Guelph

= Local View: Guelph, Ontario = Guelph looks hard to pronounce, but it really isn't! And it's even more fun than it sounds! Try it: Gwelf

A bit about Guelph
Guelph is home to around 120,000 people. It is home to the University of Guelph and a Conestoga College campus. Guelph has a green reputation. It is a Canadian innovator in recycling and diverts a high percentage of waste from landfill. It has a healthy arts community and boasts several music festivals, which is impressive for a city of its size.

El Mercadito Resataurant
El Mercadito is a Salvadorian restaurant that is tucked away in an unlikely location in an industrial mall. Don't let the location fool you. It's home to fresh, authentic food that is made with heart from the recipes from the owner, Roberto's, grandmother. The menu provides good selection without being overwhelming, and attention to detail is evident in everything that is prepared, including the coffee, which is ground fresh when it's brewed. Similar care is extended to guests, particularly children. Every child gets their own pupusas to enjoy, and Roberto admonishes them not to share them with the grownups (no matter how much they beg).

To find information on their menu (and pictures of their delicious meals), hours, and location, visit their website: [|http://elmercadito.ca]

Planet Bean Coffee
Planet Bean is a local institution. It roasts organic coffee with its own roaster and is one of Canada's first certified fair trade companies. You can take home some beans or enjoy one of their brewed coffees or espresso drinks. To find information on their products and their commitment to fair trade and the planet, visit their website: []

Guelph Jazz Festival
The Guelph Jazz Festival is an annual festival with a growing reputation for hosting innovative jazz acts from around the world. It is a well-regarded festival in Canada, and features many free acts that are accessible to and enjoyable for all ages.

To learn more about the festival and their program for this year, visit their website: []

Hillside Festival
The Hillside Festival is a Guelph institution that showcases local and international musical talent in many traditions, but with an emphasis on folk and world music. The festival is held on an island (connected by a small roadway) in Guelph Lake, which limits the size and ensures that the music is an intimate experience. In fact, the festival sells out most years. Many people arrive at the festival by bus or bicycle. The food tent showcases local restaurants and food from around the world.

To learn more about the festival and see this year's line-up, visit their website: []

Nature
The Guelph Lake Nature Centre gives kids a chance to experience nature and wildlife through programs and workshops. To learn more about nature programs and workshops for children, visit their website: @http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=3&Sub1=13&sub2=0

Hiking
You can strike out on a hike at many points in Guelph. Many of the city trails take you through forests and along rivers and glacial rock formations. There are also a number of rural trails to enjoy on the outskirts of Guelph. To learn more about hiking in and around Guelph, visit the Guelph Hiking Club website: []

Cycling
Guelph is home to a large network of city-groomed cycling trails that are good for beginners and experts alike. It also boasts the Guelph Off-Road Biking Association (GORBA), which hosts and maintains a number of trails near Guelph Lake.

To learn more about off-road biking around Guelph, visit the GORBA website: []

Learn more about Guelph

 * Guelph Public Library: []
 * City of Guelph: [|http://www.guelph.ca]
 * Guelph and Wellington County travel: [|http://www.visitguelphwellington.ca]
 * University of Guelph: []
 * Conestoga College: []