As mentioned in my article How to Keep Your Travel Spirit Alive, day trips are a great way to take mini vacations and explore your own country. Venturing out even one hour away can take you to somewhere different and unexpected.
Access to a vehicle makes day trips much easier, but it’s not impossible without. Many bus and train companies are running again, just make sure to triple check the sched ule as they’re being updated regularly, as well as required safety precautions.
I was recently asked to help plan several day trips out of Toronto for a mother daughter vacation. During our initial consultation call, the mother daughter duo mentioned they had a week of vacation time and wanted to plan 4 different day trips outside of the Toronto area. They asked me to provide a list of recommendations for Niagara on the Lake as well as Cambridge/Waterloo since they already knew they wanted to visit those areas. However, since they were unsure of where else to go, they asked me to research and suggest two other towns worth visiting. Their only criteria were that the drive take less than 3 hours one-way and that one of them be close to a swimmable beach.
Here’s a sample of some of the personalized points of interest and restaurant suggestions I made to this mother daughter traveling duo who enjoy discovering local restaurants, hiking, and preferred quieter towns;
Niagara on the Lake:
Avondale Dairy Bar
Handmade ice cream since 1955.
Neob Niagara
Lavender farm open to explore the beautifully scented fields and boutique.
Hamilton Waterfalls
Stop at one of the many beautiful waterfalls in the Hamilton region on your drive in or out of Niagara to stretch your legs or even enjoy a short hike.
Cambridge/Waterloo
St Jacobs Farmers’ Market
This is a must for the region, with St Jacobs Antiques and Outlets also nearby.
West Montrose Covered Bridge
A Provincial Historic Site built in 1881 and known as the “Kissing Bridge.”
Apple Flats – Crab Apple Orchard and Farm
Family run and the only crab apple focused orchard in North America.
Southampton
Beaches and Trails
7 beaches in the area that stretch for kilometres, known for their rare dune grass, sand, sunsets and tranquility. Plus, several trails from a waterfront boardwalk to a shady wooded escape between Southampton and Port Elgin.
Southampton Olive Oil Company
Family owned and operated, specializing in extra virgin olive oil (“first crush”), balsamic vinegars and other gourmet products.
Sunset Piper
Every Friday evening during the summer the sunset is piped in on the beach.
Lake of Bays
Lake of Bays Scenic Drive
Scenic loop that passes through quaint towns, such as; Baysville, Dorset and Dwight. Complete it in a day with stops along the way or take it slow and stay overnight in a local B&B.
Erika’s Bakery
Family owned and run, most famous for their butter tarts, but with plenty of other options as well.
Oxtongue Craft Cabin and Gallery
Large selection of art and craft from over 100 Canadian artists and artisans, open since 1979.
I got to follow up with the mother daughter duo after one of their day trips. Here’s what they had to say;
“We went to Southampton last Tuesday and it was amazing! Such a good recommendation! I think that day trip was the highlight of the week. The water was warm enough to swim in and because we went on a Tuesday morning it wasn’t too crowded which made it really relaxing. Overall, it was so fun being able to explore all the cute little new towns outside of Toronto during the week. The places you recommended were places we wouldn’t have thought to go to on our own and most likely wouldn’t have found through Google either. Thanks for putting together such a perfect itinerary for us!”
Contact me today to start planning your next day trip!
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