Family Time In Stratford, Ontario

Recently we were on a sponsored trip to Stratford, Ontario. I asked my teenage daughter to write this review so that you, the reader, can get a teenager’s point of view on some of the things that this quaint city has to offer. So without further ado, here’s her review of our visit to Stratford.

Goat Roti Chronicles - Stratford -  Ontario - City Hall

City Hall in Stratford, Ontario.

A few weeks ago, my family and I were given the opportunity to visit Stratford, Ontario, and I was very excited. I’d visited Stratford before, but those had been day trips and I had never been able to fully experience the city. This was to be a three-day trip with a packed itinerary, featuring quite a few of the major must-see stops.

Day one

We arrived on a Tuesday afternoon and headed over to Avon Boat Rentals where we met Frank, the owner. My dad chatted with him for a little bit and we were surprised when he said that the business has been in his family for three generations. Frank offered us a boat ride on the Avon River. It was a sunny day, and the views from the boat of the swans ambling around, people strolling, and the pretty Stratford festival theatre was a perfect start to our trip

Goat Roti Chronicles - Stratford - Ontario - Stratford Festival

Stratford Festival Theatre

After the boat ride we spent some time exploring downtown then headed to the Forest Motel & Woodland Retreat, our home for the next three days. It’s an idyllic little spot right next to a lake, home to a family of five very pushy swans. The motel featured paddle-boats, kayaks, hiking trails, bicycles, campfires every night and a gorgeous view. We were so busy that we didn’t get to try many of these activities, but I would definitely stay here again.

After checking in and settling down, we left for dinner at Montefort. This was a cute, Italian-style restaurant, featuring artisanal cheese and charcuterie. The cheeses were amazing, so we just had to buy a few.

Day two

Day two started off with one of the more interesting parts of the trip: a tour of the Stratford Festival costume warehouse. The detail that goes into each and every costume for every play is astounding, and nothing goes overlooked. During the tour, we learned about the work that goes into to the making of these props, as well as how they’re chosen for each play. The designers and artists think of everything, even food. My favourite part, however, was trying on some of the costumes. While you can’t touch most of the costumes being stored, for obvious reasons, there are a few that are set aside just for visitors to get in the spirit of theatre. Though some of us took more convincing than others, my whole family tried on some costumes. 

After the warehouse tour we headed to the Stratford Perth Museum. The exhibit that stuck out for me the most, though, was the Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I read the series years ago, and had since forgotten some of the details but visiting this exhibit brought them all back. Another cool thing was the Gutenberg press that was being restored. We got to see some type as well, and I didn’t realize how much work it must have taken to use them, or how small the type could be!

That night we saw for our first Stratford play: As You Like It  at the impressive Stratford Festival Theatre. This is the biggest of Stratford’s four theatres, with a pretty garden and view out front.

Now for a little disclaimer: I like Shakespeare, and so I really enjoyed the play, a little more than my family did, and probably more than some other people my age might have. For my part though, I loved the play, and thought the cast and crew did a wonderful job. It was enjoyable and surprisingly funny, with everything that usually comes with a Shakespearean comedy; crossdressing, romance, raunchy jokes, and misunderstandings that could be easily solved but, of course, aren’t.

Day Three

The next day was our last in Stratford, and we decided to book a tour of the Festival Theatre. On this tour, we got to explore the inner belly of the theatre, and it gave us a lot more insight into the world of theatre, and how demanding it can be. There really is a difference between just knowing something and seeing it with your own eyes. The amount of fast-paced, intense work necessary to put together a production is astounding, and it’s even more impressive when you realize it’s being done every day, sometimes more than once a day. 

After grabbing lunch and visiting some stops on the chocolate trail it was time for our last play at the Avon Theatre. The play was Shakespeare in Love, which, I’ll be honest, got a little emotional. This was the North American premiere and was just as good as the firstone we saw (though I have to admit I liked As You Like It just a little bit more). This was our final activity in Stratford, and after grabbing a coffee we headed home.

Our time in Stratford was a fabulous three days, and we were never bored. There was always tons of stuff to do, and we went at a perfect time; I can’t imagine our trip would have been as eventful in the middle of winter. I will say, though, that it might not have been for everyone. As someone who likes books, theatre, and history I had a great time. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, exciting vacation, however, Stratford may not be the place for you.

All in all, this was a great end to our summer, and my whole family enjoyed themselves. Stratford will definitely be seeing me again.

 

Disclaimer: My family and I were provided accommodations, some meals and tickets to the the shows we shows we attended. All opinions expressed above are 100% my own.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.goatrotichronicles.ca/stratford/

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