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One of the best things about Toronto is that you can drive half an hour away and be in the country.

I love the city. The sights, sounds, and even the odd (good) smell, are a constant reminder of people and life buzzing around. However, one of the best things about Toronto is that you can drive half an hour away and be in the country. For example, Whittamore's Farm is one destination that is great for the whole family. Aside from the farmer's market and pick-your-own produce, I'm a big fan of the play area for kids. From a tree house (actually built inside a tree) to a corn maze, there is no shortage of activities.

In this episode of "On the Road" I left a morning meeting in the city to meet my son and his grandparents at Whittamore's. I've only been there a couple of times, so it's safe to say that the all-new Ford Focus' navigation system was a welcome addition to my journey. What I like about the touchscreen map is that I can choose one of a few different routes. On this particular day, I opted for the Eco Route (the most gas-friendly) - just over a 30KM drive that took me from downtown to the farm.

When you're traveling up the Don Valley Parkway it's always a traffic gamble, but the system informed me that traffic was good so I would be arriving on time. One of the best parts about Whittamore's is the final few minutes of the drive. On a perfect fall day like this day there weren't many cars on the winding road, a nice break from congestion in Toronto.



I'm fairly confident that my son could spend a full day at the farm without ever taking a break. From climbing over pumpkins to zipping through the corn maze, this is one place where he doesn't have to worry about too many rules. My in-laws live in the area so they're always game to spend time at Whittamore's.





After we ducked in and out of the many attractions, I had to return solo downtown. In the parking lot on weekends at the farm there are dozens, if not hundreds, of cars. This is where the Focus' rear-view camera comes in handy. While I always check all my mirrors, it's reassuring to see directly behind the car.



My parents live out of the province, so after all family adventures in Toronto I call them to give a full report. Since I was driving back into the city alone, it was the perfect opportunity to use the MyFord Touch voice commands to give my mom a hands-free call. With access to the phone system directly on the side of the steering wheel, there's no need to ever take your eyes off the road ahead so you always make it safely back to your final destination.



Follow Amber on Twitter at ( #AmberFordFocus). Check out the all new Ford Focus on Facebook or at Ford.ca



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