TORONTO & NIAGARA: WINING, DINING & WATERFALLS

Diving straight into Toronto, our first stop at the historic St. Lawrence Market is definitely one we’ll want to savor. One of the best markets in the world, St. Lawrence has been thriving for over 200 years. Our personal tour of the hundreds of speciality vendors will introduce us to the vibrant scents and smells of Toronto’s culinary scene. Making sure to stop by the Carousel Bakery and try the famous Peameal bacon sandwich or head over to the Stonemill and sample some baked-from-scratch fresh bread; with over 40 different types to choose from, I hope you’ve come hungry.

In the morning, we’ll be getting a little closer to the Toronto skyline on a private helicopter tour above the gorgeous city. Gaze down as bustling urbanites fill the streets or gaze across the horizon at the splendour of the CN Tower. Let's face it - Well be gazing at each other. After touching back down, prepare to experience some of Toronto’s best kept culinary secrets courtesy of our very own private tour! We’ll be visiting local restaurants, hidden gems and independent eateries that only the most informed of locals frequent. Spend our time checking out the hippest restaurants in the up-and-coming location of Dundas West, featuring Asian-European cuisine, Middle Eastern delights and some of the meatiest Caribbean menus in town.

Tomorrow, we journey out of the city and toward the historic and charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. We’ve been wined and dined non-stop since touching down, so our next activity will give us the opportunity to (leisurely) burn off some of those meals. If there is absolutely nothing else we can think of...Kayaking on the Niagara River is a great way to soak in the beautiful nature that envelops Niagara-on-the-Lake. We'll drift on expansive waterways past pine and forests and catch glimpses of the old town from our vessel. Then, switch perspective from the shores of the river to the skies above as our private helicopter tour takes us over the same rivers we’ve just spent the afternoon on and towards the magnificent Niagara Falls. Our gaze will surely be fixed out of the window as we pass over the curve of the Horseshoe Falls and watch as the sun reflects off the surface to create a mesmeric mist that ships disappear into and emerge from.

Niagara-on-the-Lake also happens to be prime wine territory, so another day trip out of the city will see us embarking on a private visit to some of the most acclaimed vineyards on offer. We’ll visit four, count them FOUR, award-winning wineries as our personal guides explain to us the delicate and meticulous process of bottling top-class wine. We’ll also be invited to sample no less than 12 palatable glasses, including Icewine; a luxury dessert wine that is made from grapes that have been frozen whilst still sitting on the vine. Not my favorite, BUT who am I to turn away breakfast wine? Soak it all up with a gourmet lunch at the Riverbed Inn before an afternoon’s private winery cooking lesson. We'll learn how to whip up impressive dishes and how to perfectly pair wines to them. We’re sure to leave with some sommelier knowledge that will impress even the most knowledgeable wine connoisseur. Next day maybe head for some fresh air along the hiking trails of Niagara Park as they wind their way through six different nature areas past some of the rarest flora, fauna and wildlife in Canada. I say maybe... who are we kidding?

On our final day in the city, we head out for a few hours of exquisite shopping at Yorkville Village and Holt Renfrew where we’ll find all of our favorite designer boutiques. And I mean shopping, so bring a hip flask. Then, as the evening comes closer, we head back up to the skies for a final dinner in the elegant Restaurant Canoe on the 54th floor of Toronto’s massive TD bank tower. Post-dinner, we’re booked in to see a show of our choice at one of Toronto’s many theaters dressed in all our fineries. A truly creative city, the offering here is varied and award-winning, and no matter when we go, we’ll be able to ensure our time in Toronto ends on a theatrical high…