Located 300km from Toronto, Tobermory is a popular summer destination for weekend getaways. Indeed, this port village is situated on the Bruce Peninsula, which offers a wealth of hiking and outdoor activities. In this article, I detail my 3-day itinerary in the Bruce Peninsula, day by day and share with you the things to see in Tobermory.

Day 1: Arrival in Tobermory and visit The Grotto

September 9, 2022 | Temperature: 13°/26°C | Weather: Sunny

Depart from Toronto, direction Tobermory

Departure at 8 a.m. sharp in our rental car picked up in Toronto. Once out of the city, we discover the Canadian countryside. We practically have the road to ourselves, and thankfully so! The last 80km are on a single-lane road. We arrive at our hotel, Escarpment Heights, just before noon. Check-in is at 2 pm, so we decided to leave the car in the hotel parking lot and visit the village center.

We started with a stroll along the harbour, admiring the colourful fishing boats and quaint stores. The fresh sea air immediately gave us a feeling of freedom and escape. With the sea air whetting our appetites (no, I’m not going to lie, I was extremely hungry), we decided to try the famous fish and chips. It was easy and filling!

Then we went back to our hotel to check-in. The person at reception was rather cold but gave us all the information we needed. We had booked “The Queen Room“, which looked just like the photos, except for… the huge concentration of spiders! If it makes you feel any better, there were a lot more outside (OK, I don’t think that’s very reassuring). For the anecdote, we would “run” once the bedroom door was open to get into the room as quickly as possible without inviting all the spiders inside. Yes, you can judge us.

The Grotto: a must things to see in Tobermory

To recover from our emotions, we head for The Grotto. This site is very popular for its turquoise lake and magnificent grotto. It is one of the main things to see in Tobermory! A victim of its success, you’ll need to reserve parking in advance to gain access. For C$21.75 per vehicle, you’ll be allowed to stay on-site for 4 hours.

We followed the Georgian Bay Trail: The Grotto and Horse Lake (3.9km – 62m elevation gain). This is an easy hike that took us right up to The Grotto. Luckily, we had taken the last slot of the day, which limited the number of people at this spot. Unfortunately, as I hadn’t brought my swimsuit, I wasn’t able to enjoy the crystal-clear water.

Back to the parking lot and off to Tobermory. A small town means restaurants close early. In 2022, they closed at around 8 pm. That evening, we ate at the Tobermory Brewing Co. & Grill. I had the Chicken Sandwich, which was really good!

Day 2: Exploring the Bruce Peninsula

September 10, 2022 | Temperature: 16°/28°C | Weather: Sunny/cloudy

On the second day, we decided to explore the Bruce Peninsula, with a big hike in Lion’s Head Nature Reserve. But before that, we went to Craigie’s Harbourview, which serves breakfast. Unfortunately, it’s now closed for good.

After running a few errands to buy something to eat during the hike, we headed for Lion’s Head. A 35-minute drive away, we parked for free on Main Street. Now it’s on to the start of the Lion’s Head Loop via Bruce Trail (15.9km – 413m elevation gain). The main trail is well-signposted. Running all the way along Georgian Bay, you’ll have plenty of great views of the bay!

Nevertheless, we realized that we wouldn’t have the time (and the courage) to complete it in its entirety. So, a little disappointed, we took a side trail back to our starting point. To our surprise, this path is much narrower than the main one. Now we’re really walking through the forest, and we’d not be surprised to see snakes or even a bear!

After almost 7 hours of non-stop walking, we were exhausted when we got back to the car and headed for Tobermory. For our last evening, we take the opportunity to eat and have a drink on the rooftop of the Crowsnest Pub. This pub is very nice and offers all the classic food you’d expect to find in a pub.

It’s with full bellies that we head back to our room (and our spiders) for a well-deserved night’s sleep.

Day 3: Back to Toronto

September 11, 2022 | Temperature: 19°/26°C | Weather: Cloudy

After a good night’s sleep, we woke up one last time in Tobermory. After a final breakfast at Craigie’s Harbourview and a final stroll around the harbour, we left the Bruce Peninsula for Toronto to return to the hustle and bustle of the city.

What we spent on our weekend in the Bruce Peninsula

Below is a summary of our budget for 2 1/2 days on the Bruce Peninsula. Of course, a budget is personal and depends on the activities and the way you travel. Nevertheless, I hope this gives you an idea of how to prepare your budget.

This getaway allowed us to recharge our batteries in the middle of nature. This weekend in the Bruce Peninsula was a breath of fresh air and the opportunity to do my first hikes! Just a 4-hour drive from Toronto, it’s a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, relax and enjoy nature. Has this inspired you to discover the region? If you have already travelled to Tobermory, what are, in your opinion, the things to see?

La Bise,