Photo-li-daytrippin-peterborough

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to explore. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province, and show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

Hygge, the Danish tradition of celebrating cozy contentment and finding joy in small things, is alive and well in Peterborough, especially in November when temperatures dip. Visitors to this friendly city of 85,000 on the historic Trent-Severn Waterway, about a 90-minute drive east of Toronto, respond to the ever-present pull of the great outdoors while also succumbing to creature comfort temptations like the region’s signature butter tart.

DAY ONE

In the morning: Leaving Toronto, start driving east on Highway 401. Your first stop of the day will be 25 minutes beyond Peterborough in the town of Buckhorn. Take the exit for Highway 115 at Peterborough and continue on County Road 23 to Buckhorn.

Drop off one of your traveling companions at Country Mart Bakery. While they’re busy selecting from the trays of classic butter tarts, pecan butter tarts and raspberry coconut tarts, you have time for a coffee run to Bikini Beans Cafe at the Boathouse Boutique decor and giftware shop just down the road.

Enjoy your caffeine and delicious treat while taking in the views at Lock 31 – Buckhorn, part of the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site.

Fresh air and snack break done, hop back in the car for the 10-minute drive to the <a href="https://www.whetung.com/">Whetung Ojibwa Centre</a> in Curve Lake, which specializes in Indigenous crafts, fine art, jewelry, leatherwork and other handcrafted items.

Around noon: Head back south on County Road 23 for the 10-minute drive to the village of Lakefield, which sits on Katchewanooka Lake. The lunch menu at restaurant <a href="https://www.canoeandpaddle.com/">Canoe &amp; Paddle</a> includes various British-inspired burgers, like the Queen Lizzy featuring grilled chicken, feta, sundried tomato, lettuce and lemon garlic aioli, or the Big Ben with a beef patty, cheddar, caramelized onions, smoked bacon and topped with a Dijon mayonnaise

In the afternoon: After lunch, check out the various plaques and landmarks that celebrate the literary figures – Catherine Parr Trail, Susannah Moodie and Governor-General Award winner Margaret Laurence – who once made their home in Lakefield area. You can visit Laurence’s house and search for one of her books, like “The Diviners” or “Stone Angel,” in the community’s three bookstores: Lakefield Station Bookstore, Happenstance Books and Yarn, and  D Glover Books. 

If you feel like some exercise, stretch your legs on a section of the 8.5-kilometre Lakefield Trail that passes through village and connects to the Trans-Canada Trail.
Next, drive along Highway 29 to Peterborough and stop at the <a href="https://agp.on.ca/exhibitions/the-everyday-future/">Art Gallery of Peterborough</a> to take in its timely Everyday Future exhibit about the displacement of people, immigration and world conflict (it runs until Jan. 8).

For some late-afternoon retail therapy (gift-giving season is soon upon us), you can find PTBO-branded hoodies, toques, and t-shirts at Peterborough Originals, or, since more outdoor time is in your near future on this weekend trip, browse through the wool sweaters, fleeces, vests, knit beanies, socks and other outdoor apparel at Wild Rock Outfitters.

In the Evening: Check into the Holiday Inn Peterborough-Waterfront, located on the picturesque Otonabee River. For dinner, indulge yourself at the upscale Amandala Restaurant, which features ingredients sourced from Peterborough-area farms. Regulars rave about its braised brisket ravioli. For post-dinner drinks and live music, check out the performance nearby at The Blackhorse Pub. 

[caption id="attachment_172897" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="size-full wp-image-172897" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wh-DiscoverPeterborough-Gallery-Nov12-scaled.jpg" alt="Peterborough" width="2560" height="1506" /> The Art Gallery of Peterborough (AGP) is reopened and welcomed visitors back to the gallery, where three new exhibitions are on display seen on Sunday July 25, 2021 in Peterborough, Ont.[/caption]

DAY TWO

In the morning: Start with breakfast at Riverside Grill (conveniently located in your hotel), that serves up flap jacks, malted mini waffles and other delicious options. Don’t hesitate to order the Riverside BBQ Sandwich, which features, among other mouth-watering ingredients, slow-smoked beef brisket and cheddar cheese.

Fill your water bottle before heading north on County Road 16 for the 30-minute drive to the 160-hectare John Earle Chase Memorial Park at the north end of Gannon’s Narrow Bridge. Thanks to the Kawartha Land Trust and Parks Canada, you can choose from three separate hiking loop trails that total 7.5 kilometres. You and your traveling mates can do a gentle hike, or all three. Expect stunning views overlooking Pigeon Lake.

Head back toward Peterborough but continue on Highway 7 and County Road 34 to Lang Pioneer Village, which is 10 kilometres from your hotel and located on the banks of the Indian River in nearby Keene. The 25-acre museum is essentially a 19th-century village brought to life with more than 30 restored and furnished historic buildings constructed between 1825 and 1910. Kids (big and small) will love meeting the Wiltshire Horned Sheep and Nigerian Dwarf Goats.
Around noon: After all that outdoor time, sit down and relax awhile at the laid-back, 32-year-old Only Café. What adult doesn’t enjoy an all-day breakfast? How about the Anstruther Lake blueberry or raspberry pancakes (with fruit and maple syrup) or Patti’s Petit Dejeuner (scrambled eggs, cheddar, avocado, grilled tomato and English muffin). Only Café has a friendly vibe and has long been a popular hangout for local artists, actors, and musicians.

In the afternoon: Next, Escape Maze offers a range of interactive experiences that require teams to solve a challenge. Some take place in themed rooms, others are outdoors. Participants who join the indoor Trouble’s Brewing experience must break into brewery and steal recipe, while those who sign up for The Pioneer Trail outdoor adventure game must surmount various obstacles and build a homestead.

For some last-minute shopping — of the edible kind — before driving back to Toronto, visit Black Honey Bakery for its selection of cakes, pies, breads squares and more of the regional specialty, butter tarts.

<img class="size-full wp-image-172898" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wh-DiscoverPeterborough-Lang-Nov12.jpg" alt="Peterborough" width="2000" height="1255" />

For the drive
You’ve got enough time on the drive from Toronto to enjoy at least two albums by the popular Peterborough-based Weber Brothers. To start your drive, listen to Ryan and Sam Weber’s more mellower songs on their “Acüsta” album. Then, somewhere along Highway 401, switch it up for the boys’ trademark vintage rock with a dose of wild bluegrass on the “Patches” release. Both are available on Spotify.

Drive guide

Day One
<ul>
 	<li>7:30 a.m.Leave Toronto
• 10 a.m. Country Mart Bakery and Bikini Beans Cafe</li>
 	<li>10:30 a.m.Lock 31 – Buckhorn</li>
 	<li> 11 a.m.Whetung Ojibwa Centre</li>
 	<li> NoonCanoe &amp; Paddle</li>
 	<li> 1 p.m.Lakefield</li>
 	<li> 3:30 p.m. Art Gallery of Peterborough</li>
 	<li>4:30 p.m.Peterborough Originals and Wild Rock Outfitters</li>
 	<li>6 p.m. Check into Holiday Inn-Waterfront</li>
 	<li>7 p.m. Amandala Restaurant</li>
</ul>
Day Two
<ul>
 	<li>8 a.m. Riverside Grill</li>
 	<li>9 a.m. John Earle Chase Memorial Park</li>
 	<li>11 a.m. Lang Pioneer Village</li>
 	<li>1 p.m. Only Café</li>
 	<li>2 p.m. Escape Maze</li>
 	<li>5 p.m. Black Honey Bakery</li>
</ul>
NOTE: Times are suggestions only

Plan a late-autumn getaway to Peterborough

Photo-ci-Indigenous-museum

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to explore. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province, ands show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

Visits to historical sites, often centuries-old landmarks staffed by well-informed staff and volunteers — frequently dressed in period attire — are incredibly rich learning experiences. But there are other historically significant sites, sometimes lesser known, throughout Ontario that will simultaneously surprise us and enrich our understanding of this province’s cultural mosaic. Here are five you should visit.

Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford
The <a href="https://woodlandculturalcentre.ca/experience/museum-self-guided/">Woodland Cultural Centre</a>, located at 184 Mohawk Street, was established in 1972 after the closing of the Mohawk Institute Residential School, one of the oldest and longest operating in Canada. As many as 15,000 children from 20 Indigenous communities were sent here. The centre, which houses a collection of 50,000 artifacts — many of them detailing the abuses endured by students — is open to individuals and groups who wish to learn about truth and reconciliation, racism, Six Nations Lands claims and other Indigenous topics through workshops and educational programming. Visitors can also take self-guided tours to learn about the traditions of all Six Nations, the Onondaga, Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Seneca, and Tuscarora. An investigation was launched in 2021 into the possibility of unmarked graves on the grounds of the former school.

How to get there: Take the Queen Elizabeth Way and then drive west to Highway 403. In Brantford, exit onto Garden Avenue and continue to Mohawk Street.

Sons of Jacob Synagogue in North Bay

The <a href="https://sonsofjacobnorthbay.ca/">Sons of Jacob Synagogue</a> has the distinction of being the oldest synagogue north of Toronto that’s still in use. The building, constructed between 1906 and 1907 in North Bay, was variously used as furniture, grocery, wallpaper and second-hand stores before becoming a synagogue in 1925. As many as 60 Jewish families regularly attended the synagogue until the 1980s, by which time the area’s Jewish population had dwindled to about 15 households. The synagogue, which features stained glass, Romanesque arches and the region’s only kosher kitchen, holds occasional services. For the drive, listen to the podcast “<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/take-a-tour-of-jewish-northern-ontario/id1559074499?i=1000533086052.">Take A Tour of Jewish Northern Ontario</a>” with former CBC host Ralph Benmergui. For more information, email hkizell@gmail.com.

How to get there: Drive north on Highway 400 and then merge onto Highway 11. In North Bay, take Fisher Street and then turn onto McIntyre. The synagogue is located at 302 McIntyre St. W.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-172724 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wh-DiscoverHistoric-Buxton-Nov5-scaled.jpg" alt="Discover Historic" width="2560" height="2560" />

Buxton National Historic Site &amp; Museum in North Buxton
This historic site and museum near Chatham honours what’s known as the Elgin Settlement, one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad. Established in 1849 by Rev. William King and 15 former enslaved people, the settlement was designed for and by African Americans. King, who came to Canada from the U.S. as a missionary, and his co-founders determined that the settlement would help “settlers to become self-sufficient and self-sustaining.” The 50-acre lots could only be purchased by Black settlers, and settlement’s building standards ensured they would live in proper homes. There was dignity in the flowers, picket fences and vegetable gardens that surrounded the well-kept homes, reflected today in the replica 1850s house and the original 1861 schoolhouse that are open to visitors.

How to get there: Head west on Highway 403 followed by Highway 401. Take Bloomfield Road/Chatham-Kent County Road 27 in North Buxton, Then follow Chatham-Kent County Road 14 to A. D. Shadd Road.

London Muslim Mosque in London

On August 27, 2022, London-born NHL star Nazem Kadrey made history when he stood on the steps of the London Muslim Mosque and raised the Stanley Cup in front of thousands of members of his local Muslim community. He said he was honoured to be the first Muslim to bring the Stanley Cup to the mosque. (The Calgary Flames player is believed to be the first Muslim NHL star in hockey history.) The London Muslim Mosque, located at 151 Oxford St. W., has its own historical significance. It’s the first mosque built in Ontario and the second in all of Canada. The mosque, which also honours the first Muslims who arrived in this southwestern Ontario city in the late 1800s, is not only a place of worship. The complex includes an award-winning school and modern gymnasium. For a tour or educational session, visitors are asked to email <a href="mailto:secretary@londonmosque.ca">secretary@londonmosque.ca</a> in advance.

How to get there: Drive west on Highway 401 to Hamilton Road in London, and then turn onto Oxford Street.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-172725 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wh-DiscoverHistoric-Sikh-Nov5-scaled.jpg" alt="Discover Historic" width="2560" height="1707" />

Gurdwara Shaheedgarh Sahib in Hamilton and the Sikh Heritage Museum of Canada in Mississauga


This road trip includes two opportunities to learn firsthand about Sikh history and traditions in Ontario. <a href="https://www.hamiltongurdwara.com/home">Gurdwara Shaheedgarh Sahib</a>, also known as Gurdwara Gursikh Sangat, sits on a hill in the picturesque Dundas area of Hamilton, close to the beautifully landscaped Royal Botanical Gardens. It’s the second-oldest Sikh temple in Canada. Non-Sikhs who wish to attend the sangat (community) gatherings to observe a worship service, are welcome to attend Sundays at noon when English-language services are available. On your return home, be sure to visit the <a href="https://shmc.ca/">Sikh Heritage Museum of Canada</a> in Mississauga. Exhibits and displays chronicle the history of Sikhs in Canada dating back to the mid-to-late 1800s. The museum is located at the Great Punjab Business Centre on Drew Road.
How to get there: Drive on Highway 403 and then north on Highway 6 before taking Exit 74 to reach the Gurdwara Shaheedgarh Sahib on Old Guelph Road. For the museum, take the Queen Elizabeth Way to Airport Road/Peel Regional Road 7 before turning onto Drew Road.

For the drive

Historian David Borys delves into moments in Canadian history that haven’t always made it into high school textbooks with the “Curious Canadian History” podcast. Ontario-specific episodes cover Chatham’s all-Black all-stars baseball team, women in hockey history, and the role of Black Canadians in the War of 1812. <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/curious-canadian-history/id1084867254?at=11lDJ&amp;ct=1643535Xccb1c44448e5e2a0fa23b4bd829e3935">It</a> is available from Apple Podcasts.

These historic sites will help you understand Ontario’s cultural mosaic

wh-DiscoverGhost-Balaclava-Oct29

While rural Ontario has an abundance of quaint small towns, some have just barely withstood the vagaries of time and weather, while others have simply given up the ghost. Here are five long-deserted towns to explore if you’re in the mood for an eerie daytrip this Halloween weekend.
<h3>BALACLAVA</h3>
An undeniable eeriness pervades ramshackled Balaclava, an abandoned town in Renfrew County in Eastern Ontario. The history of the now dilapidated sawmill, which prompted the first-ever environmental lawsuit in Ontario in the early 1900s, mirrors the rise and eventual fall of the mill town. Balaclava was established along Constant Creek in 1855, and by 1860 the community boasted a hotel, blacksmith shop, general store and numerous homes. Purchased by the Richards family in 1868, the mill — and thus the town — prospered until timbers supplies were depleted. Area farms soon started to dwindle, and a much-wanted rail service failed to materialize. The remaining buildings are privately owned.

How to get there: Start by driving east on Highway 401 to Belleville. From there, head north on highways 37 and 41 before heading east on Highway 132 in the Bonnechere Valley to Scotch Bush Road.

Stop along the way: Continue your exploration of old buildings with lunch at the Granary Restaurant, a 20-minute drive down Highway 41 in Eganville. The century-old edifice (constructed in 1899) is home to a 30-year-old schnitzel house.
<h3>ELDORADO</h3>
A ghostly vibe persists in Eldorado even though approximately 50 people (versus the one-time population of 4,000) still live in this former gold-mining town in Hastings County. You need only walk down Main Street and gaze at the dilapidated grocery store or the long-shuttered gas station to understand why people consider it a ghost town. Eldorado sprung up in 1866 after Irish farmer John Richardson discovered gold in his pasture. This unleashed a frenzied influx of hopeful gold diggers, as well as amenities: hotels, saloons, grocery stores, doctor’s office and law firms. However, Ontario’s first gold rush was squashed amidst accusations of “false gold” and legal disputes over land ownership. A plaque along the highway chronicles the Hastings Gold Rush.
How to get there: Take Highway 401 east to Durham Regional Road 9 in Clarington and continue along Ganaraska Road. Follow County Road 9 and Route 45 to Highway 7 in Norwood, then northward on Highway 62.

Along the way: After exploring the ghostly mining town, it’s only fitting to chow down at the Hidden Goldmine Bakery, located in Madoc, a nine-minute drive down Highway 62. The seasonal Halloween menu includes lots of pumpkin-inspired treats.
<h3>COOPER’S FALLS</h3>
If there’s a ghost in Cooper’s Falls, perhaps it’s the spectre of English immigrant Thomas James Cooper railing against the vices of alcohol. Cooper and his wife, Emily, homesteaded near the eponymously named Cooper’s Waterfalls on the Black River in 1864, about five kilometres from Washago. By the 1870s, Cooper had built a sawmill, house and a store. Other structures soon followed: a blacksmith shop, cheese factory and two churches. Prosperity accompanied the growth of the lumber industry — as did the consumption of alcohol, prompting Thomas to become a temperance advocate. He hit the lecture circuit postulating the evils of the drink. Thomas’ son, William, took over from his father but died in a machinery accident in 1921, leaving his widow to raise nine children, whereupon the settlement went into decline and the mill was eventually shut down. Visitors will find a now-shuttered Methodist Church, an Anglican Church, several other buildings in decay and fewer than 15 residents.

How to get to Coopers Falls: Drive north on Highway 400 merging onto Highway 11. Take Canal Road in Severn Bridge, then follow Coopers Falls Road to Kings River Road in Ramara.

Along the way: A 25-minute drive from Cooper’s Falls, the iconic Webers has been serving up burgers along Highway 11 since 1963. Note: It is only open Friday to Sunday starting mid-October.
<h3>ALLAN’S MILLS</h3>
Allan’s Mills, just west of Perth in Lanark County, is one of the more intact ghost towns in Ontario, though the highlight for some day-trippers is the Scotch Line Cemetery, where many of the hamlet’s original citizens are buried. The community was established after Robert Allan built a sawmill. Thereafter a general store, blacksmith, post office, wagonmakers, shoemakers and school followed. Though the original cemetery was only officially registered in 1886 (at a cost of $75), the townsfolk had already interred 10 people before finalizing the paperwork. The town’s decline started as early as 1980. Various buildings have survived — making Allan’s Mills a delight for photographers. A walk among the tombstones, some of which are leaning, can be a bit scary.

How to get to:  Head east on Highway 407 before heading north on highways 115 and 7 to Rylstone Road.

Along the way:  For a dose of the macabre, drive 10 minutes to the Last Duel Park in Perth. The 10-hectre nature reserve along the Tay River is named after last fatal duel in Upper Canada in which two law students, John Wilson and Robert Lyon, competed for the love of schoolteacherElizabeth Hughes. You can grab a take-out lunch at the Twisted Fork Café in Perth.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-172622 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-DiscoverGhost-Cooper-Oct29-scaled.jpg" alt="Discover Ghosts" width="2560" height="1700" />
<h3>GERMANIA</h3>
Germania, now part of Bracebridge, was founded by German settlers who, by the turn of the century, had established a school, post office, general store, Lutheran church, Methodist Church and blacksmith shop. The population numbered about 200. Among those were the Suter family, whose unmarried daughter, Eva, gave birth in 1909 to a boy, named Dolan. What follows is heartbreaking. Baby Dolan was discovered strangled and buried in a swamp in 1911. The ensuing trial was mired in accusations of infanticide. The young mother, found not guilty, eventually married and gave birth to another son who was killed in the Second World War. Poor farming and the decline of the lumber industry rang the death knell for Germania. There are faded signs of the old school and community house, though the Lutheran Church is still standing.

How to get there: Head north on Highway 400 and merge onto Highway 11. Exit on Muskoka District Road 6 in Gravenhurst and then continue along Doe Lake Road.

Along the way: For a little levity, visit the iconic 65-year-old Muskoka theme park Santa’s Village, which offers a retro take on Christmas and amusement park fun. It is only open on weekends in October.

For the drive

The “Real Scary” podcast serve up tales of eerie and haunted places in Canada. Listen to Episode 26 to hear about the headless nun. It is available from iheart.com.

Five Ontario ghost towns to explore this Halloween weekend

Looking at the trail map, Balsam Lake, 2017 Photographer: Evan Holt

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to explore. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province, ands show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

Who isn’t transported by the scent of cedar along a forest trail or the call of a loon greeting you as you open your tent’s flap at dawn? Such tranquil campsite imagery is quickly dispatched, however, if you arrive at an overly popular park and you end up spending hours waiting in a lineup of cars to get past the entrance gate.

The thing is you needn’t visit one of Ontario’s more popular destinations – those that make all the best-of lists – to spend a rewarding weekend enjoying the great outdoors. After all, there are 340 provincial parks to choose from for your next escape. Here are five lesser-known parks in Ontario.
<h3>Balsam Lake Provincial Park
</h3>
Only an hour’s drive north of Peterborough, Balsam Lake Provincial Park is a 450-hectare forested oasis connected to the Trent-Severn Waterway. Visitors can explore the Kawartha Lakes by canoe, kayak or paddle boat — all of which are available to rent. There’s a large sandy beach for swimming and plenty of fish to lure anglers (including bass, muskellunge and walleye). The park’s 2.6-kilometre Look Out Trail winds its way past 10,000-year-old eskers (which are glacially formed ridges), while the 4.2-kilometre Plantation Trail is ideal for birdwatching (you may even see hawks and osprey). Camping options run the gamut from walk-in sites to RV spots. There is also one fully furnished four-bedroom cottage near the water’s edge that books up quickly.

How to get there:  Follow the Don Valley Parkway to Highway 404. Turn east on Highway 32 just before Keswick. From there, follow Highway 48 to the park.
<h3>Bass Lake Provincial Park</h3>
Bass Lake Provincial Park, as with the relatively close Mara Provincial Park and McRae Point Provincial Park, should be on the radar of novice campers as all three offer the Learn to Camp program, which includes the option of having a one-on-one session with a camping expert. This 65-hectare park on the western shore of Bass Lake is an easy 10-minute drive from Orillia. Activities include swimming (Bass Lake is clear and shallow), biking, canoeing, kayaking or paddleboarding (rentals are available at the park store), fishing and hiking. One option is to hike a 2.8-kilometre trail to the remains of the historic Rowe Homestead, which dates to the 1830s. Camping options include car camping, group sites and RVs.

How to get there:  Drive north on Highway 400 and take the Highway 11 exit just past Barrie. Once in Orillia take Highway 12 before exiting at Ridge Boulevard and merging onto Bass Lake Side Road.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-170798" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/wh-DiscoverProvincial-Bass-Aug13-scaled.jpg" alt="Provincial Parks" width="2560" height="1703" />
<h3>Bonnechere Provincial Park </h3>
The 168-hectare park, located at the southeast boundary of the much-busier Algonquin Provincial Park, offers visitors a choice of 128 campsites – which are close to the Bonnechere River – day use areas, laundry, shower facilities and playgrounds. Anyone disinclined to bed down in a tent or trailer can book one of its four rustic pine cabins. Guests can pass summer afternoons at the sandy beach on the shores of Round Lake, hike McNaughton Trail (marked with interpretive signs) or visit the park’s historic log cabins. There’s a network of 10 trails called “Walks of the Bonnechere River.” Birders have sighted as many as 297 species in the area. Canoe and kayak rentals are available. Daily presentations at the park’s Davenport Centre have included “Awake in the World: Mindfulness and Environmental Connection” and “Archaeology Day.”

How to get there: Drive from Toronto to Peterborough. Once there, follow Highway 28 before switching to the Musclow Greenview Road near Bronson. Once in Maple Leaf, drive east on Highway 62 followed by Old Barry’s Bay Road and then Hopefield Road to Highway 66. From there, turn east on Highway 60 followed by 67 to Round Lake Road and the park.

<img class="size-full wp-image-170799" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/wh-DiscoverProvincial-Bonnechere-Aug13-scaled.jpg" alt="Provincial Parks" width="2560" height="1707" />
<h3>Marten River Provincial Park </h3>
The 400-hectare Marten River Provincial Park is considered the southern gateway to the Temagami region, one of our province’s prime wilderness areas. Campers (often a mix of canoeists, boaters, hikers and anglers) can choose from 193 campsites, all of which have easy access to water taps, comfort stations and laundry facilities. Plus, there are three beaches for swimming. Exploring by foot can lead you to two park highlights: the remnant of a stand of massive pines, including a 350-year-old white pine on the Transition Trail; and a reconstructed 19th-century logging camp that includes a cookery, bunk house, barn and blacksmith’s shop. The Exploration Centre at Chicot Beach regularly hosts guest speakers on topics such as birding, geology and aquatic wildlife.

How to get there: Drive north on Highway 400 followed by Highway 11 through North Bay. The park is just before the junction of highways 11 and 64.

<img class="size-full wp-image-170800" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/wh-DiscoverProvincial-Marten-Aug13-scaled.jpg" alt="Provincial Parks" width="2560" height="1920" />
<h3>Restoule Provincial Park</h3>
Restoule Provincial Park is an out-of-the-way nature area in Parry Sound District, between Restoule Lake and Stormy Lake. This heavily treed park (including lots of ancient cedars) with several rocky bluffs (as high as 92 metres) extends along the Restoule River to its mouth at the French River. The 2,800-acre park has more than 10 kilometres of hiking trails, including the Fire Tower Trail which passes a 30-metre fire tower (no, you can’t climb it). Wildlife sightings have included coyotes, otters, moose and white-tailed deer. Birders have spotted falcons and herons, among other species. Choose from various camping options, including backcountry sites on Stormy Lake and on the Restoule River, easily accessed by canoe or kayak, which can be rented.

How to get there:  Drive north on Highway 400 and exit onto Highway 11. At Trout Creek, head west on Highway 522, followed by the 524 and 534.

<img class="size-full wp-image-170801" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/wh-DiscoverProvincial-Restoule-Aug13.jpg" alt="Provincial Parks" width="2550" height="1911" />

For the drive

Pamela and Tim Good chronicle their blended family’s campground pursuits on the “Super Good Camping” podcast. They cover subjects such as how to deal with bad weather, camping with your dog, campground etiquette and choosing the best tent. The duo also dedicates episodes to specific Ontario Parks. It is available on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Ours to Discover: Five lesser-known camping spots in Ontario parks

wh-DiscoverManitoulin-Bridal-May7

About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to explore. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province, ands show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

At 2,766 square kilometres, Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron is the largest freshwater island in the world — and features no fewer than 100 inland lakes. It is also the ancestral home to six Anishinaabe First Nations, with its name meaning Spirit Island in Ojibway. A three-day visit offers the chance to explore ancient hiking trails, a legend-steeped waterfall, First Nations heritage sites and hands-on Indigenous cultural experiences.

DAY ONE
In the morning

It will take a few hours to get to Manitoulin Island, so leave Toronto around 7:30 a.m. so you can maximize your time there once you arrive. Head north on Highway 400, which will turn into Highway 69, and follow it until you reach Highway 17 near Sudbury. Follow the roadway west and then take Highway 6 to Little Current, located on the island. The journey should take around five-and-a-half hours.

In the afternoon
Fill your tummy by enjoying an order of barbecue chicken flatbread or fish tacos from Elliott’s Restaurant. Eat in or nab one of the picnic tables at Low Island Park, located on the waterfront. From there, drive west on Highway 540 to the start of the Cup and Saucer Hiking Trail. This five-kilometre loop trail includes a stretch along a 70-metre-high cliff that offers great views of Lake Huron.

Drive back to Little Current and check in at the Manitoulin Inn and Conference Centre, which is First Nations-owned and operated. The room decor and teepee-like lobby reflect local Indigenous traditions, as does the food served at the North 46 Restaurant, where the menu includes bison chili and Anishinaabe tacos with fried bread.

In the evening

Visit the nearby Little Current Swing Bridge, which opens every two hours to allow boats through the North Channel. It’s one of the only swing bridges still operating in Canada. After, stop at the Outpost General Store for souvenirs you’ll use, such as custom-knit toques and Manitoulin-branded t-shirts, before enjoying a dinner of locally caught trout, white fish or pickerel at the Anchor Inn Grill.

[caption id="attachment_168044" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-DiscoverManitoulin-Culture-May7-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-168044" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wh-DiscoverManitoulin-Culture-May7-scaled.jpg" alt="Discover Manitoulin" width="2560" height="1707" /></a> M'CHIGEENG, ON- NOVEMBER 7 - A display of quill art by Nico Williams of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation near Sarnia is on display in the foyer of the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation. Anong Beam, is the curator of the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation on Manitoulin Island in M'Chigeeng. November 7, 2017. Steve Russell/Toronto Star[/caption]

DAY TWO
In the morning

Have breakfast at the inn before getting in your car for the 45-minute drive along Highway 6 to Manitowaning, where you can peruse the Indigenous art exhibits at K.B. Reynolds Mastin Gallery, located in the Debajehmujig Creation Centre. From there, it’s a short walk to the Assiginack Museum Heritage Complex, which is dedicated to the history of the island.

Across the road from the museum is Loco Beanz, where you can grab a Hot Smoothie or North Channel Chai for the drive along Cardell Street (which turns into Wikwemikong Way) to Wikwemikong, the island’s largest First Nation community.
In the afternoon
Wikwemikong Tourism offers a two-hour culinary excursion starting daily at noon that involves foraging and storytelling along the Bebamikawe Memorial Trail. It includes stops to admire the views of La Cloche Mountains, the North Channel and the traditional fishing grounds of the Anishnaabek of Wikwemikong. There are three different culinary outings, one of which is the Clay-Baked Georgian Bay Trout and Tea, with each hosted by Indigenous guides and ending with a full meal that you help prepare.

Following lunch, you can head to the gift shop at the Wikwemikong Tourist Information Centre to shop for hand-crafted jewellery or moccasins, rent a bike to explore the community, or head to King’s Bay Beach on the sandy shoreline of Lake Huron for a swim.

In the evening
Head for an early dinner at Ed’s Family Restaurant in Wikwemikong, where you can enjoy piles of homemade bread along with burgers, fish and chips or hot sandwiches. After dinner, visit the Meeshkodewaang boat ramp for Paddle the Night Sky. This canoe excursion is led by Indigenous guides who share stories and legends of water spirits, tales of battles with the Iroquois, and teachings about the constellations. The outing ends with fireside tea.
Drive back to Little Current and end your day with a Bridal Veil Pale Ale or Cup and Saucer English Ale at Manitoulin Brewing, which hosts evening entertainment during summer months.
DAY THREE
In the morning
After breakfast, drive west for 80 minutes on Highway 540 to Misery Bay Provincial Park. You can break up the ride with a stop at New Grain Kitchen in Gore Bay to purchase maple and oat sourdough along with some Thunder Oak Smoked Gouda as a snack. At the park, follow the hiking trails that take you past huge chunks of dolomite ground flat by glaciers along with bird-viewing platforms.

Hop back in the car and drive east on the 540 to the 10-metre high Bridal Veil Falls, located near the town of Kagawong. Interpretive plaques near its base tell the story of the Legend of Maswein, his experiences at the waterfall and his encounter with the Great Spirit Manitou

Head to the community of M’Chigeeng for lunch at Maggie’s Café – its cobb salad is worth a try – and to spend time at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation to learn more about the island’s various First Nation clans as well as traditional artwork, including porcupine quill boxes, ash and sweetgrass baskets and antler carvings.

In the afternoon

Head east on Highway 542 and then Highway 6 to South Baymouth to catch the two-hour car ferry that crossed Lake Huron to Tobermory. From there you can continue your journey back to Toronto.

For the drive

The “Island of Great Spirit - the Legacy of Manitoulin” podcast features short chapters that cover various aspects of the history and culture of Manitoulin Island, from the original Odawa peoples to today’s inhabitants. It is available through Apple Podcasts.

COVID-19 need to know

Manitoulin Island follows Ontario’s provincial COVID-19 guidelines. Contact individual businesses in advance to determine their preferred protocols.

Drive guide

Day one
<ul>
 	<li> 7:30 a.m. Leave Toronto</li>
 	<li> 1 pm. <a href="https://www.elliottsmanitoulin.com/menus">Elliott’s Restaurant</a></li>
 	<li> 1:30 p.m.Low Island Park</li>
 	<li> 2:30 p.m.Cup and Saucer Nature Reserve</li>
 	<li>5:30 p.m. Manitoulin Inn and Conference Centre</li>
 	<li>7 p.m. Anchor Inn Grill</li>
</ul>
Day Two
<ul>
 	<li> 10 a.m. K.B. Reynolds Mastin Gallery</li>
 	<li> 11 a.m. Assiginack Museum Heritage Complex</li>
 	<li> NoonBebamikawe Memorial Trail Indigenous Experience</li>
 	<li>5 p.m. Ed’s Family Restaurant</li>
 	<li>7 p.m. Paddle the Night Sky</li>
</ul>
Day three
<ul>
 	<li> 9 a.m. New Grain Kitchen</li>
 	<li> 11 a.m. Misery Bay Provincial Park</li>
 	<li> Noon Bridal Veil Falls</li>
 	<li>1 p.m. Maggie’s Café</li>
 	<li>2 p.m. Ojibwe Cultural Foundation</li>
</ul>

Ours to Discover: Manitoulin Island

wh-Discover-Main-March26

Barrie: About this series: Wheels wants to inspire you to explore. This series of day trips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province, and show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover.”

According to Statistics Canada, Barrie is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada. But you needn’t scrutinize population charts to appreciate the development this community on the western arm of Lake Simcoe is experiencing. It’s obvious from the ever-increasing activities available to day visitors and overnighters. As the population has swelled, so too have the art and cultural opportunities, and the diversity of cuisines served in local restaurants. One constant about Barrie that’s always been a crowd-pleaser: its robust portfolio of outdoor pursuits, which starts on the city’s revamped waterfront.

In the morning: Follow Highway 400 north to Barrie and take the Bayfield Street exit toward downtown. There’s plenty of roadside and municipal parking near Bayfield and Simcoe streets near the Kempenfelt Bay waterfront.

Make a beeline to <a href="http://www.homesteadartisanbakery.com/contactus">Homestead Artisan Bakery</a>, which specializes in long-ferment sourdough breads and baked goods. A helping of sourdough waffles – slathered with fresh berries, whipping cream, berry compote and maple syrup – will fuel you for the morning activities ahead.

After your hearty breakfast, head to Centennial Beach and Heritage Park (a few minutes away by foot) where you’ll have options to walk, rollerblade or cycle the seven-kilometre waterfront trail, go kayaking or canoeing, hop on a stand-up paddleboard, or let the kids have fun at the 13,000-square-foot inflatable waterpark. If you are interested, <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/ours-to-discover/ours-to-discover-barrie/madcatebikes.ca">Born</a> to Ride offers cycle rentals and guided tours of the area.

Retrieve your car for a five-minute drive to <a href="https://www.barrie.ca/Living/ParksTrails/Parks/Pages/Parks-Listing.aspx">Arboretum Sunnidale Park and Living Walk</a>. It is home to the Every Kid’s A Hero Inclusive Adventure Playground that empowers youngsters with mobility impairments or disabilities, as well as people with hearing and visual impairments, to enjoy outdoor recreation. You can also follow the interactive QR code-based tree walk, which prompts visitors to identify trees and other elements in the local ecosystem.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-166819" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-Discover-MacLaren-March26-2048x1152-1.jpeg" alt="Downtown Barrie’s MacLaren Art Centre" width="2048" height="1152" />

Hop back in your car for a 10-minute jaunt over to Bayfield Street, and then north on Highway 26, which will take you to the Simcoe County Museum. It includes a collection of 16 heritage buildings, interactive displays and five indoor galleries chronicling local history. There’s even an outdoor ice-skating trail during winter.

Around noon: <a href="https://pizzeriaitaliarestaurant.ca/">Pizzeria Italia</a> has been serving traditional Italian food in Barrie since 1966. Its meatball sandwich is delicious, and, over the years, the kitchen hasn’t given in and dialled down the garlic intensity of its requisite Caesar salad.

After lunch, make time to visit the contemporary Canadian art collection at the <a href="https://maclarenart.com/">MacLaren Art Centre</a> across the street from the restaurant. Later, walk around the corner to the <a href="https://www.flyingmonkeys.ca/taproom/">Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery</a> to purchase a take-home six-pack of one of their award-winning craft brews.

After retrieving your car make a quick stop at <a href="https://sigridsbakery.com/">Sigrid’s Café &amp; Fine Bakery</a>, which is run by the fourth generation of European-trained bakers. Take your pick of cookies, pastries, torts or poppy seed cake to enjoy during your 20-minute drive to your next stop.

In the afternoon: Hop back onto Highway 400 and drive north until you reach Horseshoe Valley Road and <a href="https://horseshoeresort.com/">Horseshoe Valley Resort</a>. This four-season venue offers a variety of winter activities (skiing, snow tubing, snowboarding and snowshoeing), as well as warmer-weather adventures (fat biking, hiking, off-road riding and tree-top trekking).
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-166820" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/wh-Discover-Fat-March26-2048x1368-1.jpeg" alt="Horseshoe Valley Resort" width="2048" height="1368" />

Your last stop for the afternoon will resonate with anyone who’s watched an episode of “Antiques Road Show.” <a href="https://roadshowantiquesmall.com/">Road Show Antiques</a>, just south of Barrie next to the 400 Market on Highway 400, is open daily. Browse its 32,000 square feet of antiques, collectibles, vintage and retro pieces. Making sure you have an empty car trunk will be handy for this day trip, because you will want to bring some of your finds home with you.

In the evening:  All that shopping will mean you’re ready for dinner. <a href="https://www.thecrazyfoxbistro.com/">The Crazy Fox Bistro</a>, a mainstay since 1986, is one of the finer casual dining options in Barrie. Appetizers range from flatbreads to Itsumo tuna, while main courses include pan-seared pickerel, duck confit, filet mignon and crab and lobster mezzaluna. Opt to sit on the patio during the warm months.

For your main event of the evening, you can sit back and watch horseracing at <a href="http://www.georgiandowns.com/">Georgian Downs</a> on the outskirts of Barrie, or take in a performance at the <a href="https://www.barrie.ca/Living/RecreationFacilities/Pages/Sadlon-Arena.aspx">Sadlon Arena</a>, formerly the Barrie Molson Centre. Before the drive back to Toronto, consider stopping at the <a href="https://www.commongoodcafe.ca/">Common Good Café &amp; Social House</a>, where you can enjoy a cocktail (if you aren’t the designated driver) or coffee on the patio or in the lounge while listening to live music. The perfect end to a perfect day in Barrie.
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Consult the provincial website (ontario.ca) for the most up-to-date information and contact individual businesses ahead of your trip
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Listen to “<a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/Barrie-Uncovered---The-Podcast-Edition-p1242560/">Barrie Uncovered: The Podcast Edition</a>.” <a href="https://tunein.com/radio/Arts--Culture-Podcasts-g3430/">This arts and culture program features conversations with Barrie-based artists and entrepreneurs. Find it at barrieuncovered.ca.</a>
<h3>TIMELINE: Drive guide</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>8 a.m.Leave Toronto</li>
</ul>
Drive north on Hwy 400
<ul>
 	<li>9 a.m. Homestead Artisan Bakery</li>
 	<li>10 a.m.Centennial Park &amp; Heritage Park</li>
 	<li>11 a.m.Sunnidale Park Arboretum and Living Walk</li>
 	<li>11:45 a.m. Simcoe County Museum</li>
 	<li>12:45 a.m. Pizzeria Italia</li>
 	<li>2 p.m.Horseshoe Valley Resort</li>
 	<li>4:45 p.m.Road Show Antiques</li>
 	<li>6 p.m.Crazy Fox Bistro</li>
 	<li>7:30 p.m. Sadlon Arena or Georgian Downs</li>
</ul>
NOTE: Times are suggestions only

Ours to Discover: Barrie

wh-Discover-Sleighs-Riverbend-Dec11 (1)

About this series: With COVID-19 restrictions having eased over the last few months, Wheels wants to inspire you to get ready to explore — but only when it is safe to do so. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province and across Canada, ands show you why this country is “Ours to Discover.”

There’s nothing like a hefty horse to drive home the holiday spirit faster than a Hallmark movie. Few traditions invoke Christmas cheer better than a horse-drawn sleigh ride through a snow-covered landscape. But it wasn’t always thus. True believers know that eight reindeer originally hauled Santa’s sleigh through the night skies on Christmas Eve. Clement Clarke Moore established that warm-and-fuzzy image in his 1823 poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” which named all eight reindeer. While reindeers might feel more authentic, you will need to settle for horses these days. You have numerous options to enjoy the festive glow of a horse-drawn sleigh ride in Ontario.
<h3>Back of Beyond Equine Centre in Huntsville </h3>
You can enjoy a festive winter outing with your loved ones—and pay it forward—when you book a sleigh ride at the Back of Beyond Equine Centre. Cathy Foyston and Bill Statten care for 14 horses and one mule, some of which are rescue animals. Proceeds from sleigh rides pay for the upkeep of the older and rescued animals. There are six horses that pull the classic red sleigh: four black Percherons named Tom, Eddie, Duke and Phoenix, a Belgian named Caddy and a Norwegian Fjord called Kestrel. You can choose a daytime or evening Winter Sleigh Ride and Campfire outing or a Private Sleigh Ride with Santa. The sleigh rides take guests through woodland trails to an outdoor campfire for roasted marshmallows and hot chocolate.

Rates: The 15-minute Private Sleigh Ride with Santa (which accommodates up to six people) costs $60. The one-hour Private Winter Sleigh Ride and Campfire costs $150 for the first two people, and $25 for each additional guest (<a href="http://www.backofbeyondequinecentre.com">backofbeyondequinecentre.com</a>).

How to get there: Take Highway 400 north and merge onto Highway 11.  Turn east on South Mary Lake Road/Muskoka District Road 44 in Huntsville, then follow Muskoka District Road 10 to the centre.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/wh-Discover-Sleighs-Beyond-Dec11-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-163983" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/wh-Discover-Sleighs-Beyond-Dec11-3.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="1852" height="901" /></a>
<h3>Sentineal Carriages in Niagara on-the-Lake</h3>
Sentineal Carriages is currently taking bookings for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve tours of Niagara on-the-Lake. Guests board their decorated horse-drawn carriage outside the Prince of Wales Hotel and trot past stately homes and historic buildings, and then down by the waterfront and along the main street. Carriages can accommodate two adults and two children, who are welcome to bring hot beverages and blankets. The ornate carriages are ideal for romantic outings. Sentineal offers horse-drawn carriage rides all winter long.
Rates: $95 for a 30 minute-tour; $140 for a 45-minute tour; $180 for a 60-minute tour (<a href="http://www.sentinealcarriages.ca">sentinealcarriages.ca</a>).

How to get to there: Take Highway 403 west and the Queen Elizabeth Way to Glendale Avenue/Regional Road 89 in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Then take Airport Road/Regional Road 90 and Regional Road 55 to Picton Street.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/wh-Discover-Sentineal-Beyond-Dec11-2-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-163982" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/wh-Discover-Sentineal-Beyond-Dec11-2-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>
<h3>Riverbend Acres in Bright</h3>
Libby Peters and her family operate this 40-hectare farm that is home to a menagerie of horses, ducks, cows and other farm animals. Educational barn visits geared to children cost $50. The big draw in winter are the sleigh rides, which are pulled by two Belgian horses who, said Peters, “Welcome attention and affection.”  The horse-drawn sleigh ride takes guests over fields and woodland trails and along a dead-end gravel road to a 100-year-old steel bridge over the Nith River, with stops for photo ops and snowball tossing.

Rates: a sleigh ride (for up to 12 adults, kids on laps) costs $165 (<a href="http://www.riverbendacres.com">riverbendacres.com</a>).

How to get to Riverbend Acres: From Gardiner Express Way get onto Highway 403 driving west and continue to Middle Townline Road/Regional Rodd 25 in Brant. Take exit 16 to County Road 3 and then take Township Road 12 into Bright.
<h3>Valley Ridge Family Farm in Ravenna</h3>
Four Clydesdales (Penny, Ella, Eric and Ernie) takes guests on winter sleigh rides on Sarah McAllister’s farm in the Blue Mountains near Collingwood. The sleigh rides follow trails through 138 acres of forest and open fields. After the sleigh ride, guests are welcome to take selfies with the horses and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.

Rates: $96 for a couple, $160 for a family of four; and a full sleigh of ten guests is $28 (<a href="http://facebook/valleyridgefamilyfarm">facebook.com/valleyridgefamilyfarm</a>).

How to get there: Drive Highway 400 north to Dunlop Street West in Barrie, then take exit 96B and follow Wilson Drive/County Road 53, Highway 26 west and County Road 32 to 3rd Line in The Blue Mountains.
<h3>St. Jacob’s Horse-drawn Tours in Woolwich </h3>
Enjoy a scenic 45-minute sleigh ride through open fields and a sugar bush in Mennonite country, where horse-drawn carts and sleighs are common sights on the roads. This winter sleigh ride includes a stop at a rustic sugar shack, where guests warm themselves with hot apple cider next to a wood stove. No sleigh rides on Sundays or Christmas Day.
Rates: The big sleigh ($200) can accommodate up to 15 adults; the small sleigh ($150) seats four adults (<a href="http://www.stjacobshorsedrawntours.com">stjacobshorsedrawntours.com</a>).
How to get there: Take Highway 401 west to Northfield Drive West in Waterloo. Take the Northfield Drive West exit from Highway 85. Then take Weber Street North and Apple Grove Road/Township Road 39.
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Note that the government-mandated proof of vaccination rule is in effect. Check provincial guidelines before you head out on your road trip (Ontario.ca).
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Continue the retro experience by listening to classic holiday programing with “Christmas Old Time Radio.” Available from Apple podcasts, it features shows from the golden age of the medium.

Ours to Discover: Sleigh rides, Winter rides to make the season glow

Screaming Heads

About this series: With COVID-19 restrictions having eased over the last few months, Wheels wants to inspire you to get ready to explore — but only when it is safe to do so. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province and across Canada, ands show you why this country is “Ours to Discover.”

For most, Burk’s Falls and the nearby Muskoka region typically conjure up pastoral tableaus of the Canadian Shield, azure blue lakes and bent white pines that looked plucked from a Group of Seven painting. But there are edgier artforms — macabre, in some instances — to be behold a few hours north of Toronto: ghoulish concrete smiley faces emerging from the earth, five-metre monsters forged of steel, and sculptures made from motorboat engines. Here is how to go on an art crawl through the area.
<h3>The Screaming Heads of Midlothian Castle</h3>
Visitors get a true sense of the Screaming Heads outdoor art gallery the moment they breach the gates to sculptor Peter Camani’s thick-walled home, Midlothian Castle, which dominates the 125-hecatre outdoor art venue on the outskirts of Burk’s Falls. The gate is a massive metal spider web. On top of the castle, which also houses Camani’s studio, perches a two-headed dragon. But it’s the area surrounding this edifice that can require nerves of steel should you visit late in the fall.

A winding trail through woods, ponds and meadows reveals about 100 “screaming head” sculptures, some in form of concrete smiley faces, hands reaching up out of the ground and arches in the form of gaping mouths that threaten to swallow all who approach. Some of the sculptures stand about seven metres tall, with a few weighing as much as 30,000 kilograms. The Screaming Heads are frequently called “Canada’s Stonehenge.” This isn’t a typical museum experience: you drive up, park your car in a field and drop some cash into the contribution box at the entrance. Helpful tip: wear boots.

Directions: From Toronto, drive north on Hwy. 400 and then merge onto Hwy. 11 north. At Burk’s Falls, take Hwy. 520 west to Midlothian Road.
<h3>The Bala Bog Monster </h3>
The Bala Bog Monster (originally titled Koilis), has alternately wooed or weirded out people since its first public appearance in 2007. The tentacled monster is made of 900 kilograms of steel and stands (or, rather, crouches) at a height of four metres by a cranberry bog In Bala, Muskoka.

Orville and June Johnston, proprietors of <a href="https://cranberry.ca/contact-hours-directions/">Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery</a>, acquired the freakish monster in 2018 because, “It reflects the scary beauty we often see in nature. As cranberry growers, we are stewards of many creatures perceived as ugly or threatening: hog-nosed snakes, snapping turtles, frogs, rattlesnakes and carnivorous plants,” Orville said about the sculpture during a talk at the Bala Cranberry Festival in 2019.

“To us, they belong here and are an important part of our ecosystem.”

The sculpture hasn’t always been so warmly welcomed. When Koilis resided on Muskoka Region’s Baxter Island, boaters habitually called it The Beast of Baxter Island. When it was moved to downtown Bala, outside Mike Chesney’s Mystery Diner chip truck, some admirers proclaimed it fabulous art, yet to others it was a frightful eyesore. Beauty is in the heart of the beholder.

Directions: From Burk’s Falls, take Hwy. 11 south and then Muskoka District Road 169 to Bala.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Bala-2-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-162845" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Bala-2-scaled.jpg" alt="Bala" width="2560" height="1707" /></a>
<h3>The Tree Museum</h3>
“Bring water and hiking boots when you visit the museum,” said E.J. Lightman, founder of The Tree Museum, a permanent exhibit of outdoor sculpture on the shores of Ryde Lake, near Gravenhurst. Viewing the installations, which celebrate the collusion between nature and culture, involves extensive walking over uneven terrain and scrambling up rocks. The first sculpture is about one kilometre from the parking lot.

Since The Tree Museum opened in 1997, Lightman and co-curator Anne O'Callaghan have invited guest curators to use the trees, lush meadows, rocky outcrops, lichen-covered rocks, wet shorelands, ponds, lakes and twigs in their artworks. One installation positioned horizontal tree trunks on granite rock to create the effect of a diving board—a common activity in cottage country. There are usually 15 temporary sculptures, and no admission for the self-guided visits. There is also an outhouse on site.

Directions: From Bala, follow Frank Miller Memorial Route and Muskoka District Road 169 to Doe Lake Road in Gravenhurst.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/wh-Discover-OutdoorArt-Tree-Oct303-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-162844" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/wh-Discover-OutdoorArt-Tree-Oct303-scaled.jpg" alt="Tree Museum" width="1916" height="2560" /></a>
<h3>A natural art show</h3>
The Torrance Barrens Conservation Area became the world’s first permanent dark sky reserve in 1991. Thanks to the stunted trees and bushes —and an absence of light pollution — visitors to the 1,900-hectare Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve can enjoy incredible 360-degree views of the sky on a clear night. Stargazers are frequently rewarded with views of some of the planets, the Milky Way and other classic constellations. The Northern Lights (Aurora borealis) can also make an appearance in late summer and fall.

Directions: From Gravenhurst take the Frank Miller Memorial Route and Muskoka District Road 169 to Southwood Road/Muskoka District Road 13 to Torrance Barrens.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/wh-Discover-OutdoorArt-Sky-Oct304.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-162846" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/wh-Discover-OutdoorArt-Sky-Oct304.jpg" alt="Outdoor Art Show" width="1800" height="1200" /></a>
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Download podcasts of the weekly radio show “Arts R Us” from Muskoka Radio. Learn about local painters, sculptors, musicians and other Muskoka-based artists with hosts Karen Cassian and Noreen Mitchell.
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Most restaurants, stores and attractions are open with reduced capacity. Note that the government-mandated proof of vaccination rule is in effect. Check provincial guidelines before you head out on your road trip (Ontario.ca).

Ours to Discover: Unique artworks, An outdoor art crawl with a twist in Burk’s Falls and the Muskoka region

PE northcrest

About this series: With COVID-19 restrictions having eased over the last few months, Wheels wants to inspire you to get ready to explore — but only when it is safe to do so. This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province and across Canada, ands show you why this country is “Ours to Discover.”

Haunted cemeteries, ghostly apparitions in windows, floorboards that creak when rooms are empty, this is the stuff of spooky daytrips around Ontario during Halloween season. But, be warned. These road trips are not for the faint of heart. If you slept well after screenings of “The Blair Witch Project” or “The Conjuring,” you’re good to go. If not, drive with caution. Here are some places with spooky stories waiting to be discovered.
<h3>Haunted Hamilton</h3>
For a spine-tingling daytrip to Hamilton, start at Dundurn Castle, the 40-room neoclassical mansion that was once the home of politician Sir Allan MacNab. Tragedy and death tainted the surrounding grounds before MacNab moved in. Eleven men were hung for treason across the street in 1813, and the nearby sheds were used for cholera victims. But it’s the ghost of MacNab’s second wife, Mary, who apparently is the cause of a persistent chill and a breeze that reportedly snuffs out candles.

In nearby Ancaster, head to the Dundas Valley Conservation Area and follow the Main Loop Trail for about 20 minutes until you emerge from the tree-lined path to the eerie sight of the Hermitage Ruins and Gatehouse. These towering stone ruins are all that’s left of the Hermitage Estate, which is apparently haunted by the ghost of a long-dead coachman who one day professed undying love for his employer’s niece, but was met with scorn. The coachman’s body was found hanging in the barn the next morning.

Directions: Follow the Gardiner Express Way west to the Queen Elizabeth Way and then Hwy. 403 west to McQuesten High Level Bridge. You then follow York Boulevard in Hamilton to Dundurn Castle.
<h3>Creepy Cayuga</h3>
A 33-room Greek Revival villa is the last spectacle you’d expect to find along the banks of the Grand River, north of Cayuga, in rural Haldimand County. The Thompson family mansion (built in 1845) dominates the <a href="https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=860">Ruthven Park National Historic Site of Canada</a>. It sits adjacent to the long-abandoned ghost town of Indiana, a once-thriving mill town. All that remains, apart from the mansion and the family cemetery, are remnants of the mill and lock along the riverbank. Plus, there are the toppled tombstones in the Thompson family cemetery, where the 11-year-old Bessie Thompson is buried. She is said to haunt the mansion and the grounds of Ruthven Park.

In nearby Caledonia, you’ll be similarly spooked at the <a href="www">Edinburgh Square Heritage &amp; Cultural Centre</a> in Caledonia. The basement of the 1850s building, once the Caledonia town hall, formerly housed a jail — as well as meat market — and is still open to the public. The place induces shudders in the sturdiest of souls.

Directions: Take the Queen Elizabeth Way and Hwy. 403 west to Hwy. 6 in Hamilton. Take Hwy. 6 south and continue to Haldimand County Hwy. 54 in Cayuga.

[caption id="attachment_162624" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/wh-DiscoverHaunted-Ruthven-4.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-162624" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/wh-DiscoverHaunted-Ruthven-4.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="1170" height="1926" /></a> KWR120103 - CAYUGA - Built between 1845 and 1847, Ruthven Park was owned by five generations of the Thompson family before it was donated to the Lower Grand River Land Trust in 1993. It was designated a National Historic Site in 1996. Brent Davis, Record staff - see story by Brent - 2 of 5 14:04:13 {120103} {CAYUGA}[/caption]
<h3>Eerie Eldorado </h3>
Located in Hastings County, Eldorado doesn’t completely qualify as an abandoned ghost town because around 50 people still reside in the mostly deserted settlement in eastern Ontario. Stepping out of your car on Main Street in front of the long-deserted gas station and dilapidated grocery store, it’s hard to imagine that 4,000 people once lived here. Eldorado appeared overnight after the discovery of gold in a farmer’s field in 1866. Alas, Ontario’s first gold mine was short-lived. Small amounts of the precious metal, fraudulent claims and whispers of “fake gold” spelled a quick end to the hysteria — and the eventual demise of Eldorado. An eeriness pervades the streets.
Upon leaving Eldorado, head down Hwy. 62 south and cut east across Hwy. 7 to Peterborough. First stop: the Little Lake Cemetery to seek out the statue of the “Black Angel” above the final resting spot (or so it’s assumed) of a one John MacDonald, who died in the 1800s. Local lore suggests the angel’s head turns at night and that a mysterious force turned the once-white statue to black. Most curious is the inscription: “He is not here.” Which prompts the question: “Is there a body buried in this grave?”

Next, visit the annual <a href="https://www.instagram.com/creepydollmuseum/?hl=en">Creepy Dolls Museum at Theatre on King in Peterborough.</a> Co-curators Kathryn Bahun and Ben Hatcher have collected 70 dolls from thrift shops, basements, attics and garage sales. Hatcher rescued one from the freezer of a newly-purchased home — taking bone-chilling to a new level.
Directions: To get to Eldorado, take Hwy. 401 east to Ganaraska Road/Durham Regional Rd 9 in Clarington and continue along Ganaraska Road. Follow County Road 9 and Route 45 to Hwy. 7 in Norwood then onto Hwy. 62 headed north.

[caption id="attachment_162623" align="alignnone" width="2560"]<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/wh-DiscoverHaunted-Dolls-1-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-162623" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/wh-DiscoverHaunted-Dolls-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="2560" height="1864" /></a> A collection of creepy dolls from Creepy Doll Museum 2 are on display at The Theatre on King Thursday October 29, 2020 in Peterborough, Ont. Due to COVID-19, only 8 people at a time will be allowed entrance for 30 minutes.[/caption]
<h3>Spooky Caledon</h3>
The stark edifice of the abandoned Cheltenham Brick Yards creeps up on drivers as they travel north on Mississauga Road. Staring at the spooky structures (boarded-up brickworks and forlorn chimneys) through the chain-link fence gnaws at your nerves. In its heyday, circa 1914, the brickyard was home to six kilns, as well as 14 houses for the employees.
In nearby Boston Mills is the Boston Mills Cemetery (north on Mississauga and east on Boston Mills Road). The graveyard, first used in 1823, long ago expropriated a one-room schoolhouse for use as a mortuary. Ghost-believers say the cemetery is haunted by playing children, and that lights can be seen at night in former schoolhouse.

Directions: Take the Gardiner Expressway west and then follow Hwy. 410 north to Hurontario Street in Caledon. Follow Hurontario and King Street/Peel Regional Rd 9 to Mississauga Road.

[caption id="attachment_162622" align="alignnone" width="1950"]<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/wh-DiscoverHaunted-BostonMills-3.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-162622" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/wh-DiscoverHaunted-BostonMills-3.jpg" alt="Ours to Discover" width="1950" height="1302" /></a> Do you have a favourite scary spot in Caledon? Many believe some of Caledon's cemeteries, such as Boston Mills, Caledon East and Alton still get visitors. Where else have you had, or heard of, a spooky encounter?[/caption]
<h3>For the drive</h3>
Brandon Chiasson and Ashley Spurrell host “<a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/ontarios-most-haunted-podcast-brandon-_zxV-8e4qIO/">Ontario’s Most Haunted Podcast</a>” in which they delve into proclaimed paranormal sites, exorcisms, and ghost sightings throughout the province. If you’ve only time for one episode, choose “<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/episode-16-the-hermitage-ruins/id1544397425?i=1000519126124">The Hermitage Ruins</a>,” mentioned in the section of this article about Hamilton.
<h3>COVID-19 need to know</h3>
Most restaurants, stores and attractions are open with reduced capacity. Note that the government-mandated proof of vaccination rule is in effect. Check provincial guidelines before you head out on your road trip (ontario.ca).

Ours to Discover: Haunted Drives, Explore Ontario on these bone-chilling road trips

wh-DiscoverFall-Gorge-Sept18(1)

About this series: With COVID-19 restrictions expected to ease over the next few months, Wheels wants to inspire you to get ready to explore — but only when it is safe to do so. This series of daytrips and weekend drives highlights great experiences you can have in the province once conditions allow and show you why Ontario is “Ours to Discover” this summer and beyond.

Dropping temperatures and shorter days signal not just the end of summer but also an annual ritual: leaf-peeping. The urge to witness the explosion of reds, yellows, golds and purples that are the hallmarks of fall foliage season is not an exclusively Canadian activity: the Japanese call it momijigari.

To really appreciate the burst of colours within driving distance of Toronto, fall foliage tours take a little planning. One big question is when to go. Nature can be fickle and doesn’t strut its stuff on demand. Generally, fall foliage runs mid-September to late-October, but changes in temperature and precipitation can impact the timing. Luckily, Ontario Parks makes it a bit easier to know thanks to its online Fall Foliage Report.

If you’re keen to experience the motherlode of fall colours in Ontario, Algonquin Provincial Park is the place to go, but do so on a less-busy weekday and reserve your day-use permit in advance. Fall foliage-fuelled traffic along the Hwy. 60 corridor – along with more people hitting the road on social-distancing drives because of COVID-19 – makes planning essential. Or consider one of these five equally colourful leafy driving tours.
<h3>Blue Mountains</h3>
One of the best fall foliage vantage points along the Bruce Trail is the Blue Mountain Lookout (sometimes called the Bruce Trail Lookout), located about 10 kilometres west of Collingwood. Follow Scenic Caves Road to Grey Road 119 and watch for the lookout on the bend in the road. You’ll see great swatches of multicoloured deciduous trees — with leaves ranging from yellow to orange to red — stretching down the mountainside to the shores of Georgian Bay. You can time your fall foliage visit to coincide with the <a href="https://www.bluemountain.ca/things-to-do/events/blue-mountains-apple-harvest-festival">Blue Mountains Apple Harvest Festival</a>, which takes place Oct. 9 to 11. For a dose of adrenalin during your visit, strap into a harness at Wind Rider Trip Zipline, which will give you a bird’s-eye view of the red-orange-yellow treetops 15 metres below you.

How to get there: Take Hwy. 400 north and then turn west on Hwy. 26 toward Collingwood.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/wh-DiscoverFall-Lovesick-Sept182-scaled.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161828" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/wh-DiscoverFall-Lovesick-Sept182-scaled.jpg" alt="Discover Fall" width="2560" height="1706" /></a>
<h3>Peterborough and the Kawarthas</h3>
This mostly rural region a 90-minute drive northeast of Toronto is known for the Trent-Severn Waterway, outdoor activities, organic food growers and maple syrup. The latter bragging point (all those maple trees) tells you it’s a must-visit destination during fall foliage. The tourist board has curated five fall foliage drives, like the 118-kilometre “To Burleigh or Bust” excursion, which takes between two to four hours to complete depending on how many stops you make along the route. In between leaf-gazing, be sure to visit Curve Lake Cultural Centre and Whetung Ojibwa Centre to learn more about Indigenous culture, grab ice cream at Lockside Trading Company or explore the Warsaw Caves. When the route takes you through Burleigh, allow time for the three-kilometre paddle on Trent-Severn Waterway to Lovesick Lake in Wolf Island Provincial Park so you can experience the colours from the water. You can rent a canoe from Adventure Outfitters.

How to get there: Take Hwy. 401 east before turning North on Hwy. 115.
<h3>Awenda Provincial Park</h3>
This provincial park offers leaf-peppers a 31-kilometre network of hiking trails that wind through 2,900 hectares of forest full of mature second-growth deciduous trees along the shores of Georgian Bay. The easy Brûlé Trail takes you past areas dominated by sugar maples and red oaks, so expect a blast of dark reds. Feeling peckish after your ramble? About 15 minutes south of Awenda is the small town of Perkinsfield. Just look for a food truck (with lineups and picnic tables) on County Road 6. There you’ll find Perky’s Fish &amp; Fries, a local favourite.

How to get there: Drive Hwy. 400 north to exit 121, just north of Barrie, where you’ll merge onto Hwy. 93 (also known as Penetanguishene Road). Awenda is 20 minutes northwest of Penetanguishene.

<a href="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/wh-DiscoverFall-Awenda-Sept183-scaled.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-161826" src="http://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/wh-DiscoverFall-Awenda-Sept183-scaled.jpg" alt="Discover Fall" width="2560" height="1714" /></a>

Caledon

The rolling hills of the Caledon area include the Cheltenham Badlands, Belfountain Conservation Area, Forks of the Credit Provincial Park and numerous spots that turn into a patchwork of colour each fall. To take in the views while driving, start early in the day at the Cheltenham Badlands and head east along Olde Base Line Road to Chinguacousy Road. From there, you can drive west along Boston Mills Road before turning north on Winston Churchill Road to experience the leafy display at Robert Baker Forest. After, make your way to Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, which is on the Bruce Trail, to hike among the trees or make a beeline to the nearby Terra Cotta Inn for a lunch or early dinner featuring rustic Italian fare.

How to get there: Drive north on Hwy. 410, exiting onto Hurontario Street (look for signs for Hwy. 10 or Orangeville). Turn left onto Olde Base Line Road to the Cheltenham Badlands.
<h3>Ferris Provincial Park</h3>
Not only is Ferris Provincial Park in Northumberland County known for its fall colours, but leaf-gazers can admire the seasonal show from the Ranney Ferris Suspension Bridge that spans 10 metres above the Ranney Gorge. After your park ramble, hop back in the car and head to Dooher’s Bakery in nearby Campbellford. It’s one of 50 stops on the popular and delicious Kawarthas Northumberland’s Butter Tart Tour.

How to get there: Drive Hwy. 401 east to County Road 30 and then County Road 8.

COVID-19 need to Know

As of Sept. 22, you will need to provide proof of vaccination to access certain businesses and settings during your fall foliage tour. More details are available at covid-19.ontario.ca.

For the Drive

Delve into the mysteries of trees by listening to the audiobook “The Hidden Life of Trees” by Peter Wohlleben from audible.ca. If you have kids along for the drive, consider downloading “Nancy Fancy and the Fall Foliage” audiobook to hear all about the title character’s fall adventures. It is available from audiobookstore.com.

Doug O'Neill

Articles by Doug O'Neill

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Ours to Discover: Sleigh rides, Winter rides to make the season glow

Ours to Discover: Unique artworks, An outdoor art crawl with a twist in Burk’s Falls and the Muskoka region

Ours to Discover: Haunted Drives, Explore Ontario on these bone-chilling road trips

Ours to Discover: Fall Foliage, A natural show of colour