Roam Ontario Summer 2013 Issue by Cheryl Stubbs

Your FREE Guide to Family Fun in Ontario

summer 2013

Summer Pow Wows! Colour, dancing and great fun Coasting along Ontarioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

South Coast

250 in Coupons

Inside

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Summer Sizzler Photo Contest - Great prizes every week! Details P10

ROAM BRINGS YOU SAVINGS! Partnership with Attractions Ontario helps you save on summer fun.

Executive Editor: Geoff Hogarth (Pioneer)

Pioneer ENERGY 1122 International Blvd, Ste 700 Burlington, Ontario L7L 6Z8 pioneer.ca Publisher:

Gordon Green JAG Communications Inc. publisher@roamontario.ca 905.745.1385 Art Director: Corinne Nyffenegger Advertising sales: John Pase Business Development Sales Manager, ROAM Magazine jagcomm-sales@outlook.com 289.778.1565

Tim Hogarth President and CEO Pioneer Energy

Strong partnerships have driven Pioneer’s ability to deliver excellent value at all of our retail locations and in the communities we serve for

more than 50 years. Our latest partnership, with Attractions Ontario, brings added value to ROAM magazine, making it easier than ever for our readers to enjoy discounts for top attractions wherever you travel in Ontario. ROAM was conceived a number of years ago to provide families with a FREE guide to affordable family fun in Ontario. Attractions Ontario is a not-for-profit association created to provide information on top public and privatesector attractions across the province. Our partnership with Attractions Ontario allows us to deliver money-saving offers to many of the associationmember facilities. That means our valued Pioneer Bonus Bucks customers can now enjoy special savings by taking ROAM along on every trip. If you used all of the coupons available in this edition of ROAM, you could save more than $250 on family fun activities all summer long. Be sure to check them out starting on Page 34. You’ll find discounts on fabulous activities like the Niagara Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours, which was the top pick in our Great Ontario Bucket List contest. Coupons will also be available online at roamontario.ca, or follow us on facebook.com/roamontario for regular coupon specials. Be sure to include ROAM in your travel plans this summer – we know you’ll love the savings. Best wishes for safe and happy ROAMing, wherever your travels take you!

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Roam Magazine™ is published by JAG Communications Inc, for and on behalf of Pioneer Energy LP (“Pioneer”). Opinions expressed in the articles appearing in this magazine are those of the authors and Pioneer does not necessarily share those opinions. Pioneer does not endorse third parties who advertise in this magazine or their products and services. Pioneer has not undertaken any independent confirmation that data and facts appearing in the magazine (including, for example, dates and places for any events) are accurate and the reader should independently confirm all such information. The publisher and/or Pioneer Energy and their respective affiliates shall not be liable for any damages or losses, however sustained, as a result of the reliance on or use by a reader or any other person of any information, opinions or products expressed, advertised or otherwise contained in this magazine. All of the information contained in this magazine is subject to change without notice, including, for example, product specifications and prices, and event dates and locations. All Pioneer trademarks appearing in this magazine (including the trademarks “Roam Magazine”, the word “Pioneer” and “Pioneer Bonus Bucks”) are owned by Pioneer Energy LP and when used by a third party are used under license from Pioneer Energy LP. © 2013 No part of Roam Magazine may be reproduced in any format, for whatever use, without the express written approval of Pioneer Energy LP.

ROAM summer features

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Pow-Wow!

Catch the excitement of First Nations dancing and culture

Summer’s sizzling photo contest

Enter to win a $2,950 backyard Crown Verity BBQ Grill & great weekly prizes!

zipping through the treetops

Eileen checks one off her Great Ontario Bucket List

Magical Manitoulin

Escape to the world’s largest freshwater island

start your engines

Experience stock-car racing, the world’s most-watched sport

Valuable coupons

Great savings on fabulous Ontario attractions

hooking a walleye

Where to find Ontario’s favourite gamefish

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Summer events

Thanks to our Partners

@roamontario

ROAM recommends all of our partners who welcome Pioneer’s valued Bonus Bucks members.

Inside Front Cover

3 19 23 26 27 28 Back Cover 4 | Summer 2013

DALTON TIMMIS INSURANCE

Special Savings for valued Pioneer Bonus Bucks Members

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Breyers/Popsicle/Klondike/Fruttare/Magnum Available at Pioneer Verve and Snack Express locations

Long Point Eco-Adventures/Burning Kiln Winery ‘Zip and sip’ is a perfect combination

The Windjammer Inn

Stay & dine in Port Stanley - “Recommended Best Place to Eat”

Railway City Brewery Tours

St. Thomas microbrewery has something special on tap

Norfolk County

Life is better along the lake!

Shades of Summer

Great savings at hotels you know and trust

First Nations invite all to share in culture, spirituality... and a lot of fun! By Turtle Island News Staff Summer 2013

There’s a flash of colour,

the muffled sound of a moccasin hitting the earth

and the

thump

of the

drum

echoing in the afternoon sun as First Nation dancers thrill thousands of tourists. Welcome to the excitement of Pow-wow dancing and First Nations culture. The largest and oldest Powwow in Ontario is at the Six Nations of the Grand River, just 24 kilometres southwest of Hamilton. Every year on the fourth Sunday of July, in a quiet, northern pocket of Six Nations territory, the banks of the Grand River echo with traditional native drums and songs signalling the start of the Champion of the Champions Grand River Pow-Wow. Photos courtesy of Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation.

6 | Summer 2013

alike, an international tourist attraction and a really good time. More than 300 First Nations communities across Ontario will host Pow-wows this summer. Fey Benson, a Kitchener woman who attended last year, enjoyed the whole experience.“I finally made it and it’s fantastic. The food, the music, the dance, shopping. It’s just great!”

Karas Richard who had come from Poland sat in awe on the benches surrounding the Pow-wow dancing.“I sat here for seven hours, looking Pow-wows are many things at the dances,” she said.“It’s – an intense competition, a a very interesting cultural celebration, memorial, and event, very traditional. These revival of native culture. They are the first people are a spiritual experience in America.” for dancers and spectators Thousands of tourists fill the grounds of Chiefswood Tent and Trailer Park to watch, eager for dancing to begin.

Terry Johnston, from Hamilton, was attending his first Pow-wow.“It’s a very, very interesting experience. I’ve travelled extensively all over the world and I’ve never been to one of these things. It’s very different. (This is) a very emotional experience.” Pow-wows are held throughout Ontario starting in May and continuing on through the Fall. For First Nations people it’s a chance to welcome visitors to their communities and show off their culture. Taking part in the Pow-wow, even as an observer, negates stereotypes in a powerful way. “I just think that (it’s) the perpetuity of what we do, preserving our way and (we’re) happy to show it to Summer 2013

Scan to see Pow-wow video http://delivr.com/2hxvz_qr

people who are interested instead of the stereotypical (images) you see on TV,” said Evelyn White Eyes, from Walpole Island First Nation. History ties the roots of the modern-day Pow-wow to ancient healing ceremonies, and gatherings of medicine men and spiritual leaders. Gatherings of this nature were outlawed by fearful colonial governments. The Grand River Pow-wow was born 30 years ago as way to preserve traditional teachings while promoting education and outreach to tourists. “It started when two families from this community came together to talk and reminisce about our heritage,” said Alan Emarthle, former tourism director. “It has grown into the largest celebration of our heritage anywhere.” Now, as the Pow-wow grows, so has a revitalization of native culture. 8 | Summer 2013

“One thing that helped me most is that I know my culture and I hold my own. I can speak from my heart,” said Pamela Chrisjohn during a visit recently from the Oneida reserve near London, Ontario. She said experiencing such cultural events helps children mold their identity. “Children of all colours are so bombarded by the media, they get confused. The advantage for Native children is they have events like this to go to and get to know their culture... It’s still a place people gather in a traditional way and the older people really inspire the children.” And though many start as children, just as many rediscover their native heritage through dancing later in life. Ron Mercier, for example, started dancing in his 40s.“I didn’t have much to do with my culture till about 25,” he said. But after making his regalia and jumping into the ring he hasn’t looked back.

The Pow-wow is launched with the Grand Entry and hundreds of dancers fill the grassy competition grounds behind the Eagle Staff. Before-hand dancers gather, catching up with what some call their “Pow-wow family” . “It’s hard to describe the feeling of dancing,” said Brian Hill, an Oneida man from Six Nations.“People have been dancing like this for thousands and thousands of years. Listening to the drum beat is akin to listening to a heartbeat.” Dancers wear bright colours, long shirts, pants, colourful dresses, and extravagant headdresses. The regalia is designed to catch the attention of judges while also telling the story of its wearer, illustrating traditional names, clans and nations. “Everything represents my clan, my tribe, my mother,” said Lisa Hill. “You can feel it from your toes to your hair.” Young ones toddle through the grass, doing their best to

keep the beat while young men and women sharpen their skills next to veteran dancers. Fast smoke dances, fancy dances, jingle bell dances, grass dances, and hoop dances are all given life inside the ring. Judges give points based on footwork and rhythm. “This is not a performance,” said Janelle Sandy of Six Nations. “Inter-tribal dancing and smoke dance competitions go on for two days, and the groups will be judged. But in their dancing, the spirit takes over. They’re dancing for their ancestors. In a Pow-wow it is not a show. They dance for them.” Everyone is invited to attend, join in the dancing at the end of the day and experience First Nations culture, storytelling, food and a vibrant marketplace filled with crafts, clothing, jewelry and .... lots of fun! • Find a Pow-wow near you: roamontario.ca/see/ powwows TURTLE ISLAND NEWS is Canada’s only national native weekly newspaper, published every week at the Grand River Territory of the Six Nations in southern Ontario. It is a politically independent newspaper that is wholly owned and operated by Aboriginal People.

Above: A traditional da ncer displays the excit ement of the hunt. Photos by Jim C Powle ss-Moses, Turtle Island News

The story of the hunt in dance The dances at a Pow-wow weave an intricate story about First Nations culture. The Men’s Traditional Dance, for instance, often portrays hunting skills in a story being told through dance. It is an excitingly elaborate competition that is fast, demanding and exciting with calls from dancers echoing in the dance arena. The regalia is often dripping with feathers, leather and beadwork and colour. The dancers wear bone-beaded breast plates, war shields and some may even paint their faces in a multitude of colours and patterns that transport the onlooker back in time to the anticipation of warriors tracking a herd for

days before coming upon it. Men wear a single feather bustle. Some spend years assembling their regalia, gathering different accessories to wear on their outfits. A dancer’s regalia is considered sacred to the dancer and is treated with respect by him, or her, and by others on the Pow-wow trail. Some wear their regalia to represent their clan – that could be wolf, bear, turtle snipe or eel depending on the Nation. The dance steps themselves are a portrayal of a day gone by. They exhibit an older style of dance when pow wow gatherings were still young. Summer 2013

Grand Prize! 30” Stainless Steel Crown Verity BBQ Grill

Wherever you ROAM this summer, share your photos for a chance to win great prizes! The Summer’s Sizzling Grand Prize is a 30” stainless steel Crown Verity BBQ Grill (Estimated retail value $2,950) – the backyard barbecue that is designed to last a lifetime. Crown Verity uses stainless steel components throughout, giving unparalleled durability and ease of cleaning. Plus your barbecue comes fully assembled! Just unpack and start cooking.

10 | Summer 2013

We’ll also be awarding weekly prizes. Simply submit your photo in one of three categories and you’re automatically entered to win one of 12 weekly prizes including a Niagara helicopter tour for two, Pioneer Gift Cards and more!

Categories: Summer Fun; Travelling with ROAM (photos showing ROAM magazine with you on holiday); Summer Landscapes.

Entries will be published online at roamontario.ca prior to the announcement of each weekly winner. The Grand Prize will be awarded within two weeks of contest closing. Submit your entries at roamontario.ca Full contest details, rules and regulations and a regularly updated prize list at roamontario.ca. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

Zipping through the treetops

Right: Eileen Johnston gets ready for the first of eight ziplines on her adventure. Below: GM Steve Martin in the observatory.

Imagine spending more than two hours gliding through the tree tops on a canopy tour adventure that includes eight zip lines and two suspension bridges before finishing up with a 40-foot rappel back to mother Earth

Eileen Johnston of Trenton imagined it, making it her top pick in ROAM’s Great Ontario Bucket List Contest last fall. The Long Point EcoAdventures experience was the #2 pick in our Bucket List Contest, surpassed narrowly by the Niagara Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours. On a recent Saturday, Eileen checked ziplining off her personal Bucket List and says it was thrilling. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but it was an amazing experience,” recounted Eileen, who shared her prize with friend

12 | Summer 2013

Ron Reilly. “The guides were excellent and their enthusiasm was contagious keeping us all at ease throughout this exhilirating experience. They were also very knowledgeable about the area, giving us a lot of information about native plant and wildlife.”

The facility is paired with Burning Kiln Winery, a revitalized tabacco farm that is now home to award-winning wines. “We like to think of it as ‘zip and sip’,” says Long Point Eco-Adventures enthusiastic General Manager Steve Martin.

Long Point Eco-Adventures has grown rapidly since opening in 2009 with just eight employees. Today, the facility employs almost 50 people, offering up a variety of activities including mountain biking on nearly 90 kilometres of trails, kayak adventures and Observatory Stargazing Tours.

Although it takes its name from the iconic sand spit that extends some 40 kilometres out into nearby Lake Erie, Long Point Eco-Adventures is actually located in St. Williams. The facility was the brainchild of two local mountain biking enthusiasts. Mike McArther,

a specialist in criminal law, envisioned zip lines on the 37-acre tract of land he discovered while sailing nearby. His partner, Dave Pond, a business entrepreneur, wanted an observatory (the land is situated in one of Ontario’s dark zones.) The facility includes custom-designed wilderness suites - luxurious tented accommodations with hardwood floors, King and Queen beds and full bathroom facilities including flush toilets and hot/cold running water. •

Above: Eileen Johnston, right, with her guest, Ron Reilly, far left, and Steve Martin, GM of Long Point Eco-Adventures.

For more information, visit lpfun.ca.

Summer 2013

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Magical Manitoulin Escape to the world’s largest freshwater island...

and settle in to ‘island time’

By Tyrone Burke

The mercury’s pushing 30˚C as we make our way up the Cup and Saucer trail, but there’s still snow in narrow canyons high on Manitoulin Island. The rock walls offer generous shade so the snow melts slowly. The Cup and Saucer, one of the highlights of any Manitoulin visit, winds through forests of pine and birch to the highest point on the world’s largest freshwater island. The popular hike is signed at the side of Highway 540 in Cold Springs. It isn’t a strenuous walk, but this trail spans a dramatic change in scenery. At left, the flat-topped ridge of the Niagara Escarpment affords spectacular views. Above right, the roadside Bridal Veil Falls in Kagawong. Below, the MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry on its two-hour trip from Tobermory to Manitoulin Island. Photos courtesy of the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership.

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Adventure Trail. Not for the faint of heart, the rugged 500-metre trail ascends and descends the cliffs via roughhewn ladders bolted into the sheer limestone. It’s easy to see how Manitoulin earned its name, an Ojibway word meaning “island of spirits”.

“This place is the beginning of the true north,” says longFrom the flat-topped ridge time Manitoulin cottager of the Niagara Escarpment, Karen Brouwer. “It’s the little views above the treetops things that make the island seem to stretch forever. special. Like taking the ferry Georgian Bay sparkles on the to get here, and the slower horizon, and you can pass pace of island life – what we a long while just counting call island time. islands in the lakes on this “It’s the quiet country roads, island in a lake. There are and farms with old cedar dozens. post fences. It’s stopping at My son Sonam and I have roadside waterfalls like branched off to tackle the Summer 2013 | 15

Manitoulin...an Ojibway word meaning

Bridal Veil Falls in Kagawong. Manitoulin still looks like much of Ontario did 50 years ago, before we started to mess everything up.”

for the two-hour trip to get here (four times daily in summer, $45 per vehicle, $16.50 for adult passengers on foot).

Those bucolic back-roads cutting through the 160-kilometre long island’s patchwork of farm and forest transport you back in time. There are no drive-thrus on Manitoulin, no traffic jams, and you won’t likely hear a car horn honk, at least not if there’s a local behind the wheel. It’s an (almost) perfect place to hop on a bike. Major roads can be busy and mostly don’t have paved shoulders.

The water is so clear you can see the sunlight dance on the scales of fish swimming in the distance, and the patterns on stones sitting 15 metres deep.

Sitting on the rocks at the Mississagi lighthouse on the island’s far northern tip, looking out at Lake Huron to our left and the cool waters of the North Channel to our right, we watch as gulls pluck one fish after another from the lake’s cobalt waters. Nearby fishermen eye their catch enviously, their rods unbowed by a single nibble.

The best way to experience the water’s magic is to get out on top of it. Many of the island’s inns and resorts rent canoes and kayaks on site, and if you’ve got your own, the possibilities to explore Manitoulin’s intricately carved shoreline and 108 interior lakes are virtually endless.

“island of spirits”. The roadside scenery is ever changing. A long, slow climb ends in a panorama of Georgian Bay from the long-defunct Jesuit mission at Ten Mile Point. Kagawong’s Bridal Veil Falls offers a chance to shower the The Little Current Swing Bridge offers the summer heat away in the spray of a waterfall only land access to Manitoulin. plunge, and Dreamer’s Rock lets you put the bike down and scramble to the top of Shining Turtle, also known as Franklin a sacred Ojibway vision quest site. Paibomsai. Out of the respect for First Nations culture, “Native youth from the surrounding area it’s necessary to stop at the Whitefish River were sent to the summit where they fasted, First Nation’s office to ask permission to and through dreams, received powers from climb the granite outcrop first (17A Rainbow a ‘guardian spirit.’ The spirit would advise Ridge Road). But Dreamer’s Rock is worth them of their calling, and with help from the this minor logistical hurdle. Located just to elders and the medicine man, the dreamer the east of the swing bridge in Little Current would interpret his dreams.” that serves as the island’s fixed link with The 360˚ view from Dreamer’s Rock takes the rest of Ontario, the rock is one in the island, the lake, and the mainland’s of Manitoulin’s – and Ontario’s – most La Cloche Mountains. Their quartzite stone special places. twinkles in the sun. It was in these low (but “For the Anishinabek, Dreamer’s Rock dramatic) hills that A.Y. Jackson painted the provided an ideal site for solitary fasting,” landscapes that came to typify Canadian says Whitefish River First Nation’s Chief scenery, but their iron-streaked stone and gnarly pines are anything but typical.

Lake Huron is enormous – at nearly 60,000 square kilometres it’s larger than Croatia – but today it’s as smooth as glass.

These are some of the oldest mountains in the world. Timeless, eternal and contemplative, the La Cloche range holds some of this province’s finest scenery. Settle in for a while and enjoy the view. Dare to dream a little bit. After all, you don’t have anywhere to go just yet. You’re on island time now. •

Yet the most striking feature of the waters around the island isn’t their aura of serenity, it’s their near-perfect clarity. You notice it the moment you step on the ferry in Tobermory

Tyrone Burke is a writer and editor with Canadian Geographic who has been meaning to go to Manitoulin Island for years. He finally went. You should too.

16 | Summer 2013

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While in Manitoulin... Where to eat

Carol and Earl’s If you’re in the mood for country cooking in a friendly setting, this affordable diner is one of the first places you’ll come to after you get off the ferry. Its highly rated on Trip Advisor. manitoulin-island.com/ south_baymouth/carol_earl.html Three Cows and a Cone On hot summer days, nothing tastes quite as delectable as an ice cream cone. Grab one from this Little Current establishment and take a stroll on the town’s waterfront boardwalk. Garden’s Gate If ever you should tire of gazing upon Georgian Bay, check out this café in a garden setting far away from the water near Tehkummah. Vegetarian options available. manitoulin-island.com/ gardensgate/

Where to shop

Ten Mile Point Trading Post and Gallery Owned by George and Charlotte Wigel, the trading post sells and displays the island’s rich artistic traditions. It’s well signed on Highway 6 between Manitowaning and Little Current, and it’s a great place to get a sense of the local art scene. tinyurl.com/p5zc8ee Turners of Little Current This island institution has been familyowned since 1879. Its densely packed aisles and smiling service are reminiscent of an era of retail that’s long been lost in most of the province. turners.ca 18 | Summer 2013

Where to sleep

Batman’s Cabins and Campground This campground located on Sheguiandah Bay was founded in the 1960s by the extraordinarily named Ralph Batman. It offers 150 campsites and rents cabins by the night and the week. batmanscamping.com Buckhorn Motel Just got off the ferry and searching for a place to stay? Try the Buckhorn. The motel’s friendly staff will rent you a room and is only too happy to offer up advice on how to make the most of your time exploring the island. buckhornmotel.com Silver Birches Resort If you’re looking to kick back, relax and stare at the lake, check out this 350-acre resort near Little Current. With 3,800 feet of Manitoulin’s rocky shoreline at your doorstep and a near constant breeze off the lake, you might never leave. silverbirchesresort.com

® Trade-mark owned or used under license by/Marque de commerce detenue ou utilisee sous licence par Unilever Canada, Toronto, Ontario M4W 3R2

“Every night is different and there is always something new, whether it’s the drivers, the race, or the events, ” she says. “The track makes for an outstanding family Sunset Speedway puts race fans behind the wheel of a 550 horsepower NASCAR stock car with its Mark Dilley Driving Experience program, which has been ongoing since 1999.

Start your Engines! Did you know that stock car racing is the most-watched sport in the world? Start your engines and head trackside to find out what the buzz is all about.

The rumble of engines rattles the air, sonic waves vibrate your whole body, and tires screech as drivers compete for position on banked curves.

these modern-day racetrack “gladiators”, says Gerald Fruehwirth, marketing manager at Sunset International Speedway in Innisfil.

Add in the pitch of the crowd’s cheers as cars speed by and your heart will be racing faster than the souped-up stallions of

“Racetracks offer families a chance to see real, live entertainment that is not staged,” he says.

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Amanda Abram has been going to the track since she was a little girl – first as a spectator, then as a driver herself. Now a mom, she is no longer behind the wheel but in the grandstands with her children. She says the racetrack is a great place for families to spend a day or evening together.

attraction because they welcome everybody.” Abram loved her days behind the wheel and would recommend the experience to everyone. “The competition was intense and the drive was incredible,” she says. “Being one of the few female drivers on the track, the racing was very competitive.”

If you have ever wanted to get behind the wheel, Ontario’s tracks offer several programs for aspiring drivers, including Sunset’s Mark Dilley Corporate Driving Experience, where you can learn how to drive on the track. The package includes a record of all laps, helmet and driver’s suit for the day, lunch, photography, a gift bag and access to 550hp stock cars. Mark Dilley is one of Canada’s top NASCAR drivers and has competed all over North America over the last 30 years. He currently competes in the 2013 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series across Canada. “I wanted to give people the opportunity to be able to feel what I have been fortunate enough to

feel every weekend over the last 30 years,” he says of his rationale behind the school. The track also hosts the Canadian Karting League, which teaches kids eight and up to drive competitively. Race tracks in Ontario range from drag strips and kart tracks to oval tracks and road courses. There are about 20 oval racetracks in Ontario. “We are recognized as the best third-of-a-mile high-banked, paved oval race track in Ontario, as each corner is slightly different,” says Fruehwirth, adding the track was recently upgraded. The greater the degree of banking, the faster the cars can go around the turns. The track, just 40 minutes from Toronto, has seen legends like NASCAR drivers Mark

t as drivers of the excitemen d equipment Crashes are part y’s speedways an da To . es rv cu on ion spectators. d sit an po r rs jockey fo ty for both drive fe sa re su en to are designed Summer 2013 | 21

year’s et” Rusnell, last d flag with a Randy “The Rock up the checkere ks pic n, pio am d. hin be Super Stock Ch wd r and cheering cro thrilled youngste

Dilley, Peter Gibbons and Kerry Micks, Junior Hanley and Don Biederman.

Scan for exciting race video.

“The cars pump out over 800 horsepower and reach speeds of over 225 kilometres per hour.”

http://delivr.com/2aqmh_qr

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The weekly races are for Late Models (LM), Super Stock (SS), also known as Thunder Cars, and Mini Stock (MS), also known as four-cylinders. The progression from each class hosts over 100 of the top drivers in Ontario. Fruehwirth says the ISMA (International Supermodified Association) race August 18 at Sunset Speedway is not to be missed. “They are the fastest thing on four wheels on a short oval track. It is the pinnacle for speed on a one-third-mile oval. ” The cars pump out over 800 horsepower and reach speeds of over 225 kilometres per hour. Kids 11 and under are always free!

Abram says the show is not to be missed. “The track is fun, the driving is intense, the drivers are all very good, they race hard and all of this makes for an outstanding show,” she says. “Each division will keep you on your toes to see who crosses that finish line,” she says. “The track is a great family event – it’s my home on a Saturday night!” • Visit sunsetspeedway.ca for this summer’s racing schedule. Find a full listing of racetracks in Ontario: na-motorsports.com/Tracks/ CAN/ONT View event listings with the Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs Ontario Region: casc.on.ca Summer 2013

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Coasting along the

South Coast By Victoria Ford

Picture this – white sandy beaches, quaint port towns, eco adventures, vast Carolinian forests, beautiful scenic drives, and festivals and events galore.

Above: Lake Erie’s Norfolk and Elgin coastline is picturesque. Right top: Trails through ancient Carolinian forests are great for cycling and hiking. Bottom right: Kayakers explore creek near Long Point. Bottom: Discover historic architecture throughout the area.

Photos courtesy of Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation

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http://delivr.com/2nsds_qr

Scan for Longpoint video.

Sound idyllic? Wondering what you need to do to get there? Other than packing up your gear, planning your route and fuelling your car, you’ll be amazed at just how close Ontario’s spectacular South Coast really is. “I think our best kept secret is that we’re actually so much closer than most people think,” offers Ted Willey, Business Development Coordinator, Tourism & Economic Development, Norfolk County. “Especially for those living in the GTA. We’re less than two hours away and a much easier drive south than what many people put up with to go north to the Muskokas.” While you can access the counties quickly by the

401, it’s the scenic drives that allow you to really get a feel for both the local environment and communities. So diverse are these areas, that in 1986, more than 40,000 hectares of Norfolk County (namely Long Point) were designated a United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) biosphere reserve. With maps and trails aplenty, each and every trip to the area brings you across

diverse species of plants, fish, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and butterflies. This rich ecosystem of coastal reserve and temperate Carolinian forests is both unique and awe-inspiring. This summer, bypass the fast lane and wind your way along Lakeshore and Front roads, where breathtaking views of the waterfront, dense forestation, and beautiful farming countryside overlap. But, the panoramic views aren’t the

only draw – the destinations found in Norfolk and Elgin counties are sure to please all types of vacationers. A cursory glance at the Elgin (elgincounty.ca) and Norfolk (norfolkcounty.ca) Counties’ websites will give you your first glimpse into these hidden gems. “Our natural beauty is high on most people’s list of what sets Norfolk apart,” continues Willey. “We have some of the greatest beaches I’ve ever seen. White sand and shallow blue water make for wonderful spots to spend the day and beat the heat. Each of our many beaches has its own particular rhythm and vibe – some catering more to families and some to a younger crowd.”

Scan for port stanley video.

A trip through these counties brings you to Port Dover, Turkey Point, Long Point, Port Stanley, Port Rowan, Port Bruce, Port Burwell, Port Glasgow and more.

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Looking for a place to stay? The choices are as diverse as the beaches: cottages and campgrounds, bed and breakfasts and glamour camping suites – there’s a getaway to suit any budget and taste. One such place is The Windjammer Inn in the heart of Port Stanley, offering the comforts of a B&B with award-winning cuisine, all nestled into a preConfederation home close to the beach and the town’s amenities. Said one guest on Trip Advisor: “I really can’t say enough about the food. It is of the kind of top-notch quality you don’t normally find in small towns like this.” You’d be remiss to not take advantage of all of the amazing things growing in this region. For the gastro-enthusiast, Savour Elgin (savourelgin.ca), was developed to promote and enhance culinary tourism in Elgin County and St. Thomas. “Savour Elgin is unique in that it includes the full value chain in the culinary tour,” says Kate Burns, Business Development Coordinator, Elgin Country. “Visitors can visit a farm and see how their food is grown, explore a winery or brewery and see how drinks are made, and

Right: Burning Kiln Winery captures ideal growing conditions on the coastline. Bottom: Quaint port towns add to the experience.

then shop at a market or dine in a restaurant to savour the local food.” Savour Elgin businesses must either grow/produce their own products, or in terms of restaurants, use at least 25 percent local products. Willey seems to be in agreement with Burns on this topic: “The diversity of our agriculture is pretty amazing, in that we grow all sorts of produce from peanuts to hops for local beer.” One local brewery is winning rave reviews. Railway City Brewing Company of St. Thomas is expanding this year to meet demand for its small-batch, handcrafted brews.

“We pride ourselves in featuring as many local ingredients as possible in our beer, including locally grown hops, apples, honey and even pears,” says Paul Corriveau, VP, Sales and

Marketing. The expansion includes larger production facilities, more retail space and a tasting room large enough for special events. Be sure to stop in for a tour and sampling - you may want to take home some unique concoctions like Dead Elephant Beer, Iron Spike Blonde Ale and Black Coal Stout. Where to start? “The culinary tour is a yearround route,” Burns explains. This trail map leads visitors to some of the best restaurants, farms, wineries, breweries, and other food and drink attractions that are local and unique to the area; be sure to check for availability though, as participant hours vary. Savour Elgin is a great way to be introduced to microbreweries, fine local

foods and wines from the region. And you thought you had to go to Niagara for that! “Geographically, we are further south from a latitude perspective, so our growing season is longer than that in Niagara,” says Doug Beatty Vice President and General Manager of Burning Kiln Winery, when asked what makes the area so great for wine. “Secondly, we have southern exposure to Lake Erie, which moderates temperatures and our vineyard soils are loamy fine sand ... perfect for growing key vinifera grape varietals.” As you travel along Ontario’s South Coast you’ll come across a number of port towns – each stop bringing you in touch with something special. A trip to Port Dover, for example, wouldn’t be Summer 2013 | 27

Scan for elgin railway museum video.

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complete without fresh perch and a ride on the classic carousel. Of course, you can always check out the hogs on a Friday the 13th (September or December this year), or take in a show at the Lighthouse Festival Theatre.

railway heritage to life.

Turkey Point provides fabulous family swimming, golf and camping, while Long Point offers EcoAdventures (see page 12), maps of ghost ships, and a traditional boardwalk arcade. Plan a trip to St. Thomas to see the Railway Museum (ecrm5700.org); from models to full-scale historic trains, this museum brings Ontario’s

The counties also have a long list of summer festivals – from music to War of 1812 reenactments, and food to airshows. Whether you’re coming for the beaches or forest trails, gastro walks or quaint waterfront towns, there’s something for everyone to experience along Ontario’s South Coast. •