Anne’s guidebook
Hiking
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASY
This is a nice easy 5km trail. Fairly flat, so it’s quite suitable for people of all skill levels. Plus there’s a special treat during the hike: a gorgeous view from the top of a ski hill! It’s a 15min drive from our condo, and there’s no cost to use the trail. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/ontario/loree-forest-loop
12 locals recommend
Loree Forest trail
556374 6 LineDIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASY
This is a nice easy 5km trail. Fairly flat, so it’s quite suitable for people of all skill levels. Plus there’s a special treat during the hike: a gorgeous view from the top of a ski hill! It’s a 15min drive from our condo, and there’s no cost to use the trail. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/ontario/loree-forest-loop
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASY
Clendenan Dam and Beaver River Trail is fairly easy. It’s 2.4 kilometers along a river and is good for all skill levels. It’s a 15min drive from our condo, and there’s no cost to use the trail. www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/ontario/clendenan-dam-and-beaver-river-trail
Clendenan Dam
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASY
Clendenan Dam and Beaver River Trail is fairly easy. It’s 2.4 kilometers along a river and is good for all skill levels. It’s a 15min drive from our condo, and there’s no cost to use the trail. www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/ontario/clendenan-dam-and-beaver-river-trail
Beaches & Pools
Our condo complex does not have a pool, so we take our kids to Plunge! Aquatic Centre, which is actually way better than a standard pool, and open year-round. There are water slides, 2 pools, a rope swing, water basketball, and a hot tub. It’s oriented to kids, but I sometimes go on my own to just cool off! Plus, it’s never been too busy the times that we’ve gone. It’s a 6-min walk from the condo and not very busy. Please note that there is a fee to use the pool. Because of COVID, you need to reserve your spot in advance to access the pool: https://www.bluemountain.ca/things-to-do/activities/plunge-aquatic-centre
49 locals recommend
Plunge! Aquatic Centre
220 Gord Canning DriveOur condo complex does not have a pool, so we take our kids to Plunge! Aquatic Centre, which is actually way better than a standard pool, and open year-round. There are water slides, 2 pools, a rope swing, water basketball, and a hot tub. It’s oriented to kids, but I sometimes go on my own to just cool off! Plus, it’s never been too busy the times that we’ve gone. It’s a 6-min walk from the condo and not very busy. Please note that there is a fee to use the pool. Because of COVID, you need to reserve your spot in advance to access the pool: https://www.bluemountain.ca/things-to-do/activities/plunge-aquatic-centre
The closest beach is Northwinds Beach, which is a 5 min drive from the condo. It’s on beautiful Georgian Bay. There is limited parking, so I suggest you arrive early to secure your spot. https://www.visitgrey.ca/business/northwinds-beach
67 locals recommend
Northwinds Beach
209605 ON-26The closest beach is Northwinds Beach, which is a 5 min drive from the condo. It’s on beautiful Georgian Bay. There is limited parking, so I suggest you arrive early to secure your spot. https://www.visitgrey.ca/business/northwinds-beach
A hidden gem that we’ve discovered is the beach at Delphi Point Park, which is a 7-min drive from the condo. The beach is basically a giant sheet of rock, covered in fossils – we love going to swim a bit and then discovering cool fossils. https://www.thebluemountains.ca/facilities.cfm?facilityid=12
6 locals recommend
Delphi Point Park
209233 ON-26A hidden gem that we’ve discovered is the beach at Delphi Point Park, which is a 7-min drive from the condo. The beach is basically a giant sheet of rock, covered in fossils – we love going to swim a bit and then discovering cool fossils. https://www.thebluemountains.ca/facilities.cfm?facilityid=12
Food scene
This great pub with a patio is just across the street in the Village. My family is always happy with the consistent food and drink. It gets busy, so you'll have an easier time securing a table during non-prime time eating hours.
55 locals recommend
Northwinds Brewpub & Craft Beer Store
180 Jozo Weider BlvdThis great pub with a patio is just across the street in the Village. My family is always happy with the consistent food and drink. It gets busy, so you'll have an easier time securing a table during non-prime time eating hours.
This restaurant is in Thornbury, so it's a bit of a drive (about 15mins), but it's great Italian food by renowned chef, Mark McEwan.
15 locals recommend
Fabbrica Thornbury
27 Bruce St SThis restaurant is in Thornbury, so it's a bit of a drive (about 15mins), but it's great Italian food by renowned chef, Mark McEwan.
The Cinnamon buns at the Thornbury Bakery are amazing, plus they have great home-made frozen meals that you can bring home to eat later on. It's a 15-min drive from the condo, but you may find it worthwhile in order to stock up on breakfast and prepped meals.
30 locals recommend
Thornbury Bakery Cafe
12 Bruce St SThe Cinnamon buns at the Thornbury Bakery are amazing, plus they have great home-made frozen meals that you can bring home to eat later on. It's a 15-min drive from the condo, but you may find it worthwhile in order to stock up on breakfast and prepped meals.
This is another place that is worth the drive to! If you like pies, this place has amazing sweet and savory pies that are made in house. If you have a sweet tooth, try the Carmel Apple Crumble (my favorite).
11 locals recommend
Blackbird Pie Company
236768 Grey County Rd 13This is another place that is worth the drive to! If you like pies, this place has amazing sweet and savory pies that are made in house. If you have a sweet tooth, try the Carmel Apple Crumble (my favorite).
If you don’t feel like cooking, but want catered meals that you can eat at the condo, this is a great catering option. We especially like the Taco Kit. They do delivery and pick-up, but last time I checked, you had to order well in advance to secure a delivery time.
Men With Knives Catering
10 Ronell CrescentIf you don’t feel like cooking, but want catered meals that you can eat at the condo, this is a great catering option. We especially like the Taco Kit. They do delivery and pick-up, but last time I checked, you had to order well in advance to secure a delivery time.
While there are lots of great ice cream places in the village, we prefer to drive to Collingwood to go to Nicky's where they have DELICIOUS ice creams and donuts. They also have options for people with special dietary needs. You may need to line-up on weekends.
10 locals recommend
Nicky's Doughnuts & Ice Cream
10 Third StWhile there are lots of great ice cream places in the village, we prefer to drive to Collingwood to go to Nicky's where they have DELICIOUS ice creams and donuts. They also have options for people with special dietary needs. You may need to line-up on weekends.
This is the breakfast spot that we hit when we when we don't feel like driving far for breakfast. It's just across the street in the Village, and some of the best service on the resort. The food is consistently good.
15 locals recommend
Sunset Grill
190 Jozo Weider BlvdThis is the breakfast spot that we hit when we when we don't feel like driving far for breakfast. It's just across the street in the Village, and some of the best service on the resort. The food is consistently good.
If you want something a little more special for breakfast, you may find it worth the 15-min drive to get to Duncan's Cafe. They serve delicious breakfasts in an artsy atmosphere. My favorite is the Huevos Rancheros.
18 locals recommend
Duncans cafe
60 Hurontario StIf you want something a little more special for breakfast, you may find it worth the 15-min drive to get to Duncan's Cafe. They serve delicious breakfasts in an artsy atmosphere. My favorite is the Huevos Rancheros.
If you're craving fish and chips, this is the place to go. It's a 15-min drive, in cute downtown Collingwood.
21 locals recommend
Fish & Sips
206 Hurontario StIf you're craving fish and chips, this is the place to go. It's a 15-min drive, in cute downtown Collingwood.
Wineries, Breweries, Cideries
This place has a great selection of ciders, produced in-house. You can also relax on their patio with one of their ciders and a snack accompaniment.
58 locals recommend
Thornbury Village Cider House
90 King Street EastThis place has a great selection of ciders, produced in-house. You can also relax on their patio with one of their ciders and a snack accompaniment.
This place also makes great ciders in-house. You can also relax on their patio with a flight of ciders.
17 locals recommend
Spy Cider House and Distillery
Side Road 24This place also makes great ciders in-house. You can also relax on their patio with a flight of ciders.
This brewery has a wonderful beer garden where you can sample their craft beers. This year, they have partnered with a delicious food truck, Mamcita Tacoria, from Thursdays-Sundays. My son says it was a best quesadilla he's ever had, and my tacos were fanstastic!
52 locals recommend
Side Launch Brewing Company
200 Mountain RdThis brewery has a wonderful beer garden where you can sample their craft beers. This year, they have partnered with a delicious food truck, Mamcita Tacoria, from Thursdays-Sundays. My son says it was a best quesadilla he's ever had, and my tacos were fanstastic!
We thorough enjoy this winery's gorgeous patio tasting bar, where you can enjoy wine and cider. They don't serve food, but there is a food truck at this winery on the weekends. We have also picked up prepped frozen food in the wine retail store, and it was quite good.
80 locals recommend
Georgian Hills Vineyards
496350 Grey County Rd 2We thorough enjoy this winery's gorgeous patio tasting bar, where you can enjoy wine and cider. They don't serve food, but there is a food truck at this winery on the weekends. We have also picked up prepped frozen food in the wine retail store, and it was quite good.