ldoto
Jun 15, 2009, 10:28 PM
Mon, June 15, 2009
CITY TOUR: Tourism London is offering the free two-hour tours June 20 and 21 from Dundas and Wellington streets
Mark Schoenmakers stepped off the bus, and saw the city in which he has lived for 42 years for the very first time.
The London resident took Tourism London's free two-hour tour of the city on a double-decker bus yesterday, and felt like a visitor in his hometown.
"It was fantastic," he beamed. "I lived here so long but I found out things about my city I did not know. I am totally shocked."
He was impressed by the history and architecture of the city, as the tour wound its way to Springbank Park, the University of Western Ontario and downtown London.
"I saw a lot of historical sites, when they were built, how long they were here and all the things we have here. Some of the oldest buildings in Canada are right here. That is amazing."
Schoenmakers took his two sons, Kyle, 14, and Garret, 13, along for the ride and they were also impressed.
"I found out the city's fire station burned down, while the city was burning," said Garrett.
Kyle didn't realize there was a water park at the Forks of the Thames. In fact, the tour visits, or at least drives by, 74 sites.
"This is a promotion for people to get to know the city they are in. We find a lot of people come off the tour and say they did not know all those things," said Sarah Coenye, a tourist counsellor who conducts the tour.
"We are going through some hard economic times and this is a way to encourage people to stay in the area . . . there is a lot to do here."
The tour includes highlights such as the Metropolitan United Church, Victoria Park, St. Peter's Cathedral, Western Fair grounds, Labatt Park, the Grand Theatre, Springbank Park and gardens, Sifton Bog, various sites at the University of Western Ontario and bars on Richmond Row.
But conspicuous by their absence is Fanshawe Pioneer Village and potential tourist draws such as East Park, the water park, and even city wineries.
The village is mentioned on the bus tour but the ride is restricted to the downtown, west end and Western to keep it to two hours, said Maria Escobar, tourist counsellor.
"If we went anywhere else it would make the trip very long and we cannot do that."
Still, the tour was plenty for Marg McIntyre of London, who took the ride with her husband Herb.
"We had a beautiful time. It would be very good for people coming to our city," she said. "We enjoyed it all."
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Booking a tour
Free double-decker bus tours will be offered Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The bus departs from Dundas and Wellington streets. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 519-661-6341.
CITY TOUR: Tourism London is offering the free two-hour tours June 20 and 21 from Dundas and Wellington streets
Mark Schoenmakers stepped off the bus, and saw the city in which he has lived for 42 years for the very first time.
The London resident took Tourism London's free two-hour tour of the city on a double-decker bus yesterday, and felt like a visitor in his hometown.
"It was fantastic," he beamed. "I lived here so long but I found out things about my city I did not know. I am totally shocked."
He was impressed by the history and architecture of the city, as the tour wound its way to Springbank Park, the University of Western Ontario and downtown London.
"I saw a lot of historical sites, when they were built, how long they were here and all the things we have here. Some of the oldest buildings in Canada are right here. That is amazing."
Schoenmakers took his two sons, Kyle, 14, and Garret, 13, along for the ride and they were also impressed.
"I found out the city's fire station burned down, while the city was burning," said Garrett.
Kyle didn't realize there was a water park at the Forks of the Thames. In fact, the tour visits, or at least drives by, 74 sites.
"This is a promotion for people to get to know the city they are in. We find a lot of people come off the tour and say they did not know all those things," said Sarah Coenye, a tourist counsellor who conducts the tour.
"We are going through some hard economic times and this is a way to encourage people to stay in the area . . . there is a lot to do here."
The tour includes highlights such as the Metropolitan United Church, Victoria Park, St. Peter's Cathedral, Western Fair grounds, Labatt Park, the Grand Theatre, Springbank Park and gardens, Sifton Bog, various sites at the University of Western Ontario and bars on Richmond Row.
But conspicuous by their absence is Fanshawe Pioneer Village and potential tourist draws such as East Park, the water park, and even city wineries.
The village is mentioned on the bus tour but the ride is restricted to the downtown, west end and Western to keep it to two hours, said Maria Escobar, tourist counsellor.
"If we went anywhere else it would make the trip very long and we cannot do that."
Still, the tour was plenty for Marg McIntyre of London, who took the ride with her husband Herb.
"We had a beautiful time. It would be very good for people coming to our city," she said. "We enjoyed it all."
-
Booking a tour
Free double-decker bus tours will be offered Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The bus departs from Dundas and Wellington streets. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 519-661-6341.
