Vacation in Toronto or the Falls affordable luxuries
The word “honeymoon” is derived, in part, from an ancient Northern European custom in which newlyweds for the first month of their married life, drank a daily cup of mead, a delicious honey wine. Honey is considered an aphrodisiac with its high sugar content providing extra energy.
Couples planning a summer wedding and an extended honeymoon in a southern paradise often delay their trip until the fall or winter. Still, it is nice to get away from it all for a much-needed mental break after the hectic days leading up to the wedding.
Toronto is the perfect place for a “mini-moon” because is accessible by easily reached by car or airplane from Sudbury. A few days in Ontario’s capital city provides a world of experiences for sports fans, sightseers, shoppers, history buffs, music aficionados and arts lovers. Conde Nast named Toronto one of Best 15 Cities for Food in the World.
What’s more, a honeymoon in one of the city’s plush downtown hotels, is an affordable luxury, and you already speak the language. There’s no need to worry about exchange rates or long security delays in airports and at border crossings.
The Adelaide Hotel, formerly the Trump International Hotel, at Bay and Adelaide is a posh place to spend your honeymoon. (The hotel will become the St. Regis Toronto in late 2018 or early 2019.)
The hotel’s luxurious spa is located on the 31st floor, while the heated natural salt infinity-edge lap pool and whirlpool are on the 32nd floor and overlook the Toronto skyline.
The new boutique hotel, The Bisha, is located on Blue Jay Way, across the street from Wayne Gretsky’s restaurant. This is the heart of the city’s Entertainment District. The décor is a work of art combining rich colours and textiles and pop art.
On the top floor, Kost, pronounced “coast”, is a Baja beach house-themed Mexican restaurant with a spectacular view. During the warm weather, the outdoor patio is a cool spot sure to attract the arts crowd.
Celebrity chef Akira Back opened his first Canadian namesake restaurant on the second floor of the Bisha in late November. His signature style blends Japanese and Korean.
The lobby bar attracts the city’s young and hip, and is said to have a special “private” door for celebrity arrivals.
The best way to enjoy this city is to park your car at the hotel and go out and explore on foot or by taking advantage of the convenient subways and streetcars.
Toronto also has a Bike Share program and has invested in designated bike lanes. A $7 day pass buys access to 2,000 bikes and 200 stations. (bikesharetoronto.com).
Brewery and cuisine tours are available which take visitors to places near and far from the typical tourist stops. Brew Tours’ Jitney Junction tour provides transportation to the city’s west end for visits to several microbreweries for tastings and lunch. ([email protected]).
Culinary Adventure Co. will introduce foodies to good eats in Chinatown and Kensington Market, King and Queen St. W., Little India or Little Italy. (culinartadvco).
Former Sudburian Bruce Bell offers walking tours of historic neighbourhoods.( brucebelltours.ca) Two hour walking tours are $25.
Couples on their mini-moon may want to include a side trip to Niagara Falls, which is after all the honeymoon capital of the world.
Niagara Falls plays host to about 50,000 honeymooning couples a year, and it all started when Jerome Bonaparte (younger brother of Napoleon) and his American bride Elizabeth Patterson honeymooned there in 1804.
Every couple can receive an official honeymoon certificate signed by the mayor and free passes to many attractions (1.800.563.
