Love it! A perfect day-trip from Toronto! This a trail that almost any rider can enjoy. Round-trip…read moreis about 26 miles of paved trail that winds through a variety of areas (town, beach, wetland, but mainly forest). There are minimal spots where you have to cross a road. I would say that it is a very accessible trail for anyone in your family, from children to seniors. There is plenty of shade along the way, provided by the forest, so don't worry about melting, even if it is hot. Please note this a very friendly trail. Most of the riders greet each other, so don't be too shy to say hello or good morning. What sets this trail apart from so many (apart from the fact that it is fully paved and well-maintained) is that it seems carefully planned out. There are benches and trash cans at intervals, and at slightly longer intervals there are picnic tables, even in the middle of nowhere. There was even a port-o-potty or two right on the trail. The trail screams, "Bring a picnic!" During a trip to Toronto, we made the drive up (about an hour and fourty-five minutes) just to ride the trail. It was a very nice break from the city and absolutely worth the time. We made a stop in Barrie, a very pleasant town along the way, for coffee and a snack. I recommend taking some time to enjoy Barrie too. Note: You can park at Pete Pettersen Park (your have to add the Pete for Apple Maps, but it is called Pettersen Park on Google Maps) in Midland to start your ride. You will need to drive through a section for truck and trailer parking for boats to find the park. Don't give up and think it is only boat parking. Parking is free. Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, a French Jesuit settlement from the 1600's is right along the trail, so you might want to take your bike locks if you plan to visit it.

We came to Midland this weekend and biked the entire Midland - Waubaushene Trail. We like cycling…read moreand, in my opinion, this is one of the most scenic bike rides in South Ontario. Former rail trail, it is level, fully paved and perfectly maintained. The trail follows Georgian Bay shoreline and the views are simply amazing. The roundtrip is 42 km but you can turn back at any point. Suggest stopping at Victoria Harbor on the way, it's really scenic. You may also visit Sainte-Marie among the Hurons historic camp, our kids really liked it. We were really lucky with the weather (it was Indian summer weekend) and finished the ride with well deserved beer on the patio of Boathouse eatery in Midland.

The good: Playground is really creative him for the kids…read more Pirate ship, lighthouse climbing tower to a slide and a zip line next to it. There's a small water pump play area into sand which gets super muddy, great for sensory play and bad for parents when they get back to the car. There's a board walk that you can easily stroll a sleeping tot around into the forested area that has beautiful fairy lights changing colour. There's shade brings relief in the heated summer. Lots of fun for kids. The long board walk beside the waters edge is a nice way to enjoy the afternoon. It slopes towards an unpatrolled beach where the waves roll in. Small restaurant has fast food on one side and ice cream on the next. Decent prices still considering there's nothing around by foot. Washrooms are clean but need a facelift. The bad: PARKING! Locals have a parking pass to avoid stress and get better spots. The town seems to not encourage outsiders with their hefty downtown Toronto parking prices. There's no street parking now and signs everywhere, so you're forced to pay at the meter and scan your license plate and QR code or the meter maid will be looking for you.

One of the most beautiful places in the Collingwood and Blue Mountains. Great place to just relax…read morein a quiet atmosphere. We went there for just about an hour. There is a view of the mountains as well but not really that amazing. When we went, it was cloudy and windy as well. I guess due to no structures blocking it, generally, it may be very windy here which might need to be factored in before going there (clothing etc).

Beach 5 review…read more Parking $21 flat all day with in/out privileges. Most decent price in the area. Lots of parking to be found, busy but spacious. This beach is great for young families as it's shallow for a really really long stretch out. The sand is very fine and one of the best in Ontario. Beautiful views of the Blue mountain and distillery side on the left. No life guards here though. Two washrooms on either end of the beach with a foot wash tap. There are a few retro wooden playgrounds in the middle of it. They even have those old style metal slides that give a second degree burn when the sun heats it up but the kids love to run up it. No restaurants or food stalls here so pack well. Rules are more relaxed here, people are having coal burning bbqs, pop up tents are allowed. No dogs allowed and an atv patrol rolls back and forth to keep an eye on things. Very relaxing day.

Wasaga Beach is busy on long weekends when the weather is sunny and warm. I would recommend getting…read morethere early like 8am early, at this time there's lots of parking available and there are very few people at the beach. The water is generally clean, allot cleaner than Lake Ontario. Wasaga is actually know to be the largest fresh water beach in the world. The sand is fine and there is a tractor that grooms it and cleans any garbage from the beach in the early morning hours. If you don't mind the larger crowds on the weekend this is the beach to visit.

This is a review for day-use only, as the park is actually closed for camping during this time of…read morethe year. There are a couple of day-use lots on the outside of the actual park for locals to use, I don't believe you can drive into the park proper to use it for day use. At the time we visited, Orillia was close to peak color, so it was a fantastic time. It was a nice day for a hike, and there were quite a few other people using the park as well -- there's a little beach area in the day use part as well as a playground and places for taking your dog on leash. We went and followed the trails in the park, there seems to be a few that can be used, one in the treeline and one along the lake. You can make a decent little loop of a couple of kilometers. There's nothing incredibly challenging about this little hike, to be honest, but the tree colors make for some gorgeous photos. I'll definitely want to come back and visit here and go camping during the season. A really lovely provincial park!

Very nice park well established tree canopy with lots of shade. We stayed 2 nights. Overall good…read moretime, although the beach area gets rather busy from folks from outside the park. The beach area that allows dogs is very rocky and somewhat dangerous if you're not stable in walking. Also, there is not mobile service at the park. Some will take that as a blessing while others will struggle from being disconnected. Bathrooms while clean for the most part there was a lot of spiders and insects where the kids would not enter.

It's a beautiful day to spend at Awenda Provincial Park!…read more We walked while others were biking the trails enjoying the outdoors while not having to wear a mask but social distancing when encountering others. Remember to pay and display your park use permit on your vehicle dash; strictly enforced or you can pay a $30 parking ticket. The machine accepts cash or credit card. It was a $15.50 charge for day use since the machine didn't allow an hourly selection. Gorgeous and tranquil nature along the shores of Georgian Bay.

This is a beautiful park with several short (less than 2 kilometres) hiking trails that go into a…read moreforest. There are lots of different plants, neat wooden bridges, super big trees and an abandoned old car, for some reason. It's a pretty easy walk, the ground is soft and there weren't any inclines or tough, rocky areas that I could see. It was just nice and serene, except for the sounds of some wood processing plant nearby. There's parking enough for about 20 cars, and it's free.

If you're looking for a gentle hike with the kids, this is a great spot. Boardwalks, benches and…read morebridges make this great for grandma and grandpa too. trail maps are available and informative. Admission by on your honour donationof what you feel is appropriate.

After visiting TWO provincial parks in Ontario, this is our favorite by far Clean showers, VERY…read morehelpful and well stocked shop, flush toilets, a lot of paved roads (while unpaved roads are not dusty), cozy sandy beaches and a playground for kids. The pedal boats and kayaks available for rent. The lake is interesting, with unusual shape. The hikes were so beautiful (make sure to bring mosquito nets)! And I appreciated the signs on the trails. The campsites had just the right amount of privacy. The only downside is noise. Unfortunately, it was not "radio free" for us. Someone was signing karaoke late into the night.

Really clean easy access to the campsite, Quite as I was…read moreworking not on Holliday it was great.lots of fish and great trail's

If I could give the Elmvale Zoo more than 5 stars, I absolutely would…read more The BEST zoo in Ontario. Hands. Down. Seriously, this is one of those places you leave and immediately find yourself talking about. It's the kind of experience that stays with you. I came here completely last minute with my boyfriend's family, not really knowing what to expect. I've only ever been to the Toronto Zoo, so I assumed this would be a much smaller experience. I couldn't have been more wrong. This zoo is incredible. The entire place is beautifully laid out, easy to navigate, very accessible, and most of the pathways are shaded, which makes exploring so comfortable even on a warmer day. The variety of animals honestly surprised me, and so many of the exhibits allow you to get incredibly close in such a special way. Feeding the giraffes, goats, and pigs was something I'll never forget. There are so many opportunities throughout the zoo to safely interact with the animals and create memories you simply don't get at most places. I also loved seeing hand-washing stations available at every feeding area -- such a thoughtful touch! But what made this visit truly unforgettable wasn't just the animals. It was the people behind them. Because the zoo is outside the city, I had almost no cell service... which was honestly refreshing. Everyone in the zoo was disconnected from their phones and completely connected to their families, and the animal exhibits. Ironically, a bunch of important work calls all came through at once, and I desperately needed to get in touch with my team but couldn't. I asked if there happened to be Wi-Fi available, and instead of simply saying they didn't know the password, a staff member went above and beyond. She brought us into the office and kindly let me use their landline to make the calls I needed. Afterward, I thanked her and told her how amazed I was by the zoo. That's when I found out she was Michelle, the owner. We ended up talking for over ten minutes about animals, life, and sharing plenty of laughs. Within minutes, it was obvious this isn't just a business to her -- it's her life's work. She grew up here, knows every single animal personally, and genuinely loves them all. They truly are her babies. As an incredibly generous surprise, Michelle gave my boyfriend and I complimentary feeding baskets so we could enjoy even more of the animal interactions. It was such an unexpected act of kindness, but what stood out most was seeing how passionate she is about creating lifelong memories for every family that walks through those gates. That kind of care is rare. Something else I think deserves to be shared is the reason the zoo doesn't allow outside food for feeding the animals. At first, I didn't know the reasoning behind the policy, but after learning more, I completely understood and respected it. The animals' diets are carefully monitored, and the feeding baskets are specifically prepared to be safe, chemical- and pesticide-free, with carefully controlled quantities. They are distributed throughout the zoo so that every animal -- not just the giraffes -- receives proper nutrition. That isn't a cash grab. That is responsible animal care. After hearing the thought, effort, and love behind it, I have nothing but respect for that decision. (They allow you to bring your own food for you & your humans! And, have tons of picnic areas!) Throughout the day, we kept running into Michelle and other family members checking on the animals, chatting with guests, and making everyone feel welcome. We even took photos together before we left. That level of genuine care and connection is something you simply don't find often anymore. You can feel the love that has been poured into every corner of this place. The habitats are thoughtfully designed, the animals are happy, active, and clearly adored, and the entire zoo has such a warm, family atmosphere that it's impossible not to smile while you're there. Hi Charlie!!! This wasn't just a day at the zoo -- it was one of the most unexpectedly wholesome and memorable experiences I've had in a long time. Thank you, Michelle, for your kindness, your generosity, and for sharing your beautiful home and incredible animals with all of us. We can't wait to come back, and we'll be recommending Elmvale Zoo to everyone we know. Some places are worth visiting... Elmvale Zoo is worth experiencing.

Where else can you feed a giraffe!…read more This place is cute, not as enriching at the Toronto Zoo but it's small walk around outside with opportunities to feed some animals. I was excited to visit this place and feed the giraffes and zebras, anything else is a bonus. Was impressed and also sad, they had two kinds of Lions, leopards, tigers, cougars and a bunch of other animals. The enclosure for the big cats was not stimulating for them and you can't help feel bad for them, but they are mostly sleeping the whole time. The entrance is also the gift shop and exit. Ask for change into loonies specifically there, to pay for coin operated pellet feed at three locations throughout the park. What's neat and unique here, is they sell cute plastic souvenir buckets with simple food for the animals. It's $10 to start and you keep the souvenir bucket or $7 for a refill. We got one banana, a romaine leaf, shredded/slim carrots, (no ice cream) cone. You are not allowed to feed the animals food from home for safety reasons. Feeding some of the animals was difficult as there is separation 3-4 ft from the cage and wires. You can see failed attempts that bounced off the wires onto the ground, that some animals cannot reach. Find a stick and help the poor little animals get their snack. Some animals were more hungry than others. Some of the monkeys could even catch your banana chunk if thrown to them. TIP: giraffes are hungry and interested in the morning, but by 2:30pm, they seemed full and migrate to the opposite side of the fence. They go inside at night, so they seem to wait there until then. Washrooms: only one building in the whole park, it's flushing and clean enough. Smells like washroom chemicals. Near the tigers by the entrance. Two foot pump washing stations around the park by the goats and giraffes. Food: nothing inside the pavilion, bring your own snacks or picnic. There's a food truck outside, fair prices for ice cream($4-6$ and hot dogs($5)