Ontario’s Georgian Bay, just adjacent to Lake Huron, is a clear body of water that offers stunning views of rocky shorelines, islands, and some of Ontario’s most beautiful landscapes. National parks, micro-breweries, water and snow sports, art galleries and museums, and more make these towns worthy stops on a road trip around Georgian Bay.
Located in southwestern Ontario, at the inlet of Georgian Bay, Owen Sound, known as the Scenic City, features charming tree-lined streets, parks and trails, and an artistic River District.
Explore the history of the surrounding county at the Grey Roots Museum & Archives, a seasonal heritage village. Exhibits include the Voices of Grey oral history collection, and several interactive programs all work to preserve the history and culture of the area.
Art lovers will appreciate the many murals and pieces of public art in town, plus the dozens of banners created annually as part of the Owen Sound Art Banner Project. Located in a former dry-goods store, the Owen Sound Artists Co-op has drawn countless artists and art lovers for decades to the vibrant River District.
Owen Sound also offers tours for a variety of interests, from scenic driving and motorcycling tours to those that highlight waterfalls, ghosts, and historic cemeteries.
Book your stay at Best Western Inn On The Bay.
Port Severn is a small bayside town and a convenient home base from which to explore the Georgian Bay Islands National Park, Big Chute Marine Railway, and other lakeside inlets.
Seasonal canoeing, birding, biking, fishing, swimming, and hiking are all draws to popular Six Mile Lake Provincial Park.
Visit Lock 45 for a look at the final link for boats and other watercraft between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay, known as the gateway to Canada’s historic Trent-Severn Waterway. Boating, camping, and picnic areas are available.
Book your stay at Christie’s Mill Inn & Spa, BW Premier Collection.
Diverse Muskoka, Ontario is known for the untouched beauty of its lakes and surrounding its many villages and towns. The region easily delivers many styles of trips, from romantic getaways to nature-lovers’ excursions, itineraries for active travelers, or a relaxing lakeside family vacation.
Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoe tours are popular in winter. Warmer weather calls for boating, stunning sunset cruises, and journeys aboard a steamboat. Book a cruise with the Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Center for a tour aboard the Segwun, North America’s oldest operating steamship.
All that exploring builds up an appetite. For a savory meal with lakefront views, visit the Lakeside Restaurant in nearby Bala. The Oar, in Gravenhurst, serves entrées like burgers, wraps, and beer-battered haddock. For a laid-back option any time of day, head over to Muskoka Brewery for a micro-brew.
Book your stay at Best Western Plus Muskoka Inn.
On the north side of the bay, the greater Sudbury area blends all the perks of metropolitan living with the serenity of nature in the surrounding lakes.
While outdoor adventurers like hiking, boating, snowshoeing, skiing, and ice fishing are plentiful, Sudbury also offers a wide arts and cultural scene, including vibrant downtown murals and the annual Up Here Music & Art Festival, which unites local, national, and even international artists to create new public art. The Art Gallery of Sudbury is a public visual art gallery featuring contemporary artists.
Kids will love Science North, a popular discovery museum, featuring hands-on experiments and learning opportunities, plus a planetarium and IMAX theater. A wide array of railroad equipment and antique tools are on display at the Northern Ontario Railway Museum.
Book your stay at Best Western Downtown Sudbury Centreville.