EXPLORE
Start your experience!
There’s so much to see and do in Midland and the Georgian Bay region.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS (within 20 minutes’ drive)
| Midland 30,000 Islands Boat Cruises (8 min.) – Board the Georgian Spirit Cruises for a 2 1/2 hour scenic cruise with morning, afternoon and sunset dinner cruise scheduled departures. INFO |
| Midland Town Dock & Waterfront Trail (8 min.) – View the largest mural in North America while you linger in the bustle of local boat traffic. Public boat launch. INFO |
| Murals of Downtown Midland (8 min.) – The murals include 34 finely detailed paintings, each representing a significant time in the Georgian Bay area. INFO |
| Penetanguishene Centennial Museum (9 min.) – Explore one of Ontario’s last original general stores and learn about Penetanguishene’s past. Location for free Sunday evening live summer concerts. INFO |
| Quest Art Gallery & Workshops (9 min.) – Participate in a workshop or view the art exhibits. INFO |
| Penetanguishene Town Dock & paved Waterfront Trail (9 min.) – Have a hamburger while watching the comings-and-goings of a busy small town dock. Public boat launch. INFO |
| King’s Wharf Theatre (11 min.) – Professional theatre performances by Drayton Entertainment in a timber structure hewn from the historic Hogg’s Bay train trestle. What an atmosphere! INFO |
| Penetanguishene 30,000 Island Cruises (9 min.) – Enjoy live commentary while cruising aboard Georgian Legacy with a range of cruise offerings. INFO |
| Discovery Harbour (11 min.) – Experience this picturesque 19th century site featuring the days of the British Navy and Military on beautiful Penetanguishene Bay. Explore replica tall ships H.M.S. Bee and H.M.S. Tecumseth. INFO |
| Huronia Museum & Huron-Ouendat Village (11 min.) – A re-created village representing Native life over 500 years ago and museum with an extensive collection. Visit the art gallery featuring some original work by the Canadian Group of Seven artists. INFO |
| Little Lake Park (10 min.) – Location for free Sunday evening live summer concerts. Great place to picnic and stretch your legs among mature hardwoods. INFO |
| Midland Golf & Country Club (10 min.) – Swing a club on this beautiful course. In the winter, Mountainview Ski Hill grooms part of its cross-country ski trail over the rolling golf course. INFO |
| Martyrs’ Shrine (13 min.) – History and spirituality converge as you walk the same ground as the Canadian Martyrs of 400 years ago. View the site of Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1984. INFO |
| Wye Marsh Wildlife Center (13 min.) – 3,000 acre wetland nature conservation area with board-walk on the marsh, interpretive trails, wildlife demonstrations, and guided canoe/kayak excursions. INFO |
| Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons (13 min.) – This nationally significant historic site depicts life in the 17th century during the time of the Jesuit missionaries’ life among the Huron people. INFO |
Trail System – Paved trails perfect for cycling, with a variety of ingress points. “Heart of Georgian Bay” includes Midland, Penetanguishene, Tay, Tiny and area. Cycling INFO Simcoe County hiking INFO |
| Wyebridge (18 min.) – Boutique shops await. INFO |
| Balm Beach (19 min.) – A world class sand beach, part of the longest freshwater beach in the world. INFO |
| Awenda Provincial Park (20 min.) – Hike the trail around Kettle Lake and choose from 4 beaches offering sand, cobble and picturesque boulder shorelines. INFO |
AREA ATTRACTIONS (within 20-85 minutes’ drive)
Highview Farms Stables (25 min.) – Book a trail ride here. After all, when do you ever get time to ride a horse? INFO |
Gratrix Lily Farm (22 min.) – You’ll find this place with your eyes closed — just follow your nose, then open your eyes to find yourself surrounded by 2 acres of color and beauty. Buy some bulbs or daylilies to continue the enjoyment in your own home garden. INFO |
Swift Canoe and Kayak (25 min.) – Rent a kayak or a canoe, embark on site and paddle inland or into Georgian Bay. INFO |
Elmvale Market (25 min.) – Open Thursdays during the summer for fresh produce and flea market finds. INFO |
Georgian Bay Islands National Park (30 min.) – Accessible by boat only, take a water taxi from Honey Harbour and spend the day in classic vistas and nature trails. Visit the Midland office for advance information. INFO |
Honey Harbour (30 min.) – Lick an ice cream cone at Picnic Island, or browse the Bee Hive while enjoying a classic bustling Georgian Bay vista. This is where to catch a water taxi to Beausoleil Island. INFO |
Big Chute Marine Railway (35 min.) – Riding on twin tracks, this marine railway lifts boats out of the Georgian Bay waters, offloading them again into the Severn River on the other side (or, in the opposite direction). Part of the Trent-Severn Waterway, a National Historic Site of Canada, and an ideal put-in spot for kayaking. INFO |
Wasaga Beach (35 min.) – Part of the longest freshwater beach in the world with an upbeat youthful atmosphere. INFO |
Bala (38 min.) and Port Carling (45 min.) – Visit 2 small charming towns on a scenic drive to peek in boutiques. Bala is home to the annual Cranberry Festival in October. Bala INFO; Port Carling INFO |
Orillia (50 min.) – Try your luck at the Casino Rama (60 min.) or enjoy live entertainment. INFO |
Collingwood (50 min.) – A nice little spot for shopping on your way to the Scenic Caves. INFO |
Collingwood Scenic Caves (58 min.) – A place for a nature hike and a zip-line ride. INFO |
Parry Sound (85 min.) – Drive through rock cuts and glimpse many inukshuk along the way. Want to view Georgian Bay from the air? This is the town to charter a flight-seeing tour. INFO |