9 Best Towns In Ontario For A Two-Day Recharge
Whether you're craving fresh air, charming main streets, or a change of scenery that doesn't require a long vacation, Ontario is filled with small towns that are perfect for a quick, two-day recharge. Here, you will find lakeside escapes, historic villages, artsy communities, and an abundance of nature. These nine Ontario towns are ideal for a short, refreshing getaway, in which you can slow down, enjoy great food and beautiful scenery, and return home feeling renewed and refreshed after just a weekend away.
Bayfield
Found in southwestern Ontario on the shores of Lake Huron, in Huron County, Bayfield is a historic village that is reminiscent of a Hallmark experience. Less than three hours from Toronto, Bayfield's charm, natural beauty, and seclusion make it perfect for a two-day getaway. Those with a love of history who also want some exercise can combine the two by taking the Heritage Trail, a 2.5 km guided walk through historic attractions along Bayfield's tree-lined streets. It starts at Clan Gregor Square, a park located at the entrance to Main Street, loops around Bayfield's downtown, and ends back at the square.
If you've worked up an appetite on your walk, stop by Olio Restaurant, also on Main Street, an Italian restaurant serving lunch on weekends and dinner daily. Comfortable, luxurious lodging is available at Bayfield Boutique Bed & Breakfast on the Square. Four designer suites (one dog-friendly) are offered here, along with spa treatments, outdoor fireplaces, and more. It is the perfect spot to rest and unwind after your day in Bayfield.
Port Hope
Northumberland County's town of Port Hope sits on the Ganaraska River on Lake Ontario's north shore, between Toronto and Kingston in southern Ontario. This town's downtown is so iconic that it was used in the films "IT" in 2017, "IT: Chapter Two" in 2019, and the television series "IT: Welcome to Derry" in 2025. Port Hope provides interested visitors with a digital guide for an IT Walking Tour, as well as an interactive IT filming map, so that they can see all of the places used in the movies and series.
If you are looking for a more relaxing recharge, visit Ganaraska Forest, the largest forest in southern Ontario, spanning 11,000 acres. The Ganaraksa Forest Centre in Port Hope is filled with trails and wildlife. Visit the Port Hope Farmers Market on Saturday mornings for the best fresh, local food from farmers and crafts from artisans. The Hotel Carlyle includes 10 luxurious rooms in a historic 19th-century building for a relaxing getaway. It also features a restaurant serving locally sourced foods, wine, and beer.
Grand Bend
The town of Grand Bend in the municipality of Lambton Shores in Lambton County is located on Lake Huron in southwestern Ontario. Its beach has been certified Blue Flag for its excellent water quality, safety, and environmental standards. Visitors in the summertime love its solitude and sunsets, especially those seen from the Grand Bend Beach Lighthouse. In the wintertime, Pinery Provincial Park is a popular spot for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and hiking. Grand Bend is about three hours west of Toronto and an hour north of London, Ontario.
The Lake Hound is a family-friendly restaurant in Grand Bend serving breakfast and lunch, and includes vegan specialties on its menu. The Colonial Hotel on Main Street, circa 1868, offers suites and cottages with kitchens, fireplaces, and Jacuzzis, and is the ideal place to unwind and recharge during your stay in Grand Bend.
Elliot Lake
Surrounded by 4,000 lakes in northern Ontario's Algoma District, the town of Elliot Lake sits halfway between Sudbury, Ontario, and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. As half of Elliot Lake's population is over the age of 65, that makes this town a great place to rest and recharge your mental and emotional batteries. Elliot Lake Museum is a good starting point for your visit, displaying exhibits on the area's indigenous culture, logging industry, and trapping industry.
The Sheriff Creek Wildlife Sanctuary on the edge of town is a 182-hectare protected habitat for mammals, reptiles, and birds. Visiting this sanctuary in any season allows you to hike its trails and see frogs, wolves, moose, beavers, birds, turtles, plants, and flowers. Two municipal beaches are in Elliot Lake, Spruce Beach and Spine Beach, where visitors can swim, sunbathe, picnic, and play in warmer weather. Dunlop Lake Lodge provides comfortable, lakeside cottage accommodations during all seasons. Ice fishing cabins are available in the wintertime, and a restaurant is conveniently on site.
Goderich
The county seat of Huron County, Goderich, is on the eastern shores of Lake Huron, about 74 km from Stratford and 225 km from Toronto. The first salt mines were opened in Goderich in 1867. Goderich's beaches, abundance of nature, and Celtic culture all lend themselves well to a two-day recharge.
The Goderich Waterfront Boardwalk runs for 1.5 km along Lake Huron and is a great place for a stroll while enjoying placid lake scenes. History buffs might want to check out the Menesetung Bridge, circa 1907, extending over the Maitland River near Goderich Harbour and the old salt mine. Visitors in August can experience Goderich's Celtic culture when the Celtic Roots Festival is held. This annual festival explores Celtic crafts, dance, and music, along with traditional food and drink. Colborne Bed & Breakfast in Goderich offers four spacious, welcoming rooms in a three-story home with an enclosed sun porch, gardens, and an outdoor patio area.
Innisfil
Innisfil, also called South Simcoe, sits on the western shore of Lake Simcoe in Simcoe County, about twenty minutes from the larger town of Barrie, and an hour and a half north of Toronto. It is the perfect place to get away from the big city and enjoy peace and harmony. Innisfil Beach Park provides access to Lake Simcoe and its opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, and winter recreation.
If you're looking for more lively entertainment during your stay in Innisfil, visit Gateway Casinos Innisfil. It features 900 slot machines and more than 25 live table games. Hungry visitors and residents flock to The Cove Cafe Restaurant & Grill for home cooking, specializing in fish and chips. Friday Harbour rents spacious condominiums right on Lake Simcoe with amenities including balconies, patio gardens, and water views.
Stratford
On the Avon River in southwestern Ontario's Perth County, the town of Stratford is about two hours from Toronto. It was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, when it was settled by Europeans in 1832. Today, the town of Stratford, Ontario, has been named to CBC's "Top 10 Canadian Travel Bucket List."
Stratford holds its annual Stratford Festival from April to October, in which various Shakespearean plays and other theatre performances take place. Those who prefer the great outdoors should know that Stratford has more parkland per capita than any other city in Canada, with over 1,000 acres of trails and parks along the Avon River. It includes Upper Queens Park, which has a bandshell for outdoor performances. Hungry Stratford visitors should explore Stratford's Chocolate Trail, a self-guided tour of bakers and confectioners in town. Hotel Julie in Stratford's downtown area offers lodgers nine comfortable flats in a 19th-century inn.
Port Perry
The small town of Port Perry is on the southern shores of Lake Scugog, in the Durham Region of Ontario. It is just minutes from Oshawa, and about an hour from Toronto. Port Perry features plenty of waterside history, nature, and entertainment to help you relax and recharge during a two-day stay.
The town of Port Perry has been designated as a heritage conservation district. Many film and television productions, including "The Handmaid's Tale," "Reacher," and many Hallmark movies, have used Port Perry as a backdrop for filming. The former Port Perry Town Hall is a National Historic Site built in 1873 that is of interest to history buffs. Visitors in late August-early September can enjoy the Port Perry Fair, an annual celebration of regional agriculture including music, horse-pulling contests, and baking contests. The Great Blue Heron Casino & Hotel provides plenty of entertainment options, dining choices, and resort accommodations in Port Perry.
Paris
In Brant County, about 100 km west of Toronto, where the Nith River meets the Grand River, you'll find the historic town of Paris. Established in 1850, this town in southern Ontario was named "Canada's Prettiest Little Town" by Harrowsmith Magazine in 2017. It is known for art, culture, history, and natural beauty, and is the ideal spot to rest and recharge in Ontario.
The Paris Wincey Mills Co. is a historic building that has been turned into an artisan's market, where local craftspeople sell home goods, jewelry, and more. If you would rather be outdoors, check out the Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail, a scenic 18 km trail accessible on Willow Street near Green Lane, perfect for hiking and biking. Visitors in August can attend the Paris Drinks Fest, a food, drink, and music festival celebrating the best craft breweries, cideries, wineries, and distilleries in the area. Stay at the Arlington Hotel, a historic boutique hotel in downtown Paris featuring 23 comfortable, peaceful rooms.
If you want to explore somewhere new and only have two days to do so, consider visiting one of these nine small Ontario towns. Each of them offers a chance to relax, recharge, and reset. Soak up the natural beauty, arts, culture, history, and entertainment these towns provide. Visiting any of these nine Ontario towns will help you to wind down, appreciate the present, and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
