Getaways: The Peninsula Covered in Fall

Autumn is one of the best times to take a trip up the Peninsula. With much smaller crowds, and the popular shops, restaurants and accommodations still open and ready for business until just before Thanksgiving, this is the perfect time of year to experience the Bruce Peninsula.

Start your fall getaway to the Bruce Peninsula in Lion's Head. This is a small town with a lot of natural beauty. When you arrive in town, head down to the harbour to take a look at the rock beach, lighthouse and Niagara Escarpment just off the beach and bay. Enjoy Rachel's Bakery & 50's Diner or Marydale's Family Restaurant for a homemade lunch. You'll need to build up some energy for your next event of the day - hiking in Greig's Caves! Lace up your hiking boots and make your way through their 10 natural limestone caves. These caves were created hundreds of millions of years ago by a warm shallow sea that covered Bruce County. Now, they are an amazing natural phenomenon for the explorer in you to enjoy. After you have finished at the caves, make your way up to Tobermory, where you will spend the rest of your weekend!

Tobermory in the autumn is an entirely different experience than when you visit in the summer. With less tourists and more locals, this is the ideal time to visit. A few of the businesses might be closed when you visit, but if you are there before Thanksgiving, there should be many spots still open and ready for you! When you arrive in Tobermory, head to the Princess Hotel to check in. This hotel is located overlooking Little Tub Harbour and is a beautiful place to spend the night. The furniture in each room was handcrafted out of Bruce Peninsula cedar by a local resident, and they offer a continental breakfast each morning. Travellers tip: this hotel is the only Tobermory hotel open year round. Make your way downtown for supper at either the Tobermory Brewing Company or the Crowsnest Pub. These are favourites in the community and are a great place to enjoy a meal and a beverage. After dinner, catch a Blue Heron or Bruce Anchor boat for a Sunset Cruise. This is a one of a kind tour of the Fathom Five National Marine Park, and the best place to enjoy the sunset in Tobermory.

With less tourists and the leaves changing colour, autumn is the best time to visit the National Park. First thing in the morning, make your way to the Parks Canada Visitors Centre. Climb the 121 step Observation Tower for an amazing view of Tobermory, Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Be sure to bring your camera! Take a hike on one of the scenic loop walking trails and take in the leaves changing colour throughout the park. The Grotto is much less busy in the fall; however, timeslot parking is still in effect. Grab your Grotto parking pass and head on out to Indian Head Cove! Enjoy a nice picnic along the water as you take in the sights of the beautiful Georgian Bay. After you have explored the Grotto and Indian Head Cove, head into Tobermory for one last meal at Craigie's or The Fish and Chip Place before you head home. On your way back down the Peninsula towards home, stop in at Singing Sands. This shallow beach is a great place to put your feet in Lake Huron, and a great place to chill out in the sand. Another option to stop on the way home is the Lindsay Tract. This Mountain Bike Tract is the perfect place to take a walk and stretch your legs or hit the trails on a bike before your long journey home.

Thanks for visiting the Bruce Peninsula this autumn! Spring is also a good time to visit Tobermory and the National Park, as the orchids are out in bloom and the summer crowds have not started in the village. In the spring, the Bruce Peninsula National Park boasts 44 different species of orchids - which is the highest concentration of different species in all of Ontario.

We'll see you come springtime!