Find the best attractions in Central Bruce County

Bruce County is more than just the Peninsula and Lakeshore. Explore the wonders that the Interior region in Bruce County has to offer as you see acres on acres of farmland and unique experiences. 

The art of vacationing begins here

Those with a taste for curiosity find that there is lots to explore in the Interior Region! Ripley and Lucknow offer visitors two downtowns and a lighthouse. While visiting Mildmay, be sure to make a stop at the Mildmay Cheese Haus before leaving town. Walkerton has a vibrant downtown that offers shopping and restaurants. Your curiosity will likely lead you to Walkerton’s Heritage Water Garden and the memorial fountain. Paisley boasts an active artistic community with lots of browsing to be done at Nature’s Millworks’ restored historic mill. If you like to walk, explore the trails that surround the town. Don’t be surprised if you a see a Mennonite horse and buggy go by! This area is the heart of Bruce County’s agricultural and Mennonite communities.

Bruce Botanical Food Gardens, Ripley

Visiting the Bruce Botanical Food Gardens is a uniquely Canadian food adventure. Reconnect your family to the food we take for granted. There’s much to learn about sustainable agriculture and the issues facing small family farms. Discover issues of food insecurity and get a real hands-on experience. Here, you’ll explore over 250 varieties of rare, endangered, heirloom and world food plants – over 10,000 plants in all with more coming every year. Learn about ancient plants and plants with crazy names. This non-profit organization promises a truly unique experience.

Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area

Come for the day or bring your tent or trailer to Saugeen Bluffs Conservation and set up camp for a week. With close to 200 sites, (half of those with water and electricity hook-ups) there is plenty of parkland to explore. The park is set alongside the winding Saugeen River. You’ll find it won’t take long before you’re canoeing and fishing. Be sure to bring your fishing gear or rent a canoe from Thorncrest Outfitters so you can uncover the beauty of the Saugeen from the water. Birders will find plenty to watch with scenic vistas and trails through hardwood forests. If you’re horsey, bring your best friend along for the adventure of a lifetime. Bringing your horse on vacation is truly a unique experience, one that isn’t available at many other parks in Ontario. Be sure to call ahead for information.

Treasure Chest Museum, Paisley

Tucked away on Paisley’s main street is a museum dedicated to preserving Paisley’s local history. When you walk in the door, you’re immediately sent back in time to another era. Glass cases filled with memorabilia, china and mementos from the past are plentiful. But the real fun starts as you explore the larger rooms that are filled with all kinds of homesteading and agricultural antiquities. Find out how people lived before indoor plumbing and electricity and what primitive farm tools used to look like. Marvel at the area’s first ‘refrigerator’, a vault-like box that was used to hold a block of ice. Upstairs there is a marvelous selection of kitchenware, turn-of-the-century ladies wear and military uniforms. If it’s not busy, ask if the kids can dress the mannequins.