Just back from 5 nights at the Stratford Festival. We stayed in a self-catering apartment across the street from (and run by) the Stone Maiden Inn, and an easy walk to everything in town. The apartment had 2 good-sized bedrooms, an eat-in kitchen, a small TV room, balcony and bath, and was centrally air-conditioned. Cost was $215 CDN for our family of 4. Breakfast supplies, including fresh muffins each morning, were provided by the Inn, and we really enjoyed the space and privacy.

Stratford is a charming small town with many shops and restaurants, a river with swans, parks, and 4 state-of-the-art theaters. We saw 4 plays during our stay, 2 matinees and 2 evening performances. Production values were very high, but we were not always happy with the casting. Our selections included The King and I, Gigi, Present Laughter, No Exit, Taming of the Shrew and Love's Labor Lost--we were able to split up because we could walk everywhere.

We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the restaurants, tho the good ones tended to fill up fast prior to performance times, especially the less expensive places. We really enjoyed The Old Prune, offering mostly prix fixe (at $64 pp)in a lovely old house with a garden. Other favorites included Down the Street, Pazzo, Falstaff's and Bentley's. By the end, though, we were all tired of eating in restaurants, and our last meal was take-out by the river--there are a variety of excellent takeout places.

We also enjoyed poking around in the shops, and spent one day getting massages, pedicures and haircuts at one of the many beauty shops in town.

Our other activities included sleeping late and lolling around reading! All in all a most enjoyable vacation.

Thanks for bringing back the memories! It has been 20 years since I was to Stratford.

Did you notice a restaurant in a former church? I had a spectacular Sunday brunch in one and wondered if it is till in existance and if it is still so good.

Keith

We didn't eat there, but saw their ad in the tourist guide. You'd have to be in Stratford for quite some time to sample all the good restaurants!

Your post really brings back memories. The restaurant in the church is called appropriately The Church. It was there that my husband ordered Steak tartare, even though I warned him that it was not cooked. And it was at The Old Prune that I had fiddleheads for the first time. Actually, that was the only time I've ever had them. We had a great meal at Rundles, too. I remember the main course as being roast rack of lamb with grenadine flavored onions rolled up in puff pastry and sliced. How could you ever forget that?

We've stayed at Stone Maiden Inn but knew nothing about the apartment...what is it called?

Anyhow, we're going with our kids next week (staying at a B&B called Sayer's Rest). How was The King and I and Taming of the Shrew? Those are the plays we decided to see.

I did not eat at "The Church" on my recent trip. I did, however, sample superb food at the Westover Inn in St. Mary's (about 15 minutes west of Stratford).

I also found a noodle place on Erie Street that I liked. It was cheap and filling when you get sick of spending too much money at the expensive places.

I saw "Taming of the Shrew", "Love's Labour Lost", "The King & I", "Troilius & Cressida", "Quiet in the Land", "The Birds" and "Present Laughter".

I started my trip, by the way, at the Shaw, where I saw 6 plays before getting to Stratford. Did I say I am a theater nut?

After my 13 plays, I went to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I just posted a trip report about that bit.