VOLUME ONE • ISSUE ONE ONTARIO #DISCOVERON THE ANNUAL BEST OF ONTARIO 1 Keep warm in transit and on cool summer evenings with a patterned shawl by Ontario textile designer Virginia Johnson. BORN IN ONTARIO virginiajohnson.com Travel gear and souvenirs that originated right here 2 Eco-friendly Green Beaver sunscreens and skin- and hair-care products keep you By Kat Tancock moisturized and protected without potentially harmful ingredients such as parabens, phthalates and triclosan. greenbeaver.com 3 Mini Mioche children’s wear is CELEB-CRED manufactured from organic cotton and other Amy Poehler sustainable materials. Celebrity fans include Halle Berry Halle Berry and Amy Poehler. minimioche.com 4 Limited-edition Fernando by Heys-FVT 2 hard-shell luggage features Canuck icons 3 such as the CN Tower, Mounties and Ottawa’s Parliament buildings. shop.heys.ca 1 5 Sunglasses by Botany Co. Eyewear are made 4 of eco-friendly bamboo. botanycoeyewear.com 6 Classic brand Roots built its reputation on quality handmade leather goods, like this sleek 5 6 wallet and mobile-phone holder with wrist SEE THE SITES, strap. roots.com 7 Joe Fresh, designed and launched in Toronto by Club Monaco founder Joe Mimran, has developed a following of devotees for its SAVOUR THE MOMENT. affordable take on trends, like these striped boat-neck tees, a perennial summer favourite. joefresh.com 8 Parkdale, Kensington or The Beach? Show allegiance to your Toronto district of choice with 7 Tuck Shop Trading Co.’s City of Neighbourhoods collection. tuckshopco.com 9 A brand recommended by Oprah herself, Lug travel gear includes pack-friendly bags and 10 colourful accessories like luggage belts and 9 11 tags. luglife.com 10 The Kobo e-reader is a travellers’ must- have, best stocked with CanLit favourites by 12 Ontario authors such as Margaret Atwood and 8 Nobel Prize-winning Alice Munro. kobo.com 11 Freshen up shoes and boots for spring with stylish coloured laces by , the From touring historic sights such as Parliament Hill to indulging in Stolen Riches modern iteration of a family business started in urban delights, Ottawa is a quick, easy getaway that will feed your 1915. stolenriches.com passion for arts, culture and culinary experiences—and surround you in scenic beauty and natural wonders. Come join us! Check our 12 Cute handbags by Ela fit all the essentials CELEB-CRED event calendar and book hotels and special offers online today. and have been carried by the likes of Gwyneth Gwyneth Paltrow Jordana Brewster Paltrow and Jordana Brewster. elabyela.com † STARTING RD 13 , Canada’s oldest FREE JUNE 2nd Hudson’s Bay Company 3NIGHT at participating hotels retailer, started selling wool blankets with its distinctive coloured stripes in 1780; today they 3rd consecutive night free valid only at some participating hotels from June 2 to September 1, 2014. Call or visit our website for details. 13 † grace everything from canoes to umbrellas. thebay.com THE ANNUAL BEST OF ONTARIO 2014 – 3 1-888-OTTAWA-8 • WWW.OTTAWATOURISM.CA Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) Ontario Ministry THE ANNUAL of Tourism, Culture and Sport Design and Layout: FCB Toronto, BEST Fuel Advertising OF ONTARIO Editorial Direction: Globe Edge, The Globe and Mail CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES For editorial enquiries please contact [email protected] THIS ISSUE 1 2 3 ADVERTISING SALES Please visit tourismpartners.com 03 Born in Ontario 18 Summer Playlist (click on partnership opportunities). Score cool souvenirs and travel- Get in tune with music festivals Or call Nicole Papineau, OTMPC – Sales Toll-free 1-888-365-4422 or 416-212-1886 friendly gear, made right here and inspired lyrics Email: [email protected] 07 Ontario Picnic 21 First Resort ADDITIONAL TRAVEL INFORMATION 4 5 6 7 For additional travel information on Ontario, Basket Find big nature and small visit ontariotravel.net/travelcentres or please Eat like a locavore with these luxuries, for couples and families call the following numbers: Ontario-made favourites 23 Just Beachy From Canada, Continental U.S.A. and Hawaii English: 1-800-ONTARIO or 1-800-668-2746 08 Around the World Choose sunsets or sports, From Canada: French: 1-800-268-3736 Globe-trot close to home via sandcastles or kites: it’s all here Teletypewriter – TTY/Telecommunications 23 Ontario’s worldly attractions Device for the Deaf (TDD): 1-888-908-8825 27 Take the Bait 8 9 10 11 10 Algonquin and Go fishing for some fun We provide information to assist in teeming lakes, rivers travellers with disabilities. Accessibility Beyond information is collected to address a variety Love our most famous park? and streams of special needs. Please call the toll-free line We’ve got 300 more 1. Kat Tancock writes and edits for 6. Adam Stanley is a freelance writer based and counsellors will assist you with the details 28 What’s Brewing publications including The Globe and Mail in Ottawa and Toronto. He’s a journalism you need to plan and enjoy travel throughout 12 Rainbow is the Tap into craft beer and nosh on and Food & Drink. She can often be found graduate from Carleton University who Ontario. New Black some artisan burgers at her local Toronto food co-op searching loves music, golf (and, yes, beer). INTERNATIONAL ENQUIRIES Take pride in diverse and for the latest Ontario products. Contact the appropriate Canadian embassy or 34 Wee to We 7. Chris Johns is a Toronto-based West- inclusive Ontario pride festivals overseas consulate for information on Ontario. Explore Ottawa as a family or 2. Leanne Delap writes about fashion, food, Coaster who writes about food and travel. For more information, visit canada.ca as a couple! design and travel for Canadian and He has been a restaurant critic for Air International visitors can also obtain 15 The Insider Scoop international publications, including the Canada’s enRoute, Toronto Life and information on Ontario through ontariotravel.net on Summer Toronto Star. She has been the fashion The Globe and Mail. RENSEIGNEMENTS EN FRANÇAIS Families, start your engines: reporter for The Globe and Mail as well as Nous sommes heureux de vous offrir un top intel on 10 fun spots! editor-in-chief of Fashion magazine. 8. Heather Greenwood Davis is an award- service d’information touristique en français. winning freelance travel writer and family- Veuillez composer le 905 754-1963 et il nous 3. Carolyn B. Heller put plenty of mileage travel blogger (globetrottingmama.com) fera plaisir de vous aider. on her hiking boots exploring Ontario’s based in Toronto. Her family was named Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership parks while researching Moon Handbooks: National Geographic Traveler magazine’s Corporation accepts no liability for errors Ontario, a 450-page travel guide to the “Travelers of the Year” in 2012. or omissions. The information and services Kenora 27 province’s attractions. Based in Vancouver, contained in this publication are offered as ONTARIO she has contributed to more than 50 other 9. Scott Earl Smith is a freelance writer a matter of interest and are believed to be correct and accurate at the time of printing. travel and restaurant guides, and her travel and retired police officer living in Thunder Cochrane The inclusion of any advertisement in this features appear in publications ranging Bay. He wrote the popular book Ontario publication does not imply or constitute an Thunder Bay from the Forbes Travel Guide to Perceptive Blue-Ribbon Fly Fishing Guide and has endorsement or acceptance by the Province of Travel to lonelyplanet.com. been published in a wide variety of North Ontario of any of the advertisers, products or American outdoor publications. services advertised, and the Ontario Ministry of 4. Doug Wallace is a Toronto-based Tourism, Culture and Sport is not responsible 34 lifestyle writer, editor and media authority 10. Tim Johnson travels almost 300 days for errors or omissions or misrepresentations working in the worlds of food and travel, per year and has visited 91 countries contained in any advertisement. All rights art and design, and fashion and beauty. A and all seven continents. He contributes reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission Sault Ste. Marie member of the international gay media, he regularly to a number of national Sudbury in writing from Ontario Tourism Marketing was part of the press corps at WorldPride publications including The Globe and North Bay Partnership Corporation. 2012 in London, U.K. Mail, Canadian Living, WestJet’s Up! Pembroke magazine, Canadian Family, MSN.ca and Ottawa 5. Catalina Margulis is publisher of Reader’s Digest. 10 Parry Sound beautyrsvp.com and a travel-writing mom to twin toddlers and a well-travelled 11. Amy Rosen is an award-winning 5-year-old son. (She apologizes in advance freelance journalist and the former Food © 2014 Printed in Canada Barrie Kingston to fellow flight passengers!) Her stories Editor at Chatelaine magazine. She won the Printer: St. Joseph Peterborough Vaughan have appeared in Elle Canada, Flare and Canadian Tourism Commission’s inaugural Communications-Print Group, Concord, ON Toronto Travel + Escape. Keep Exploring Award of Excellence in Stratford Hamilton 12 Travel Journalism (2013) for her body of E&OE 06-14-382K-018989 London Niagara Falls proudly Canadian travel stories. Her third cookbook, Toronto Cooks, will be released Front Cover: HTO Park, Toronto in October. Windsor 4 – #DISCOVERON *Download the official map of Ontario at mto.gov.on.ca THE ANNUAL BEST OF ONTARIO 2014 – 5 ONTARIO PICNIC BASKET Spirit Tree Cidery’s apple and pear cider (sweet/non-alcoholic) from Pack a basket full of local goodness with these treats Caledon is a consistent award winner in competitions. spirittreecider.com By Kat Tancock Sample and pick a favourite maple syrup at The Farm Pantry at St.