Shakespeare is an important component of Ontario's regional cultural tourism experience, and for many it is their first impression of what the region has on offer. Shakespeare is the Gateway to rural Perth County tourism, as well as the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, among other festivals and attractions. Shakespeare continues to serve as the Gateway to unique rural Ontario cultural expectations.
Shakespeare is renown for it's picturesque rural hamlet heritage, and the pedestrian friendly heritage shopping district. This district begins at the Perth County Visitors Center, and continues through the Shakespeare core culminating in the west end local foods specialty shops. Within these boundaries lies some of the most unique shopping, informal yet authentic dining and unique boutique European accommodation available in the province.
The abundance of the best of rural Ontario's locally produced foods available in our shops, and produced minutes away in our charming local rural communities that are ready and waiting to be explored, provides a sense of place, peace and tranquility that customers can find no-where else. The system of producing foods is as important as the foods themselves, and the pride of place in our local foods served and sold in our local shops is not lost on our returning customers.
The most common phrase first uttered by drive-by customers that choose to stop is "I didn't realize such a wonderful small-town Hamlet like this still existed". Certainly, the antiques and unique gift shops are a central draw of their own, with world travelers coming to Shakespeare just to shop in these shops, and to simply lose themselves in the collections of yesteryear among objects once familiar to them but that were long forgotten. Everyone can find that special something to bring them back to yesteryear, and to remind them to return to Shakespeare once again. It is this that is what Shakespeare really is. Come and enjoy. We trust you will find:
Ø Rural
Ambiance
§ Experience
rural Ontario at it's best
§ Rich Ag
heritage
§ Local
Menonite communities
§ Pastoral
Countryside
§ Charming
rural communities
§ Locally
produced and available foods
§ Pride of
Place
§ Rural
Hamlet with a rich heritage
Ø Stratford
Shakespeare Festival experience
§ Shakespeare
Festival Country Gateway
§ Important
reason for coming to Stratford
Ø Shakespeare
Highlights for Tourists
§ Picturesque
Rural hamlet
§ Enchanting
Built Heritage
§ Ontario
Antiques center
§ Quaint
shops, Unique gifts
§ Small town
ambiance
§ Walking Shopping Heritage
§ Stop and Browse spontaneous shopping