Great Stuff to do on Grey Road 2

Fall is one of our favourite times to get out and about especially on road trips that overlook the Beaver Valley.  It’s a gorgeous and delicious time to experience all things fall with the beautiful colours and delicious flavours of the season.  This time we decided to check out Grey Road 2. 

We started our drive by heading up Grey Road 19 which took us to Grey Road 2.  At the intersection we made a left hand turn, and just past Ice River Springs on your right you’ll see a little bridge that goes over the Upper Beaver River…right after that, hang a right into the parking area to find the Feversham Gorge.  If you click here we’ve included a link that describes in more detail the flora, fauna and type of hike – please note that proper hiking boots or shoes are required.   The hiking is trail is 1.9 Kilometres on the main trail and a great way to start the day. 

After our hike we checked out the little hamlet of Feversham…found a great new gift shop/emporium and stopped in at the General Store to buy a drink.

Then we were off to the Ravenna Country Market which is at the corner of Grey Road 2 and Grey Road 119.  Can’t say enough about how fabulous this place is.  Fantastic presses sandwiches, lots of gourmet to go frozen entrées, pies of all kinds, butter tarts galore and what I think is the best best best chocolate cake ever made in the world.  This is coming from a self-proclaimed chocoholic (that’s me).  Don’t let the unassuming packaging fool you with the 9” x 9” square foil pan. 

After lunch we decided a visit to Georgian Hills would be a great way to unwind and relax on their fabulous patio while sipping and overlooking the vineyards.

Next we were off to T&K Ferri Orchards (the T stands for Tom and the K stands for Karen) to grab some apples and they are incredible apples grown with what is referred to as a Super Spindle technique.  

What every you choose to do, we know you’ll love Grey Road 2.

13 Fun things to do on Grey Road 13

13 Fun things to do on Grey Road 13

Day tripping or just getting out and about for an hour or two led us to a drive along Grey Road 13 from start to finish so we’d thought we’d share some of the fun, neat and cool things we discovered on our gorgeous drive through the Beaver Valley.

Stop in at #1 Goldsmiths Orchard Market and grab everything you need for a gourmet dinner a la Maison. Technically, Goldsmiths is located right at the end of Grey Road 113 and Highway 26, but we included it because it’s a great place to shop and a stop not to be missed. It’s also where we decided to start our journey.

Next we followed Grey 113 until we met up with Bruce Street in Thornbury and then we hung a right and cruised on into cute as a button Clarksburg AKA Artsburg. We parked the car and headed out on foot.

Check out #2 The Honey House. You can get a bee education, grab some amazing honey to take home and do a little gift shopping while you’re there. Lots of bee and honey products to choose from at modest prices.

Stop in at #3a Matilda Swanson Gallery in Clarksburg and take in some gorgeous artwork from some of the 45 different artists they are showcasing and a visit to #3b The Loft Gallery right next door and meet resident artist Debra Lynn Carroll.

We also checked out #4 The Shabby Shack, relatively new to Clarksburg and bought a new quilt for our guest bedroom and a replacement knob for my dresser that had somehow gone missing during our recent move. Fabulous prices. 

Then we hopped back in the car and headed out of Clarkburg on Grey Road 13. We stopped in at #5 The Farmer’s Pantry and fed Mike and Molly, the goats, pet the bunnies and on our next visit look forward to some U-Pick Apple activity with the family. Dan grabbed a few bars of lavender soap which is his favourite.

Continuing on Grey 13, next we came to Heathcote where you’ll discover #6 Free Spirit Tours. If you have the time, take a paddle on the Beaver River. Good for all ages and abilities, you can take a guided paddle or go on your own, they offer 1, 2 or 4 hour paddle packages in SUPs, Kayaks or Canoes. This is a must do activity. When we had our relatives over from Switzerland last summer we did the 2 hour paddle and they said it was absolutely the highlight of their trip here in Canada and that included a trip to Niagara Falls and the CN Tower.

You can also fuel up at the #7 Blackbird Pie Company where you can order fresh made sandwiches on freshly baked bread and also stock up on some take it to go frozen entrées and of course you can buy pie…all kinds of pie. Think Pie Factory…Yum.

Back in the car we went and headed towards #8 The Beaver Valley Orchard and Cidery. They offer wonderful hard apple cider which is also quite dry…so perfect for my pallet and you can also order a cheese tasting plate which is delicious and comes with house made pate. You can purchase tasting flutes of cider and also pick up a 6-pack (or more) to take home.

Back in to the car we went and continued on to Kimberly. We popped into the #9 Kimberly General Store and bought a coffee and some of their home made granola.

Next, we continued our drive up the hill and stopped at the #10 Beaver Valley Lookout. Gorgeous views and they've got some picnic tables there as well so it’s a great place to stop for a picnic lunch that you might have packed yourselves or picked up at #7 The Blackbird Pie Company.

Then we popped into the #11 Eugenia Falls Emporium and grabbed some of our favourite Pickle Guy Products and a delicious Montreal smoked meat sandwich from Danielle’s . Right beside, you’ll find The Brilliant Bread Company where you can purchase…you guessed it…brilliant fresh bread made daily.

Walk across the street and check out gorgeous #12 Eugenia Falls. Patricia Schupp the owner of the Eugenia Falls Emporium is a wealth of local area knowledge and will tell you everything you need to know or what to know about the area.

Last but not least we come to #13 The Flying Chestnut Kitchen. It gets rave reviews and is open Thursday through Sunday from 5-close and offer Sunday brunch from 11-2. Reservations are highly recommended.

Whether you cycle or drive, we know you’ll enjoy your day trip on Grey Road 13. 

Taste of the Senses at Georgian Hills

SIDELAUNCH DAYS ARE COMING! COLLINGWOOD’S FIRST HARBOUR FESTIVAL

SIDELAUNCH DAYS ARE COMING! COLLINGWOOD’S FIRST HARBOUR FESTIVAL

August 1 – 3, 2015, Collingwood Harbour & downtown

Bring the whole family to this 3-day event featuring stand-up paddling (SUP) races and demos, water sport try-outs, sailing regatta, CAMH Arts & Music Festival,  a dockside bar & history lounge. Enjoy the music of a piano street jam, buskers and bands! Explore and enjoy kitefest, kids kite and kraft centre, food and merchandise vendors on the promenade and breathtaking first ever art projection onto the grain elevators! Go to the SideLaunch site - click here.

6Hours of Gibraltar

We need teams to register!!!

This is one of my favourite events of all time!  So much so, I volunteered to be part of the organizing committee for this year. 

6 Hours of Gibraltar - July 11, 2015

Our 4 man/woman/co-ed, group or solo mountain bike relay race promises fun, excitement, a great ride on a course that is not open to the public. Enjoy the day doing what you love – mountain biking. All proceeds go to My Friend's House, a safe place for women and children that need to escape abusive situations. Rain or shine, we’ll be there. Will you?

Register before June 5, 2015. We hope you can join us.
http://www.6hrsofgibraltar.com/ 

Collingwood Craft Beer & Cider Festival

Canadian Craft Beer Festivals is excited to announce the 1st annual Collingwood Craft Beer & Cider Festival taking place June 13-14, 2015 outside of the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena, Collingwood Ontario.

The Collingwood Craft Beer & Cider Festival will feature over 25 of Ontario's best small batch craft brewers and cideries, food trucks, local restaurants, educational seminars, and an amazing lineup of local musical talent.  Leading up the weekend, the Collingwood Craft Beer & Cider Festival will partner with a number of local pubs and restaurants to host a week of Tap Takeovers.  The participating vendors will graciously provide some of Ontario's best craft beers at their establishments during the week prior to the two day festival.

"Collingwood is quickly becoming Ontario's best kept secret when it comes to world class small batch brewers and cideries.  It's a take notice type of change in Collingwood as we see new breweries and cideries popping up throughout South Georgian.  We're super excited to support them in bringing recognition and acknowledgement to their great talents." says Brian Kerr, partner in Canadian Craft Beer Festivals.

The festival will present a number of brewery-hosted seminars featuring tastings of some extraordinary Ontario craft beers followed by question and answer sessions.  Saturday, Nick Aiello, a Prud'homme Beer Certified sommelier that has hosted tasting events throughout Ontario, will be pairing Ontario craft beers with some of the most incredible cheeses available.

The Collingwood Craft Beer & Cider Festival is a proud supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Georgian Triangle.  "Support through this initiative will have a BIG impact on the lives of local kids. It is wonderful to know that organizations such as Canadian Craft Beer Festivals truly believe in the work we do and the importance of investing in the next generation." says Jarvis Strong, Executive Director Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Georgian Triangle.

The Collingwood Craft Beer & Cider Festival is proud to offer $1 for every unused donated food or beverage token from the festival to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Georgian Triangle. "One of the most enjoyable aspects for us is the inclusion of a charitable partner at each festival.  Our goal is to align with charitable organizations that strive to make a positive difference in the lives of children; we are extremely pleased to be teaming up with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Georgian Triangle.  It's a great feeling knowing that the generosity of our attendees can help support such an outstanding organization." says Mike Watkinson, partner in Canadian Craft Beer Festivals. 

The Collingwood Craft Beer & Cider Festival anticipates attendance to reach 4,000 for its inaugural event.  "We have some of North America's great beer and cider talents living and brewing in Ontario and we're thrilled to be bringing them to Ontario's four season playground for this two day event." says Kerr. The event is a perfect opportunity for the South Georgian beer enthusiast, foodie and music lover to sample and explore the products of our Ontario Craft Brewers and Cideries.

For Further information and interviews, please contact Brian Kerr, Canadian Craft Beer Festivals at brian@canadiancraftbeerfestivals. Visit our Website. 

Confessions of a Fairy's Daughter

Theatre Collingwood is thrilled to present Confessions of a Fairy's Daughter on Saturday April 11, 2015 at 7:30pm at The Historic Gayety Theatre. Alison Wearing stars in this one-woman, award winning, play based on her best-selling memoir. Woven through music and imagery, this very humorous and amusing monologue moves from Alison's carefree childhood through to the moment she learns, at the age of 12, that her family is a bit more complex than she had believed.

A touching story about growing up in small-town Ontario while her family faced the fact that her father was gay, Confessions of a Fairy's Daughter is a tribute to the power of truth, humour, acceptance and familial love. Alison weaves a captivating tale of family life; deliciously imperfect, riotously challenging, and full of life's great lessons in love.

Winner of 5-STARS and the Outstanding Show Award from the CBC, Alison Wearing brings her very personal story to life, skillfully, warmly, and heartfelt. "When I first saw this production I was incredibly touched by how generous Alison was in sharing her story with us. It is a beautiful story about acceptance, love and respect, and I could not wait to offer it to our audience", said Executive Director, Erica Angus.

As with all Theatre Collingwood "one-night-only" shows, you can make your evening extra special by attending the very popular Red Carpet Reception. For this production the reception will take place at The Tremont Cafe following the production. Tickets for the Red Carpet Reception are $85 and include premium seating, the post-show reception with the performer, wine, delicious treats sponsored by The Tremont Cafe, a partial tax receipt and more! Alison Wearing will be doing a talk and book signing at this reception.

Theatre Collingwood would like to acknowledge Visit Blue Mountain.com, the Production Sponsor for Confessions of a Fairy's Daughter.