Stratford, Ontario, is home to the best
classical theatre company in North America, the Stratford
Shakespeare Festival.  In fact, it is the largest classical
repertory theatre company outside of the Royal
Shakespeare Company, in England. 

Gay tourists regularly visit Stratford to see theatre
productions, as well as enjoy dining at some of the
best restaurants and cafes in Canada.  Gay bars are hard to come by, but, this is what makes Stratford, Stratford.  (One doesn't come here to party like one does in the city...)

As an escape from a large city, Stratford is a premier
gay getaway in rural Southwestern Ontario.

Lastly, largely in part to the vibrant arts scene in
Stratford, a large gay population resides
there year round, making this community (only 30,000
inhabitants) one of the most gay-friendly small cities in the world.  

Stratford Shakespeare Festival
(http://www.stratford-festival.on.ca/), numerous
productions run from the end of April through to the end of October.

Playbill, 2009:

Macbeth

West Side Story

Cyrano de Bergerac

A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Importance of Being Earnest

Julius Caesar

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Three Sisters

Bartholomew Fair

Ever Yours, Oscar

Phedre

The Trespassers

Rice Boy

Zastrozzi

--- --- ---

Stratford Chefs School
(http://www.stratfordchef.com), the best
professional chef school in Canada, the
most innovative of it's type in the world.  During the academic
school year, from November through February,
fee-paying guests can attend scheduled luncheons and
dinners, Mondays through Fridays. Reservations are
essential.

Guest "Celebrity Chefs" in residence for 2009-2010, include:

Ben Shewry (Chef/Owner, 'Attica', in Melbourne, Australia), November 23rd-27th, 2009:

http://www.attica.com.au/

Paolo Lopriore (Executive Chef, 'Il Canto' at Certosa di Maggiano, Siena, Italy), January 11th-15th, 2010:

http://www.certosadimaggiano.com/resturant_ilcanto_certosadimaggiano.htm

Amit Ghosh (Executive Chef, Taj Malabar Hotel, Willingdon Island, Cochin, Kerela, India), January 25th-29th, 2010:

http://www.tajhotels.com/Leisure/Taj%20Malabar%2CCOCHIN/

Guest "Celebrity Chefs" in residence for 2009, included:
Riccardo Camanini (Executive Chef, at 'Villa Fiordaliso', Gardone Riviera, Italy):
http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/search-book/hotel-restaurant/fiordaliso/
Nuno Mendes (London, U.K.):
http://nunomendes.co.uk/gallery.html
Joseba Jiménez de Jiménez (Executive Chef at 'The Harvest Vine', and 'Txori', in Seattle, U.S.A.):
http://www.harvestvine.com/index.php
http://www.txoribar.com/
Alexandre Gautier (Executive Chef, at 'La Grenouillere', Montreuil-sur-Mer, France):
http://www.lagrenouillere.fr/

Stratford, Ontario, welcomes gays
and lesbians from all over the world to come and visit us.  

Stratford is a rural city, yes, but, most
residents are tolerant of the vibrant gay community, as well
as gay tourists that visit the region.

There are many gay-owned and operated businesses thriving in Stratford & area, and you will be well taken care of in many LGTB owned/friendly restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, inns, B&Bs, et cetera.

Stratford, Ontario, is the perfect gay getaway for
those seeking a rural yet cosmopolitan escape from the
pressure and stress of life in large cities.

Stratford is a unique place to visit, one of the most
tranquil places left on earth to discover the small town way of life.    

If you wish to discover the gay scene in Toronto
(where most internationals land first, in Canada),
then, one can easily drive from Toronto to Stratford
in about one-and-a-half-hours.  Or, ditch the car idea,
and get onboard a train from downtown Toronto to Stratford
in about two-hours (remember to pack limes for your gin and tonics!).

Also, regular bus services are available from many pick-up points in the Greater
Toronto Area (the "GTA"), to Stratford.

For train schedules, check: Via Rail Canada
(http://www.viarail.ca/en_index.html).

For bus services, check: Greyhound
(http://www.greyhound.ca/en/).

The closest major international airport is in Greater
Toronto, the Pearson International Airport
(http://www.gtaa.com/en/home/).

Closer to Stratford, you might want to check flights
landing in Kitchener-Waterloo, at the Region of
Waterloo International Airport
(http://www.waterlooairport.ca/en/), as well as
London, Ontario, at the London International Airport
(http://www.londonairport.on.ca/).

If you like to fly your own plane, or, you are so well-
off that you like to have someone fly your private
jet, well, one can easily land at the Stratford
Municipal Airport, about five minutes drive north of
the city
(http://www.city.stratford.on.ca/airport/airport.htm).
   

Nearby international airports in the U.S.A.:

Buffalo-Niagara International Airport
(http://www.buffaloairport.com/)

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
(http://www.metroairport.com/)