Hooray! It’s another Foody article! Now this time we’re once again focusing on something i would consider to be an evening meal restaurant.
Swiss Chalet is a chain of Canadian family restaurants originally founded in 1954 in Toronto, Ontario. There are currently over 200 restaurants in Canada and the United States, as of 2008. The name Swiss Chalet originates from the design of its original restaurants, which featured exposed beam architecture, resembling a chalet one might find in the Swiss Alps!
Now although i have probably managed to capture this restaurant in one of the least desirable ways, on a dull rainy day – (for which i apologise!) These restaurants usually actually look pretty unique and stylish.
Now, remember what i said about all these restaurants generally having a unique point about them, if it isn’t the general style of their restaurants, Swiss Chalet’s unique point is their chicken. Swiss Chalet is best known for rotisserie chicken and smoked barbecue ribs, which are traditionally served with such side dishes as french fries, baked potatoes, salads, rice, and vegetables. Chicken dishes are also served with Chalet Sauce, a dipping sauce that is somewhat similar to barbecue sauce gravy.. well .. that is one interpretation of it. Their dipping sauce, something which Swiss Chalet are very proud of, is one of the strangest dipping sauces I’ve actually come across. It is fairly runny, rather than thick so it will coat anything dipped into it – lightly. I would probably describe it more of a light tomato sauce with a hint of BBQ, with possibly a cinnamon and or nutmeg twist. I think it’s for the spice’s reason that the sauce isn’t necessarily to everyone’s taste, though i like it – and that’s all that matters to me! — If you go – why not try it and let me know what you think to it!
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Like all good places for people to visit, there is always a Visitor Centre, and naturally, Algonquin Provincial Park is no exception. Located at km 43′s marker, Algonquin Visitor Centre is there to help you gain a little more understanding about the history and ecology of the park. No visit to Algonquin Provincial Park would be complete without a stop at the Visitor Centre at Km 43, opened in 1993 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Algonquin Park and the entire Ontario provincial park system.
The Visitor Centre has world class exhibits on the Park’s natural and cultural history, a relaxing restaurant, an excellent bookstore, and “The Algonquin Room” featuring ongoing exhibitions of Algonquin art. A theatre presentation sums up the Park story and then takes you out to the viewing deck from where you can admire a breathtaking panorama of wild Algonquin landscape.
Look out for the large sign by the side of the road indicating you have arrived and head up the road to the centre. Its a longer road than i first expected but you’re there sooner than you know. When we went the car park was only half full, so it seemed that it had plenty of parking – though i would imagine at some points in the year the car park may get rather busy! Remember if you’re going to park up anywhere in Algonquin Provincial Park or do any of the trails, you’ll need to pull up at the gates (big buildings just off the side of the road either end of Highway 60) and go in to get a Permit. These are $15.00 currently but the rates do change depending on the time of year, so remember to check out their website (linked at the bottom of the article!). Read the rest of this entry »
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Well, we’re a blog about Canada, and children all through the UK who go to parks with ponds or small lakes will be very familiar with the sight of Canada Geese. But, if these are, as their name describes — ‘Canadian’ geese, why are they in the UK? Do they fly here? Well keep reading and you may just find out!
The Canada Goose is a wild goose, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body. It is often called the Canadian Goose, though technically this isn’t its correct name.. being picky that is!
This species is native to North America. It breeds in Canada and the northern United States in a variety of habitats. Its nest is usually located in an elevated area near water such as streams, lakes, ponds and sometimes on a beaver lodge. Its eggs are laid in a shallow depression lined with plant material and down. The Great Lakes region maintains a very large population of Canada Geese.
By the early 20th century, over-hunting and loss of habitat in the late 1800s and early 1900s had resulted in a serious decline in the numbers of this bird in its native range. The Giant Canada Goose subspecies was believed to be extinct in the 1950s until, in 1962, a small flock was discovered wintering in Rochester, Minnesota, by Harold Hanson of the Illinois Natural History Survey. With improved game laws and habitat recreation and preservation programs, their populations have recovered in most of their range, although some local populations, especially of the subspecies occidentalis, may still be declining. Read the rest of this entry »
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Well, we start the new CanadaTrip year with a foody article! This time however, rather than a lunch-type restaurant we’re looking at more of an evening meal venue. Montana’s Cookhouse is a Canadian restaurant chain headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario! They have
very distinct, themed restaurants so you’d be struggling to confuse them with any other Restaurant!
Montana’s is known for their ribs, steaks, rotisserie chicken and other lodge fare. The restaurant aims to be a family/casual concept, rather than fine dining. The theme of the restaurant is of a lodge/wilderness setting and they try to provide guests with an escape to simpler times and places. When you enter the restaurant you may be surprised to find various items mounted up on the wall and suspended from the ceiling .. one of the items being a truck!
Montana’s is somewhere we always try to go to at least once during our trips, and their menu is full of fantastic quality food at great prices. There’s one thing that we always try to have when we are out – and that’s the starter Nachos.. but don’t get it just for yourself! We made that mistake once, the first time we went out in fact.. if you do, you will get a heck of a lot of nachos, so get them to share, but with their mix of blue and normal corn chips, as well as the various toppings you can buy as extras to go on them – they’re well worth every cent. (Hint: get them topped with pieces of steak!) Read the rest of this entry »
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Its one year today that we published our first article, as well as our Thorold Township feature and the Lake Simcoe area article.. It’s wierd as it doesnt truely feel like an entire year since then!
But, a year on and we’ve reported on places all over Canada, but obviously especially in Ontario, as it’s where we have most of our Experience.
Over the next year, we’re hoping to add to our articles in other Provinces of Canada, and carry on bringing you honest ideas, tips and help for anyone heading to Canada from the UK.. and of coarse to our Canadian and world wide readers who visit to find information about places they want to travel to as well!
A clear day at the marina in Orillia, ON
So finally, if you want to help contribute to Canada Trip, live in Canada or visit Canada regularly – Let me know! We’re always looking for some help finding more fantastic places of interest, places to eat, stay and of coarse play in Canada!
Email me: enquiries(at)canadatrip.co.uk
Time to look forward to the next year, and for all those hoping to make it to canada in the next twelve months, i wish you happy holidays! Dont forget to let us know how it goes!
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Well, its Friday again! Time for the last (for now) of the trail articles from Algonquin Park, we could only cover a few of them on our visit as there simply is so much to do, I’d recommend you take at least three days if you want to hit on the best parts of the park! But don’t worry, if you’re wanting more Algonquin Park trail articles, we’re heading back in October to try catch the Autumn colours, and we’ll see what trails we can go on then!
The trail in this article is the Whiskey Rapids Trail, the very first of the trails along Hwy 60 on the left. Remember if you’re going to park up anywhere in Algonquin Provincial Park or do any of the trails, you’ll need to pull up at the gates (big buildings just off the side of the road either end of Highway 60) and go in to get a Permit. These are $15.00 currently but the rates do change depending on the time of year, so remember to check out their website (linked at the bottom of the article!)
Make sure you’ve picked up one of the Algonquin park news papers while you’re getting a permit, they’re free and they’re very .. VERY useful to use the map on the back so you know where you are going!
Before you go on any of these trails, remember to have brought with you, proper walking equipment – for example decent walking shoes with a good degree of tread, and comfortable clothes suitable for what ever the weather may be on the day you go on the trail. Another thing you’ll want to factor in is the bugs! If it’s forecast to be warm, chances are you’ll be up against the Mosquitoes and or Black Fly – so bring your bug repellent!
The Whiskey Rapids Trail is a 2.1kilometre loop starting on Highway 60, 7.2 kilometres from the West Gate of Algonquin. For about half of its length, the trail follows the Oxtongue River and culminates on a fine view of the picturesque Whiskey Rapids. The trail guide for this particular trail helps you understand the role of rivers in the natural and human history of Algonquin Park.
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OK! time for another foody article. On the rounds of all the main eateries of southern Ontario we came upon Arby’s. This on the face of it to be honest kind of looks like a burger place, but it isn’t! Like I’ve said, the majority of all these restaurant chains have a unique factor which sets them apart from the rest, at Arby’s its the actual products they sell. Arby’s actually are famous for their roast beef sandwiches!
Now, the photo above is certainly not one of my favourite photos.. it was taken on the move so i’ll apologise for that! However, my trip to Arby’s was actually in fairly high expectation. I’d heard their roast beef in their sandwiches was so tender.. Given the recommendations i was thinking i was in for a pretty decent treat. And besides – I was in Canada, and along with the US, Spain and Australia, it’s a beef loving country – with good cause due to the quality of their beef.
We parked up outside the adjacent Tim Horton’s and went inside. Its interior was the usual comfy fast food restaurant feel, similar to most burger kings in the UK. Immediately i was a little surprised. I had kind of expected the sandwiches to have really nice thick pieces of roast beef in them, but from what i could see in the pictures was more of a very thinly sliced .. wafer thin in fact – beef on a burger bun. I quickly put that to the back of my mind though – it doesn’t matter how the meat is cut right? providing you have enough of it on the sandwich!
Well – we all know from McDonald’s in the UK that we should never trust the pictures on the menu, but i was thinking – this is Canada, half hearted doesn’t exist!
We decided to have just the Beef ‘n’ Cheddar sandwich, though not the Combo, as really we were hoping to just try their signature beef sandwich. Fries are fries ultimately in Canada, it doesn’t matter where you go – you wont be disappointed in them, and though the Curly Fries here at Arby’s are one of the things they are well known for, i would be surprised if they were any better than the particularly high standards that all Canadian fast food restaurants set across the board! Read the rest of this entry »
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Another Friday, and another article visit to Algonquin Provincial Park. This time, we’re not looking at a trail, just one of the small stop-offs which are along highway 60.
If you head down Highway 60, when you get to km 23.5, you’ll see the entrance to the Cache Lake Historic Site Exhibit car park. It’s actually a very big gravelled car park, so you’re likely to find parking at most times, though this car park as far as i can see can be used as a small boat marina as well as for the historic site.
Basically what you will find is an interesting spot – which although is historical, is the result of the removal of various previously essential components of the early park. You’ll arrive at the Car park and walk up to the right where you’ll find your first sign explaining the site. The sign explains that you are now standing at Cache Lake, the hub of Algonquin Park from the 1890s to the 1950s. Park Headquarters, a major railway station and a large hotel occupied this site during those years. As it says, all you need to do is take a 250 metre round trip along the old railway station platform to view four other historical panels which will explain what was there during those 60 years.
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Its Monday, and time for a foody article!
Taco Bell is an American restaurant chain based in Irvine, California. It specializes in Mexican-style food and quick service.
Taco Bell serves tacos, burritos, nachos, other specialty items and a variety of “Value Menu” items.
The one we go to is in Lindsay, it’s a joint restaurant as interestingly this particular store has one counter, one set of tills but you can either get KFC or Taco Bell (or both if you wanted)!
One of the things i like about Taco Bell is that it has simple, cheap food which fills you up well. It’s also something that we have rarely seen, even though there has been Taco Bell stores in the UK.. they all closed down in the mid 90s.
The food items i usually get are the 2 taco combo, which you can choose from hard or soft tacos, or like we usually do – get one of both, and then upgrade it by having Supreme fries with it. Supreme fries are something that i believe is only available in canada. You get a cardboard tray with (skins-on) fries piled on it. On top of the fries you then have taco-mix mince, sour cream, onions, diced tomato and chives – i wouldn’t miss having supreme fries with my meal! Read the rest of this entry »
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Well, it’s Friday once more – and time for another trail review.. though this is a serious trail.. And one i have to admit i haven’t walked fully, mainly as you will need to dedicate your whole day to this trail – it’s the longest trail Algonquin Provincial Park has on highway 60!
First, I’ll say it again.. this is a beast of a trail. You really have to be serious about this one, it’s going to truly take the majority of your day to walk this one, and with a difficulty rating of “Difficult” you’ll need to make sure you’re properly equipped for the job too!
The Mizzy Lake Trail is an 11-Kilometre loop (not counting a two-kilometre optional side trip) beginning on the Arowhon Road just in from km 15.4 on Highway 60. The trail visits nine small lakes and ponds with a view to maximising your chances of seeing wildlife, particularly moose and beaver. Results obviously cannot be guaranteed but the possibilities are good, especially if you are at the prime areas early in the morning or later in the evening. (Try to avoid the middle part of summer days. That is by far the poorest time to see wildlife.)
You should wear good, solid, water resistant footwear and allow SIX HOURS to do the trail. If by some chance you have misjudged your rate of progress and want to avoid finishing the trail in darkness, you may walk back to the parking lot via the Arowhon or Weldwood roads, both of which connect to the old track part of the trail. Read the rest of this entry »
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