With Fall Colours in the Greater Toronto Area likely amping up to full volume this weekend, it will be a great opportunity to take a break from the inanimate grey surroundings of our cities and investigate Mother Nature’s brilliance. Shooting through the rolling hills of the Credit River valley, here are three route suggestions presenting the best of the season, combining sinuous drives, scenic hiking, spectacular art and not to mention a bevy of markets, dining and shopping options. The day trips will leave your mind, body and soul refreshed and ready for the onslaught of a not-too-distant winter. Get out and enjoy (in our opinion) Ontario’s best season!
View Autumn Colours: Credit River Valley in a larger map
Highlights
Morning:
View: Alton Mill Arts Centre
Caffeine: With The Grain’s Shaw’s Creek Cafe
Afternoon:
Dine: Hockely Valley Resort’s Babbo or Restaurant 85
Drive: Hockley Valley Road Self-Guided Scenic Tour
Hike: Mono Cliffs Provincial Park and Bruce Trail
Evening:
Dine+Drink: Mono Cliffs Inn
Morning:
Caffeine: Glen Oven Cafe
View: Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre
Visit: Cheltenham Badlands and Brickworks Ruins
Afternoon:
Eat+Drink: Spirit Tree Estate Cidery
Drive: Forks of the Credit Road
Caffeine: The Shed Coffee Bar
Hike: Forks of the Credit Provincial Park & Bruce Trail
Evening:
Dine+Drink: Belfountain Inn (Belfountain, ON), Terra Cotta Inn (Terra Cotta, ON) or Copper Kettle Inn (Glen Williams, ON)
Route #3: By Train
Leave the hassles of driving roadside and climb aboard the Credit Valley Explorer as it winds its way through the Hills of the Headwaters on a 74 km journey from Orangeville to Brampton along a 130 year old rail line that skirts the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. The large picture windows of the coach offer purview of some of Ontario’s most splendid landscapes while audio commentary highlights the intriguing stories of the area’s history and geography. Meals and refreshments are also included in the price of your tour. Assigned seating fills quickly, so be sure to book yours well in advance.
The Explorer operates May to October with special ‘Twilight Dinners’ on Saturday evenings from June through September.
An interesting addition to a roadtrip this weekend is Foodstock (Oct 16), where you can sample local bounty prepared by over 100 chefs from the Canadian Chefs Congress – all served in at an open-field protest. Check it out, eat and support a cause in earnest:
http://www.thestar.com/living/food/article/1054611–chefs-farmers-unite-for-foodstock