Segway Walking tour in Toronto’s Distillery District

When I signed up to attend TBEX I had no idea of all the local tours and attractions we as attendees could take part in. When we got an email saying we could sign up for an afternoon tour of our choice I was blown away. So many options to choose from. I only live a few hours away from Toronto, but I seldom visit. When I do , it is usually fast, in and out. I never ever would have guessed there was so much to do. I went back and forth on what I was going to do and was kind of stressing over it. A few of the optional tours I knew I could do anytime, even on my own. I wanted to do something, unique. Something, I may not have the opportunity to do again. Kind of a bucket list tour 😉
I signed up for the Distillery tour that included a Segway ride.  I have never been on a Segway, nor have I seen anyone on one (only on TV) 

Once the largest distillery in the British Empire, G & W has the largest collection of industrial Victorian buildings in Canada. See where Toronto’s tallest structure once stood and where many Hollywood movies were shot. 

Much to my surprise and excitement a few of my blogger friends signed up for this tour as well. This made it even better. A new adventure with friends is always great! 

Once we were fitted with helmets and all forms were signed it was practice time. It took only a few minutes to get the hang of it and use to riding the Segway. I was really surprised how easy it was. Our tour guides were really nice and super patient.  Pretty cool guys too.

To go forward, you lean forward. To go back, you lean back. They had the speed control on so we would not go too fast, but fast enough that it was still exciting. We then went on a little tour around the Distillery District, stopping to hear about sights and shops along the way. Navigating around people walking, dogs, signs and vehicles. It was pretty cool. I wore flats so my feet were killing me, next time I will wear runners. Riding along the cobblestone my feet felt everything. Every little bump along the way. But it was worth it. The area was very beautiful and full of history. Many brides were there getting their pictures taken, as well as couples with professional photographers. It was obviously a great place to have your picture taken. The backdrop is like no other, anywhere.  When the Segway tour was over, we still had a walking tour. We tasted cheese, oils , beers,  Sake (which was really quite strong) and more. We learned about the culture and the history of the area.  We even got to check out some art. The local businesses were very welcoming and opened their doors to us, our cameras and our questions. 

The Distillery District is a national Historic Site with an incredibly rich history. The site was once The Gooderham and Worts Distillery, and represents the largest and best preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North America.

In its time, The Gooderham and Worts Distillery played an important role in the growth and wealth of both the city and nation. In addition to various involvements in real estate and banking, the company at one time contributed more to Federal coffers than any other enterprise in the country.

Our tour guides were a lot of fun. They were full of energy and very knowledgeable. It was great to have them tell us  all about the district and not just the pretty stuff. They told us of the bad stuff that made the area so full of history to begin with. They host a Haunted tour as well, I am hoping to take my teens to it. I think they will really enjoy it and get a bit freaked out at the same time. 

The tours offered are quite affordable and a lot of fun. You can stop in and take your chances, but I recommend booking ahead of time. If I can do it, you can do it. Great for teens too. Just check their site for age and weight restrictions. 

Check out Segway Ontario for more information on the area, a tour and too book your visit. 

Here are some more pics from the tour