And this trip to Waterloo region started with LOVE too! We are leaving Toronto early morning and it takes us a bit more that an hour to get to a well known and so much popular St. Jacobs Farmers Market.
St. Jacobs Farmers Market
The Farmers market was our first stop. It is a very interesting place to visit, besides close to 200 vendors of all kinds, it also has a small farm for the kids to enjoy. For someone from the city, it gives a nice break as well as an opportunity to buy the best summer sausages…
… or try freshly made potato chips from “Chippery”… with so many flavors to choose from!
Communitech – Kitchener, Ontario
After snacks, refreshments and some souvenir shopping at the market we board our bus – next stop is in Kitchener at Communitech. The company was founded in 1997 by the group of entrepreneurs and became the regional hub for the commercialization of innovative technologies. Funded by the Ontario government it supports tech companies at all stages of their growth and development – from startup to rapidly growing SMEs. Here we learn about their accelerator programs and partnership with University of Waterloo.
The slide, besides being a fun mode of transport, provides employees with a break from the standard corporate world and makes them think “out of box”.
The offices at Comminitech are “open-concept” which calls for the creative way of thinking and provides a chance to organize work space in any way desired…
The Walper Hotel, Kitchener, Ontario
Newly restored, the Walper Hotel in Kitchener is now one of the most modern and chic places to stay in the area. Located in one of Kitchener’s most architecturally-iconic buildings an intimate downtown boutique hotel abuzz with fresh, contemporary energy and style. The significant improvements, coupled with an energetically devoted staff, deliver a hospitality experience – individualized and unique – sure to please the most savvy and well-traveled guest.
Our lunch at The Walper Hotel was amazing, featuring fried chicken and waffles, Buddha bowls and “Basil Lemonade” Cocktails.
The dining area at the Walper Hotel feels so cozy and it is a great place to socialize.
The best part of lunch, dessert! The trays were piled high with chocolate cake, butter tarts and the best Nanaimo bars ever….
We stayed in the Walper Hotel just to relax and coll down from the heat of July… the design of the reception area called for calm and freshness…
With 90 rooms it guarantees a very exclusive and personalized stay. If you are looking to stay in downtown Kitchener, this is the place…
IdeaExchange, Cambridge, Ontario
Back in fall 2016 Preston launched a children’s community garden with the help of several community partners and a grant from the TD Friends of the Environment in the greenspace behind their location. Later on November 30, the groundbreaking ceremony takes place for the Historic Post Office Project.
The Old Post Office is an iconic building constructed in 1885 overlooking the Grand River. In 1982 this building was designated by the Ontario Heritage Act and is on the National Historic Sites and Monuments directory through Parks Canada. In 2018, the building re-opened as the newest Idea Exchange location with a restored building that blends the old and the new. This revitalized building became a place for makers, creators, learners, and readers of all ages…
The Idea Exchange located in Old Post Office in Cambridge, Ontario…
The Cambridge Library is unlike any other. Being a digital library, it offers many services one can only dream of. The kids area is a great place to visit on a rainy day. With a dedicated “maker-lab” it is fun for everyone.
Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa
Langdon Hall has quite a simple history of being build as a summer residence for a wealthy New Yorker up until 80’s. Later the property was purchased by the current owners William Bennett and Mary Beaton. New owners developed their dream of a country house hotel. Renovations took a year and a half to complete and Langdon Hall Country House Hotel opened its dors for visitors in 1989. The Langdon Hall certainly lives up to the high expectations and features the best restaurant in Ontario. As we explored the beautiful grounds the elegance of the hotel became more evident.
Chef Jason Bangerter is renowned for creativity which surprised us while sampling some of his creations. The menu was inspired by the hotel’s garden. We got to see Chef Bangerter at his best, serving watercress with some effect, as shown below. This particular dish was inspired by the river, hence the “mist”.
Chef Bangerter prepared a very interesting dining experience for us. All of the produce used at the Langdon Hall is grown in the garden or is sourced locally, making it the only “AAA – 5 Diamond” Restaurant in Ontario as well as the 4th best in Canada.
The trip came to an end, but not before some fun and of course LOVE!