Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Santa Claus Parades


It’s that time of year again, when we get together with family, friends and neighbours line the main streets of our towns waiting with great anticipation for that jolly old guy in the red suit, you know the one I mean, why it’s Santa Claus of course! The communities in Bruce County get very involved in decking the halls, and ringing in the Christmas spirit each year. I know you want to be a part of it!

Here is a list of upcoming Santa Claus parades:
November 23-25th
Christmas in the Country at Saugeen Valley Conservation Headquaters - Hanover
November 24th
Port Elgin - 7:00pm
Sauble Beach – tree lighting ceremony - 7:00pm
November 30
Mildmay - Hanging of the Greens - 5:00pm
Paisley - 7:00pm
December 1st
Lion’s Head - 1:00pm
Wiarton - 7:00pm
December 2nd
Teeswater - 6:00pm
December 7th
Chesley - 7:00pm
Southampton - 7:00pm
December 8th
Tobermory - 1:00pm
Kincardine - 6:30pm

Monday, October 22, 2007

Adventure the Bruce Passport Contest


Autumn maybe hear, but don't let the colours fool you, we are having record-breaking temperatures! This is a great time of year to get out on the Bruce with your family and friends and take part in the Adventure the Bruce Passport Contest. You have until December 15th, that’s 54 days till it’s all over… You know you want to, so just get off the couch, grab your camera, water, snacks and head out on your adventure.

Visit Explore the Bruce for all your contest and tourist needs, and to print your copy of the adventure passport.

Look for these black boxes throughout the County and get punched!

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Upcoming Snowmobile Shows


Soon the leaves will be gone and the snow will be falling down on the Bruce. We love the snow here and look forward to getting out on the trails. Check out our site for all your riding needs this winter in Grey Bruce.

Here are a few upcoming shows you can check out:
September 28 - 30th
OFSC - Go Snowmobiling Show
Toronto Congress Centre on the Airport Strip
Drop by and say hello our booth is #500

October 12 -14th
Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV, & Power Sport Show
Toronto International Centre on Airport Road
Drop by and say hello our booth is # 3136

Take a look at the cool NEW Ontario Tourism outdoors website.

Pumpkinfest

pumpkinfest in port elgin
If there is a sure sign that the Fall Season has arrived in our area it is Pumpkinfest and all that it in tales... It happens each year on the first weekend in October in Port Elgin, they have some of the largest weigh ins in the world.

This year the dates are October 6 & 7th, there will be all kinds of great family events happening throughout the weekend in Pumpkinfest village, from Harvest Star Search and Family Entertainment Stage to the Cinderella Carriage Antique and Classic Car Show, large Craft Show, to the Elephant Rides and a HUGE tug of war. And this year we have added something new, our About Town Tours, which takes place on Saturday.

You never know what the weather will be, so layer up your friends and family and join in the fun all weekend long at Pumpkinfest!

If you take in the awesome car show make sure to drop by and say HI, we will be there on the corner of Green St and Hwy 21 with our Walkerton FJ Cruiser giving away Bruce County Swag and Tourist Info.

Happy Thanksgiving from us!

Friday, September 21, 2007

Foodlink Grey Bruce


We have developed a fabulous tool for you to find out everything you need to know about local food. Check out all we have to offer, our newest micro site will be very helpful if you want to learn and know about all that is local. The region is well known for beef, beer and apples, but we are about a whole lot more. You will be able to find a wide range of meats including bison and elk, mushrooms & garlic, and sweets like fudge and honey.

Check out our new site Foodlink Grey Bruce.

Here are is a link to a few blogs written about all the Regional Food Adventures , or Bison & Buttertarts

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Summer Wrap Up


Well it has been a great summer on the Bruce! The weather has been fabulous for spending time out and about checking out all the Bruce has to offer. I hope you and your family and friends got a chance to spent time exploring this wonderful place!?!

Even though Labour Day weekend has come and gone and the kids are back in school, there is still lots of time to take in the Bruce, this is a wonderful time of year to get out and see what we have to offer. From lighthouses, hiking the Bruce Tail, cycling at our mountain bike parks, experiencing Georgian Bay, shipwrecks, shoreline, and the Niagara Escarpment all on a glass bottom boat. You can visit the Bruce County Musuem & Cultural Centre, don't forget to watch the movie, it is awesome! The Parks Canada Visitor Centre is a great place to be this time of year, located in the Bruce Peninsula National Park you can check out all the animals that live in the park and throughout the Bruce, and they have all kinds of cool exhibits, take in their movie, climb the stairs at the lookout tower to check out the spectacular views and colour, this would be a must for fall adventure on my list!

You can take in fall festivals, our road side markets are overflowing with local harvest, and our backroads will be an abundance of mother nature's splended pallette of reds, oranges, golds, greens, and more. This is also a great time to paddle our rivers, the Saugeen, Sauble, Rankin, or some of our inland lakes, the colour will be amazing and it is a great way to spend quiet time on the Bruce.

Hope to see you on the Bruce this Autumn!

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Bruce County Plowing Match


Fall is in the air and what better way to kick it off then a plowing match! Bruce Counties match will be taking place on Friday August 31st!

Here are directions to the site, on the farm of Murray and Ken Thompson. Located on the south-west corner of Pine River at the intersection of Bruce Rd 6 (lines up with the village of Ripley) and Hwy 21...just south of Kincardine.

Schedule of events:
10:00am Horse, Antique, Reversible (New!) and Tractor Plowing Classes begin
11:00am Media Challenge Plowing and Ambassador Plowing Classes
12:00pm Beef BBQ featuring Bruce County Beef and Milk Products compliments of Gay Lea Foods.
Also at this time, Greetings from special guests and the Queen of the Furrow Speeches.
1:30pm Queen of the Furrow Plowing
3:00pm Crowning of 2007-2008 Bruce County Queen of the Furrow
All day long there will farm equipment and supply displays.

Come on out for all the fun!

Mark your calendar now because the 2008 International Plowing Match will be coming home to the Country, Bruce County Country that is! The event will take place on Wayne & Wendy Kague's Farm on Highway 4 at the northern edge of Teeswater.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Fall Fairs


It is that time of year again; towns across the Bruce are having their Annual Fall Fairs & Festivals! This is a great time to get out and take in all the small communities in the Bruce have to offer, the harvest season is just around the corner. And they start next weekend.



Here is a list:
Teeswater Fair is August 24-26th
Kincardine Fair is August 31 – September 3rd
Mildmay Fair is September 7 – 9th
Paisley Fair is September 11 –12th
Wiarton Fair is September 14 –16th
Ripley Fair is September 28 – 30th
Tobermory is having their Annual Ceilidth September 8th
Pumpkinfest happens in Port Elgin October 6- 7th
Walkerton – Little Royal Fair October 12- 14th

Mark your calendar now it is going to be a busy fall, with all these great fairs, spectacular fall call drives, artisans studio tours, hiking the Bruce, and exploring the Bruce through our Adventure Bruce Passport Contest you won’t want to miss any of it!

See you on the Bruce!

Friday, August 10, 2007

Sauble Sandfest


It's the height of summer and what better way to celebrate the heat then at Sauble Beach for their annual Sandfest which takes place Saturday August 11th!

People will be creating some very funky sand sculptures all day, the weather is going to be perfect. Lots of great fun can be had by everyone with so much to see and do at Sauble Beach.

Bring your friends, family, swim suit, and energy, spend sometime at Sauble Beach Amusements, play a round of mini golf, check out the shops, make sure to drop by Bruce County Nut & Fudge for some of their famous fudge and assorted treats! Lake Huron is a great place to swim, there are usually waves at the beach and lots of sand bars, swimming is a great way to beat the summer heat!

Ontario First Nation Pow-Wows


There are 2 weekends in Bruce County that feature First Nation Pow-Wows located in both Saugeen First Nation ( Southampton, Ontario ) and Cape Croker ( Just up the Bruce Peninula 15min).

The Saugeen First Nation's Pow-Wow happens August 11-12th at the Amphitheatre on the outskirts of Southampton check out their site for more details!

Cape Croker's Pow-Wow takes place August 18-19th at Cape Croker Indian Park about 25 minutes N.E. of Wiarton check out their site for more details!

It's a great way to spend time with family and friends and learn about our native traditions...

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Civic Holiday Weekend


This is one of the busiest long weekends in the Province and Bruce County is loaded with all kinds of great events to celebrate the holiday!
Here is a list of things going on in the Bruce:
Thursday night:
Classic Cruise Night happen at the Flag Pole in Southampton
Friday night:
Co-ed Volleyball Kincardine
Cruise Night in Kincardine
Storytelling at the Saugeen Amphitheate just outside of Southampton
All weekend:
Beef Fest in Paisley
Bruce Peninsula Art Show in Lion's Head
Rotary Village Fair - Wiarton
23rd Annual CFPS Chantry Chinook Chalssic Fishing Derby - Kincardine
Rocky River Cycling Festival - Durham
Quilt Show - Paisley
Saturday
Alstar Charity Motorcycle Ride - Starting at Sauble Speedway
Art on the Fence - Chantry Breezes B&B Southampton
Annual BBQ - Tobermory
Sunday
Lantern Festival - Southampton
Afro-Cuban Rhythms Concert - Kincardine
Friday & Saturday
there are outdoor markets in Paisley, Walkerton, Purple Valley & Kincardine.

You won't have a hard time finding great stuff to do, you can take in some of the best homecooking at our events! Check out our site for our full calendar of events!

Friday, July 27, 2007

Caving and Spelunking in Ontario


If you are looking for some great outdoor adventure on the Bruce this weekend, why not go Ontario Caving? The Bruce County area is home to many caves and caverns, to name a few, try Bruce's Caves just outside of Wiarton on Grey Rd 1.

Bruce's Caves Conservation Area derives its greatest significance from the unique cave formations found along the escarpment face. These caves were formed by the wave action of post-glacial Lake Algonquin, 7,000 to 8,000 years ago.

Also, check out Greig's Caves (see image), take Hwy 6 north of Wiarton to County Rd 9, take County Rd 9 to Scenic Caves Rd and then turn onto Rush Cove Rd and follow the signs. At Greig's Caves you can also enjoy breathtaking views from area Georgian Bay cottages as you walk along the pathway on top of the caves. There are many rare wildflowers and ferns to see, and lots of tunnels and caverns to explore. There are 12 natural limestone caves along a half mile trail 300 feet above Georgian Bay. Part of the movie Quest For Fire was filimed here in the 80's.

Head down country to 1 of the prettiest towns in Ontario Neustadt! There you can tour Neustadt Springs Brewery's famous underground caverns and even shop for some of the best micro brewed beer in the land.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Summer Festival


July 27 - 29th

The Hanover Sights & Sounds Festival is an annual event jam packed with music, friendship and family fun. It’s Hanover’s biggest summer block party!

Activities include…Battle of the Bands, Musical Variety Show featuring Larry Mercey, Band Tour, Car & Motorcycle Show, Sidewalk Sale, Music in the Square, Children’s Performers and more, Kidz Talent Show, Kinsemen Refreshment Tent, Music Trivia, Dinner BBQ and Street Dance…and much more.

So mark your calendar with all the above activities to do you will have a great weekend in and around the Bruce! Check out the Sights & Sounds website for more info.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Garden Touring in Grey Bruce


Grey Bruce is home to some of the most rare wildflowers in the world. With an abundance of flora and fauna, this is a photographers paradise.

Grey Bruce is also home to 34 private properties which open their doors to visitors from May - October, showcasing their array of spectacular landscape, displaying a large amount of assorted plants, flowers, art in the garden and more. Grey Bruce's soil count is #5, you will be able to chat with the owners of the garden to find out what works and what doesn't. Some of the gardens sell plants, and garden art.

While you are touring Grey Bruce watch out for the "Yellow Daisy" symbol at the end of the driveway, that is your ticket to know you are at one of the gardens on the tour! Check them out at Rural Gardens of Grey Bruce

Bring your camera!

Friday, July 06, 2007

Outdoor Summer Markets!


The Bruce is home to some of the best outdoor markets in the region. This summer while you are exploring the Bruce you can visit our markets to get all your fruits and veggies, most of them grown locally, and you will find lots of treasures too!

Here is a list:
Mondays in Kincardine
Tuesdays in Keady
Wednesdays in Port Elgin
Fridays in Purple Valley
Saturdays in Walkerton

If you are a regular visitor to the Bruce, mark your calendar so you can load up on all the Bruce has to offer. If you are a first timer, you won't want to miss these summer traditions on the Bruce!

Monday, July 02, 2007

Happy Birthday Canada!


The weather could not have been better for our country's birthday bash this weekend! The night sky was sparkling and full of colour all over the Bruce last night with fireworks celebrating the holiday. Hope you got out and about with your family and friends to take it all in! Here is one of the images I took at the show!

There are hundreds of great events taking place throughout the Bruce this summer, check out our event calendar to find out what is going on, you won't want to miss all the cool fun you can have, while you are exploring the Bruce!

Friday, June 29, 2007

Adventure the Bruce Passport Contest


The summer is here, the kids are out of school, I know you are thinking of things to do with your family and friends, what better way to explore the Bruce then with our Adventure Passport Contest. You will get to see all kinds of neat and cool places, you never knew existed in the Bruce! YOU are the reason we do our contest, we want you, your family and your friends to check out all the Bruce has to offer, lots of awesome adventure awaits you this summer!

Check out our site for all the details and a printer friendly version of the passport, or you can order your passport online.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

First Day of Summer


Summer is officially here! School is wrapping up, it’s a great time to be out about on the Bruce!

Sauble Beach is having a party this weekend to celebrate summer, come on out and join in the fun on the beach. There will be all kinds of things going on, BBQ’s, Live Music, swimming, tanning, and much more, check out sauble beach for all the details.

Look for our summer patrol at the beach, Aly will be driving around in our Walkerton Toyota FJ Cruiser giving out VIP passports, walking stick, and FREE punches for our Adventure the Bruce Passport Contest! Check out www.explorethebruce.com/passport for all the details.

Hope to see you at the Beach!

Thursday, June 07, 2007

LIVE CHAT


Ahhhh, the wonders of the Internet, while you are surfing our site checking out all the cool stuff there is to do in the Bruce, feel free to ask me questions along the way! You can chat with me anytime by returning to the homepage and clicking on the link with the ? on it!

I can help you plan your trip with things to do from the Tip of the Bruce in Tobermory to the bottom of the coastline at Point Clark and all the great destinations in between! We have info on the Bruce Trail, hiking, cycling, mountain biking, paddling, scuba diving, fishing, golfing, motorcycling, beaches, shopping and so much more.

Don’t forget our self-guided tours we offer for lighthouses & gardens. There is something for everyone in your group to explore and enjoy on the Bruce!

Your adventure starts now…

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Wildflowers of the Peninsula


If you are a photography or just love to be outdoors this time of year, learning and taking in all mother nature has to offer, then mark your calendar because you won't want to miss out on this weekend, of photo touring with Ethan Meleg. Ethan is a nature guru, check out his site for all the details of the workshop he is offering.

Are you ready for the best blooms, at the best locations, at one of the best wildflower photography hotspots in Ontario? If so this is the place to be June 9 - 10th!

Monday, May 21, 2007

Huron Fringe Birding Festival


This is a great time of the year to get outdoors and take in some awesome bird watching. Each year MacGregor Point Provincial Park just S of Port Elgin hosts the Huron Fringe Birding Festival with the arrival of Spring, that means the arrival of a variety of birds to the Bruce, and you can tour the park with guides or on your own and take in the splendor of wildlife.

The festival takes place May 25th to 28th and May 31st to June 3rd, 2007. This is the 10th Anniversary for the festival. Bring your cameras, binoculars and enjoy the park!

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Vicitoria Day Ontario Fireworks



Wow, can you believe it is the first long weekend of the summer in Ontario? Victoria Day is a great reason to not only celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday, but to also kick off the summer in style across Bruce County.

There are lots of events going on throughout the Bruce this weekend, check out our Bruce County Event Calendar for all the details.

Sunday night at the Saugeen Amphitheatre just E of Southampton you can take in some awesome fireworks, they will fill the night sky with spectacular colors, and the reflection off the Saugeen River is quite breathtaking. Make sure to get there early, bring your family and friends. You might want to bring a blanket along so you can enjoy the show from the lawn.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Adventure Passport 2007 Self Guided Tour Contest



Our 2007 Adventure Passport Contest starts mid May and runs until mid December almost every year, it is more challenging this year, you asked for it and we listened!

There are a number of ways to win, Snowshoe prize, Full completion prize, Family prize, Teen prize, Kids prize, VIP- Romantic prize, and this year we even have an Ontario Motorcycle Touring prize! Check out our top Ontario Outdoor Contest page for all the details.

Soooooooo, take advantage of this great contest, head out on the Bruce with your friends and family find the black boxes get your passport punched and send in your ballot for a chance to WIN some awesome Adventure Bruce prizes!

Watch for our Walkerton Toyota FJ Cruiser, or one of the 'summer cruisers' traveling throughout the region, for FREE swag and your FREE punch!

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Panoramic View


Happy Mothers Day!

The weather is just right to spend the day outside with mom, go to the park, go for a hike, take her to lunch, or if you really want to show her the sites why not take her to the Bruce Peninsula National Park for a tour of the Parks Canada Visitor Centre, then you can take in the breathtaking views at the top of the Lookout Tower!

You will get a panoramic view of both parks, islands, lighthouses, and like I mentioned in an earlier post on a really clear day you can see across to Manitoulin Island...

What better way to celebrate Mothers Day then a day exploring the Bruce!

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Flora & Fauna


May has arrived and along with it longer days. The sunrises this time of year are fabulous, with the sunsets not happening until around 8:30pm each night which makes for hours and hours of great hiking to take in around the Bruce.

This is a great time of year to get out and about, with the fiddlehead ferns sprouting and the Marsh Marigolds are blooming along the streams, and the Bruce being home to a wide variety of ferns and rare orchids make sure to take your camera along!

A few places to check out are the Bruce Peninsula National Park, Dorcas Bay (Singing Sands), Red Bay, Petrel Point and the Oliphant Fen.

The Bruce Peninsula Orchid Festival takes place June 1 & 2nd in Tobermory.

Remember protect our plants, never pick, dig or trample, take only photos please.

Share with others; let us know what and where you find unique flora and fauna on the Bruce.

Friday, May 04, 2007

Parks Canada Lookout Tower


I am sure most of you know of the Bruce Peninsula National Park, but are you aware of the NEW Parks Canada Visitor Centre and their Lookout Tower? The centre along with the lookout tower opened last summer with rave reviews. It is a great place to start in the park with lots of cool exhibits to check out and a lighthouse to walk through. Save some time to take in their movie “Life on the Edge” you won't be disappointed!

With 112 stairs to the top you can imagine the view. You can see Flowerpot Island, Bears Rump, and if it is a really clear day you can see down Georgian Bay along the Niagara Escarpment to Cabot Head Lighthouse and all the way across to Manitoulin Island.

Spend some time in the park and share your experience with us. We would love to hear from you.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Spring is in the air


March came in like a LION and is going out like a LAMB!!! The snow is melting, bulbs are rising and the birds are singing!

Take in all that the Bruce has to offer. It is a great time to hike the Bruce Trail, check out wildlife and wildflowers, the fiddleheads will be up and the Bruce is home to a variety of birds.

This weekend take in the Old Tyme Maple Syrup Festival at Saugeen Bluffs Conservation, get off the couch and spend sometime outdoors!

Friday, March 16, 2007

Canada Blooms March 7 - 11th Toronto


Spring is in the air!

It was another great show for us!! Canada Blooms is our last show of the season. A sign of spring, flowers everywhere, ladies wearing funky pins, people are happy and love our booth!! They come in asking for this years copy of the "Rural Gardens of Grey Bruce" brochure and talk about their travels to our region to take in our self-guided tour of 32 private gardens that open there doors to visitors from May - October.

This year we had different gardeners from our area in the booth each day, it was great for people to be able to talk to them about the tour, Grey & Bruce Tourism reps would like to thank them all for coming out!

Here is a photo of our booth at the show this year, there were a number of people from Grey Bruce at the show, and we would love to hear your take on the show!

Friday, February 23, 2007

Snowshoeing 2hrs from Toronto


There are some great areas across Bruce County in Southern Ontario to explore with snowshoes! It's a simple car ride to this winter wonderland. We even have winter outfitters in the area to rent you any equipment you require. Don't let this white stuff scare you off, bundle up get outdoors and take it in...

Snowshoeing in Ontario is a great way to take in the outdoors, be the first to break trail, take in the Bruce Trail in the winter, make your way into the Bruce Peninsula National Park or Sauble Falls and so much more.

explorethebruce.com trail crew


WOW!!!!!! With all the snow we have in Grey Bruce this is one of the best snowmobiling seasons in years! Our "Adventure Passport Contest" runs until March 31st, 07 and with the winter component of the contest there are 6 stops along the trail for you to get your adventure passport punches for a chance to WIN $1,900.00 worth of gear from Tennyson's Yamaha in Underwood. Visit our contest site for all the details...

When you are out riding in district 9 throughout Grey Bruce, watch for Chirs Hughes on our "Official Trail Crew Sled" ask him for your FREE punch!

Friday, February 16, 2007

Top Cross Country Skiing in Ontario

ontario cross country sking
The weekend is here! Mother nature has been kind to us ontario cross county ski enthusiasts! Grab your skis and check out one of our many groomed trail systems. Some of the local trails to check out are Sawmill Trails at Hepworth, Colpoys Trails at Colpoys Bay, Sauble Beach cross country ski trails, Biener's Trail in Port Elgin, and the Saugeen Rail Trail, and Red Bay also offer some good skiing.

Break new trail at our County Forest Tracts. For fun and easy try the Carrick Tract outside of Mildmay, for a more challenging trek head to the Brant Tract.

Share your experience with us!!

Carrick & Brant

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Great Getaways PBS Show


The crew from Michigan was hear this week filming their TV show, with all the snow we have received this year, the Grey Bruce region of Ontario, will offer some of the best riding we have ever had! This photo is of the boys riding in Owen Sound down by the shores of Georgian Bay. Leave us your comments on your ride!!!!!

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Snowmobiling in Sothern Ontario's Bruce County


WOW, Mother Nature came a knockin on our backdoor this week, with lake effect snow squalls over the region, we have received over 107 cms of fresh snow! With 2400km of Ontario snowmobile trails in Grey Bruce, you will have a great time, come on and ride!

Check out "Snowmobile Tours" for info on trail conditions and all your sledding needs.

Let me know how you liked our top Ontario snowmobile trails!

Friday, February 02, 2007

Wiarton Willie Predication 2007


There was a chill in the air and fluffy white flakes coming down, as Willie gave us his prediction this morning at the Wiarton Willie Festival in Wiarton, ON. He did not see his shadow, which means we are in for an early spring.

For our indoor enthusiasts that means a few more weeks of hibernation.

For our outdoor enthusiasts, that means a few more weeks of Ontario snowmobiling, cross country skiing, Ontario snowshoeing, tobogganing, skating, winter hiking, camping and so much more!!

Share your winter experience on the Bruce with us!

Friday, January 19, 2007

Outdoor Fun on the Bruce!


Winter has arrived and that means lots of great outdoor fun for family and friends. Over the next few weekends the Bruce will be alive with Winter Festivals, Jan 26 –27th attend Wiarton Willie Festival = Winterfest in Sauble Beach join in the parade and then watch the massive Christmas tree burning celebration, enjoy hot chocolate and take the Battle of the Bands. Wiarton is World Famous for having “Willie” our very own albino groundhog weather prognosticator. The Wiarton Willie Festival takes place from Feb 1st – 4th, with a pancake breakfast on the 2nd for the much-awaited prediction, will he or won’t he see his shadow!

Mark your calendar for our 2 Winterama’s, in Shallow Lake on Feb 10th and in Southampton, Ontario on Feb 11th! Bundle up it’s a great time to explore the Bruce, let us know how you enjoyed the Festivals; we would love to here from you!