Peterborough ‘breathtaking ’

Peterborough named to travel website Expedia’s list of 34 Most Breathtaking Places in North America.

Peterborough has been named by a travel website as one of the 34 Most Breathtaking Places in North America -- right up there with Banff, Niagara Falls, Old Montreal, Havana, Cuba and Mexico City.

Expedia blogger Jennifer Cuellar, who is based in San Diego, Calif., posted the list this week. It’s not based on an online vote.

It seems the new dining experience under the Peterborough Lift Lock elevated Peterborough to her list.

“We can say, with utter and total certainty, that you have never dined in a place like Lock 21 in Peterborough, Ontario,” Cuellar writes.

“It’s a restaurant you can only get to by canoe, kayak, or boat, and is located directly underneath the world’s tallest hydraulic lift lock (which lifts boats from the water). Once the powerful machine has clocked out for the day, the restaurant below begins cooking up 5-course fine-dining meals against the background of stone, steel, and blue waters.

“The truly breathtaking restaurant has already gained strong word of mouth during its trial runs, and anticipation is high for the grand opening later this year.”

The blog suggests tourists should come to Peterborough for the Lock 21 dining experience (the inaugural 2017 season is already sold out, though) and then stay for the other amenities.

“Of course, if you’d like to stay a little more on the ground, a stroll through Harper Park or a tour through the Art Gallery of Peterborough showcase beauty as well,” Cuellar writes.

Harper Park is a 150-acre natural environment park, located east of Harper Rd. in the southwest corner of the city. Earlier this year it was designated as a provincially significant wetland, meaning it rates among the most important wetlands in Ontario.

Expedia’s 34 picks were not listed in any particular order.

Some other surprises on the list: Oshawa; Hamilton; Coronach, Sask.; Red Deer, Alta.; La Ronge, Sask. and Tulum, Mexico.