When people think of major tourist spots in Canada, they rarely consider the Southwestern portions of the province of Ontario. They think the Rocky Mountains, the beautiful shores on each coast, even the rugged pursuit of polar bear watching in northern Manitoba first. Despite being the most highly populated area in the country, however, southern Ontario is a place of great beauty and attraction to many, both fans of the great outdoors and more urbane pursuits.
Again, Kitchener Waterloo ON is still towards the bottom of the list even for those who do consider the general geographic area. Port Perry cottages along Lake Scugog and the Trent Severn waterway are again higher up on the list of most people, but the fact is that the Tri-Cities area has a lot to offer those on their vacations.
First of all, there are the huge festival opportunities that are available in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge areas each and every year. The highlight of these has to be the Kitchener Oktoberfest. Many people have forgotten that prior to World War I, the city of Kitchener was actually the city of Berlin. However, the Bavarian legacy lives on each fall, when the annual Oktoberfest party gets underway. While it is one of the largest festivals of its kind outside of Germany, there is a uniquely Canadian feel to the celebrations as well. You will find Celtic music playing alongside German beer gardens, beauty pageants, and sports competitions as well as a huge Thanksgiving Parade held over the week long event.
Other annual festivals in the city include a blues and jazz festival, Canada Day celebrations, and an arts festival as well. You can book your hotels and meals as soon as you arrive in the city thanks to the airport WiFi available, or take your chances as you travel into town. Each of these events attracts tens of thousands of people to this already significant city each year.
And the great news is, that high population has not come at the expense of the natural beauty of the city of Kitchener Waterloo. There are still many parks and recreational areas, trails, and wildlife sanctuaries to be found throughout the city and along its outskirts. The Grand River is a popular place for those who love the outdoors. Victoria Park remains the most popular place in the city for Toronto wedding photographers to take their pictures every year, a place where people can truly get back to nature in the heart of the city.
Rockway Gardens is another naturally significant area in the city, running adjacent to both a major golf course and a cricket club in the city of Kitchener. Waterscaping is a major feature of this park, with many notable waterfalls, fountains, and ponds to be found throughout.
So, don't forget about the city of Kitchener-Waterloo when you are making your vacation plans this year. It's a gateway as well as a significant attractor on its own.
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