Day Itinerary
9 Activities
Day 1
141 mi
Stepping Back Through Time on the South Simcoe Railway
Your first day on this four-day road trip will be packed full of local flavours, history, culture, lake views, and true Canadian heritage. After breakfast with a strong cup of locally brewed coffee, you'll take a ride on a 1920s steam train through the Beeton Creek Valley and take in the rolling hills around you. After lunch, it's off to an art gallery, then a quick walk on a sandy beach in Wassaga. Before dinner at a popular roadhouse, you'll visit a historic shrine to learn more about the missionaries who called the area home. A waterside B&B will be where you'll recharge for the evening and get you ready for the next stop on your journey.
Due to the uniqueness of some locations for overnight stays, you can book the recommended hotels along the route via links mentioned in the comments.
Due to the uniqueness of some locations for overnight stays, you can book the recommended hotels along the route via links mentioned in the comments.
39.3 mi
1 hr
10:101 hr
Grackle Coffee
Café
Open Details
Get some pep in your step with a cuppa of fair trade, organic Scarborough coffee at Grackle. This cafe takes sustainability to another level, serving their drinks in biodegradable vessels and take out cutlery made from starch. To accompany your coffee, why not try an almond croissant or raspberry tart?
Opening hours Tuesday-Saturday: 7:30 am - 3:00 pm Sunday: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Opening hours Tuesday-Saturday: 7:30 am - 3:00 pm Sunday: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
9.1 mi
15 min
11:301 hr 30 min
South Simcoe Railway Heritage Corp
Landmark
Open Details
Get a headstart in learning about Canada's dynamic history with a ride on a 1920s steam locomotive. The 50-minute train ride will take you through the scenic Beeton Creek Valley as your conductor shares fun facts on the important of Canada's railways and how they helped connect different areas of the country.
Make sure to arrive 15-30 minutes ahead of your departure time to ensure you are prepared for boarding. Free parking is available in the municipal parking lot on Mill Street.
Tickets can be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis on the day. Advanced tickets are sometimes available to purchase on their website.. Schedule for the 2023 excursions will be posted by January 2023 here.
Make sure to arrive 15-30 minutes ahead of your departure time to ensure you are prepared for boarding. Free parking is available in the municipal parking lot on Mill Street.
Tickets can be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis on the day. Advanced tickets are sometimes available to purchase on their website.. Schedule for the 2023 excursions will be posted by January 2023 here.
11.3 mi
20 min
13:201 hr 30 min
daGrazia Ristorante
Restaurant
Open Details
Over 1.5 million Canadians have Italian heritage, which is evident in the number of Italian restaurants in the country. Chow down on traditional fishes like burrata with cracked black peppers, strozzapreti pasta with porcini mushrooms and house sausage, and Ontario lamb chops.
Opening hours Tuesday-Saturday: 12 pm – 9 pm (Closed Tuesday-Friday 3 pm - 4:30 pm to prepare for dinner service)
Opening hours Tuesday-Saturday: 12 pm – 9 pm (Closed Tuesday-Friday 3 pm - 4:30 pm to prepare for dinner service)
26.7 mi
40 min
15:3030 min
MacLaren Art Centre
Art Gallery
Open Details
Step into a world of creative at the MacLaren Art Centre, a public gallery and museum. There's always a different exhibit on, which keeps things fresh, so depending on when you go, you could explore a photographer's idea of how racial bias has influenced colour photography or an exhibit on inter-human relationships.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 11:00am to 4:00pm Saturday: 10:00am to 4:00pm Sunday: 11:00am to 4:00pm
Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 11:00am to 4:00pm Saturday: 10:00am to 4:00pm Sunday: 11:00am to 4:00pm
23.3 mi
40 min
16:4030 min
Allenwood Beach Area
Landmark
Open Details
Whilst Wassaga has lots of different beaches, Allenwood is one that locals rave about. This sandy beach is less crowded than some of the more popular beaches around and is perfect for this quick pitstop. There's parking right by the beach too, making it easy to pop out for a leisurely walk to stretch your legs and get some fresh air.
20.9 mi
40 min
17:5030 min
Martyrs' Shrine
Landmark
Open Details
This beautiful church is not just an exquisite landmark, it also has an interesting story to tell. The Martyrs' Shrine is called so to commemorate the Jesuit missionaries who came to Canada and dedicated their lives to the Indigenous people of the land they decided to call home. The visitor centre (open between 9 am - 4 pm) has some brochures for self-guided tours that will give you some additional information and allow you to dive deep into the stories that the shrine is built on.
Opening hours: Between the first Saturday in May to Thanksgiving in October Church and grounds open daily from 8:30 am - 9 pm
Opening hours: Between the first Saturday in May to Thanksgiving in October Church and grounds open daily from 8:30 am - 9 pm
1.7 mi
5 min
19:002 hrs
Kelseys Original Roadhouse
Restaurant
Open Details
Nothing says Canada like a roadhouse grill. Kelseys has multiple branches around the country and you can't go wrong with spinach dip, burgers, and buffalo wings. Hockey matches and other sporting events are usually shown on the big screen so you don't have to miss the big game.
Opening hours: Monday-Thursday: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm Friday-Saturday: 11:00 am - 12:00 am Sunday: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Opening hours: Monday-Thursday: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm Friday-Saturday: 11:00 am - 12:00 am Sunday: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
8.7 mi
15 min
21:1530 min
Tucked Inn the Harbour B&B
Lodging
Open Details
This quaint B&B in Victoria Harbour will be your home for the night. Located right by the water, ask for a room with lake views and you won't be disappointed.
Book now
Book now