To all the Canadians I would like to wish you a belated happy Canada Day. I was too busy spending the past 3 days in Tobermory, which in my opinion is the best way to celebrate Canada Day. I am in Canada right now for a holiday and to see some of my partners family. they were kind enough to include us on their trip up to the Bruce Peninsula and I thought I would share our itinerary as some inspiration for those interested or planning a trip in Ontario Canada. We spent a total of two night and three days there by booking a couple of Air BnB’s about 20 minutes outside of tobermory. In those days we visited the the grotto bruce peninsula national park, Lionshead Lookout over Lake Heron and went to Flowerpot Island.
Day 1: Arriving in Tobermory
We set of on our drive nice and early at about 7 a.m. so we would still have time to enjoy the day as we were going from Sarnia Ontario, and the drive was about 3.5 hours. This also gave us time to stop for Breakfast in a cute little diner style restaurant in Goderich. Once we were fueld up we planned to go straight to Fathom Five National Marine Park and take the Bruce Anchor Cruise. This takes you to view a shipwreck and then across Lake Heron over to Flowerpot Island.
Flowerpot Island
Tickets to the island and the shipwreck viewing came to a total of $71 CAD per person plus tax. Due to the steep price we wanted to make thye most of it without spending all evening there. We boarded the 2:30 cruise and had two full hours on the island until returning on the 5:30 cruise. This gave us enough time to do the full hike loop, check out the flowerpots, the cave and even dip our toes into the chilly water. The first part of the hike is very easy and then if you want a bit of a challenge you can do the full loop which brings you back on the a difficult trail or you could do it the other way around.
It’s important to note that in order to check-in for the boat cruise the ticket buyer must have the card they used to purchase the ticket, some ID and of course the tickets.
If you want more information before booking your trip, check out Things to Do in Fathom Five National Marine Park on the Canadian Government website here.
Once we returned from the island we drove to check-in to our Air BnB’s and made dinner there to avoid the expense of eating in Tobermory. We concluded the night by making smores over the fire outside and finished the night of with some boardgames. In order to have a fire in Tobermory you or your accommodation provider must have a permit. So be sure to do your research first and always follow local guidelines before lighting a fire.
Day 2: Canada Day
We had another early start on our second day for two reasons:
- It was Canada day so we wanted to get back to get the festivities (drinking) underway
- We did the Lions Head Lookout and in order to keep our all-day parking we had to arrive by 10 a.m.
Lions Head Lookout was a great way to spend Canada Day. This is a fairly moderate hike with some uneven ground and steep rocks and incline but overall laid back and enjoyable experience. The trail to the lookout and back is two hours or you can do a loop around which would take about five.
Lions Head Lookout
The trail offers fantastic viewpoints with breathtaking sights of Lake Heron and excellent photo chances. On a bright day, look southward from the cliffs to spot Cape Dundas and Barrier Island; to the north, you’ll observe the cliffs of White Bluff, Cape Chin, and Cabot Head.
The Lion’s Head Trail features two loops, the main path and an inland route, totaling approximately 18 kilometers. The trails are identifiable by blue and white blazes. To begin your hike, leave your vehicle at the Bruce Trail Parking Lot located on McCurdy Drive Parkette.
Bring some lunch with you and plenty of water but remember to be bear aware and don’t leave any rubbish behind. You may come across both bears and rattlesnakes along the trail so be sure to checkout my ten tips for safer hiking. If you do plan to head to Lions Head Lookout, then make sure you pre-arrange your parking ahead of time. I’ll leave the link to the parking here
After the hike we were all tired and sweaty, we headed to the local ‘beach’ to dip our toes, cool off and then headed home to shower. I got into the true Canadian spirit that night and we had plenty of Creasers followed by a BBQ and drank the night away.
If you are unfamiliar with what a Caeser is it is essentially a spruced up Bloody Mary. Invented in Calgary Alberta the Caesar is the national drink of Canada. I will leave my Caeser recipe here for those that are curious.
Day 3: The Final Day
It was another early start, and we were definitely all feeling the consequences from our actions the night before. But today was the best day as we were heading to the Grotto in the Bruce Peninsula National Park for a hike and a swim. We had to get there early as the Grotto gets busy fast and many people spend a few hours there as each parking timeslot is four hours. There is a direct and flat trail to the Grotto which is about 20 minutes each way or you can take one of the more difficult paths around the lakes. This is what I did, and it took about 40 minutes to reach the Grotto.
the Grotto Bruce Peninsula National Park
Once you complete the walk there, there is a shoreline sea cave surrounded by beautiful crystal-clear blue water. From there you can get changed in the toilets and jump into the water but be warned the water is pretty cold so I would only recommend swimming on a nice sunny day. Otherwise, you can climb along the rocks and take in all the views. At one point you will come out on top of another cave. It is possible to get down to the water in the cave, but it is a steep decline so I would not recommend it unless you are used to rock scaling and have good sturdy shoes on.
After that we were feeling pretty hungry so we paid a visit to Shipwreck Lee’s for some lunch. They had a great selection of burgers, small bites and fish and chips. Once we had had our fill it was time to begin the 3.5-hour drive back home.
All in all it was a beautiful way to spend Canada Day and all the hikes and scenic views were perfect. Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any bears during our stay, but there was plenty of other wildlife that came out to say hello. We saw a shrew, plenty of snakes, turkey vultures and some little frogs too.
I hope this can act as a starting point for you, if you plan on spending 3 days in Tobermory. Or if not, perhaps I have inspired you to go.
