Erie Entertainment

Growing up in Michigan, the natural feature dominating my life has been the Great Lakes. One of the first things a Michigan child learns in school is HOMES, the acronym for remembering the names of all the Great Lakes, (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior). Lake Superior was the biggest, the coldest and by its name, of course, the best. Lake Michigan was where you went if you wanted sand dunes, big waves and warm water. Lake Huron's shore was quieter, its water colder and that's where you went to watch the sunrise. Lake Ontario was somewhere off in Canada, and then there was Lake Erie. The smallest and shallowest of the Great Lakes, the one with the creepy name, Lake Erie got no respect.

As a kid I always thought of Lake Erie as the place where the bodies of people who had drowned in Lake St. Clair or the Detroit River would eventually resurface.

Recently, my opinion of Lake Erie has changed. After leaving Stratford, Ontario, I camped at Lake Erie State Park, in Brocton, New York. The campground was on a high bluff above a beautiful crescent shaped beach. The sandy beach had large rocks which provided perfect spots for viewing the water. As a former Michigan kid, what I was viewing was totally mind-blowing. I was watching the sun "set" into Lake Erie...a Michigan impossibility!

The sunset was beautiful and a lively wind created some nice sized waves. After a while a friendly dog showed up to play in the waves providing me with my evening's entertainment. That night as I was drifting off to sleep I was left with two thoughts: 1. I hope the owners of that wet, sandy dog weren't sharing a tent with him, and, 2. Just where do those dead bodies resurface?

The Play's Not Always The Thing

The first stop on my latest roadtrip was Stratford, Ontario. My sister and her family, and I shared a bed and breakfast, leaving poor little Van sitting neglected by the curb. My family and I have been enjoying the plays at Stratford since I was a kid. When we first visited, my parents would pull their motorhome into a vacant lot where we'd stay for the weekend. We'd change into our best clothes, then hike up the hill to the Festival Theatre for our yearly thespian treat. When we first visited, the only plays being presented were by Shakespeare. Attending one of the performances was quite an occasion; everyone dressed up and the women often wore long gowns. These days the atmosphere is more casual and the repertoire has expanded.

This year we saw two matinees, The Tempest and Peter Pan, and a musical, Kiss Me Kate, in the evening. If I were asked to choose a favorite, I'd have to say each one was unique and pleasure to watch. I enjoyed them all.

Although I love seeing the plays, they're not the only thing I love about Stratford. The town is full of beautiful parks and natural areas. You can spend an entire day walking up and down the Avon river, exploring the gardens, paths and walks. I love watching the waterfowl on and around the river, under the ancient willows. Stratford is the place to go when both your mind and your spirit need refreshing.