In this time of Covid-19 quarantine, cabin fever has affected many of us.
Happily, here in Ontario, Canada, we have progressed to stage 3, meaning many businesses, including hotels, are open again, albeit with safety measures in place. ⭐
Masks are mandatory indoors and social distancing continues, as before.
Travel is restricted to our own province, but at least we are able to go somewhere!
And, it’s good to stimulate the local economy, which has taken a huge it from the ongoing health crisis.
Hubby and I were both born in Europe and have always been drawn back there. Thanks to a random Facebook post, this alternative plan fell into place!
Thus, we embarked on a 5-day road trip, July 27 – 31, visiting local towns named after European cities. Come along for the ride! This is a 5-part series.
(⭐ The above was written in August 2020. Unfortunately, COVID is still with us as of Jan. 2022, with additional closures, off and on.)
Day 2, July 28/20
♦First stop♦
Brussels, population ~1145
Brussels was created as the village of Ainleyville in 1855, founded by William Ainlay (difference in spelling is due to a clerical error).
The name was changed in 1872 when a branch line of the Grand Trunk Railway from Guelph came through the town. It lives up to its nickname, Ontario’s Prettiest Village.
[click images to enlarge]
♦Second stop♦
Dublin, population ~255
The first settler was U. C. Lee, who opened a store for area farmers in the mid-1800s. Joseph Kidd moved in a few years later and set up a salt mine, a sawmill and a business block on the main street.
Established as Carronbrook in 1854, the name was changed in 1878 to Dublin, Kidd’s birthplace in Ireland.
[Click on images to enlarge.]
♦Third stop♦
Zurich, population ~920
Frederick K. Knell, a Swiss of German descent, founded Zurich in 1854. The early settlers who came into this district were predominantly from Germany.
Although a scattered influx of “Pennsylvania Dutch” had come into the country from its earliest days, no real German settlement developed here except at Zurich. Most of its original population came directly from Germany rather than Ontario or Pennsylvania.
I have to admit, we were disappointed in Zurich, as it has a significant online presence. There wasn’t a lot to see, and the stench of manure filled the air.
[Click on images to enlarge.]
♦Fourth stop♦ (overnight stay)
Hessenland Inn, St. Joseph
(8 km west of Zurich)
Although Zurich was a bust, our accommodations for the night more than made up for it! The Hessenland Inn, complete with banquet hall and winery, sits right on the shores of Lake Huron. It offers old world charm and beautiful gardens!
[click images to enlarge]
Lake Huron sunsets are legendary!
To be continued…
MORE FROM THE BLOG
LATEST FROM @Artful_Photog #SHOP
Follow THE DOGLADY’S DEN on WordPress.com
Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
Discover more from The Doglady's Den
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
19 thoughts on “WHEN YOU CAN’T GO TO EUROPE | #RoadTrip Part II”
I’m very much enjoying out virtual European tour (in Canada)!
Thanks, Lisa! 🙂 I’m hoping to get Part III done, soon.
We didn’t go to Europe, but we did go to the mountains.
I’m glad you had a nice holiday, Paul. You must have had some beautiful scenery in the mountains. Thanks for coming by!
I am really loving these posts, Debbie! What a very cool grouping of trips. – Your Lake Huron photos are stunning…
Thanks, Karen! 🙂 Mother Nature provided the sunset; I just made the most of it. It was a fun trip and likely our last for a long time. We have this 4-legged child now who needs all of our attention. 😀
Thanks for sharing your adventures and beautiful photos. We’re still not out and around much. Soon, I hope. Take care and stay safe.
I’m glad you enjoyed the tour, Eugenia. 🙂 This was three months ago when we had “flattened the curve”, but COVID-19 infections have ramped up a lot since then. 🙁 You stay safe, too!
I love to see Eastern Canada.
Canada has some beautiful areas. Thanks, Dora! 🙂
We get out and about now and the, but usually boating. Not around a lot of people is the ticket for us. It’s been a different kind of year.
Have a fabulous day and weekend, Debbie. Big hug. ♥
Boating sounds lovely, and yes, the fewer people, the better these days. When we took our trip, hotels had just re-opened, and there weren’t many tourists around. It was nice to have all that space to ourselves. 🙂 Hugs back! ?
Hi Debbie – I think these road trips are a great idea … and fun for us to see. Life is troublesome at the moment – so we all need light relief – we’ve been lucky here … and just keep going . Looking forward to the rest of these – take care – Hilary
The local economy needs all the help it can get, and we were happy to contribute. 🙂 Yes, life is definitely troublesome, especially since the rate of COVID-19 infections has increased sharply this fall. I’m glad you enjoyed the travelogue. Thanks for reading!
I wish I had known about Hessenland years ago. I drove up Hwy. 21 on my way to Tobermory to get the ferry to Manitoulin. It was a beautiful drive.
I think the Hessenland Inn was established sometime in the 1980s. We did the Hwy 21 drive a few years ago but only got as far as Tobermory. It is a beautiful area.
Well, I did the drive in 1994. I remember cause I had my Jaguar and really got the speed up on nearly deserted Manitoulin.
What a sight for sore eyes on this gray and rainy October Friday, thank you!
Too bad Zurich was a flop. I think I have a long-term project cut out for myself: come over and do something about it!!
I’m glad you enjoyed the sunset, Tamara! 🙂 Yes, Zurich, Ontario was a real dud but I’m sure you’d have some great ideas to improve it.