'''Waterloo'''[http://www.city.waterloo.on.ca], Ontario, is one of three neighbouring cities, together with Kitchener, and Cambridge, forming a tightly-integrated metro area within the larger Region of Waterloo in Southwestern Ontario. Waterloo is known internationally for its two Universities: Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo.

Understand

Waterloo is part of Canada's '''Technology Triangle''', and many companies such as MKS, Research In Motion (RIM), Maplesoft, Open Text, Google and Sybase are located here. Technology companies thrive due to the convenience of the University of Waterloo, which boasts the largest math and computer science undergraduate program in the world. The university is also very famous for its psychology program. Waterloo pioneered university co-op such that today it has the largest co-op undergraduate enrollment in the world.

Waterloo was once known as the "Hartford of Canada" due to the large number of insurance companies that once had their headquarters here. Insurance is still a major industry in Waterloo due to the presence of Manulife Financial and Sun Life Financial.

Farmland is quite close outside the city limits, and many Mennonites live close by. St. Jacobs is a small village immediately to the north of the city, with markets and stores that have come to be very popular.

The city of Kitchener is located immediately to the south of Waterloo. These two cities, often referred together as "Kitchener-Waterloo" (abbreviated to "K-W"), are separate municipalities, but share a long, seamless border. If visiting Waterloo, take Kitchener's attractions into consideration as well. Waterloo's central business district is referred to as "Uptown", in contrast to Kitchener's, which is referred to as "Downtown". Note, however, that Uptown Waterloo is not particularly large compared to neighbouring cities' downtowns; Waterloo is essentially a suburban city. The distributed nature of the city does mean that Uptown Waterloo has maintained a small-town atmosphere (for now; plans to intensify the Uptown are afoot).

Get in

By car

From Highway 401, take exit 278 (if coming from the west) or 278A (if coming from the east). Take Highway 8 North to Highway 85 North (the ''Conestoga Parkway''). There are four exits in Waterloo:
  • For Uptown Waterloo, exit Bridgeport Rd.
  • For universities, exit University Ave. West.
  • For destinations in north Waterloo, exit King St. N.
  • The Northfield Dr. exit is used mainly by local traffic.
  • By bus

    Greyhound[http://www.greyhound.ca/] has express buses connecting the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University with Toronto, and also provides rush hour services to the Sun Life building, a five minute walk south of Uptown.

    The Charles St. Terminal in downtown Kitchener is better served by inter-city bus, with Greyhound, Coach Canada[http://www.coachcanada.com/] and Cherrey Bus Lines stopping there regularly, so many people coming to Waterloo by bus take the bus to Kitchener, and then catch a Grand River Transit[http://www.grt.ca/] bus to Waterloo.

    Grand River Transit is the transit authority in the Region of Waterloo. If coming to Waterloo from Cambridge or Kitchener, the iXpress, a limited-stop express bus connecting the three cities, is fast and direct. Other routes that connect Kitchener to Waterloo are routes 7 (runs along King Street), 8 (runs in a loop along Westmount Road, University Avenue, and Weber Street) and 12 (runs along Fischer-Hallman Road, Keats Way, and University Avenue, then through suburbs in eastern Waterloo). All four routes serve the two universities and (except for the route 8) Conestoga Mall, and Uptown is served by the iXpress and route 7.

    By plane

    Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) [http://www.waterlooairport.ca/] is serviced by a limited number of airlines. Recently [http://www.westjet.com/ WestJet] has begun regular domestic service to Calgary, AB, and Northwest has regular flights to its Detroit hub. For travelers coming from afar, [http://www.airwaystransit.com/ Airways Transit] offers shuttle bus service between [http://www.gtaa.com/ Toronto Pearson International Airport] and Kitchener/Waterloo. Pearson Airport provides flights to and from a large number of destinations, and is located approximately 1 hour away from Waterloo by car in good traffic conditions. Buffalo/Niagara International Airport in Buffalo, New York is an alternative to Toronto. It is about 90-100 minutes away and requires a border crossing, but is often much cheaper to fly out of, particularly if your destination is in the US or Caribbean.

    By train

    VIA Rail[http://www.viarail.ca] provides regular service to Kitchener. Regular rush hour service is available on weekdays between Kitchener and Toronto, with reduced service on weekends. As the station is closed between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm (between train arrivals), guests may not always find the ticket counter open and should consider booking online. To reach Waterloo from Kitchener station, the easiest option is to take a cab (there are usually some to be found at the station around train time); cheaper options involve walking two blocks, either westward to King Street or eastward to Margaret Avenue, and catching a route 7 or 8 bus, or even walking north along Weber Street (Waterloo's city limits are a 15-minute walk to the north).

    Get around

    Unlike a metropolis such as Toronto, it is relatively quick and easy to get from one point to another by car because the distances aren't far, and the traffic isn't too busy. Looking at a map of Kitchener-Waterloo, one of the first things visitors from other parts of Ontario will notice is that, far from forming a grid pattern, the streets are not straight, curving and wiggling in surprising patterns. For example, there are two streets, King and Weber, which are parallel for most of their length, but cross each other 3 times in K-W. The irregular road pattern dates to the earliest settlement in K-W; unlike most Ontario townships, whose roads were laid out in a grid pattern, Waterloo Township was laid out without road allowances, allowing settlers to build roads where they were needed.

    '''King Street''' is the main street that travels roughly North-South through the downtown of Kitchener and Waterloo. In Waterloo, it is labelled King St. North and South, with the transition at Erb Street (in Kitchener, it is labelled King St. East and West).

    Grand River Transit is the transit authority for the Region of Waterloo. Students at the two universities have a GRT bus pass included in their student fees and so many of the people riding buses in Waterloo are students. Therefore, the main routes in Waterloo are those that run near the universities, namely the 7, 8, 12, and iXpress, described above, and the route 9, which travels between Conestoga Mall and the two universities via the Lakeshore subdivision. These routes offer 15 minute service during the day, at least at peak times, and 30 minute service on evenings until around 1:00 am and on Saturdays and Sundays. These routes are probably the only ones a casual traveller needs to take, as together they run near most of the city's attractions, hotels, shopping centres, etc. There are several other routes, which generally serve outlying subdivisions, but most of them have 30 minute service on weekdays, reduced evening and Saturday service, no Sunday service, and not-always-convenient connections. Bus schedules are available at [http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/transit.nsf/form?OpenForm ]; alternatively, you can acquire them piecemeal on buses, or all at once at either of the universities.

    There are three taxi companies that serve Waterloo and the surrounding area:

  • Waterloo Taxi (519-886-1200)
  • United Taxi (519-888-9999)
  • City Cabs (519-747-7777)
  • Waterloo is reasonably bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly, so travelling by bicycle or on foot is reasonable for shorter trips. Uptown Waterloo and the two universities are within walking distance of each other.

    See

  • Waterloo Park. oung St. West. Waterloo Park has something for everyone. Contains the Eby Farm (a display of farm animals), a Victorian Gardens, a beautiful lake adjacent to a replica grist mill, several sports fields, picnic areas, trails, and more. Special events are often held in the park.
  • Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. 1 Caroline Street North. ttp://www.perimeterinstitute.com/. Started by a $100 million donation by local entrepreneur, Mike Lazaridis, founder and co-CEO of Research in Motion (RIM). The institute presents several free lectures that are open to the public (usually held at Waterloo Collegiate Institute on Hazel Street) and also hosts the occasional concert (admission usually around $20). The ticket office is at the Old Post Office on the corner of King Street North and Dupont Street West.
  • '''Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery''', 25 Caroline Street North, 519-746-1882, [http://www.canadianclayandglass.ca/]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Located in Uptown Waterloo. The collection is small enough to be seen in an hour. $5 adult admission.
  • Do

  • '''Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest''', [http://www.oktoberfest.ca]. Together with Kitchener, Waterloo hosts this Bavarian festival, held annually in October. It is the largest in the world outside of Munich, Germany. The following two Festhalle are located in Waterloo: ''Heidelberg Haus'' (located at the Moses Springer Community Centre), and ''Ruedesheimer Garten'' (located at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, 101 Father David Bauer Dr.). As well, there is a free Oktoberfest Luncheon at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex the day before Oktoberfest officially starts, family-friendly activities on King Street in Uptown Waterloo on the first Saturday of Oktoberfest, and the Oktoberfest parade (which occurs on the Thanksgiving Monday) passes through Waterloo.
  • Laurel Creek Conservation Area. 25 Westmount Rd. N.. ttp://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=27&Sub1=127. 80.569. 3.492. This conservation area, centred around a reservoir, offers camping, as well as a beach and other water activities. Trails are available for hiking as well as cross country skiing during the winter.
  • RIM Park. 001 University Ave. Waterloo ON. 19-884-5363. ttp://www.city.waterloo.on.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=1081. Waterloo's largest and most modern community centre and sports complex is host to many recreational youth and adult sports leagues and contains: <br>-4 olympic size ice pads used for organized team activities as well as public free skates <br>-1 large indoor turf field which can be divided into 3 fields for recreational soccer <br>-2 NBA size Gymnasiums <br>-700 person banquet hall <br>-several meeting rooms <br>-food services facility <br> Most of the above facilities can be divided to serve a larger number of teams or groups. Several organizations use the facilities for trade shows and special events such as career fairs. The property is located on 500 acres of land which includes the Grey Silo golf course and several trails and outdoor sports fields. </do>
  • '''Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival''', [http://www.uptownwaterloojazz.ca/]. Held every year in July, Waterloo funds a free jazz concert showing various styles and talent throughout jazz.
  • '''Waterloo Buskers' Carnival''', [http://www.waterloo-buskers.com/]. Held annually in August. Celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2008.
  • Waterloo Central Railway. 0 Father David Bauer Drive. ttp://www.steam-train.org/. 12 (students and seniors $10, children $8). A tourist railway that runs a train consisting of historic passenger cars and a historic diesel between Waterloo and
  • Fubar. 40 University Ave. W..
  • '''Huether Hotel''', [http://www.huetherhotel.com/]. Uptown restaurant rebuilt from from an old hotel. The restaurant boasts great food and serves locally brewed beer from the Lion's Brewery.
  • '''Morty's Pub''', Boasts best wings in Waterloo since 1982.
  • '''Starlight Night Club'''. A great venue for a plethora of bands. Past performances include: The Sadies, Hawksley Workman, Cowboy Junkies, and Snow Patrol. DJ Charless is a must see. Affordable and great atmosphere. See [http://www.janebond.ca] for upcoming shows.
  • The Vault Lounge. Erb St. W..

    Sleep

  • Destination Inn. 47 King St. N.. 19-884-0100.

  • Comfort Inn. 90 Weber St. N.. 19-747-9400. ttp://www.choicehotels.ca/hotels/hotel?hotel=CN314.

  • The Waterloo Inn. 75 King St. N.. n service road just south of Highway 85 interchange. 19-884-0220. ttp://www.waterlooin.com/.

    Budget

  • '''Hotel Laurier''', 519-884-0710 ext. 2771 (''email: hotel@wlu.ca''), [http://www.wlu.ca/hotel/]. Wilfrid Laurier University rents out empty residence rooms in the summer under the pseudonym "Hotel Laurier". Single rooms come in as low as $40 per night; there are reduced rates for weekly or monthly stays, and further discounts for seniors, groups, and WLU staff and students.
  • Mid-Range

  • '''Waterloo Hotel''', 1-877-885-1890 or 1-519-885-2626 (''email: waterloohotel@aol.com''). An 1890 hotel with modern amenities, this hotel is located in the centre of Uptown Waterloo, on the corner of King and Erb Sts.
  • Get out

    Waterloo is within easy driving distance of many southern Ontario locations, such as
    London, Guelph, Niagara Falls, Toronto, and Stratford. Towns on the shore of Lake Huron, such as Kincardine or Goderich, are great places to enjoy the beach in the summer.

    Waterloo is the gateway to Mennonite country, being located just to the south of St. Jacobs. Immediately to the north of the city is the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market, which attracts locals and tourists, with fresh produce, baked goods, ethnic foods, clothing, refurbished phones, etc. The market runs Thursdays and Saturdays 7AM-3:30PM, with Tuesdays 8AM-3PM being added in the summer (June until Labour Day). Three kilometres to the north is St Jacobs, the ideal place to shop for gorgeous jewellery at Radianze, clothing at Le Creme, quaint quilts and household items at St Jacobs Mennonite Quilts, antiques at Arcitects, little treasures at Angel Treasures etc. Besides shopping, there are excellent choices for dining and staying including Benjamin's, the Gardenia and Jakobstettel.