Today we thought we would take you on a tour of the 10 Best Small Towns to Visit in Ontario. We chose what we think are some of Ontario’s prettiest and most interesting small towns. Summer is short in Canada but there is still time to take a vacation to one or more small Ontario towns. What they all have in common is that they offer one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants, handmade crafts and artisan creations, farmers markets, festivals and unique histories. We hope you are inspired to visit one or many of the towns on our list.
Port Perry
Port Perry is a lovely little town, located near the bottom of Lake Scugog, approximately 1.5 hours northeast of Toronto. It’s a fun place to visit for a variety of reasons; sailing and fishing on Lake Scugog, exploring the shops and sharing a meal at one of the restaurants, and sitting and relaxing at an outdoor concert in Palmer Park by the water. There is something for everyone!
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Gravenhurst
Gravenhurst, at the southern gateway to the world-famous Muskoka Region, is another interesting place to visit. You can take a boat cruise. Or visit the summer Gravenhurst Farmers Market – from June to the beginning of October. There are summer theatre productions or you can watch a movie under the stars.
While in Gravenhurst you may want to drive the 20 minutes to Bala for some of the best ice cream in the Muskoka region here. And of course, there is the annual Bala Cranberry Festival the weekend after (Canadian) Thanksgiving, October 18-20, 2024.
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Bayfield
Located on the shores of Lake Huron, Bayfield is a quaint historic town with a lot of attractions for tourists. Pier Beach is one of the popular beaches in the area and a popular destination for many tourists and locals alike. If your thinking about where to eat we recommend Olio and Black Dog Village Pub and Bistro.
For those car aficionados out there, every year there is the Bayfeld Vettefest – a celebration of the Corvette. It happens on the first weekend in July.
Just south of Bayfield you’ll want to stop in at Grand Bend, at Pinery Provincial Park or Grand Bend Beach. Grand Bend is vibrant and energized and very popular with the light life and beach crowd.
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Tobermory
If hiking is what you want to do, Tobermory is a must destination. The Bruce Trail ends in Tobermory and the scenery is stunning. At the end of a day of hiking you’ll be very glad that the water is cool and clear and the beaches are welcoming. Located at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, Tobermory is a shipwreck adventurers dream. Scuba divers can explore the more than 20 ships lost at sea that have been discovered in the nearby waters. You can go to Flower Pot Island or go see the many lighthouses in the area, including Big Tub Lighthouse.
In the town of Tobermory there are numerous art galleries, craft markets and restaurants that are definitely worth checking out.
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Port Dalhousie
Port Dalhousie is located about 90 minutes from Toronto. One of the main attractions is the vicinity to the Welland Canal and the Lakeside Park Carousel. The carousel has been there since 1921. At only 5 cents a ride, it cannot be beaten!
A trip to Niagara Falls is worth while as it’s only 20 minutes away and home to the Fallsview Casino, the Hersheys store, and Great Wolf Lodge.
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Creemore
Creemore is a quaint town 90 minutes north west of Toronto. The Main Street is bustling with unique and wonderful shops and restaurants. Kown for it’s brewery, Creemore Springs Brewery is a must, located on the main street in town. We highly recommend you make time to visit the Purple Hill Lavender Farm for a evening picnic or just visit for a few hours and smell the glorious and relaxing smells of lavender. Maybe a sachet or two or three for your closets would be a good idea. Other things to do in and around Creemore include hiking on The Bruce Trail -we recommend getting the AllTrails app here before starting out to help navigate the trails, although the trail is well marked in this area. Shops we loved include House of Stitches Quilt and Yarn Shop, Heirloom 142, Viva Decor and Creemore Bakery. But all the shops are interesting.
The annual Creemore Festival of the Arts is October 4, 5, and 6, 2024. The Farmers and Craft Market runs every Saturday from May to the end of October.
While you’re in Creemore, you may want to take a quick trip north to Collingwood for some excellent cuisine or head to Wasaga Beach on Georgian Bay – the longest fresh water beach in the world.
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Hastings
Hastings is located in the Kawartha Lakes area. A popular cottage area for Ontarians.
Just before the kids go back to school, September 3-5, 2024, is the Medieval Festival, where you can pretend to be a medieval knight and practice your jousting and axe throwing skills. Or if a musical festival is your jam, you can check out the Crooks Rapids Countryfest on September 2 and 3, 2024.
As with so many small Ontario towns, Hastings has a river running through town. The Trent River provides opportunities for water sports for all ages. The Lang Hastings bike trail is an old unused train track that has been converted to a bike trail. It’s 33 km long and runs between Hastings and Peterborough.
Lastly, if you are a butter tart fan then this is definitely worth checking out – the Peterboough Kawartha Lakes Butter Tart Tour. Click here for the map.
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Elora
The town of Elora is 90 minutes north west off Toronto, sitting by the Grand River. It’s an old mill town, full of character and historical buildings. Don’t miss going for a hike along the Elora Gorge or heading down to the Grand River for some tubing, kayaking or canoeing.
In town you’ll find the downtown historical area full of interesting and unique shops, restaurants and art galleries and antique shops. I highly recommend Mermaid In Elora, a fun shop filled with interesting and one-of-a-kind gift ideas for everyone on your list.
For those of you who wish to do some pampering during your stay in Elora, you can book yourself an afternoon or a few days at the Elora Mill and Spa, a five star hotel and spa retreat destination.
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Merrickville
Merrickville, “Jewel of the Rideau”, is located in Eastern Ontario, close to Ottawa, the Canadian capitol, Kingston, and to the United States border and is situated close to the Rideau Canal. Watching the locks work, as ships pass through from one lock to another along the Rideau is fascinating and an incredible feat of ingenuity. Definitely worth taking the time to see.
The town is an old Victorian town and founded by an American from Massachussets in 1794, as a mill town. There are so many historical sites, buildings that have been preserved so you may want to go on a walking tour run by the Merrickville and District Historical Society. In the winter time, if it’s sufficiently cold for the Canal to freeze, it is worth your time going to Ottawa to skate along the Rideau Canal. Maybe buy a Beavertail at one of the kiosks along the canal.
If your interested in wine tours you will definitely want to check out the numerous Prince Edward County wine tours that are available. Click here for information you’ll need to book yourself a tour and enjoy some of the award winning wines from the area.
And lastly, you should check out Sandbanks Provincial Park. The sand dunes are not something you normally see in Canada.
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Paris
Paris, Ontario was voted the prettiest small town in Canada in 2021, by Harrowsmith Magazine. It sits at the meeting of the Grand and Nith Rivers, which provides ample opportunities for water sports, like tubing, canoeing and kayaking, and white water rafting.
If your looking for fresh food check out the Elberta Farms Country Market, open all year round. And in the spring there is the annual Paris Maple Syrup Festival and coming soon is the Paris Night Market on July 19 and 20, 2024. For a list of upcoming events in Paris click here. The downtown is bustling with restaurants, craft, book and ice cream shops.
From Paris you can also take a tour of 7 “European” cities. Click here for the list, including Dublin, Vienna and London.
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