Stratford, Ontario

Every graduate of a high school English curriculum has heard of Stratford-upon-Avon, England, but did you know that on the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean there's a second Stratford located in Ontario, Canada?

First settled in 1832, both the city of Stratford and its Avon River are named after the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and as you drive in, B&Bs with names like Fool's Paradise, Hathaway's Cottage, and The Bard and Breakfast make it clear that you've entered Shakespeare Country. (And the fact that you drive through the small community of Shakespeare if you travel the Highway 7 route into town helps, too!)

Not surprisingly, the city is best known for top quality productions of the Bard's plays. Attracting more than 600,000 patrons a year, the Stratford Festival of Canada is the largest classical repertory event in North America. When founded in 1953 by local journalist Tom Patterson, the plays of the first Festival were staged in a giant canvas tent. Today, the Festival season runs from April to November, and plays are staged in four theatres: the Festival Theatre, the Avon Theatre, the Tom Patterson Theatre, and the Studio Theatre.

In addition to Shakespearean works, the festival also stages plays by Greek dramatists, 19th- and 20th-century masters such as Henrik Ibsen and Samuel Beckett, and contemporary Canadian and international playwrights. Numerous internationally renowned performers have graced the Stratford stages, including Alec Guinness, Maggie Smith, Jessica Tandy, and William Shatner to name just a few.

Speaking from personal experience, nothing can compare with a summer afternoon spent picnicking beside the Avon River, enjoying a top-notch production of a Shakespearean masterpiece or a Sondheim musical, and driving home with a box of homemade Stratford fudge on your lap.

But in Stratford, "the arts" doesn't mean theater alone. The Stratford Summer Music Festival offers numerous indoor and outdoor concerts in July and August to delight your ears, while Art in the Park at Lakeside Drive between the months of June and September, gives you the chance to admire and purchase works by regional artists. After getting your fill of these cultural delights, you can browse the boutiques, and gift and antique stores that line Main Street, admire the famous black and white swans that make their home on the Avon River, or enjoy dinner at one of Stratford's many fine restaurants.

In addition to a vibrant arts and culture scene, Stratford also offers the quaint charm and beauty of a small city. In 1997, the Nations in Bloom Award in Spain named Stratford the "Prettiest City in the World." The city's Main Park System contains approximately 46.5 hectares (115 acres) of formal parklands, including many lovely gardens, and nearly 24.3 hectares (60 acres) of natural areas waiting to be explored. Just outside of the city are farms offering rustic delights like wine tasting, apple- and pumpkin-picking, and wagon rides.

Small in size and big in culture, come and see for yourself why Stratford is "dramatically different."

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