Written by Judy Colbert
Did you know you can visit Paris, London, Stratford, Dublin, and Brussels without ever leaving North America? An 8-hour loop through the Canadian province of Ontario will take you through these towns and several more whose names could be easily confused with their European counterparts—including Waterloo, Vienna, Verona, and Cambridge. Bonjour, guten Tag, and ciao!
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, located on the banks of Lake Ontario, is not actually named for its Scottish counterpart, but for founder George Hamilton. Sometimes described as “The Pittsburgh of the North” because of its steel mills and smokestacks, Hamilton is in the process of reinventing itself as a tourist destination. The Niagara Escarpment, a forested ridge that divides the city, offers hiking trails, waterfalls, and scenic overlooks.
If you spot someone wearing a blue blazer with a yellow chrysanthemum on the lapel (the city’s flower), chances are good they’re a member of the Lady Hamilton Club. Founded in 1971 to promote the city of Hamilton, the club offers free historical walking tours in the summer. Hamilton is also home to the world-renowned Royal Botanical Gardens and the Canadian Warplane Museum, which has one of the last remaining Lancaster Bombers in the world. Several movies and TV shows have been filmed in Hamilton, including Man of the Year, The Good Witch, and Murdoch Mysteries. If you’re hungry, the original Tim Hortons’ donut shop opened in Hamilton in 1964. Today, you can still grab a box of Timbits and a coffee at the store, which features a historical plaque and a small museum.
Paris, Ontario
Head west to get to Paris, a beautiful small town located on the east bank of the Grand River. Named for the gypsum found along its river banks (used to make plaster of paris), the town is also considered “the cobblestone capital of Canada” because of the numerous cobblestone buildings—including two churches and 10 homes—that are still in use. Architecture fans may want to book a room at the Historic Arlington Hotel. The 160-year-old hotel features 23 guest rooms, each dedicated to a different historical figure, including Hunter S. Thompson, Agatha Christie, Edgar Allan Poe, Ernest Hemingway, Albert Einstein, Jane Austen, and Sigmund Freud.
London, Ontario
The comparisons between England’s London and its Candadian counterpart are numerous: Glance at a map of London, Ontario, and you’ll see 19th-century streets with names such as Oxford, Piccadilly, Pall Mall, and St. James. You’ll also see a Thames River, Victoria Park, site of the London Fringe Theatre Festival, Live Arts Festival, Home County Folk Festival, Rock the Park, and the second largest BBQ rib festival in North America. Music lovers shouldn’t miss Grooves Records, the town’s “coolest indie record store,” which also occasionally hosts free, live in-store concerts.
Stratford, Ontario
Head northeast from London to get to the town of Stratford, named for William Shakespeare’s birthplace. Famous for its Stratford Festival and set along the picturesque Avon River, the town has a bustling theater, music, and visual arts scene aside from its obvious association with the ‘Bard of Avon.’ Visitors can take classes at the Stratford Chefs School or get a bit more wild with Puck's Plenty, a seasonal, guided foraging service. MacLeods Scottish Shop is the perfect place to stock up on souvenirs, including tartan blankets, tweed jackets, or a sizable stash of classic shortbread.
Dublin and Brussels, Ontario
Don’t blink or you might miss Dublin, located about halfway between London and Brussels. Named for the Ireland hometown of settler Joseph Kidd, Dublin, Ontario, is currently best known for its furniture. Brussels, originally named Ainleyville after William Ainley, who settled the area, is full of turn-of-the-century architectural gems. The Huron County Library was built in 1910 with a $7,000 grant; one of six Carnegie libraries in Ontario to have a corner entrance, it still features original oak paneling and enormous oak tables.
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