   One-Tank Trip for Nov. 9/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

    It will be the 100th anniversary May 7 when a group of artists calling themselves the Group of Seven mounted their first formal exhibition at the Art Gallery of Toronto (now the Art Gallery of Ontario).

   Over a three-week run about 2,000 visitors viewed more than 120 paintings of which only

six were sold.

Franklin Carmichael’s autumnal symphony calked October Gold will be part of the Group of Seven exhibition.
Photos from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.

    A.Y. Jackson wrote home that the exhibition was “attracting quite a lot of attention even if it is not understood.”

   They wouldn’t remain little-understood for long even though they had to return to their day jobs.

   In commemoration, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection (10365 Islington Ave.) in Kleinburg will mount a landmark exhibition of the group’s finest pieces from its permanent collection entitled “A Like Vision:” The Group of Seven at 100.

   “The collection “remains the spiritual home” to the group and is a destination for Canadians who cherish the artistic legacy of the country, said publicist Sam Cheung.

   It grew out of the personal devotion of Robert and Signe McMichael, he added.

Artist Lawren S. Harris created his painting Montreal River in 1920.

The Royal Ontario Museum publishes Cloth that Changed the World: The Art and Fashion of Indian Chintz

Photography by Tina Weltz

(News Release)

New book explores the story of India’s richly coloured textiles ahead of ROM original exhibition 

TORONTO, October 24, 2019 — The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is pleased to announce the publication of Cloth that Changed the World: The Art and Fashion of Indian Chintz on December 2, 2019. The collection of essays explores the far-reaching influence this vividly printed and painted cotton cloth has had on the world, from its origins 5,000 years ago to its place in fashion and home décor today. The volume is the official companion to the ROM-original exhibition The Cloth that Changed the World: India's Painted and Printed Cottons, which runs from April 4 to September 27, 2020 in Toronto.

 

The scholarly and beautifully illustrated publication draws from the Royal Ontario Museum’s own Indian chintz collection, which ranks as one of the best in the world. Featuring extensive new research, this multidisciplinary book traces the story of chintz and the indelible footprint it has left on the world. The publication combines vivid field photography of artisans at work with striking images from the ROM's world-class collection, as well as images from India’s fashion runways and the work of top designers embracing this heritage textile today.

 

"The world would be a drab place without India," says Sarah Fee, editor, Cloth that Changed the World and ROM Senior Curator of Eastern Hemisphere Fashion and Textiles. "Our blue jeans and printed T-shirts trace much of their lineage back to the ingenuity of India’s cotton printers and dyers. This exhibition and companion book celebrate how India ‘clothed the world’ in exuberantly coloured cottons for thousands of years. It explores the art’s resiliency in the face of modern industrial imitation and shares the exciting stories of reviving natural dyes and hand skills in India today.”

Billy Elliot goes on at Stratford; Mickey memories; and the Crooners in Port Stanley

   One-Tank Trip for Nov. 2/19

   (SHOWS)

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Encore, encore!

   The show will continue for several highly popular Stratford Festival performances.

   “The festival’s season will now stretch to Nov. 24, with a three-week extension of Billy Elliot the Musical, which has been packing houses since it opened in the spring,” said publicity director Ann Swerdfager.

   “Introducing Nolen Dubuc as Billy and featuring Dan Chameroy and Blythe Wilson, this production is not to be missed,” she said.

Performances of the blockbuster hit Billy Elliot the Musical have been extended by three weeks in Stratford.

    It’s an inspirational story about a talented young boy’s tough life, with moving dance numbers and music by pop legend Elton John.

   This gritty new take on the smash-hit show has been “reimagined for Stratford.”

Rocky Horror primer for shows in Niagara Falls, Ontario

News Release

 

Get the full experience of Canadiana Productions’ performance of the cult classic, Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, 2019

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — There may not be another single movie or play that draws such a passionate response from its fan base than the Rocky Horror Show and its movie adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Around the world, when fans enter the theatre for either a screening or live performance, chances are better than even they are doing so in costume as their favourite character and are equipped with a small arsenal of items they will use to connect themselves to the show in a way that simply doesn’t happen for other films or plays.

“When it comes to Rocky Horror, audience participation is not encouraged; it is mandatory,” says Lee Siegel, Artistic Director of Canadiana Productions, the Niagara Falls-based dinner theatre company that is preparing to stage its 17^th performance of Rocky Horror this Halloween. “There is nothing in theatre quite like the interaction between the audience and performers during Rocky Horror.”

Neil Sedaka concert postponed at Casino Rama Resort

(News Release)

Originally scheduled for Saturday, November 2 (8PM)

 

Rama, ON (Tuesday, October 29, 2019) - Casino Rama Resort regrets to announce that the Neil Sedaka concert scheduled for Saturday, November 2 (8PM) has been postponed due to artist’s illness.  Mr. Sedaka has been advised by his physician not to travel until his health improves.

 

The Casino is working with the artist’s team to reschedule the much anticipated performance and will provide details on the rescheduled date as soon as possible.

 

The casino and the artist apologize for any inconvenience this postponement may cause and Mr. Sedaka looks forward to performing at Casino Rama Resort at a later date.

Fall Flavours Returns to Ontario’s Lake Country

(News Release)

Ontario’s Lake Country, ON: Fall Flavours is back again this Fall with delicious lunch and dinner options prepared by some of your favourite restaurants.

Fall Flavours offers a great reason to get out and enjoy our local restaurants and taste the various menu items created by local chefs. Fall Flavours of Ontario's Lake Country is on now until Sunday, November 3^rd. 

For all participating restaurants and to see their menus visit FlavoursOfLakeCountry.com.

Flavours provides an opportunity for locals and visitors to treat themselves to some of the finest restaurants in Ontario's Lake Country. 

Its magic showtime for sleight of hand and optical illusions in Fergus;Fall Cottage Life Show for inspiration

   One-Tank Trip for Oct. 26/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

   “Abracadabra!” Now you see it, now you don’t. It must be magic.

   Fans of the sleight of hand and optical illusions are heading to the picturesque town of Fergus along the Grand River, northwest of Guelph.

   Through the end of the month, the town has something special up its sleeve for magic lovers.

   This inaugural Ontario Week of Wonder Magic Festival features some of the “world’s top magicians and illusionists,” said co-organizer Ryan Joyce.

Performing his magic in Fergus is Ryan Joyce.

    A professional magician and illusionist from Fergus, Joyce said it’s a “family friendly celebration of magic guaranteed to dazzle audiences.”

   There is a combination of theatre shows, free busker-style street performances and intimate table-side appearances at several restaurants.

   Public shows are on through the weekend at the Fergus Grand Theatre with internationally acclaimed magicians including family magic shows today and Sunday at 2 p.m.

   The magicians have appeared on some of the biggest stages in the world, as well as popular shows such as America’s Got Talent and Netflix specials, Joyce said.

   As well as the theatre shows – where tickets are vanishing quickly – are pop-up performances in downtown Fergus to Oct. 31.

Canadian magician Carisa Hendrix appears at the show. (Kevin Stenhouse)

    The area has deep connections to the world of magic as Canada’s largest organization for professional magicians was founded in Elora by magician Joan Caesar who worked with Joyce to organize the festival.

   “Festival-goers are in for a treat as these are literally the magicians that magicians come to see,” Joyce said.

   A bonus is that the pre-Halloween festival coincides with what is already a magical time in the area.

   The neighbouring town of Elora hosts Monster Month with activities and events “that capture all that’s fun and frightening about Halloween.”

Elora’s Monster Month has Twilight Zoo illuminations.

   Events include the Twilight Zoo with installations of lantern sculptures throughout Elora on buildings and in the green spaces.

   There’s a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre at Grand River Raceway tonight in Elora.

   For more details about the magic festival, go to magicfestival.ca and Monster Month, monstermonth.ca

   Are we there yet?

   Happening now is something to help cottagers make it through the winter – the Fall Cottage Life Show on through Sunday at the International Centre in Mississauga.

The Fall Cottage Life Show is packed with everything for cottagers. (Jim Fox)

   “Whether you’re looking to warm up your cottage with fall decor and tasty recipes, or get a head start on planning big or small renovations for the next spring season, cottagers are sure to find inspiration at the show,” said publicist Jakki Roussel.

   “With 250 exhibitors and numerous speakers and stage presentations, the show is a one-stop destination dedicated to educating and inspiring cottagers on how to create their dream getaway,” she added.

   This includes tips on protecting the cottage from the effects of climate change to small renovations and fun projects.

   Author Leslie Garrett discusses how climate change has impacted cottage country with fewer songbirds to algae blooms and devastating floods.

Cottagers can find inspiration at the show. (Jerry Behnke)

    For cottagers planning a significant rebuild, small renovation or looking to enjoy their retreats year-round, the show has boats, docks, furniture, arts and decor, building products and more.

   The centre is at 6900 Airport Rd., Entrance 5, with hours today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

   Admission is $15; $8 ages 13 to 17; $22 weekend pass. Parking is free. cottagelife.com/shows

   -30-

   Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

   For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca

Boo! Ghoulies, ghosties and long-legged beasties on spooky tours

   One-Tank Trip for Oct. 19/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Beware of things that go bump in the night, especially at this time of year.

   Ghoulies, ghosties and long-legged beasties delight in scaring the wits out of mere mortals as all hallows eve approaches on Oct. 31.

   Tales of “haunted” places abound and the “bumps” denote ghosts or other supposed supernatural beings, as the cause of unexplained or frightening noises heard at night.

There are plenty of scary tales on the Ghosts of Stratford Theatrical Walking Tour. (Nicholas Russon photo)

   Numerous tours are held to get up close and personal with these ghosts and supernatural beings.

   If you “ain’t afraid of no ghosts,” London has its share of spooky places from the Grand Theatre to the old courthouse, while Stratford offers walking tours of its creepy in habitants.

   The Ghosts of Stratford Theatrical Walking Tour – Halloween Edition runs on Oct. 25, 26, 29and 30.

Find Inspiration for building your rustic retreat at the 2019 Fall Cottage Life Show

From Flood Prevention to Renovations and Indoor Entertaining, the 2019 Fall Cottage Life Show Brings Expert Cottage Advice to the City

Friday, October 25 - Sunday, October 27  at the International Centre

(Photo by Jerry Behnke)

 

 

 

  (Toronto, ON - October 2, 2019) – Whether you’re looking to warm up your cottage with fall décor and tasty recipes, or get a head start on planning big or small renovations for the next spring season, cottagers are sure to find inspiration at the 2019 Fall Cottage Life Show.

With 250 exhibitors and numerous speakers and stage presentations, the show is a one-stop destination dedicated to educating and inspiring cottagers on how to create their dream getaway. From protecting your cottage from the effects of climate change to small renovations and fun DIY projects, there is something for everyone at the show.

The 2019 Fall Cottage Life Show returns to The International Centre in Mississauga from Friday, Oct. 25 - Sunday, Oct. 27. Tickets are available now on the Cottage Life website here. 

With climate change at the forefront of everyone’s minds, attendees are invited to hear Leslie Garrett, author and contributing writer to Cottage Life, in conversation on the main stage discussing how climate change has impacted cottage country. From fewer songbirds to algae blooms and devastating floods, Leslie will be on hand to offer advice on how cottagers can prepare and protect their retreats from intense flooding and weather disasters before they strike.

One of last Ontario places to see the changing leaves is across the Niagara Peninsula

   One-Tank Trip for Oct. 12/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Niagara is one of the final places in Ontario to view the fall kaleidoscope of colours.

   The region, lying between Lake Erie to the south and Lake Ontario to the north, is in the moderate climate zone.

   That means there’s still time to take in the spectacle of the changing season.

The colourful changing season has started along the Niagara Parkway at Niagara Falls. (Jim Fox photo)

   Niagara offers some special spots to see fall colours on jet boats, a Ferris wheel and at a conservation area.

   This is where you’ll find the Niagara Parkway curving along the Niagara River separating Canada and the United States.

   It was called “the prettiest Sunday drive in the world” by the late British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.

Opening historic doors and places in Dutton Dunwich

   One-Tank Trip for Oct. 5/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

   City slickers can discover what small-town living is all about as Doors Open takes place in Dutton Dunwich.

   The community between London and St. Thomas with 3,800 people is one of the final two stops in this season’s Ontario Heritage Trust program.

   Concluding this month with five communities, the cultural tourism initiative opens the doors, gates and courtyards of “the most unique and fascinating cultural sites.”

St. Peter’s Anglican Church built in 1827 is one of the oldest churches in southwestern Ontario.

    It highlights exceptional spaces of heritage structures “reflected, valued and conserved for future generations.”

   Dutton Dunwich opens the doors of 10 buildings and historic sites with free tours on Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

   It’s called a “unique opportunity to explore and enjoy hidden and interesting places,” by Deputy Mayor Mike Hentz.

Doors Open St. Thomas is back and a little bit spooky

MEDIA RELEASE:

St. Thomas, ON - From April to October, explore Ontario’s heritage treasures at free public events across the province. Satisfy your curiosity and get behind normally closed doors to experience intriguing interiors, where you will be inspired by rare and exceptional materials, craftsmanship and design. From historical houses to modern marvels of construction, Doors Open Ontario has something for everyone - All Free of Charge.

Leaf peeper guide to Ontario Parks; Algonquin and more . . .

   One-Tank Trip for Sept. 21/19

    (c) By Jim Fox

   Just a “heads up” while taking in the kaleidoscope of fall colours in Ontario Parks.

   You don’t have to encounter Highway 401-like traffic while in the woods marvelling over the vibrant fall spectacle.

   Visitors can find themselves shut out of Algonquin Provincial Park near Huntsville because of traffic gridlock on Highway 60 that passes through.

   “The secret is out,” said Jeff Brown of Ontario Parks about Algonquin’s fall colours that are “beautiful and it’s one of our busiest parks in the fall.”

Many Ontario Parks feature blue water and colourful leaves in the fall. (Jim Fox photo)

    Weekends get “extremely crowded, especially at the West Gate,” he said, adding: “Sometimes, it completely fills up and visitors are unable to enter.”

   Leaf-peepers need not despair as “Algonquin is far from the only park in Ontario where visitors can experience incredible fall colours,” he said.

Beware of things that go bump in the night when cruising during hurricane season

Latest Out to Sea column about cruising during Hurricane Season

Go to:https://outtoseatravel.blogspot.com/2019/09/normal-0-false-false-false-en-ca-x-none.html?fbclid=IwAR0RXAKryh2aTrjY--h_A4LaPbEF1vorJ1yUrk7U86r9093MJPsh5v_tNZo

 

Detroit auto show gears up for switch to June; Dancing in the streets for Motown's 60th anniversary

   One-Tank Trip for Sept.14/19

  (c) By Jim Fox

   The wheels are in motion as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit rolls out in June next year from the dead of winter in January.

   “Moving the show to June opens up a whole new world of possibilities to explore both the show and beautiful downtown,” organizers say.

Putting on the glitz at gala. (Barbara Fox photo)

   With more to experience, it will be “an event like the automotive world has never seen before.”

   As a teaser, they say “witnessing the premiere of a newly designed vehicle is one thing but the opportunity to take it for a spin is another.”

   The nine-day show attracts about 800,000 people to view “world-wide vehicle reveals “and some 750 vehicles over nine days at the Cobo Center.

   Detroit’s “party of the year,” the Auto Show Gala Charity Preview also faces a “transformation with an evolution of its own.”

   A bid to introduce “more swagger and creative black tie” could mark an end to the glam experience.

    With summertime temperatures, more daylight and an expanded auto show campus – including Cobo and Hart Plaza – organizers they are looking at options for gala event on June 12.

    These include adding “various levels of involvement to welcome new generations to the preview,” said NAIAS executive director Rod Alberts.

Algonquin Provincial Park's fall spectacular "secret" is out; less busy parks available for leaf peepers

Ontario Parks photo

 Algonquin Provincial Park’s fall colours are beautiful, but the secret is out – it’s one of our busiest parks in the fall.  Fall weekends get extremely crowded, especially at the West Gate. Sometimes, it completely fills up and visitors are unable to enter.
However, Algonquin is far from the only park in Ontario where visitors can experience incredible fall colours. They can follow the fall colour progression using our Fall Colour Report (already the earliest signs of fall colours are coming in). Many have extended fall seasons. Fall colours appear first in the north and then move south as the weather changes.

These parks are awe-inspiring in the Autumn, and help visitors escape the traffic and crowds of our busiest locations:
 Lake Superior Provincial Park (Northwest zone)

Amber reds, warm yellows, and oranges as brilliant as a nighttime campfire – there are few places with fall colours as memorable as Lake Superior Provincial Park.

Lake Superior Provincial Park has unparalleled hiking trails at any time of the year. The fall colours make them just that much better! And as a bonus: the dropping temperatures mean a comfortable hike with fewer insects.

Ontario Parks photo

The vibrant reds and oranges are found in the south of the park, and the yellows and greens in the north. The Awausee Trail should be on everyone’s list during the peak colour period. This demanding but rewarding trail takes visitors past a series of lookouts for a bird’s-eye view of the Agawa Valley and Lake Superior.

In 2018, Lake Superior Provincial Park was officially designated as a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. That means the park is essentially free from light pollution, giving unhindered views of the night sky.

What better time to experience this than in the fall when the nights get longer? Gaze upwards and you’ll see a dome of stars above and, if you’re lucky, the dancing of the Northern Lights. The fall has plenty of cool, clear nights on which nature’s greatest light show might make an appearance.