I had an awesome Friday last week courtesy of Ford Canada. I am still amazed by how beautiful Ontario is after all these years. I grew up here and yet there are so many hidden gems I haven’t experienced. As you know I am all about joie de vivre…it’s easy to forget there are many places not so far from you that are beautiful weekend escapes.
The day started outside of Balzac Coffee’s Distillery District location where I was greeted by a delicious almond milk latte, a gorgeous fleet of Ford Fusions and their kind and warm team. I was invited to learn about Ford Fusion’s midsize sedans: Fusion V6, Fusion Platinum, Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi. The 2017 Ford Fusion Energi Platinum is definitely an eye catcher, I immediately noticed its sleek and sophisticated design. My travel group was matched with a deep ruby Fusion for our adventure. To be honest I have never been in a Ford sedan before…true story! I was really impressed with the interior. I felt, well if this is sedan life, I am into it. For most people, when you think of Sedan, you think family car. You wouldn’t necessarily think of purchasing it as a younger driver. You probably see a car seat and toys everywhere. Well, this car is so nice I would tell my kids if I had them, “this is mommy’s car okay”. It definitely accommodates the changing lifestyle of the modern parent who values safety, reliability and efficiency but at the same time doesn’t want to miss out on the luxe car experience.
Ford Fusion Highlights:
- Two Hybrid models: Hybrid and Plug-in Hyrbid (Fusion Engeri).
- An all-wheel-drive Fusion V6 Sport and the Fusion Platinum
- Out-powers the 2016 BMW 340
- Has a pedestrian detection system – first car in North America to have this!
- Features hands-free parallel and perpendicular parking (In love!)
- Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology: One of 20 drive-assist features. Stop-and-go automatically accelerates and brakes while maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.
- The Fusion Platinum’s interior is beautiful, it’s wrapped in antiqued Cocoa leather & a hand-wrapped steering wheel with Venetian leather.
The plug-in hybrid Fusion Hybrid Energi features a 7.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery for an expected range of 19 miles using electric power only. Fusion Energi automatically switches to a 2.0-liter I-4 Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine when the battery is depleted, allowing customers to drive extended distances of more than 500 miles using the combination of electric and gas power.
As you can see, there is something for everyone. It also good to know that you can buy a car that’s fuel-efficient and eco-conscious (hybrid) due to its sustainable technology. It’s truly a beauty on the inside. The ride was smooth and comfortable. The back is roomie as well which I liked. It’s a great car for a long drive. If air-conditioned seats don’t get you excited I am not sure what to say. When it’s super hot outside, there’s nothing worse than hot leather seats! It makes the overall car experience unbearable at times even with air-conditioning. No complaints in the Fusion, we were kept cool and comfortable.
Our First Stop: Belfountain Conservation Area Exploration and Picnic Lunch
If you’re looking for a beautiful place for a nice Saturday picnic, you should consider Belfountain Conservation Area located on the Niagara Escarpment in West Credit River Valley. There are a lot of great activities to partake in as well. Some of these include: fishing, hiking and yoga in the park. We stopped for a picnic and toured the area. For the lovers, it’s a pretty romantic place. After a nice tour, we were back on the road in our Fusion to the next destination with its’ navigation system guiding us along the way. For our first time using this car, it was pretty easy to figure things out.
Belfountain Conservation Area located on the Niagra Escarpment in West Credit River Valley.
Second Stop: McMichael Canadian Art Collection
I love painting and creative expression so I was pretty excited to visit the place where some of the Group of Seven’s, a group of seven Canadian landscape painters, paintings are housed and learn about where they gathered as a group to discuss art and life. They say every painting has a story, well the group of seven were inspired by the idea that painting nature while in direct contact was the best way to capture it. Not even a rainstorm could stop the paint from hitting the canvass.
We had the opportunity to tour the grounds via a hiking path where we saw a beautiful sculpture garden and where six members of the group are buried. We also got to step into the world Tom Thomson, one of Seven’s painters, when we visited the cabin he used to paint and entertain fellow artists in. It felt like I was taking a step back in time.
We Painted: Outdoor Pavillion Group of Seven Art Class
There we were, the ford fusion squad, ready to get our hands on brushes at a Group of Seven inspired art class. Our model, a black Ford Fusion centre stage. I really enjoyed this portion of the day. It was nice to get back to painting basics 101. We were handed a board of only primary colours. Nowadays, you can purchase so many colours it’s so easy to forget how to make your own brown with the use of primary colours or a new shade of purple…that’s what I made. I mix my own colours but I am guilty of purchasing many colours, tones and shades available at Michael’s art store in Toronto. I think I went off course, with my painting, everyone else painted mountains or a road and I went with what I call “The Magic Fusion Tree” which reminds me of the Fusion in a sense that you can keep what’s good about something but add new touches that create a refreshing and magical experience.
Dinner on The Terrace
After a tour of McMichael we all met in the Founders Lounge (normally it’s not open to the public!) where we sipped on sparkling wine and nibbled on delicious eats. We capped off our night with an amazing dinner on the terrace. This is how a summer day should be spent. It’s not just about the destination, though, it’s also about the travel. A smooth and easy drive there made the day. Another reason you need to experience the #ArtOfFusion experience. As an artist, I have been on the road via different modes of transportation. I can attest to the fact that a reliable gas efficient car is a must. I can attest to the fact that an uncomfortable car can take away from the overall travel experience as well. This sedan is definitely a travellers best companion.
Cover Image: © The Things I Wish I Knew
Above image is me on the bridge at the Conservation Area.
