8 Offbeat Towns to Visit in Ontario

Ontario is full of surprises, and nowhere is that more evident than in its smaller, quirkier towns. You can puzzle over a coded tombstone in Wellesley, marvel at 18-foot screaming head sculptures in Burk's Falls, or stand beneath an 18-foot flying saucer in Moonbeam. And for those who prefer their oddities with a side of history, Cochrane's polar bear habitat and White River's Winnie-the-Pooh origins prove that Canada's strangest stories are often its most charming. Here are eight offbeat towns to visit in Ontario.

Wellesley

If you ever wanted to solve a puzzle on a headstone, head to Wellesley. This rural Ontario township contains Rushes Cemetery, whose main attraction is the famous Bean Puzzle Tombstone. In the 1860s, Dr. Samuel Bean buried his two wives, Henrietta and Susanna, under a 225-character coded epitaph capped with "Reader meet us in heaven." The cipher stumped readers for decades until a Nova Scotia retiree cracked the code in 1947. See if you can do the same. The original tombstone has weathered badly, but a clear replica stands beside it for easier reading.

Beyond that one-of-a-kind tombstone, Wellesley Township holds other local pleasures, including the Heidelberg Restaurant and Tavern in the nearby village of Heidelberg, which serves traditional ribs and mashed potatoes in an 1860s-era inn setting. The annual Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival, running since 1973, is the township's signature community event. September is the best month to catch the festival and the surrounding apple orchard harvest.

Burk's Falls

Ontario's lesser-known but impressive "falls" include Burk's Falls, a series of small cascades along the Magnetawan River. However, visitors are often more captivated by Midlothian Castle and its more than 100 "screaming heads" sculptures, created by retired art teacher Peter Camani. Camani began transforming his 310-acre estate into an outdoor sculpture park in the late 1980s, with the first major concrete sculptures going up in 1989. Some figures reach 18 feet tall. More recently, Camani has crafted "screaming headstones" by blending cement with cremated remains for families who request them. For a more relaxed experience, visitors can explore the nearby Burk's Falls Welcome Centre with its scenic Magnetawan River views. Attending the Harvest Festival in September promises a uniquely quirky experience in this corner of Ontario.

East Garafraxa

When you think of Canada, there is a good chance maple syrup comes to mind. Eating maple treats in Ontario is not exactly offbeat, but touring a maple syrup museum certainly is. The township of East Garafraxa, population around 2,600, shares the Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario and the Heritage Barn Maple Gift Shop at Elliott Tree Farm on its border with the neighbouring town of Erin. The museum is filled with maple-making artifacts and surrounded by working maple trees. Elliott sits right on the border between East Garafraxa and Erin. Erin itself is a larger town worth extending the visit to, with oddities like the Busholme Inn gastropub in a restored 19th-century building and the quirky Maddie Hatter tea shop. From a fizzy drink to a calming green tea, these spots have everything you need in liquid form.

Moonbeam

One unlikely association you might not have made with Canada is aliens, until you hear about Moonbeam. This small northern Ontario township was reportedly named after the mysterious celestial lights observed by early settlers. Those were almost certainly the Northern Lights, which are now well understood, but the residents have embraced the extraterrestrial theme since building an 18-foot-wide flying saucer sculpture in 1991. After checking out the artificial UFO near the visitor centre, you can look for real ones in the clear skies overhead at René Brunelle Provincial Park. This quiet park covers roughly 96 hectares (237 acres) on Remi Lake and offers camping, hiking, swimming, and more. Visitors can also explore the peaceful waters of Spruce Creek for a relaxing getaway in Ontario's near-north wilderness. When finished, stop at Della-Pieta for a tasty pizza or sandwich.

White River

Winnie-the-Pooh is actually a proud Canadian, hailing from the charming small community of White River, Ontario. In August 1914, Lieutenant Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian with the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps travelling east with his regiment, purchased a female black bear cub at the White River train station for $20. He named her "Winnie" after his hometown of Winnipeg, and she became the beloved mascot of the Fort Garry Horse regiment overseas. When Colebourn shipped out to France in late 1914, he loaned Winnie to the London Zoo, where she captured the hearts of many and eventually remained permanently. Christopher Robin Milne was often seen visiting Winnie, and he was inspired to rename his own teddy bear after her, which his father A.A. Milne wove into the classic tales of the Hundred Acre Wood. Yes, the original Winnie was female. Today, White River celebrates its literary history with a Pooh park, a statue of Winnie, an information centre filled with memorabilia of Winnie and Colebourn, and an annual Winnie's Hometown Festival each August.

Perth

Perth is cheesy, literally and figuratively. In 1893, Perth produced a 22,000-pound (10,000 kg) block of cheese to promote Canadian cheesemaking at the Chicago World's Fair. Legend has it the "Mammoth Cheese" crashed through a wooden platform during unloading at a rail stop on the way. It still got its day in the sun, and its legacy was extended for decades via a concrete replica in Perth's Crystal Palace area, upgraded with a new fibreglass model in 2009. Beyond the Mammoth Cheese memorial, this 6,500-person town has a statue of Big Ben and Ian Millar, the legendary show jumping horse and his Perth-based rider, overlooking Stewart Park. Ian Millar is a 10-time Canadian Olympian (a record) and won team silver at the 2008 Beijing Games. Another Perth preserve was named Last Duel Park to honour the site of the last fatal duel in Upper Canada, fought in 1833 between two law students over a woman. Take out your camera and say "cheese" at those strange yet scenic spots.

Mississippi Mills

Mississippi Mills is a town of around 14,000 residents, located just north of Perth. It was formed in 1998 through the merger of Pakenham, Ramsay, and Almonte. Almonte is the birthplace of Dr. James Naismith, who was born here in 1861 and went on to invent basketball in 1891 while teaching in Springfield, Massachusetts. The town honours him today with a statue, his preserved childhood home, and the Dr. James Naismith Museum. Rather than travelling all the way to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, consider the museum here in Naismith's actual birthplace. While in town, explore the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, which covers the town's wool-mill industrial heritage, and visit Almonte's Mississippi River Falls, which offer scenic outdoor views right downtown.

Cochrane

Although a yellow bear can be seen in White River, white bears are common in Cochrane. The unique part is that these bears are real. This town in northeastern Ontario is home to the Polar Bear Habitat, the world's only dedicated polar bear conservation facility. Currently, rescued polar bears inhabit 24 acres of enclosure within the wider Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat grounds, alongside a Heritage Village and Snowmobile Museum focused on the region's northern exploration history. Additionally, if you thought Cochrane could not be more Canadian, it is also the birthplace of Tim Horton, the late hockey star and co-founder of the famous restaurant chain. Horton was born Miles Gilbert Horton here in 1930. The town honours this heritage with the Tim Horton Events Centre, which includes an arena, pool, community hall, and a museum dedicated to the hockey Hall of Famer.

Wrapping Up

Why stick to the usual spots like Toronto, Ottawa, or Niagara when Ontario's quirkier small towns have so much to offer? Wellesley's coded tombstone, the spooky sculptures in Burk's Falls, and Moonbeam's fun nod to the mysterious are just a few highlights. Visit the birthplace of Winnie-the-Pooh in White River, take a cheesy photo in Perth, or discover how basketball got its start in Mississippi Mills. These charming hidden treasures might not have towering skyscrapers or big waterfalls, but they are full of personality and warmth. Explore a side of Ontario that many visitors miss and create memories as special and unique as you are.