Tuesday, December 07, 2010

District 9 Snowmobile Website Reveals Best Trails


Ride Grey Bruce has paired up with District 9 to create a new, more intuitive and interactive snowmobile website for the region. Even though their old site wasn’t lacking for user-friendly facts, they’ve really upped the bar this time. Created as a Grey and Bruce regional product, District 9 is represented in a flashy, attractive design courtesy of Canvas Studios out of Port Elgin. The design is easy to follow, and entices you to find out more about the region.

If you’re just visiting the region for the first time or don’t yet have a tour route to follow, snowmobilegreybruce.com has put together multiple rides for you. Ranging from a few hours of sledding to an overnight route, they have presented an excellent resource for both beginners and experienced sledders. Their signature tour, “Ride the Willie”, plays on the quirky ‘Small town-world famous’ Groundhog Day in Wiarton, held every February 2nd. Beginning the morning of the prediction day (it’s a Wednesday in 2011), the festival runs through to the weekend and is filled with snowmobile-friendly events.

In addition to providing routes, the website is an excellent tool for additional snowmobile friendly spots in the area, including where to eat, where to sleep, and where to shop. These three tabs help you navigate through the site to find important info about what’s available in District 9.

Not only does the snowmobilegreybruce.com website provide all-things snowmobile, it also suggests some great must-try family fun. A winter activities page outlines all of the opportunities that Grey Bruce has to offer, including some top-notch downhill ski resorts, unique winter yurt camping opportunities, dog sledding, and a multitude of trails to use for skiing and snowshoeing.

The new snowmobilegreybruce.com website has thought of everything, and then some. There are on-site local weather conditions, webcams, and a link to trail conditions that are kept updated regularly. The site’s fresh design is easy to navigate and user-friendly. Best of all, its designers are local and love spending the winter in District 9.


Monday, November 15, 2010

Christmas Gift Ideas - Paisley Local Artisan Sale

paisley art saleBy Our Hands is a one-of-a-kind sale by 40 local artisans who specifically have created items that will appeal to all ages and are unique. The show, which is now on in Paisley until December 24th, includes works in wood, glass, metal, knitting, weaving, hooking, jewelery, candles, quilting, cards and much more. Great gift ideas at great prices for Christmas or any time of the year. And when you are finished shopping, take a look at Paisely.

paisley christmas art salePaisley, the town at the confluence of the Saugeen River and the Teeswater, was named for a town near Glasgow, Scotland. During the winter of 1850, 160 years ago, Simon Orchard, wishing to relocate, moved his family and household effects to Walkerton. The following spring as the river rose, he built a substantial raft of cedar logs, placed his family and goods on it and floated down the Saugeen River in search of a new homestead.

paisley canoeing saugeen riverThe Orchards stopped the first night at the junction of two rivers. The next morning, after having taken a look around, they decided that it was there they wished to settle. Three weeks later, Samuel Rowe, Simon’s brother-in-law, followed his route using two large rafts. Samuel and his family settled on the south bank of the Teeswater River, opposite Simon.

By 1852, John Valentine’s sawmill, Paisley’s first industry, was supplying settlers with building material. Samuel Rowe’s log house served both as a tavern for travelers and as a meeting house for various denominations. And then in 1872, a railway arrived in Paisleyand the town began to grow.


Friday, October 01, 2010

Pumpkinfest 2010 - Port Elgin top Ontario event!


Looking for world record excitement? Wondering how big a GIANT pumpkin can really get? Then head over to Port Elgin for Pumpkinfest 2010 on October 2nd and 3rd and experience one of Ontario’s truly unique events.

Pumpkinfest has been around now for over two decades. The winner of numerous awards for Ontario’s best festival, it features two giant vegetable weigh offs, one of Ontario’s largest two day outdoor car shows and over 100 craft and marketplace vendors.

There is much to see and do at Pumpkinfest including a seed spitting contest, master carvers working on giant pumpkins, a Patches’ Pumpkin Zone, and a pumpkin baking competition. New for 2010 are a gladiator joust, a Velcro climbing wall, a bungie run and a sumo battle.

But the star of the show takes place at the Bruce Power Weigh-Off Tent on both Saturday and Sunday. Port Elgin’s Pumpkinfest is one of more than 30 sites around the world that compete in the International Weigh Off. The top grower at Port Elgin walk away with $5,000 and the chance to be named “Top Grower in the World.”

Weigh off competitions for giant pumpkins have been a popular fall festival activity for decades. But it wasn’t until Howard Dill of Nova Scotia broke the record for the largest pumpkin in 1981 with one near 500 pounds (226.80 kilograms) that pumpkins really began to grow larger and larger.

Today, Dill is credited for most of the giant pumpkins being grown today, most of which result from crossing and re-crossing his patented seed with other varieties. The current world record holder is Christy Harp’s 1,725 pound (782 kilograms) Atlantic giant pumpkin that won last year’s Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Grower’s annual weigh off. But maybe, just maybe an entry at Pumpkinfest 2010 may win it all.


Thursday, May 20, 2010

Bruce Wild with Wildflowers

With the very warm weather of March and April many plants this year had been deceived into sprouting ahead of schedule but it was bone dry and tough. The soaking rain of early May came just in time to save the day, kick starting the wildflowers on the Bruce for 2010. The rare Lake Side Daisies and deep blue Dwarf Lake Iris found in Bruce Peninsula National Park came two weeks ahead of schedule. And everything else seems to be early.

The Bruce Peninsula is renowned for its wildflowers especially the orchids. Each of the 44 orchid species found here have a favourite time for blooming … earliest being one of the prizes, the Calypso Orchid and, yes, it’s up. But the month to catch the biggest diversity of wildflowers is June. Ram’s Head Lady’s Slippers (the flower looks like a goat head, ears and all) are easiest to find at Singing Sands in the national park as June begins. Then comes the gold rush of the Yellow Lady’s Slippers which thrive on a bit of disturbance … so do very well on road sides. Two years ago there were 600 flowers along the Cyprus Lake road alone! Then as June wears on come the fen-loving orchids like Rose Pagonia, Grass Pink, Tall White Bog Orchid, and Showy Lady’s Slipper which are best seen along the dyke-like road from Highway #6 to Singing Sands in the national park. The “showies” have a slipper that is a gorgeous pink with white and almost the size of an egg. Its known as the queen of the lady’s slippers.

Road sides are one of the best places to see our wildflowers and waves of different species dress up the ditches from June through September. At one point its the Indian Paint Brushes, then the Ox-eye Daisies and Wood Lilies, then Queen Anne’s Lace and Hawkweed, then Chicory … and finally the Asters and Golden Rods to end the season.

Drop into the National Park Visitor Centre in Tobermory to get current information on local wildflowers. Expect some wildflowers to be earlier than usual and bring your camera. Every year at the end of May and beginning of June (May 29th this year) is the Tobermory Orchid Festival and it’s something worth catching. It is a great time to learn about orchids and to enjoy the blossoms of “the Bruce”.

Sunday, May 09, 2010

Sea Monsters - Predators of the Ancient Seas




Spring has arrived and that means New and exciting exhibits at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre in Southampton.

The first one opened on May 7th and run through until September 6th. Check out their site for all the details and for all other great exhibits coming to the museum this year. Don't forget about their many permanent exhibits to explore while you are there.

You will want to save sometime while you visit to take in their cool movie, which plays daily in the theatre right inside the museum, it really gives you a birds eye view of what life is like living in Bruce County, past, present and future!

For a full list of museums across the Bruce and links to their websites visit Explore the Bruce

Thursday, April 22, 2010

6th Annual Explore the Bruce Adventure Passport Contest



Breaking News:

Hello Fellow Adventurer's, and welcome all you new Adventurer's!

It is that time of year again. The 6th Annual Explore the Bruce Adventure Passport Contest start Saturday May 1st and runs through till Friday December 3rd, 2010. This year we asked you the FAN to choose your favourite location across the Bruce to make as a passport stop and we listened. The Grotto in Bruce Peninsula National Park won hands down.

The passports are at the printer right now and will be in a black box in 12 secret locations thorughout the Bruce, ready for your next adventure to begin May 1st.

It is simple visit the Adventure Passport Official Website for all the details, tips, clues, maps, and to order your adeventure passport. Don't forget to send in your photos from your adventurer and you could get a chance to be a "Featured Adventurer" on our website!

If you are a facebooker, check out our Facebook Fan Page and share your stories from your adventure with others, shhhhhhhh... don't give away all the secrets, because you don't want to take all the fun out of the adventure now do you...

P.S. If you are in Owen Sound this weekend, check out the Home & Cottage Expo taking place at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre at 1900 3rd Ave E. Bruce County has a booth and our Explore the Bruce Adventure Team will be on hand, we are having a contest. Plus we are going to have Adventure Passports on hand Hot of the Press, and will be giving them out to early bird adventurer's. You know you can't start the contest till May 1st, but think of all the fun you could have getting ready for your next Adventure!!!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Maple Syrup Festivals around the Bruce

Well Spring has officially arrived and that means the snow is melting the days are getting longer and the sap is running. The spring offers an abundance of maple trees being tapped, sap running and being boiled in sugar shacks to make that dark brown liquid we know so well! Is there anything better then local Maple Syrup.

Here are a few taking place in our region:

Purple Valley Maple Syrup Festival
April 3rd - Community Centre 9 km N.E. of Wiarton on Purple Valley Rd

Old Thyme Maple Syrup Festival at the Saugeen Bluffs Conversation Area
March 26-27th– 519.364.1255

Maple Syrup Festival – Chesley – Cedar Rail Camp
Apr 3rd – 519.363.2702

43rd Annual Belmore Maple Syrup Festival
April 8th & 10th – Community Centre – 519.335.3748

Kemble Maple Syrup Festival
April 10th – United Church - 519.370.2087

So over the next few weekends you have the opportunity to take in 1 or all of the festivals in the region! Why not plan to attend them all.

Learn about maple syrup from start to finish, make taffy, see how many pancakes you can eat, and spend time with family and friends enjoying the great outdoors.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Bruce County Celebrates March Break


Spring is just around the corner, the snow is melting the birds are singing and kids across the region are getting excited for March Break. They are gearing up and looking forward to enjoying a week off school, and we know they can’t wait to spending time with their family and friends.

Here are a few things to check out around the Bruce next week:

Parks Canada Visotr Centre - Monday March 15 - Saturday March 19th
March Break Kids Program daily 12:30 - 4:00 pm
519.596.2233
Grey Cup Coming to Saugeen Shores - Tuesday March 16 & 17th
Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre – 33 Victoria St -519.797.2080
Sea Creature Cookie Decorating Workshop – Thursday March 18th
Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre – 33 Victoria St
Saugeen Youth Pow Wow – Saturday March 20th
James Mason Memorial Centre – 519.797.5000
Formosa Farm Toy Show & Sale - Sunday March 21st
Hwy 9 between Mildmay & Walkerton - 519.392.6207

For more info on great things to see and do over the holiday, contact your local information centre.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Poker Run



Hurray! Wiarton Willie says 6 more weeks of winter!!! So if you like to snowmobile, Grey Bruce in the heart of District 9 has some of the best riding in Ontario. This weekend Feb 13th is the Wiarton Trail Blazers Annual Poker Run is starts at the Wiartview Resort 501205 Island View Dr and registration is at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Cost per hand is $15.00. This year's run is in conjunction with the Stoney Keppel Riders Chili Day at the Stoney Keppel Clubhouse. There will be cash prizes, door prizes, a BBQ and a silent auction. So come on out and enjoy the day!

Don't forget that Monday February 15th is "Family Day". Make the most of it, bundle up and head outdoors for one of the many winter activities you can experience in the Bruce, from snowmobiling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing to making snow people, snow angels, or spend sometime at MacGregor Point Provincial Park at their 400 metre outdoor ice loop, which winds it's way through a section of the park, it a great place to take in a night skate!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Sauble Beach Winterfest Jan 22-23rd, 2010

If you are looking for some outdoor fun this weekend on the Bruce, why not head out to Sauble Beach for their 31st Annual Sauble Beach Winterfest!

It all starts on Friday night at the beach, there is a night parade up Main Street to the Community Centre, where everyone has dropped off their christmas tree in the parking lot. After the parade they light the massive bon fire and everyone warms up from the very cool HUGE fire, and free hot chocolate. There will also be a youth dance featuring a Battle of the Bands competition.

Saturday morning start your day out off with a pancake breakfast at the Community Centre and then take in the Diesel Dan Hockey Tournemant, Outdoor/Indoor Games, Outdoor BBQ, a Euchre Tournament and then end the day off at the Geoff Stevens Dance.

Don't forget to mark your calendar for the Annual Wiarton Willie Festival from February 2nd - 7th, in Wiarton. This year the prediction morning will be taking place down on the waterfront, at Bluewater Park You won't want to miss all the great things planned for this year's festival! Check out Willie's site for more details!

Some other cool events you won't want to miss in the next weeks:
February 13th - Wiarton Trail Blazers - Poker Run - Waterview Resort - 501205 Island View Dr February 13th - Stoney Keppel Riders Chili Day - B Trail north of Georgian Bluffs Rail Line February 13th - Winterama - The Plex in Port Elgin, Ontario.