(about Alexandria, ON Canada, last edited on Jul 27, 2007)
Located about 1/2 way between Montreal and Ottawa, on the Garry River in eastern Ontario and within the borders of the United Counties of Stormond, Dundas, and Glengarry, Alexandria is a small town that is worth a stop because of the peace it has to offer to all those who lead a hectic life. Here the time slows down and you can find moments for relaxation and enjoy the simple pleasures of life, fresh air, unspoiled nature great sights and food, friendly people and wonderful charm.
This town rich in spirit, history, and culture was founded in 1806 and it has a rich history and buildings with an interesting architecture that combine French and Scottish styles. It is a pleasure to stroll the main street and wonder at the many historic churches, the Bishop's Mill which is a heritage site, the monastery, and specialty boutiques that invite you to buy souvenirs.
If you have been to Scotland or France or you are familiar with the countries you will immediately notice that Alexandria is a blend of the two in almost every aspect.
Even if it is a small town there is plenty to do here as the people are very active and love entertainment both outdoors and indoors, so the events and activities that take place in and around the town are numerous and attract visitors from the surrounding areas and not only.
The famous amenities that offer most of the activities are: Alexandria Island Park & Sandfield Centre, the Mill Pond, the Glengarry Golf and Country Club and Glengarry Sports Palace.
The first is a park opened in 2002 to be Alexandria's Community Centre and the place where the locals and tourists alike can consume their energy with one of the outdoors sports or games or just relax on the beach. What exactly can you do here? Well, you can fish, play soccer, tennis, basket ball, and ice skate in winter, enjoy a picnic or have fun in the water park.
Mill Pond is another great spot offering picnic facilities, a playground and swimming. This is also the place where the greatest celebrations take place throughout the year. Canada Day celebrations and Festival Alexandria are just two of them.
Golf enthusiasts have a place of their own to enjoy and that is the Glengarry Golf and Country Club set on the beautiful hills of the Glengarry highlands with 18 holes of challenging golf. During the winter season the place turns into a great area for country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.
Alexandria has a great place for entertainment during the winter and rainy season that is the Glengarry Sports Palace where you can watch some great games or choose to do a bit of exercise yourself. Besides sporting activities you can also take part at some trade shows, auctions, special activity events or visit exhibitions. Another sports complex is Maxville Sports Complex located beside the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame on Fair Street which offers similar activities to Glengarry Sports Palace.
Alexandria’s surrounding area is boasting natural beauty and it is great for nature walks, you can see a wide variety of animals especially in the spring and summer months especially birds and you ca have some great off-road biking.
All in all Alexandria is a great place to live with a nice community, safe areas and a lot to offer in entertainment and outdoor activities.
