Discovering Canada’s Liquid Gold: Lindsay on Location
Lindsay on Location headed north to Canada to experience its Winter Wonderland. Canada is the ultimate winter playground for everyone. There's something for every age, interest, and skill level. Canada provides the freedom to try new things and get out of your comfort zone this winter. The opportunities for adventure are endless! And, I was on a mission to try as much as possible in the beautiful province of Ontario. From helicopter rides, to tapping maple trees, to hanging off the CN tower, to enjoying some ice wine in an ice lounge, to learning how to curl. Canada is a stone's throw away from most US cities. It's affordable and accessible. Right now the US dollar goes far in Canada (10 Canadian dollars is 8 USD) so you can travel guilt-free and do so much more! And just like we all think, Canadians are the nicest and I can't wait to go back.
National Maple Syrup Day is December 17th. Some might call it the best day of the year! I got the opportunity to try my hand at tapping a maple tree for its Liquid Gold. But, I left it up to the experts in the end. Canada produces 71% of the world’s pure maple syrup and has long been part of Canada’s cultural fabric. I visited Maple Leaf Place to find out the history, the process, and to taste their Maple Syrup. Their Maple Syrup tasted nothing like what I have had in the states. It was light, nutty, and not as sweet as I am used too. You can tell a difference when it is straight from the source! We did a tasting of three types. Light, Amber, to Dark. The color and flavor of maple syrup are dependent on when the sap was harvested. Sap drawn earlier in the season typically produces syrup with lighter color and flavor. As the maple season progresses, the flavor intensifies and the color deepens. All are around the same sweetness, just depends on the flavor that you like. I was a huge fan and took lots home for gifts for everyone.
You can't visit Ontario without seeing Niagara Falls. Nearly 12 million visitors visit Niagara Falls every year . Many treat Niagara Falls as the ‘honorary’ 8th wonder of the world. Want to check out behind the falls? You can go behind the cascading water to enjoy the wonder with their Journey behind the Falls. I wanted to get a different view, a view from above. Niagara helicopter took me on an adventure I will not forget. To see the falls from the sky was truly majestic. And guess what, there are no crowds in the sky. So this is a great way to experience the wonder in an elevated way!
During the holidays, Niagara Falls hosts the Winter Festival of lights. This is a great festive activity for the family. It runs November 18, 2023 to January 7, 2024
It is Canada's largest FREE outdoor light festival with millions of lights, and interactive experiences. There are also fireworks every weekend until January 7th. And for all you chocolate lovers check out Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights Hot Chocolate Trail. This self-guided trail leads to 17 stops with 23 unique and delicious flavours to sip and savour. There are options for kids and adult versions. The perfect beverage to warm you up as you stroll around.
I had never tried Ice Wine. What is it? Ice wine is made from grapes that have naturally frozen on the vine. The grapes for ice wine are harvested in late fall or early winter when the temperatures drop low enough to freeze the water content in the grapes and are picked and pressed while still frozen. The water in the grapes remains frozen during the process allowing for a more concentrated and sweeter juice to be extracted. 95% of the world's icewine is made in Ontario, Canada.
I had to check it out. I got a very special opportunity to take a helicopter over Niagara Falls to Peller Estates. One of the leading icewine makers in the world. We did a full ice wine tasting. And, we did it in their 10 Below Ice Wine Lounge. The lounge is constructed out of 13,607 kilos of ice and kept at a frosty 10º below zero (14°F) - the temperature for harvesting Ice Wine grapes. I learned a massive tip during my tasting. Everyone assumes Ice Wine is super sweet. Of course it is sweeter than your typical wine. But, if you have great quality like Peller, you just need to know how to taste it. You need to hide the tip of your tongue. The tip takes in all the sweetness. So if you hide it (easiest way to place your tongue on the outside of your glass), then the wine doesn't taste so sweet. And, it allows you to really taste all the delicious notes of each wine.
Down the street was Wayne Gretzky Estates. The iconic hockey player that has God like status in Canada and around the world has created an amazing brand. At Wayne Gretzky Estates you can take a tour, ice skate, or enjoy a cozy cocktail in their lounge. I got to try and make three cocktails. I was blown away at the creativity and the taste. They have movie themed cocktails that have you hitting ice with a hammer, or torching marshmallows. The true hero is his Canadian Cream Whisky. I went home with not just one but two and also his famous Whiskey. Stock up on this fan favorite.
After Niagara we headed to the bustling city of Toronto. Do you want the picture-perfect holiday experience? Then head to The Distillery Winter Village located in Toronto, Canada. This historic area with Victoian buildings just turned 190 years old. Every Christmas they turn into an experience where friends and family gather to take-in the timeless nostalgia of the holidays. There are local vendors, holiday stores, festive art, cabins, lights, gifts and lots of cafes and restaurants to choose from. Make sure to stroll the cobblestone streets and find Santa and his elves. The winter village is best known for its majestic centrepiece Christmas tree in Trinity Square. Which was created by Christian Dior. It took a year to create the concept. There are over 12,000 ornaments.
CN Tower is declared one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. Standing 553.3 meters (1815 feet) high and offering two observation decks. But, I didn't want to just observe. I wanted to immerse myself in some adventure. The EdgeWalk is the world’s highest full circle hands-free walk and the first of its kind in North America. It is in the Guiness Book of World Records. I love adventure, I am not afraid of heights, but I was not prepared for this. I am still a little shaky. It was amazing and the views were epic. But it was scary for sure. You are 1,800 feet in the air with just a harness. Would you EdgeWalk? Definitely one of the scariest things I have ever done! But, if you are an adventurous soul, do it!
After I got my heart rate down from the EdgeWalk, I was very thirsty. I headed across the street to Steam Whistle Brewery. It was dreamed up by 3 friends who called themselves, "Three Fired Guys." After a camping trip they were on a mission with their new motto: "Do one thing really, really well." Their singular focus was to make one single beer perfect. With only 4 natural ingredients. And so their pilsner was born. I do not usually order a pilsner, but I loved it. Crispy with a nice balance. But, you really go for the unfiltered, which quickly became my favorite and that you can only get at the brewery.
Canada loves adventure and their sports. I always watch Curling during the Olympics, but I was clueless how to play. I was on a mission to find someone who could teach me all about the famous Canadian Sport. Curling was introduced to Canada in the early 1800s by Scottish immigrants. The first official curling club in Canada was formed in Montreal in 1807. There are now more than 1,000 curling clubs across the country and it's estimated there are more than 750,000 Canadians participating in the sport. Turns out, I am pretty good. My lovely and patient coach, Graham, was so good at breaking down the steps and before you know it I was launching the stones into the target. My gymnastics and yoga days helped a lot, as I was almost in the splits each time. I loved it so much. Who wants to join a curling league with me in the states?
