Delights of a Canadian affair; Emily Barber finds you don't need to break the bank to fly across the Atlantic and enjoy the delights of Canada.

Byline: Emily Barber

TOUR operator Canadian Affair are offering flights to Canada from Newcastle from as little as pounds 219.

That's as good a reason as any to sample the delights of the country, especially now since Brits are finding Europe expensive due to the weak pound.

With a flight time of just seven and a quarter hours, on a comfortable Air Transat charter flight, my husband Rich and I were raring to go and explore Canada's second largest province, Ontario, its capital Toronto and of course, Niagara Falls.

As we arrived in Toronto Lester B Pearson airport, we made our way towards the bus stops, situated directly outside the arrivals terminal, and hopped straight on the Airport Express bus, which is a loop service from the airport to various hotels in downtown Toronto.

The air-conditioned bus would take us directly to our hotel, the Delta Chelsea, for just $19.95 one-way (about pounds 11.70), which is a lot cheaper than a taxi at around $55 (pounds 32).

The half-hour bus journey takes us along the Gardiner Expressway towards our first glimpse of Toronto, which boasts a population of 2.4 million in the downtown area alone. The domineering CN Tower nestles among the majestic skyscrapers of the Financial district, hugging the shore of Lake Ontario.

Delta Chelsea is Canada's largest hotel, with 1,590 rooms and offers five different restaurants, a family pool complete with a four-storey high slide, and an adults only spa on the top floor, where you can paddle about in the pool with a view over the top of the surrounding tall buildings towards the CN Tower.

Situated on Gerrard Street West, it is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Toronto. Just a couple of minutes walk from the huge indoor Eaton shopping centre, a 15-minute walk from the trendy Queen Street West, and similar distance from numerous other attractions such as the Royal Ontario Museum (known as the ROM to locals), or the Art Gallery of Ontario (or the AGO).

Recently renovated under the direction of architect Frank Gehry, this building in parts resembles The Sage Gateshead. The exclusive area of Bloor-Yorkville Street, hosting designer brands such as Chanel and Gucci, or the BATA shoe museum which houses 10,000 shoes.

Toronto is Canada's financial hub, and we were lucky enough to eat at the renowned Canoe restaurant located on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower in the heart of the financial district. The food was superb (try the hind of Yukon caribou, you won't be disappointed), but the whole dining experience was made truly magical as we watched the sun set over the city, and a carpet of twinkling lights shone up from the buildings below.

After this I had one of the best night's sleep ever, partly due to jet lag, and partly due to the comfy beds at the Delta. Bliss.

Next day we visited the most iconic building in Toronto, the CN Tower, standing at 553m tall. It's a must-see as the views from the top are breathtaking, and if you're feeling brave you can walk across the two-inch thick glass floor. The Rogers Centre, concert venue and home of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team, lies just next door to the CN Tower, and we had hoped to get to a game, but unfortunately Sesame Street the musical was playing while we were in town, so we gave it a miss.

We meet Toronto historian and local celebrity Bruce Bell, who frequents regional radio and TV shows. He takes us for a three-hour walking tour, taking us off the beaten track, which was very insightful.

Toronto is a mixture of old and new buildings. We go down into "The Path", a vast underground shopping centre and walkway more than 11km long, which comes in handy in the winter months when temperatures are sub zero on the streets above, and we see old stately homes butted up to skyscrapers. There's a lot of construction work. Donald Trump is building a hotel or condo apartment block, nobody is sure which it will be yet. Bruce takes us to St Lawrence Market, a bustling array of gourmet food and bakery stalls situated on the site of the meeting hall built by the first British settlers in 1850. After the tour we enjoy a glass of beer in some of the hip bars around St Lawrence Market as we watch the hustle and bustle of the city in the sunshine.

The next morning we head to Union Station on the subway to collect our National Hire Car, and drive 90 minutes around Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls. Our first sight of the falls is from a helicopter, and it's amazing. The Bell 407 helicopter takes us on a thrilling nine-minute tour around the falls, falling from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario. The Maid of the Mist boat tour right up to the foot of the Horseshoe Falls really hits home the sheer power and fury of the water as it cascades down, kicking up spray and wind. Running since 1846 it's a good job you get a plastic poncho to wear because you get soaked, but it's great fun! Elements restaurant, in the newly refurbished Table Rock complex, sits just metres away from the Horseshoe Falls. We enjoyed a fantastic panoramic view of the Falls and I enjoyed a hearty bison burger.

Just 15 minutes down the road from the Falls is the picturesque town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, a designated heritage site, full of quirky shops and pleasant eateries. The Niagara region is also renowned for its wine.

In the morning, we drive our hire car two hours north to the Muskoka-Georgian Bay region..

Known as Cottage Country locally. We head for the small town of Midland, and visit Sainte-Marie-Among-The-Hurons. An internationally significant historic site which recreates a 17th century French Jesuit Mission to the Huron nation. The Miss Midland 30,000 island cruise departs from Midland, and takes us on a two-and-a-half hour tour of the southern Georgian Bay waterways. We sail past quaint wooden cottages nestling among rocks and woodland, holidaymakers whizz about on jet-skis and speedboats, and a running commentary points out places of interest.

Our digs for the evening is the beautiful secluded Severn Lodge, a lakeside resort on the shores of Gloucester Pool, part of the Trent Severn Waterway. This is a fantastic place, with wooden rocking chairs on the entrance porch and a non-pretentious homely feel. There are kayaks and boats for the guests to use, and a swimming pool if lake swimming isn't your thing. The food is great, locally sourced fresh ingredients made for two lovely evenings. Our room was just yards from the waters edge, and the only drawback was the flies and the mosquitos. These pesky little critters were biting and actually drawing blood. An otter swam past, doing the back stroke with a fish on his belly, and all was forgiven. I've never seen a wild otter and it made my day. Later we noticed a beaver swimming past too.

Canadian Affair, The UK's largest tour operator to Canada, is offering direct return flights from Newcastle to Toronto's Lester B Pearson international airport, starting from just pounds 219 per person, including taxes.

A seven-day holiday in Ontario costs from pounds 619 per person. This includes return non-stop flights with Air Transat from Newcastle to Toronto Pearson, four nights at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto and two nights at the Severn Lodge, both on a room-only double occupancy basis. Car hire costs from pounds 21 per day. For information and reservations, call [phone] or visit www.canadianaffair.com For more information on travelling to Ontario please visit www.ontariotravel.net/uk or to order a brochure please call [phone]..

READER TRAVEL - HOLIDAY OF THE WEEK 4-STAR Canada's Maple leaf Trail 8 days from pounds 815pp, flying from Newcastle Airport - departures throughout October & November 2009 This stunningly scenic journey takes in the very best of Eastern Canada, with its stunning cities, breathtaking scenery, wide-open spaces and "big skies" - not to mention one of the world's most awe-inspiring natural wonders, the plunging falls at Niagra.

With 4-star accommodation, comfortable coach travel, and our friendly tour manager to bring to life this extraordinary part of the world, the Maple Leaf Trail is a journey you'll never forget! Included in the price: .. Return flights from Newcastle airport via London Heathrow.

. Visits to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

. Full-day excursions to Niagra Falls and Quebec City.

. Six nights' accommodation in a twin/double room on a room-only basis (single room supplement applies).

. Tour manager.

To request a complimentary colour America & Canada brochure, telephone The Journal Reader Travel Department on [phone] or log on to www.newmarket.travel/nec or call into our Front Reception, Groat Market, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE1 1ED For your last-minute bargain breaks, log on to www.journallive.

co.uk

FACT BOX .. Airport Express bus: www.torontoairportexpress.com .. Stay at the Delta Chelsea Hotel: www.deltahotels.com .. Visit the CN Tower: www.cntower.ca .. Take a tour with historian Bruce Bell: www.brucebelltours.com .. Visit the Royal Ontario Museum: www.rom.on.ca .. Take a helicopter ride over Niagara Falls: www.niagarahelicopters.com .. Visit Niagara Falls: www.niagarafallstourism.com .. Take a ride on the Maid of the Mist boat: www.maidofthemist.com .. Visit Sainte-Marie-Among-the-Hurons: www.hhp.on.ca .. Stay at Severn Lodge: www.severnlodge.on.caAn otter swam past, doing the back stroke with a fish on his belly, and all was forgiven

CAPTION(S):

SPECTACULAR Niagara Falls; view of Toronto and the the CN Tower are just some of the fabulous attractions of Ontario. FANTASTIC Severn Lodge near Midland, a lakeside resort, provides a taste of the outback