There are some incredible regions just a few hours outside Toronto. While most people head west for the Niagara Region or east for Prince Edward County they forget that Grey County is just north of the city and has so many great things to do.
I haven’t been traveling much as our restaurant Loka is only a few months old and it requires a lot of time and energy but I miss the thrill of the unfamiliar and I was able to sneak away for a couple days on my own. I’ve been here a few times but these are my latest picks for Grey County:
Grey County Eats
Fresh food straight from the farms, Grey County has so much to eat and drink. I’ve previously written about where to eat and drink in Grey County and I have to update the list to include Caseros, which was once a taco bus at Sauble Beach and has now expanded to include a bricks and mortar restaurant in Owen Sound. I love that they know enough to double stack the taco shell but also innovate with awesome flavours like roasted beets.
If you’re looking for more fine dining Andrew’s Roots in Meaford is great and part of the Apple Pie Trail.
Country Fresh Air
The Home of Waterfalls
There are 10 great waterfalls in Grey County that are quite accessible – seven are still available to visit in the winter.
I wasn’t totally keen for a spring hike as I’m a pansy and I didn’t know how much mud there would be but Jones Falls has a partial boardwalk and Inglis Falls at the Georgian Bluffs was a five minute hike in. Maybe I shouldn’t be such a hiking hater as these were both worth the walk.
Waterfall Bonus I stayed the night at The Falls Inn where my room overlooked Walter’s Falls, it’s very romantic and so relaxing to fall asleep to the sound of a waterfall.
Digital Detox in Grey County
Restorative Hot Rock Yoga at IWA Spa in Blue Mountain
I’ve done a lot of yoga around the world but never on volcanic rock. This is not an extreme form of yoga, quite the opposite and more like what other studios call a yin practice. Never standing, you sit or lay on the warm rock and is not too strenuous, which is great for people at different activity levels.
Located in Blue Mountains Village, it was a great start to the day in a beautiful setting.
Scandinave Spa
Scandinave is a Nordic spa located in the forest overlooking the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve Niagara Escarpment. Talking above a whisper is not permitted and the experience includes a Finnish sauna, Eucalyptus steam room and a series of pools that are hot to freezing cold. Although in a finnish sauna in Finland is nude, clothing is required here.
Go during a weekday to avoid the crowds. You can plan a day here as there is food and drink but bring your own flip flops and bathrobe to spa like a pro. I went after the volcanic rocks yoga and it was a perfect day of just relaxing and letting go of technology as neither spa allows phones.
Two nights was not long enough but Grey County is also home to so many great farmers I know Dave and I will be up over the summer to check out more food.
Disclosure: This post was a partnership with Grey County, Dave and I are such huge proponents of the region I feel like we’re unofficial ambassadors.
A Toronto Escape: Spring in Grey County is a post from: Bacon is Magic