A Holiday Visit to Port Hope
Looking for a picturesque city to explore in Ontario? Port Hope is your next Canadian travel destination! This small town is located in the west end of Northumberland County about an hour and a half outside of Toronto (you can even take the VIA from Union Station if you’d like!)! Once again this holiday season, Port Hope is hosting their Candle Light Festival complete with wagon rides, light displays, artisan markets, late-night shopping events and more! Read on to see where I ended up this December!
Upon arriving into any new town, I always like to fuel up with caffeine. The historic downtown of Port Hope is home to the most wholesome cafes and coffee shops - you’re sure to find one that tickles your fancy! Personally, I loved visiting Milly’s Market. This maket + cafe spot is sibling-owned and gives a bit of a European flair to the downtown. You can pop in, grab a coffee and pastry and then browse their selection of fresh ingredients and produce, or shop for food items from small businesses around the world. Their staff are so sweet and helpful, adding to the coziness of the space!
Sometimes gift giving can be tough so I always find myself feeling very grateful and lucky when I come across stores that are the perfect little one-stop shop like Furby House Books. Fun fact my friends, my first shop was as a library page in Caledon so my affinity for reading started quite young! Naturall,y when I was deciding where to hop into on my last visit to Port Hope, I had to visit this independent bookstore! The variety of novels, books, games and activities was incredible, I could have spent hours there! I did leave with a few things including a queer romcom to read this holiday break so this visit was definitely a win!
After a long day of adventuring, exploring and shopping, I need my comfort food! What better way to wind down than contemporary, delicious Italian food! The Trattoria Gusto has been a spot I’ve loved to visit since university. During cold winters in Ontario, you’ll find yourself feeling warm and comfy, and in the summer, you’ll love a refreshing cocktail on their back patio beside the river! This time around, my sister and I settled on some Ironstone Cabernet Sauvignon with Brussel Sprouts Fritti alongside some warm bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. After that, we shared the Lobster fra diavlo (it was incredible) and we finished the night off sharing the Tiramisu (my all time favourite dessert). Book yourself a table inside the historic Waddell Hotel, you won’t regret it!
Looking for more places to discover in Port Hope, Ontario? Visit www.visitporthope.ca!
A Port Hope Tourism Collaboration
