Georgian Bay

Georgian Bay is a beautiful area north of Toronto, ideal for a long weekend trip for Torontonians. Thanks to overnight flights from Vancouver to Toronto and evening flights from Toronto to Vancouver, it's possible to make a long weekend trip from Vancouver as well.

May 21, 2022
Tobermory

Tobermory is at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. There are two national parks around Tobermory, Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park. Hiking is the main activity at Bruce Peninsula National Park, with the Grotto the most popular site to see in the park. The parking lot closest to the Grotto requires advance reservation from spring to fall. A good loop trail from the parking lot is to take Horse Lake Trail to the shore, then walk the famous Bruce Trail along the ocean on rocks before getting into the forest again that leads to Indian Head Cove and the Grotto, then continue to Bruce Trail until Boulder Beach from where take Marr Lake Trail back to the parking lot. While climbing down to the Grotto is possible, it's definitely not for everyone! Another place worth checking out in Bruce Peninsula National Park is Singing Sands Beach. The view is especially spectacular at sunset.

The bigger "flowerpot" (sea stack) on Flowerpot Island is the most famous "site" in Fathom Five National Marine Park. Tourist boats leave Tobermory several times a day from spring to fall for Flowerpot Island. There are two types of "tours", drop-off and stay-aboard. Drop-off boats give you some time walking around Flowerpot Island before getting another boat back to Tobermory; while the stay-aboard boats let you see the "flowerpot" from the sea (some tours also go around other islands as well). Both tours will take you to see at least one shipwreck site.

Sunset at Singing Sands Beach

May 22, 2022
Manitoulin Island

Although not a "park" of any kind, Manitoulin Island is a very peaceful place worth visiting, with a couple of points of interest. The ferry from Tobermory to South Bay mouth takes two hours and advance reservation is highly recommended. In terms of "sites", Providence Bay Beach and Bridal Veil Falls are highlights. There is also a popular trail, Cup and Saucer Trail, that takes you to the top of the Niagara Escarpment with great views of the rocks and Georgian Bay.

View from the top of the Niagara Escarpment

May 23, 2022
Killarney to Wasaga Beach

The quiet village of Killarney is the place to stay if you would like to escape the city noise. The nearby Killarney Provincial Park is most famous for canoeing and kayaking. The huge park also has many trails to explore. The shortest trail is the 2 km Granite Ridge Trail offering two lookouts at the top - one overlooking Georgian Bay and one overlooking La Cloche Mountains for which Killarney is renowned.

Another national park worth visiting is the properly named Georgian Bay Islands National Park. The park covers many of the 30,000 islands in the area, but only one island, Beausoleil Island, is open to visitors. Parks Canada operates a DayTripper boat service from Honey Harbour during the season (advanced reservation required). There are many hiking trails on the island. If pressed for time, here are three "sites" not too far from Cedar Spring where most of the boats land: Christian Beach (Christian Trail), a lookout over Georgian Bay (Lookout Trail) and a natural stone chair at Thumb Point.

Lastly, Wasaga Beach at the south shore of Georgian Bay is the longest fresh water beach in the world, with 14 km of fine sand. It's also closer to Toronto.

DayTripper is run by Parks Canada

Overview

There are many things to see around Georgian Bay. I found Flowerpot Island, Bridal Veil Falls and the DayTripper most interesting. As in other touristy places in Canada, accommodations around Georgian Bay are expensive. Pay attention to national park advance reservation requirements as well.