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Making connections from Stratford to Shakespeare

Rachael Coffin Special to Sun Media

June 26, 2008

In Ontario, when you think Stratford, you think theatre, Shakespeare, and festival!

This is understandable since the Stratford Festival, which runs from April to November annually, is known as North America's leading classical theatre. This year, there are 16 plays being performed, which means there's something to suit all tastes.

Londoner Charles Vincent, who calls Stratford his favourite get-out-of-town day trip, recently saw Taming of the Shrew with his wife, Andrea Thompson. He says the performance was "great!" and expressed enjoyment over his walk down the Avon River and visits to Arden Park Hotel's restaurant and Fellini's restaurant. He explained that Stratford makes an excellent day trip from London because you can take a Greyhound Bus there, catch a matinee show, have some dinner and be back home the same day!

In terms of day trips, Stratford really is a great place to go! There's a lot to offer in the small town, which goes far beyond the theatre. Stratford is known for its beautiful gardens, which include the Shakespearean Gardens, Millennium Park, and Confederation Park. For the nature enthusiasts, take the Arthur Meighen Garden tour and feed the swans! When you've tired yourself out walking, take a break and enjoy a meal at The Parlour, Rundles or the Old Prune. If you're just looking for a drink, check out Distinctly Tea for the ultimate tea-drinking experience. If you're looking to expand your artistic horizons, be sure to visit the Bella Tuscany Art Exhibition at Tango Cafe & Grill or meander through Art in the Park on Lakeside Drive.

If you have a few days to spend in the Stratford area and you're worn out from walking, there's a terrific program taking place called Shakespeare to the Shore, which has been running for five years. Shakespeare to the Shore is a series of self-guided driving tours that lead you through a series of routes and side tours that create fabulously indulgent experiences. The routes are themed: antiques and collectibles, artisans and art galleries, farm markets, and gardens and gardeners dreams, just to name a few!

According to Laurel Armstrong, the coordinator of travel, the goal of Shakespeare to the Shore is to "bring focus to the area for people outside of the Stratford area and get people out from the city into the country and to the coast." The different tours can be mixed and match to your heart's desire. The ability to customize the tours and take them at your own pace makes them all the more appealing. Each of the tours familiarizes you with different aspects of Shakespeare and the surrounding area, enriching your knowledge of the things you love and where to get them.

Between Stratford and the Shakespeare to the Shore program, vacationers can expand their minds and tastes with the varied and artistic options available to them for day trips or longer getaways. For more information about Shakespeare to the Shoreline, visit www.shakespearetotheshoreline.ca (see link).

WEB: www.shakespearetotheshoreline.ca

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