Travelogue: Unionville (1)

View Larger Map

Unionville Coffee shop

   I wasn’t sure if I wanted to put this village into my travelogue section but it’s such a pretty and less known place that’s just north of Toronto. Some of my relatives live here so I’ve got a good excuse to visit it from time to time. Actually you've probably seen this village but didn't know it. It was presented as the  fictional Connecticut town, Stars Hallow in the TV series, "The Gilmore Girls" which was filmed here. From Wikipedia:

  The population of Unionville is about 30,000. Unionville is composed of many neighbourhoods including Olde Unionville, South Unionville, Angus Glen, and Berczy Village. Unionville is said to be one of the most affluent areas in the Greater Toronto Area with an average household income of $127,900. Rouge River runs north of the central part of Unionville and to the southeast. Highway 404 is to the west, the nearest interchange with the Highway 407 is 2 km south on Kennedy Rd. The population lives in almost all parts of Unionville except in the industrialized south-central area. The railway line which links the area to Toronto via GO Train service once ran as far north as Lindsay.

 The historic village or downtown section of Unionville is typical of a small town that developed over a century or so starting in the early 1840s (when Ira White erected his Union Mills) through the middle to late 20th century. The historic Main Street Unionville attracts thousands of visitors each year — as of 2006 it boasted 9 restaurants, including 3 pubs. Main Street (originally the laneway from the village's first grist mill) also has a number of "century homes" dating back to the 19th century. Each year, thousands visit Unionville during the Unionville Festival.

Another good restaurant on Main Street

   This coming weekend they have a Celtic Festival and in August a Jazz festival. I might attend the Celtic Festival because my family is a bunch of crazy Celts and we have two bagpipers in the extended family although my uncle is getting a bit old to blow. When I was young, my family could do a pretty good impersonation of the Rankin Family including the dancing. Rankin Family? Ok. Here’s a video.

My favourite Candy store

   The Old Firehall Confectionery shop is one of the stores in Unionville that I always explore. Opened in June 2009, it offers the best selection of old-fashioned, handmade sweets from its contemporary environment. Specializing in long-time favourites such as homemade fudge, candy apples, sponge toffee and truffles, the Old Firehall has become a sweet destination striving to meet the needs of generations young and old alike.