DAY 5
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breakfast Ivey Dining Room, Benmiller Inn & Spa go
On three separate tables the buffet is laid out in country style with authentic old mill tools and relics serving as props. The artifacts blended and woven among the food create a visual delight and authentic theme. Just about anything you’d want to eat for breakfast, hot or cold. Choice of juices, cereals, jams, breads and pastries, eggs, sausages, bacon, cheeses. White table cloth service at a table overlooking the patio gardens. Doesn’t get any better!
10:30 am – swim in pool/spa go at Benmiller Inn & Spa
Our room is conveniently located just across the lane from the pool house. We have the very large indoor pool, workout room, sauna and dressing areas to ourselves this morning – very luxe. The wall of glass doors on one side of the pool building opens onto a patio revealing views of the Maitland River meandering by.
noon lunch Thyme on 21 Casual Dining go
Rated #1 in Goderich by Tripadvisor – with good reason! A flowered path leads to a porch filled with extravagantly blooming hanging baskets. The main floor of this historic Victorian serves as dining rooms and kitchen. Space is bright and cheerful. Many people here already although its early for a white table cloth lunch. Two original fireplaces and mantles remain. Original stained glass in two of the dining rooms. Chef Terry Kennedy, winner of Taste of Huron Chef Challenge, features the freshest local ingredients in his daily menus. We enjoyed our lunch without wine (see 5 pm).
2 pm tour Huron County Museum go
Some say the Huron County Museum “is probably the best museum west of Toronto, in Ontario. There is just nothing like it.” An hour is too short to follow all the early settlement and county development exhibits but we view the Historic Hall with store fronts, a locomotive, Victorian Apartment, undertaker, dress shop, hair salon, barber shop, dental office and 19th century horse drawn farm machinery.
3 pm tour Huron Historic Gaol go
An imposing 3 three story octagonal stone building, the Gaol opened in 1841 to offer refuge to the aged, mentally ill, poor and to confine common criminals. Now a National Historic Site. It modeled advanced standards of prison reform. From the central 3 story block, radiate 2 foot thick walls, 18 feet high enclosing exercise yards and gardens. We start on the 3rd floor originally used as the court room, work our way down past cell blocks, medical facility (oh my GOD!), reading rooms, kitchen, laundry and governors (warden) quarters. Tacked on walls are the legal rules of the day … including a long list of offenses punishable by hanging. This was the site of Canada’s last hanging.
5 pm tour Goderich beaches and Port of Goderich go
The hazy day dims the blue sky and water. All is light gray, but comfortably warm. Beach lovers lie on the sand, walk along the shore line and splash in the water. We don’t spot any ship traffic from our vantage point. Trees and grass are close by, beach is narrow sand strip with a real boardwalk following its length. (Interesting experience: On driving back from our beach sightseeing, we are stopped by a police officer at an alcoholic Checkpoint Charlie. He asks: “Had anything to drink today?” Our truthful answer: “No.” Lesson: Don’t drink at the beach!)
drive back to Stratford
7 pm dinner Rene’s Bistro go
Rated #1 of 77 restaurants in Stratford, it also has location, location, location! Just steps from the Avon Theatre, ideal for dinner before a play. Contemporary Zen decor, romantic lighting, friendly attentive service, creative cuisine at a great price point. This Chef/owner is another of those trained at the Stratford Chef School. Try it at least once!
stay check in and stay Stone Maiden Inn go
On a quiet residential street conveniently minutes from downtown sits this lovingly restored Victorian. Parlor, outdoor patio and dining room on the main floor are relaxing, chic and inviting – nice space to read or listen to music, watch video, use house computer and meet fellow guests. Recent on site additions are spa service and Chef Mark Brown (who prepares the most amazing breakfasts) who is trained and teaches at the Stratford Chef School. He holds cooking classes by appointment. Celebratory lunches and afternoon tea are planned for the future.
