{"id":521668,"date":"2026-03-08T02:41:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T02:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/521668\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T02:41:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T02:41:10","slug":"this-36-train-ride-from-toronto-takes-you-to-a-dreamy-riverside-town-with-european-charm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/521668\/","title":{"rendered":"This $36 train ride from Toronto takes you to a dreamy riverside town with European charm"},"content":{"rendered":"

You can ditch the car and hop on the train for a quick escape from Toronto. This charming Ontario destination<\/a> is just a short VIA Rail ride<\/a> away, making it an ideal weekend getaway<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During the winter, the streets are blanketed in snow, turning the town into a storybook scene with historic architecture and picture-perfect corners.<\/p>\n

From cozy coffee shops to charming boutiques and local attractions, there’s no shortage of spots to discover and experiences to enjoy.<\/p>\n

Nestled along the Avon River, Stratford is famous for its rich theatre scene. While it’s actually a city, its charming streets and historic buildings make it feel more like a small town escape than an urban hub.<\/p>\n

VIA Rail offers a traffic-free trip to Stratford, with the journey from Toronto taking just over two hours. You can catch a Friday evening train and be back by Sunday morning, making it an ideal destination for a stress-free weekend getaway.<\/p>\n

Just a quick stroll from the train station, Stratford’s downtown is filled with charming shops, cozy cafes, and plenty to explore.<\/p>\n

You can treat yourself to specialty lattes and fresh-baked goodies at local favourites like The Livery Yard, The Ashborne Cafe, and Balzac’s Stratford.<\/p>\n

Don’t miss the Chocolate Trail, a sweet, self-guided tour that winds through some of the town’s most celebrated chocolatiers and bakers.<\/p>\n

Art and history buffs can also find plenty to enjoy. Gallery Stratford showcases Canadian art, while the Stratford Perth Museum houses over 20,000 artifacts waiting to be explored.<\/p>\n

True “Beliebers” will want to check out the Justin Bieber exhibit, Steps to Stardom, at the Stratford Perth Museum.<\/p>\n

According to the museum<\/a>, “the museum works closely with Bieber and his family members and continues to receive new items for the exhibit. Most recently, Justin’s grandparents brought a number of very personal items from Justin and Hailey’s wedding to the museum. Those items are already on display.”<\/p>\n

When the weather warms up, Stratford comes alive. You can stroll through the vibrant Shakespearean Gardens, soak up the sun on a patio with a delicious meal, or catch a performance at the renowned Stratford Festival, running April through October with both Shakespearean classics and contemporary productions.<\/p>\n

Stratford offers many B&Bs, inns, and more where you can book an overnight getaway. Accommodations include the Perth County Inn, The Bruce Hotel, and Hotel Julie.<\/p>\n

Train tickets start at $36 one-way per adult, so if you’re looking for a car-free getaway, Stratford is worth keeping on your radar.<\/p>\n

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide<\/a> so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"You can ditch the car and hop on the train for a quick escape from Toronto. This charming…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":521669,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194291],"tags":[49,48,205677,3302,121879,205676],"class_list":{"0":"post-521668","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-toronto","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-stratford-ontario","11":"tag-toronto","12":"tag-via-rail","13":"tag-via-rail-toronto"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/521668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=521668"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/521668\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/521669"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=521668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=521668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=521668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}