{"id":876553,"date":"2026-08-30T03:22:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T03:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/876553\/"},"modified":"2026-08-30T03:22:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T03:22:10","slug":"this-10-train-from-toronto-takes-you-to-a-dreamy-riverside-gem-with-quaint-streets-and-cafes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/876553\/","title":{"rendered":"This $10 train from Toronto takes you to a dreamy riverside gem with quaint streets and cafes"},"content":{"rendered":"

You don’t need a car to enjoy a little getaway from Toronto<\/a>. You can hop aboard a train and head to this charming Ontario destination<\/a>, where quaint streets, cozy caf\u00e9s and scenic river views await.<\/p>\n

With its small-town vibes and historic buildings, it’s like a little slice of Europe<\/a> without going too far.<\/p>\n

Stratford is a beautiful destination nestled along the Avon River, known for its picturesque architecture, thriving arts scene and theatre festival.<\/p>\n

While it may technically be a city, wandering through its heritage downtown can feel a little like stepping into a charming village.<\/p>\n

No car? No problem! You don’t need to get behind the wheel to visit this spot. <\/p>\n

GO Transit<\/a> now offers train service between Toronto and Stratford, giving you a car-free way to reach the destination. <\/p>\n

The service runs on the Kitchener GO line and offers one daily round trip, with fares as low as $10 using GO’s weekend fare options. That means you can sit back, skip the traffic and arrive ready to explore.<\/p>\n

The Stratford station is also within walking distance of the downtown core, so you won’t necessarily need a car once you get there.<\/p>\n

VIA Rail is another option, with service from Toronto taking just over two hours.<\/p>\n

Once you arrive, there’s lots to explore.<\/p>\n

Downtown Stratford features charming shops, caf\u00e9s and restaurants lining the historic streets. You can grab a specialty latte and a sweet treat at local spots like The Livery Yard, The Ashborne Cafe and Balzac’s Stratford before setting off to discover more of the city.<\/p>\n

If you have a sweet tooth, you may want to check out Stratford’s Chocolate Trail<\/a>, a self-guided experience that leads you to local chocolatiers, bakeries and other delicious stops.<\/p>\n

The city boasts several attractions to check out, such as Gallery Stratford, which showcases Canadian art, and the Stratford Perth Museum, which houses more than 20,000 artifacts.<\/p>\n

The museum is also a must-see for Bieliebers. Its “Steps to Stardom” exhibit takes you through the singer’s early years and his connection to his hometown.<\/p>\n

You can also take a stroll along the Avon River and through Shakespearean Gardens, a beautiful spot filled with flowers and greenery that’s especially picturesque during the warmer months.<\/p>\n

Of course, no visit to Stratford would be complete without checking out the Stratford Festival. Running from spring through fall, the renowned festival features everything from Shakespearean classics to contemporary productions.<\/p>\n

If you’re planning an overnight trip, Stratford has plenty of accommodation options ranging from boutique hotels and inns to charming B&Bs. <\/p>\n

Whether you’re catching a show, following the Chocolate Trail or spending the afternoon wandering its storybook-like streets, Stratford is a charming Ontario escape that you can reach without getting behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

Visit Stratford Website<\/a><\/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 don’t need a car to enjoy a little getaway from Toronto. You can hop aboard a train…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":876554,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194291],"tags":[49,48,197990,205677,3302,205676],"class_list":["post-876553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-toronto","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-go-transit","tag-stratford-ontario","tag-toronto","tag-via-rail-toronto"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/876553","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=876553"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/876553\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/876554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=876553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=876553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=876553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}