Elora Gorge and Trail

The Grand River is one of my favorite places to go in the warmer months.  It flows through the bottom of the Elora gorge, approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long, with limestone cliffs reaching 22 metres (72 ft) high. 

The Elora Gorge is another remnant of the last ice age much like the Scarborough  bluffs, it was formed from glacial meltwaters.  The area includes a park with camping sites, hiking trails, and is also popular for kayaking and tubing.  

When we went there people gathered in a row to do some ziplining.  Usually in the summer months in July and August only, you can buy a seat across the Gorge suspended in the air for about 5-10 minutes for $40 a head.  That's a little too much money for such a short time for me not even for the thrill of it all.
 

 Located nearby is the "old swimming hole", at the Elora Quarry Conservation Area, a 0.8 hectare (two acre) which was a former limestone quarry Elora Quarry did not become a conservation area until 1976, but it was a popular swimming area long before that.

This shot was taken a little later in the year

The Elora Gorge Falls are located a bit upstream from the Gorge.  It's roughly a 7 m tall waterfall. 

As an interesting fact: The Quarry served as a film location in the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King's novel It.

There are wonderful trails in and around the Gorge as well to explore.   Absolutely one of my favourite go-to places in Ontario to get out the big city and go exploring!

Edwards Gardens

I remember going to Edwards Gardens a few times as a child with my parents.  Much hasn't changed since then, as far as I can recall.  There are still beautiful garden features like annuals, roses and wildflowers surrounded by rockery here, but for the most part much is as lovely as I remembered.

Edwards Gardens and Toronto Botanical Gardens are both located  on one of several tributaries in the Don River (Wilket Creek) where you can overlook spectacular views of large centenarian willow trees, stair rises, waterfalls and bridge arches.  

The summer is when the gardens come to life, and although rarely preferring summer over fall, this is the only time when everything is in bloom.  Much of the structures on the estate originally entitled to Alexander Milne (a Scottish weaver) who  settled there after 1812 still remain.  Alexander remained only for twenty years and left the property neglected.

Thankfully the land was bought by Rupert E. Edwards in 1944 where he had created a beautiful garden and  restored the wool and sawmills still there today.  Rupert sold the property to the City of Toronto in 1955 and it then became a public park.  

Today, Edwards Gardens and Toronto Botanical Gardens are enjoyed the world over, as well as a city treasure for its hiking and cycling trails, gift shops, floral shows, as well as a photographic goldmine.  With its trimmed lawns, flower beds, rivers and creek, and exotic trees it's a perfect backdrop for a wedding and wedding parties.  

My son and his fiance were scoping out a few venues for their wedding and I can see endless possibilities for perfect photographs here.  Edwards Gardens has won an Award of Excellence for the Regional Citation category from the Canadian Society of Landscaping Architects.  I guess that explains why. 

If you do decide to have a wedding ceremony or have formal wedding pictures taken at a city park, you do need to have a permit.  I didn't know this.  If you need more information, click here.