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36 maltatoday SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2018 Travel ≠≠ THE NATIVE Travelling is always risky business – get stuck in a touristy area and your meals are terrible. The same can be said of sightseeing, hotels and nightspots. Travelling to a place where you know people to recommend the right places makes your stay all the more enjoyable. Marc Kosciejew, (37), was born in London, Ontario, Canada, and lived in there for around 25 years. If you're visiting London (the Canadian version), these are the places he recommends to hang out like a native. London, Canada Marc Kosciejew, (37), was born in London, Ontario, Canada, and lived in there for around 25 years BEST SPOT FOR SIGHTSEEING London has an old history. It was settled by European in the late-1700s and prior to this contact was the site of several aboriginal villages (the aboriginal people had resided in the area for the previous 10, 000 years). It is also the site of a battle during the War of 1812 between Canada (then both Upper and Lower Canada) and the United States. To commemorate and celebrate this history, London has a few historical museums and natural conservation areas including the Mu- seum of Ontario Archaeology, the Fanshawe Pioneer Village, and Eldon House. The Museum of Ontario Archaeology displays the 13, 000 years of all human oc- cupation of the London region (southwestern Ontario) with a particular focus on aborigi- nal settlements before (and during) European settlement. It is surrounded by deep forested ravines, features a life-sized replica of an abo- riginal village, and offers various historical, cultural, and educational programs, events, and exhibitions. The Fanshawe Pioneer Village presents a life-sized full 19th century Canadian village, telling an immersive story of rural commu- nity life in the London area of the 1800s. It is located in the Fanshawe Conservation Area outside the city limits. It offers historical, cultural, and educational programs, events, and exhibitions as well as seasonal and holi- day themed activities, such as Thanksgiving dinner and haunted Halloween hay rides. Eldon House, located downtown, is an origi- nal 19th century mansion converted into a museum and is an official heritage site. It also features original gardens, and sits atop wooded bluffs overlooking Harris Park and the Thames River. It offers various tours, lectures, and seasonal and holiday themed events. BEST AREAS TO WIND DOWN AND ENJOY NATURE London is considered an ur- ban forest because of its many wooded areas, leafy neighbour- hoods, tree-lined boulevards, green parks, natural conservation areas, and surrounding forests. It is consequently called the Forest City. Its many parks and trails must be experienced to appreci- ate its rich natural environment. Victoria Park is the city's cen- tral park, with the downtown wrapping around it and City Hall anchoring its southern end. There are wind- ing walkways, historical statues and plaques, a large bandstand, and picnic tables and benches. It is decorated with multi-coloured lights during the Christmas season. It also hosts a handmade ice rink throughout the long winter months. Some of the many beautiful parks and trails that should be explored include the wooded trails follow- ing the Thames River; Spring- bank Park; Fanshawe Conserva- tion Area and pioneer village; Gibbons Park; Kilally Valley Park; Westminster Ponds; Sifton Bog; Warbler Woods; and Komoka Provincial Park.