Canada Trip!!

On Columbus day weekend Maire and I went on the best road trip I've ever taken! It was my first time "out of the country" (I always debate of Canada counts or not LoL) after getting my passport for the first time! We drove up, spent one night in Niagara and then 2 nights in Toronto! Although Canada is our neighbor, it really did feel far away! There were a few cars they have that we don't.... And it was frustrating to Maire at times because of course, I had to snap pics of every ONE of them I saw.... Even if I had already taken a pic of the same model..... The fact that speed limit and distance signs were in metric made it feel far from home too.

As a young person, I had trouble taking a 3 or 4 hour road trip.... I'd wake up when I wanted, leave late and usually unprepared, forget a thing or 2 I had to come back for and then would be on the road during the WORST traffic times and end up arriving at my destination extremely late and too tired and frustrated to do anything.... As an adult.... The outcome was great! We were on the road by 6:30am so we got to Niagara in the daylight, with time to spare!

After a great night that included a couple beers at Niagara Brewing Company, and morning at Niagara falls we headed toward Lake Ontario and stopped at Konzelmann Estate Winery..... The estate was lake side, you could see Toronto across the lake. We had the tour guide.... I can't even put how he was in words!

After the winery we were back on the road, Toronto bound! We were just going to drive it straight through but we passed Forty Creek Canadian Whisky Distillery.... So of COURSE we had to stop! We walk in not sure what to expect since we didn't do any research before hand. An employee pops out of a room into a long hallway we entered in and asks, "are you here for the tour?" so naturally, we said yep, sure are! He pointed us into a room with probably 25 people seated classroom style.... I was a little nervous, this looked like something people may have booked ahead of time.... But we sat down anyway! Turns out it was free and just show up. We had a great class type lesson and then were walked all around the distillery! Unfortunately I didn't get any pics of that, no one else was taking pics and since we got in last min, I was not sure if it was allowed or not. After the tour and a small free tasting we were back on the road Toronto bound! I'm sure you're tired of reading so I'll let the pics do the talking now!!

Coming up on the border crossing! I should have taken a video to show how excited I was! 

Canadian flag flying! 

I wanted to get a pic of the border patrol officer but didn't want to be "that guy!"

Obligatory welcome sign! 

On the way to the FALLS! 

The focus made it!! 

View from the balcony in the room. You can see the border crossing in the distance. That's not where we crossed.... Well, innitially anyway.... 

It was overcast when we got there and the river was this amazing blue tone! It didn't seem as blue the next day when the sun was out! 

Non zoomed view of the falls from the room. It was advertized as a river view room which was exciting enough, but we were SO happy that we could actually SEE one of the falls!! 

Zoomed in pic of the fall from our balcony! 

Zoomed in view of the border crossing from the balcony!

HAD to get a selfie.... Believe me, we weren't alone... I saw more selfie sticks on this trip than I've seen in my life EVER!

Me just messin around as we were walking down the river / fall drag! 

I know it's just a seagull, but this dude let people get super close and had a majestic stance with the fall and spray behind him! LOL

As nice as it is on a sunny day, it's very interesting and menacing on a cloudy day! 

Looking at this was so scary. It's the top of the fall, close to the edge, and the water is moving SUPER fast..... If you fell in here, you're done.....

SUCH a good time! 

FIRST cup of Tim Horton's ever... And IN Canada!! We debated getting it on the road in NY but then decided to wait and get it from the SOURCE! 

So we came across this..... 

And of COURSE we had to give it a shot! 

So Canada seemed to be all about lighter beers, all things lager mostly. Nice thing is, they do them right! Of all the pilsners and other lagers we had, they were all.... GOOD! 

Trying for an "artsy" shot LoL! 

So in Canada, they prob LoL at our mix-a-six.... They do mix-a-eight and of TALL BOYS!!! 

First one we tried that night. It actually wasn't great.....

Second one of the night which WAS good.... Lager.... They know how to do em!! This seemed to be one of the better breweries too, we had at least one other beer of theirs we liked.... 

So after a couple beers in we started to feel warm as usual. Maire asks me "what's the temp in here?" I look this and say "shit.... 25?" LoL Had to pull out the phones for C to F conversion..... 

STEAM WHISTLE..... This is quite a beer and quite a story. It's just a light pilsner. It's the perfect "everyday" beer or summer beer! Nothing jump out special, but CLEAN tasting and well brewed. This is the ONLY beer the brewery does. We WANTED to bring a bunch home and were planning on getting it duty free, and of COURSE they were out.... This alone is reason enough for us to plan a second trip! 

Not a bad beer. Unfortunately since I'm writing this so late I can't describe it well, but I remember it being good! 

Went out the next morning. Pics were much different in full sun! 

This was the GREENEST grass I'd ever seen! Idk if the pic did it justice, it was amazing! 

The mist was becoming a cloud... The only clouds in the sky were RIGHT over this fall!! 

The vapor was misting the entire street.... And this is probably why that grass is so green too! 

Morning Maire enjoying a view of the fall! 

First stop after leaving the fall area, Konzelmann Estate Winery..... Niagara on the lake! 

This is where all the previous pics were taken. It was a little observation tower kinda thing. Very cool and very good pic capability! 

THIS is the tour guide mentioned above.... Still can't put him in words, but at least you have a face to go with him! 

Happen to see this as we're driving down the road, end up stopping and getting one of the BEST tours and lessons we've ever had! 

Hammer down big time on the QEW into the city! 

Ford plant, I BELIEVE this is where most of the Vics came from! 

Aaaaand start the car pics... Prob Maire's least favorite thing about the trip. This Sun Fire had a back like I'd never seen here so I grabbed a pic. 

Acura CSX, an Acura version of a Honda Civic, CADM only, not USDM, or as far as I know, JDM or UKDM! 

Idk about this powerline setup.....

Kensington Market! Really wish we could have spent some more time here, maybe eaten a place or 2 and tried some of the coffee shops. This is a REAL cool section of town, a must see if you go! 

More beer.... Now in Toronto, we were finding a few things we don't have here in the states.... I wanted to try this so bad since I'm a fan of Coors Banquet (save laughter until the end there please...) but there was so much other good stuff I never did! I suspect this is rebranded Magnum malt liquor which has similar specs here and is made by MillerCoors. 

No words needed here.... This was JUST as good (or bad) as you imagine! I loved it! 

Keep in mind everyone.... THIS is the city Drake left apparently..... :-D

Streetcar stop. AMAZING public transit day pass deal....

Bike traffic signals.....

BIKE TRAFFIC SIGNALS!!! I thought this was the coolest thing!

Steam Whistle Brewing. Real cool place. 

Can't read this, I know, but it talks all about how the space the brewery is in started out a repair garage for steam engines and a place they could refill their water tanks! REAL interesting! HERE is their website for more info! 

Lake Ontario 

Feeling good after being at a lake side bar! 

This is where Maire earned her nick name, my little Pamplemousse! LoL This was like a grapefruit shandy... This is the PERFECT post big bike ride drink! 

Acura EL, precursor to the CSX earlier! GOTTA get pics of cars we don't have here! 

Gettin some Poutine! 

We weren't drunk and it wasn't late, but this place was open till 4am I think, and poutine is the PERFECT drunk food! 

This is the public transit day pass.... You're not gonna believe this... $11 Canadian. Good for 2 adults and up to 4 kids. Good for all transit, train, bus and streetcar... And no one even CHECKED it.... 

Coming home through NY. We couldn't get a pic that did it justice, this was the best out of all of them. 

The LCBO, Liquor Control Board Ontario, the place we loaded up before leaving. 

So after doing a little online snooping, I'm pretty sure this is Canadian ONLY, not even other non-US markets... It wasn't bad! 

This was what we got instead of Steam Whistle at Duty Free.... Not a bad decision, it's a great beer, it just isn't Steam Whistle! 

This was the But Light Apple can, made in Quebec! 

Hope you enjoyed the pics!! Wish we just had a cam rolling the entire time we were there!! I can't wait to go back, as much as we saw and did, there was still a lot we wanted to do and didn't get a chance to!