See also: Ontario's Finest Spas
image Ontario Travel Guide
take your time

 

Enjoy the delights of South Central Ontario by staying at one of the following inns:
The Breadalbane Inn, Fergus
The Briars, Jackson's Point
The Inn at Cobble Beach,
Owen Sound
The Falls Inn, Walter's Falls
The Elora Mill Inn, Elora
The Millcroft Inn & Spa, Alton
Old Mill Inn & Spa, Toronto
The Pretty River Valley Country Inn, Collingwood
The Waterloo Hotel, Waterloo
 

Ontario's Finest Inns

 
South Central Ontario
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This region is beloved by backroad explorers because the delights of the countryside are within easy access of big-city life. Rural pleasures include Credit River fly-fishing and cycling from Elora to Cataract and from Cambridge to Hamilton on off-road trails. Climb the Niagara Escarpment at Rattlesnake Point or explore a reconstructed native settlement at Crawford Lake. Lake Simcoe is the choice of sailors, power boaters and ice-fishermen, while paddlers choose the Grand River and the pretty Carolinian hillsides near Cambridge. The quiet countryside surrounding the lake offers several excellent golf courses and uncrowded roads suitable for cycling.

Dozens of historic villages have been refurbished for the tourist trade. At the western end of the region, St. Jacobs has two busy farmers' markets and historic, limestone Elora and Fergus overlook the Grand River. To the east, Uxbridge and Port Perry have an appealing mix of small-town streetscape and interesting antique hunting. The Credit River Valley and Caledon Hills to the northwest of Toronto support a vibrant arts community and there are dozens of studios to explore in Glen Williams, Alton, Terra Cotta and Mono Centre, a region known for vivid fall foliage. An interesting way to tour the region is to use the "Ale Trail" hosted by several of the region's popular micro-breweries.

Sophisticated culture flourishes at many locations. Canadian art is the subject of outstanding galleries at Kleinburg, Guelph and Waterloo Regional summer theatre is performed in historic venues in Orangeville, Waterloo, Drayton, Fergus, and St. Jacobs. The original Canadian summer theatre is the beloved Red Barn at Jackson's Point. 

This region has more sites of historic interest than any other in the province. Ride aboard vintage streetcars near Rockwood, marvel at a nineteenth-century backwoods temple, or tour the magnificent home and gardens belonging to one of Canada's early industrialists. The region isn't all summertime fun, because there is good cross-country skiing at many parks and conservation areas.

Toronto's sophisticated arts scene includes traditional to avante-garde galleries, and
there are fine Canadian art collections in Kleinburg, Guelph and Waterloo. Regional summer theatre is performed in historic venues in Orangeville, St.Jacobs, Drayton, Fergus and Jackson's Point. Toronto's theatre scene is active year-round with first run favourites and works from smaller, specialized companies.

Ontario's Finest... in South Central Ontario
 

Uniquely Ontario
bullet Buying a quilt at the New Hamburg Relief Quilt Auction
bullet Enjoying springtime syrup at Mountsberg Conservation Area
bullet Hunting for bargains, Stouffville Flea Market
bullet Taking in a concert at the Elora Quarry
bullet Touring the stalls at the Waterloo Country Farmers' Market
bullet Watching the candlelight illuminations at Sharon Temple 
 
Museums, Galleries & Historic Sites
bullet Burlington Art Centre bullet McMichael Canadian Art Collection (Kleinburg)
bullet Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery (Waterloo) bullet Ontario Electric Railway Museum (Rockwood)
bullet Castle Kilbride (Baden) bullet The Meeting Place (St. Jacobs)
bullet Jordan Historical Museum of the Twenty bullet Parkwood Estate and Gardens (Oshawa)
bullet Eildon Hall (Jackson's Point) bullet Sharon Temple (Sharon)
bullet Doon Historic Crossroads (Kitchener) bullet South Simcoe Railway (Tottenham)
bullet MacDonald Stewart Art Centre (Guelph) bullet Parkwood Estate & Gardens (Oshawa)
 
Shopping & Antique Hunting
bullet Alton bullet Kleinburg
bullet Creemore bullet Port Perry
bullet Elora bullet St. George
bullet Fergus bullet St. Jacobs
bullet Glen Williams
 
Farm & Garden
bullet Cambridge Farmers' Market bullet St.Jacob's Farmers' Market
bullet Cullen Garden's (Whitby) bullet Royal Botanical Gardens (Burlington) 
bullet Fergus Farmers' Market bullet Woolwich Dairy (Orangeville)
bullet Sleeman's Brewery (Guelph) bullet Stouffville Flea Market & Farmers' Market
bullet Springridge Farm (Milton)
 
Theatre
bullet Association of Summer Theatres 'Round Ontario bullet Stratford Festival
bullet Drayton Festival bullet Theatre District (Toronto)
bullet Red Barn Theatre (Jackson's Point) bullet Theatre Orangeville
bullet Resurgence Theatre Company   bullet Waterloo Stage Theatre
bullet St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre    
 
Outdoor Pursuits
bullet Teeing It Up - golf
bullet Hiking through the Forks of the Credit
bullet Inner tubing through the Elora Gorge
bullet Rock climbing at Rattlesnake Point
bullet Skating on Lake Simcoe (Jackson's Point)
bullet Swimming in Elora Quarry
bullet Walking through wildflower gardens, Guelph Arboretum
 
Uniquely Ontario
bullet Buying a quilt at the New Hamburg Relief Quilt Auction
bullet Enjoying springtime syrup at Mountsberg Conservation Area
bullet Hunting for bargains, Stouffville Flea Market
bullet Taking in a concert at the Elora Quarry
bullet Touring the stalls at the Waterloo Country Farmers' Market
bullet Watching the candlelight illuminations at Sharon Temple 
 
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