The Blog

The votes are counted. At least 154 of them through email and Facebook, with a few still trickling in. We asked you which Ontario small town was your favourite to visit. There were no asserted criteria on size of town or attractions within it – the question was word association in its purest form. Which town evoked your fondest memories of local, rural travel?

Best Small Town: Picton

The Top 5 most popular results of the survey included tourist magnets like Niagara-on-the-Lake and Stratford (along with a complete surprise in Port Perry), but by a confident margin the top choice was Picton.

Known for its varied, lake-side geography, a collection of nearby up-and-coming wineries, a rich culinary pedigree, and picturesque ‘main street’, Picton and the surrounding Prince Edward County rise out of the crowd.

All Over The Map

Your responses were thoughtful (we could almost see the smiles creep across your face as your minds revisited the quaint corners of our province) and were, quite literally, all over the map, reaching to Ontario’s furthest boundaries.

View Ontario’s Best Small Towns in a larger map

(Red: Top 5; Yellow: Top 25; Blue: On the radar)

Go For A Drive

With Autumn officially arriving three days ago, roadtrip season is here. Embarking on a day’s drive out to Picton or many of Ontario’s best small towns is a great way to indulge in the crisp temperatures, harvest bounty and changing colours.

This survey marks the start of a new project for Detourist Guide. Stay tuned in the weeks and months to come as we examine more closely the best small towns and roadtrip destinations across Ontario’s backcountry.

Think me missed something? Post your suggestions or critiques in the comments section below.

Happy Detouring!