7 Stress-Free Ontario Towns For A Weekend Retreat

The Canadian province of Ontario sprawls through the fringes of the Canadian Shield right up to farming fields around the Great Lakes. Everybody knows and recognizes Toronto, but the province’s real personality digs far deeper than towering buildings or packed roads. It lies in the province's small towns, giving you all sorts of great places to visit after a long week of work. On weekends, if you have some free time, look no further than these small towns that dot the area's landscape. These seven Ontario towns offer a weekend escape without any stress or worry.

Huntsville

Fairy Lake shapes the layout of Huntsville and gives the town a natural center. Wooden docks extend into the water where rental boats and tour vessels tie up beside the town's streets. Shops face the shoreline and open early for visitors who plan to explore the connected lakes. Lions Lookout rises above the valley and provides a clear view of the town and the bridge below. The Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery displays large reproductions of classic Canadian paintings across brick walls and alleys.

Hoping to step outside and breathe in nature? Arrowhead Provincial Park sits to the north of town, loaded with paths winding over glacial ridges and a dramatic gorge made ages ago by meltwater. Want that classic Canadian winter experience? The park features an impressively long skating path that runs right beneath the tall pine trees. Additionally, the Muskoka Heritage Place features restored cabins and a demonstration heritage line that showcases early industry. If you are here in the winter, Hidden Valley Highlands operates a small ski hill used by families and training clubs.

Picton

Picton stands as the biggest community in Prince Edward County, found right up next to an inlet that leads to Lake Ontario. The Main Street here climbs slowly uphill, and most often, brick storefronts line each side, with many dating back to the late 19th century. You will find the Regent Theatre perched near the top of the street. This iconic stop hosts live shows on stage and also screens films for people visiting on weekends.

And not far off, you can find Picton Public Library, regularly swapping out county artists’ exhibits alongside its usual books. You can finish your trip in town at the Macaulay Heritage Park on Church Street, where a carefully kept history keeps the county’s early settlement story alive. Just southwest, you will spot Sandbanks Provincial Park stretching beside the lake, with big dunes close to the water. After you are done there, drive east from town for about fifteen minutes to get to Waupoos Estates Winery & Restaurant, where grape fields hug the shoreline, giving you great views as you sip wine.

Bayfield

The road to Bayfield carves through fields of crops before it drops you off right by Lake Huron’s edge. The harbor anchors the town center, busy with fishing boats and clusters of sailboats drifting in and rolling back out all weekend long. From a tall bluff, Pioneer Park hangs over the water, giving anyone up there a solid view of the channel and where the river empties out. Not far off, you can stroll by the waterside at the Bayfield Pier Beach, one of the more popular beaches in the area. Bayfield Main Street stretches out from the harbor and runs right past centuries-old brick buildings until it lands at the town square.

All over the town, you will see weekend regulars slipping in and out of stores and boutiques. Next, explore the Bayfield Historical Society & Archives inside the former library, packed with treasures from the shipping era and the town's first chapters. If you are in the mood to get on the water, the marina offers kayaks for you to explore the lower river. Seasonally, each Saturday, Clan Gregor Square pops with action as the farmers' market rolls out tables of local veggies and fresh bread. The way the town’s set up, anybody visiting on the weekend can stroll between spots with hardly any effort at all.

Parry Sound

Traders and commerce were behind the creation of Parry Sound, using the harbor to ship out timber they hauled from the forests inland. As time went on, the country grew, the railway came through and changed the area’s trajectory, switching the shoreline into a main shipping hub for the whole region. But even with all that commercial legacy, this town is grounded in a beautiful part of the country. The waterfront near town now is home to cruise boats that run through the 30,000 Islands of Georgia Bay each weekend, like those offered at the Island Queen Cruise company.

The Charles W. Stockey Centre is set right beside the docks, pulling in crowds and drawing attention for live events when summer rolls in. Inside, hockey fans can see the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame, featuring all sorts of memorabilia from the hockey legend's career. If you want a great view, head southwest from town for about five minutes to find Tower Hill Lookout, which rewards you with a sweeping view of the entire bay and the rail bridge in one perfect shot.

Port Stanley

You can reach this lakeside spot over the weekend with just a quick drive south of London. Port Stanley is a laid-back harbor town serving up plenty of sandy beaches for visitors to see. The King George VI Lift Bridge occasionally rises for returning boats, stopping traffic and the harbor for a moment. Beyond the bridge on the south end of town, Main Beach stretches out with sand that fills with swimmers and umbrellas once the sun’s up. Just a short stroll away from shore, twisting little streets take you to cafés and patios opening up early for morning visitors.

Then there is the Port Stanley Terminal Rail, starting on a short track beside the old station house. In total, the train ride is about one hour, through the surrounding countryside. Little Beach is over on the southeast of town, and has clear water and lots of open ground, so if you don’t want the busy crowd at Main Beach, it is a solid backup. Later in the day, a popular choice is to queue up right by Mackie’s to grab fresh-cut fries and orangeade, and enjoy the views of the nearby water.

Creemore

Simcoe County Road passes through open farmland and leads right to Mill Street, the center of Creemore’s weekend crowd. Visitors often begin at Creemore Springs Brewery, where tours run in the afternoon, and the patio fills once the tastings start. Mill Street connects a lot of stops here in town, and the distance between them takes only a few minutes on foot. For example, right on Main, stop in to browse books, old and new, at Curiosity House Books, where the occasional author also pops in to talk about their book.

Not far away, the Bank Café stays open until 4 p.m., serving steady traffic from market shoppers and brewery visitors. Also nearby is the Creemore Jail, an old three-cell jail that sits behind the library and opens for quick self-guided visits. On Saturday mornings, the farmers' market behind Station on the Green draws people from nearby towns. Not far away, the Lagom 142 art gallery features regional artists and changes exhibits throughout the season. After that, only 10 minutes outside town, Purple Hill Lavender Farm opens its fields in the summer and sells soap and dried bundles from the barn.

Perth

Sitting over in Eastern Ontario, this town is filled with stone buildings from the 1800s and calm streets winding close to the Tay River. If you swing by, Stewart Park is spread right along the riverbanks, featuring shady lawns and lots of open spots to sprawl out with your favorite book. You can also check out the Matheson House, built in 1840, where the Perth Museum keeps the area’s story alive, showing carefully restored rooms and vintage treasures from the early Europeans who settled here.

Code’s Mill stands nearby and holds small shops and cafés inside limestone walls that reflect the town’s older craftwork. Just a short drive away, the Perth Wildlife Reserve offers trails and viewpoints throughout its marshes. For a nice wind-down after exploring, the Perth Brewery hits the spot with its hometown brews and cozy vibes that match the laid-back spirit of Perth. Every part of Perth invites you to have a slow weekend amongst unhurried time outdoors.

A weekend in Ontario’s small towns slows down the part of the week that always seems to rush by all too quickly. In these towns, people show up for fresh food or time near the water. Shops stay open but are never crowded. Trails stay short and easy to reach. Isn’t it time you let yourself relax a bit, too? Why not grab your stuff and let Ontario’s quiet spots remind you just how a lazy day actually feels.