Hey Lakeland, Kaylee here. A few months ago, my fiancé, Daniel, and I found out something totally bizarre. His birthplace – Richmond Hill, Canada – is actually one of Lakeland’s Sister Cities. In fact, it was the first Sister City relationship ever formed in Lakeland.
If you’re not sure what that is (don’t worry, we weren’t either), the “Sister Cities” concept was developed in 1956 to celebrate and increase international cooperation by connecting through city affairs + people.
Recently, I took a trip to Richmond Hill to celebrate Rosh Hashanah with Daniel’s family. I had a mini-adventure exploring new land, and they enjoyed playing tourist in the city they call home.
Three Coins Open Kitchen Restaurant | Photo by @thelaltoday
What most amazed me by this trip were the similarities between RH + LAL – Including admiration for their beautiful lakes + trails, culture, history, architecture, and a secure sense of what we call in the LAL office, “Pride in Place.”
Lake Wilcox Park | Photo by @thelaltoday
From talking development with Mayor Barrows to scoping out the largest telescope in Canada, and grabbing some breakfast from an iconic staple on Yonge St., take a look at some of our adventures using the button below + some bonus places suggested by actual Richmond Hill residents.
What A Bagel | Photo by @thelaltoday
Similarly to Lakeland, in Richmond Hill breakfast isn’t just a grab + go. For many, it’s a whole event. Since 1997, the popular What A Bagel restaurant has been making baked goods from scratch. This generational bakery serves up menu items such as burekas, hamentashen, rugelach, strudel, croissants, and of course, bagels. #ProTip: Make sure to pick up lox to top off your unsugared donut.
The David Dunlap Observatory
The David Dunlap Observatory | Photo by @thelaltoday
Opened in 1935, the David Dunlap Observatory is a research center for the University of Toronto’s Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. The observatory is home to Canada’s largest optical telescope – measuring more than 74 inches in diameter. They also enlist speakers during the summer to talk about astronomy. (And even if listening to speakers is not your thing, you get a tour of the facility + a chance to look through the telescope.) If you like stars and astronomy, this place is a total #MustDo.
Elephant Grind Coffee
Elephant Grind Coffee | Photo by @thelaltoday
Mixing both minimalist + earthy decor, this shop believes in spaces that allow customers to sit and relax. The owners’ foundational thought process for opening up a shop came from their own need for a brunch place + coffee house near their suburban home. Not only does Elephant Grind serve up craft coffee, but this spot is all about food fusion, so adventurous eaters dig in.
Their Asian-flare menu brings new flavors to the community, such as the Lap Cheong Hash. DYK the elephant symbolizes power, strength, and is an animal that has an intense focus on family? It’s the shop’s hope their coffee and brunch gives you the energy to power through your day.
The City of Richmond Hill Municipal Office Building
The City of Richmond Hill Municipal Office | Photo by @thelaltoday
Just to give you some background, the City of Richmond Hill Municipal Office Building houses local officials just like Lakeland’s City Hall. Our 20+ year relationship with this York Region city has allowed us to connect through Rotary Club activities + trade agreements. According to Mayor Barrows, any Lakelander would be remiss if they didn’t try out a visit to the Dunlap Observatory and a walk through the Moraine when visiting the Rose City.
And by the way, a few notable development projects in this growing city worth mentioning include a 2.6-kilometer segment of Viva bus rapid transit (rapidway project) and a boardwalk that wraps around Lake Wilcox.
Three Coins Open Kitchen Restaurant
Three Coins Open Kitchen Restaurant | Photo by @thelaltoday
Open since 1955, this restaurant is an iconic staple on Yonge St. (otherwise known as old Richmond Hill). Jukeboxes scattered at every table tell the story of a bygone era and the friendly waitstaff hesitate every need. The name also implies it all, as breakfast is pretty inexpensive (not to mention delicious). And according to their Facebook page, this hole-in-the-wall diner is pretty generational – as folks reminisce on times spent with grandparents and old school memories they’ve had at the restaurant. Anyone else getting Fat Jack’s vibes?
Richmond Hill Heritage Centre | Photo by @thelaltoday
Built circa 1840, the Richmond Hill Heritage Centre was once the house of the prominent local leader and Parliamentarian Amos Wright. (Though there’s no known kinship between them, how crazy is it that Lakeland’s most prominent + celebrated architect is also a Wright.) See Frank Lloyd Wright.
Some of the most wow-worthy exhibits they showcase: “Coming up Roses” – a history of the rose-growing industry that put Richmond Hill on the map as the rose capital of Canada; A Lifetime Day by Day - Five Women and Their Diaries – Read excerpts from 19th century Ontario women about their families and friends, occupations and social interactions, and incidentally about their communities; Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame – a recognition of players, coaches, trainers, teams, sponsors, and sports builders who have helped shape the local sports community.
Lake Wilcox Park
Lake Wilcox | Photo by @thelaltoday
Y’all, Richmond Hill residents are pretty serious about their lakes. (Sound familiar?) Not only is Lake Wilcox beautiful to stroll around, but the park itself also boasts amenities like a splash pad, a playground, picnic areas, fishing spots, and some of the most beautiful sunsets in the area. And as an added bonus, there’s a 45-minute self-guided tree tour – which is pretty similar to the tree tour Lakelanders have in Hollis Gardens.
A few extras
Before planning my trip, I also asked a few of the residents in a neighborhood Facebook page the places they’d recommend to those visiting Richmond Hill. Here are a few of the suggestions I received. ⬇️
“Check out the Wilcox Lake area or check out Yonge Street. It has some nice cafes and places to eat. Canada’s Wonderland isn’t too far.” – Fatima S.
“There is Three Coins Restaurant right on Yonge St, just north of Major MacKenzie.” – Dianne M.
“Richmond Hill has Sunset Beach. Winter people go ice fishing on the lake and a summer lush green surrounded the lake with blue water.” – Rekha S.
“Symposium for breakfast or Corras. Wilcox Lake for a walk etc.” – Hulimar M.
“I would suggest a visit to Lake Wilcox Park, a walk along any of our trails including the Oak Ridges Trail. If there is a show at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts that would be a good place to visit. We have a number of great restaurants in our Village Core and many others in the area near East Beaver Creek Road and Highway 7.” – David W.
“All the community centres are situated in a green space, and many of them have swimming pools. Across Bayview Ave. is a forest area, a perfect hike for 2-3 hours. After you have finished exploring Richmond Hill, you can check out McMichael Art Gallery in Kleinburg, which is famous for its collections of paintings by Canadian artists, the Group of 7. The museum and the park where it is located are fine art themselves.” – Echo L.
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