Picturesque School House Retreat Guidebook
Fresh Produce, Jams & Pies
local produce, jams and pies
Fresh local produce (corn, tomatoes, zucchini, melons, juicy peaches, berries, jams, roasted peanuts, & many more) and of course ... delicious pies! Thornbury Pie is my favourite.
Opened year-round.
10 locals recommend
Goldsmith's Orchard Market
207600 ON-26Fresh local produce (corn, tomatoes, zucchini, melons, juicy peaches, berries, jams, roasted peanuts, & many more) and of course ... delicious pies! Thornbury Pie is my favourite.
Opened year-round.
Best pies and really anything they make there. Sooo fresh and simply delicious! Well worth the drive.
While there, go for a kayak trip at Free Spirit Tours, Heathcote (just around the corner).
11 locals recommend
Blackbird Pie Company
236768 Grey County Rd 13Best pies and really anything they make there. Sooo fresh and simply delicious! Well worth the drive.
While there, go for a kayak trip at Free Spirit Tours, Heathcote (just around the corner).
Essentials
LCBO
336 B Lafontaine Rd Wopened in Spring 2016 ... well stocked LCBO for all your needs.
Well stocked grocery store, lots of organic options, opened 8 am - 8 pm daily, same parking as LCBO.
15 locals recommend
Foodland - Thornbury
105 Arthur St WWell stocked grocery store, lots of organic options, opened 8 am - 8 pm daily, same parking as LCBO.
Outdoor Activities
kayaking, cycling, cross-country trails & other activities
Convenient location for all water-related sports rentals ... Large selection of paddle boards, surf and kiteboarding + lessons.
Blue Surf Paddle Boards and Kayaks
209574 ON-26Convenient location for all water-related sports rentals ... Large selection of paddle boards, surf and kiteboarding + lessons.
Great selection of bike rentals ... from Electra Townie for easy rides on Georgian Trail and mountain bikes for more challenge. They also carry Tandem bike and Weehoo kids trailer.
ride on bikes
Great selection of bike rentals ... from Electra Townie for easy rides on Georgian Trail and mountain bikes for more challenge. They also carry Tandem bike and Weehoo kids trailer.
Rock climbing on the escarpment's unique limestone surface. The climb heights range from 20-80 ft & the rock face runs 500 ft in length. Operated by Free Spirit Tours and Adventure Upwards.
26 locals recommend
Metcalfe Rock
Rock climbing on the escarpment's unique limestone surface. The climb heights range from 20-80 ft & the rock face runs 500 ft in length. Operated by Free Spirit Tours and Adventure Upwards.
Food Scene
Blue Mountain Bike Park, Skiing, shops, restaurants and night life.
319 locals recommend
Blue Mountain Village
156 Jozo Weider BlvdBlue Mountain Bike Park, Skiing, shops, restaurants and night life.
53 Bruce St S
53 Bruce Street SouthGreat Food & Atmosphere. Their seasonally inspired soups are delicious!
Delicious creations by Chef Andrew Barber ... not your traditional pub food. When visiting in summer, request one of the tables on terrace overlooking the water ... so relaxing!
12 Bridge St
12 Bridge StreetDelicious creations by Chef Andrew Barber ... not your traditional pub food. When visiting in summer, request one of the tables on terrace overlooking the water ... so relaxing!
One of the best restaurants in the area ... make sure to make reservations. Enjoy!
48 locals recommend
Bruce Wine Bar
8 Bruce St SOne of the best restaurants in the area ... make sure to make reservations. Enjoy!
Pom Pom Trea Hut
6 Bruce Street Northamazing ice cream right off the beach!
Un-expensive all day breakfast ... always busy ... indoor & outdoor seating.
12 locals recommend
The Orchid Restaurant
81 King St EUn-expensive all day breakfast ... always busy ... indoor & outdoor seating.
Ashanti Thornbury
39 Bruce St Sgood coffee and pastries ... just sip & enjoy passerby's
Parks & Nature
Ungroomed 60 km of back country wilderness cross country ski trails in winter, used extensively for hiking & mountain biking in other seasons. Accessed from County Road 2 between Ravenna & Feversham.
Grey County Road 2
Grey Road 2Ungroomed 60 km of back country wilderness cross country ski trails in winter, used extensively for hiking & mountain biking in other seasons. Accessed from County Road 2 between Ravenna & Feversham.
Over 15 km of hike (summer & cross country ski (winter) trails within 400 acre Saugeen Conservation Authority managed forest. Suitable for beginner, intermediate, experienced & advanced users.
Allan Park Road
Allan Park RoadOver 15 km of hike (summer & cross country ski (winter) trails within 400 acre Saugeen Conservation Authority managed forest. Suitable for beginner, intermediate, experienced & advanced users.
Saugeen Conservation Lands
TBA
Christie Beach
One of the best sand beaches on this part of the bay.
Close to Craigleith Provincial Park, and across the road from the historic Craigleith Depot, Northwinds sandy beach is the home of board sailing.
Rock beach, No Lifeguards (unsupervised), No pets allowed.
67 locals recommend
Northwinds Beach
209605 ON-26Close to Craigleith Provincial Park, and across the road from the historic Craigleith Depot, Northwinds sandy beach is the home of board sailing.
Rock beach, No Lifeguards (unsupervised), No pets allowed.
More than 2000 ft of sandy beach with beach-side camping available. Playground and separate pet area.
Sand beach, No Lifeguard (unsupervised), Separate area for pets.
32 locals recommend
Meaford Memorial Park
179 Grant AvMore than 2000 ft of sandy beach with beach-side camping available. Playground and separate pet area.
Sand beach, No Lifeguard (unsupervised), Separate area for pets.
Set within Eugenia Falls Conservation Area, just outside Flesherton, you’ll find Eugenia Falls. Eugenia Falls is the highest waterfall in Grey County. This waterfall is nearly 100 feet and feeds into the Beaver River. You can also access the next waterfall, Hogg’s Falls, via the main trail.
40 locals recommend
Eugenia Falls Conservation Area
County Road 13Set within Eugenia Falls Conservation Area, just outside Flesherton, you’ll find Eugenia Falls. Eugenia Falls is the highest waterfall in Grey County. This waterfall is nearly 100 feet and feeds into the Beaver River. You can also access the next waterfall, Hogg’s Falls, via the main trail.
The village/town of Walter Falls ... Short drive from School House and easy way to get around by foot.
Hike along on 4.5 km Bruce Trail ... stunning ferns and other fauna along the trail.
13 locals recommend
Walters Falls
The village/town of Walter Falls ... Short drive from School House and easy way to get around by foot.
Hike along on 4.5 km Bruce Trail ... stunning ferns and other fauna along the trail.
It may be one of the smallest waterfalls on this list but it’s one of my favourite waterfalls in Grey County. You can hear it as you approach along the trail. Take the trail to the right, from the parking lot. The thunder of the falls is quite astounding. You can even repel down, a short distance, to the base of the falls. There’s a rope already set up for you and at the base you are rewarded with the immensely picturesque scene of the falls, the escarpment and river.
60 locals recommend
Hoggs Falls
It may be one of the smallest waterfalls on this list but it’s one of my favourite waterfalls in Grey County. You can hear it as you approach along the trail. Take the trail to the right, from the parking lot. The thunder of the falls is quite astounding. You can even repel down, a short distance, to the base of the falls. There’s a rope already set up for you and at the base you are rewarded with the immensely picturesque scene of the falls, the escarpment and river.
It may be a manufactured waterfall but Holstein Dam can be a great sight – especially after the spring thaw. During my visit, near summers end, it wasn’t as intense as usual due to the incredibly dry summer. Located the furthest south, in the charming town of Holstein, Holstein Dam feeds Norman Reeves Creek.
Holstein Dam
It may be a manufactured waterfall but Holstein Dam can be a great sight – especially after the spring thaw. During my visit, near summers end, it wasn’t as intense as usual due to the incredibly dry summer. Located the furthest south, in the charming town of Holstein, Holstein Dam feeds Norman Reeves Creek.
Located in Durham Conservation Area, McGowan Falls is a cascade falls along the Saugeen River. There are grottos below the falls and even swimming available upstream. The metal bridge crossing the falls says ‘use at own risk’, but it offers cool views down river.
11 locals recommend
McGowan Falls
Located in Durham Conservation Area, McGowan Falls is a cascade falls along the Saugeen River. There are grottos below the falls and even swimming available upstream. The metal bridge crossing the falls says ‘use at own risk’, but it offers cool views down river.
Just north of Owen Sound, along scenic Grey County Road 1, is Indian Falls Conservation Area. Named after the Indian tribe that once lived in the area, Indian Falls is about a 20 minute hike from the parking lot. Follow the yellow arrows along the trail. The trail takes you along Indian Creek and to a flight of stairs that begin a steep incline up to the top of the hill. Indian Falls is a horseshoe shaped plunge falls with a drop of 49 feet.
25 locals recommend
Indian Falls Conservation Area
318614 Grey Rd 1Just north of Owen Sound, along scenic Grey County Road 1, is Indian Falls Conservation Area. Named after the Indian tribe that once lived in the area, Indian Falls is about a 20 minute hike from the parking lot. Follow the yellow arrows along the trail. The trail takes you along Indian Creek and to a flight of stairs that begin a steep incline up to the top of the hill. Indian Falls is a horseshoe shaped plunge falls with a drop of 49 feet.
Old Baldy Lookout Trail is a 4.3 kilometer loop trail located near Grey Highlands, Ontario, Canada that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round.
46 locals recommend
Old Baldy Conservation Area
120 Old Baldy Access RoadOld Baldy Lookout Trail is a 4.3 kilometer loop trail located near Grey Highlands, Ontario, Canada that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round.
High on the Escarpment cliffs, near the lookout at Skinner’s Bluff, Skinner’s Woods offers expansive views of Georgian Bay and large tracts of undisturbed mature forest. Surrounded by protected land to the west and east, this important acquisition will complete a missing link and create an uninterrupted conservation corridor along the Niagara Escarpment.
9 locals recommend
Skinner's Bluff
High on the Escarpment cliffs, near the lookout at Skinner’s Bluff, Skinner’s Woods offers expansive views of Georgian Bay and large tracts of undisturbed mature forest. Surrounded by protected land to the west and east, this important acquisition will complete a missing link and create an uninterrupted conservation corridor along the Niagara Escarpment.
Drinks & Nightlife
Twist Martini & Wine Lounge
170 Jozo Weider BlvdGood drinks, music & atmosphere
The Dam Pub Gastropub & Whisky Bar
72 Sykes Street Northgood food, music on weekends, drinks on patio
good atmosphere, great for apre-ski in winter or evenings all year-round, mature clientele
16 locals recommend
Jozo's Bar
110 Jozo Weider Blvdgood atmosphere, great for apre-ski in winter or evenings all year-round, mature clientele
Arts & Culture
Home to one of my favorite artists in the area - Debra Lynn Carroll ... worth seeing her amazing lively art pieces.
6 locals recommend
LOFT GALLERY INC.
18 Bruce St SHome to one of my favorite artists in the area - Debra Lynn Carroll ... worth seeing her amazing lively art pieces.
Matilda Swanson Gallery
637 Marsh Stplayful art pieces