Elgin County Experiences Guide

8 UNIQUE EXPERIENCES TO REMEMBER

WWW.ELGINTOURIST.COM

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 The Wild West Horseshoe J Dude Ranch Backus-Page House Museum & Pearce Park The Wayside Dining Lounge Picard’s Peanuts Original Country Store 4 Gardener’s Delight Canadale Nurseries | Heritage Line Herbs Moore Water Gardens | Shades of Green Silverthorn Landscape Supplies Family Flowers | Empire Valley Farm Market 5 Romantic Getaway Port Stanley Festival Theatre The Windjammer Inn Telegraph House B&B | Kettle Creek Inn Eagles Rest B&B | Inn On the Harbour 6 Family Beach Day Port Stanley Main Beach Port Stanley Terminal Rail Mackies | Shaw’s Ice Cream Broderick’s Ice Cream 7 Village Shopping Anything Used & Sparta Country Candles Holistic Awakenings Day Spa Peter Robson Studios & Gallery Steed & Company Lavender Wildflowers Farm | Quai du Vin Estate Winery Sparta House Tearoom 8 Family Weekend Clovermead Bees & Honey Springwater Conservation Area Family Central Restaurant 9 Ladies’ Excursion Pinecroft Pottery & The Green Frog Tearoom Heritage Line Herbs & The Silver Birch Tearoom Sweet Magnolia House B&B 10 Nautical Adventure HMCS Ojibwa Port Burwell Marine Museum & Lighthouse Grey Gables B&B | Simply Scoops 11 Map of Elgin County

2

TOURIST INFORMATION ELGIN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM OFFICE Open Monday to Friday 8:30am–4:30pm 450 Sunset Dr, St. Thomas LOCAL PHONE 519-631-1460 x168 TOLL FREE 1-877-GO ELGIN x168 FAX 519-631-4549 EMAIL tourism@elgin-county.on.ca

TOURISM KIOSKS Open mid-May to the end of August • Port Burwell Historic Lighthouse 17 Robinson Street, Port Burwell 519-874-4807 • Port Stanley Theatre Building Units #3 and #4, 302 Bridge Street, Port Stanley • Backus-Page House Museum 29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown 519-762-3072 • Mobile Tourism Kiosk At events in Elgin and surrounding areas

www.elgintourist.com Cover photos Clockwise from top left: Clovermead Bees & Honey, Canadale Nurseries, Horseshoe J Dude Ranch, Inn On the Harbour, Steed & Company Lavender, Pinecroft Pottery, Port Stanley Terminal Rail, HMCS Ojibwa

ELGIN EXPERIENCES

EXPERIENCE #1:

THE WILD WEST

BACKUS-PAGE HOUSE MUSEUM & JOHN E. PEARCE PROVINCIAL PARK 29424 Lakeview Ln, Wallacetown 519-762-3072, www.backuspagehouse.ca

Mosey to the west and saddle-up for a ride through Elgin’s beautiful countryside. Horseshoe J Dude Ranch has been offering hourly trail riding and summer camps for children for over 50 years. A visit to the Backus-Page House Museum takes you to the heart of the Talbot Settlement—feel the whisper of spirits past on the cool lake breeze, hike the Spicer Trail or visit the museum, housed in a restored Georgian style house which was constructed in 1850. Then tame those wild appetites at The Wayside where they have been tantalizing taste buds since 1936.

Before you start homeward, pick up some of Picard’s fresh roasted peanuts or confections.

Horseshoe J Dude Ranch 32553 Erin Ln, Fingal 519-762-5402, www.duderanchontario.com

DINING & SNACKS TO GO

THE Wayside DINING LOUNGE 10680 Sunset Rd, Talbotville 519-633-0360, www.waysidedining.com Picard’s PEANUTS ORIGINAL COUNTRY STORE 10683 Sunset Rd, Talbotville 519-637-8704, www.picardspeanuts.ca

The Wayside Dining Lounge

ELGIN EXPERIENCES

3

EXPERIENCE #2:

GARDENER’S DELIGHT Canadale’s selection of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs—many of which are grown in their 110-acre award-winning nursery—are a draw for avid gardeners. Stroll the inspiration gardens, and browse the selection of giftware and décor.

Elgin is also home to many specialty suppliers: Heritage Line Herbs offers organically-grown herb and vegetable plants, including many heirloom varieties; Moore Water Gardens has specialized in growing water lilies and aquatic plants for more than eighty years; Shades of Green has over 1200 hosta and 200 daylily varieties; Silverthorn supplies landscaping materials, including a vast array of water features, to help transform your garden and outdoor spaces. Other area growers include Family Flowers and Empire Valley.

Canadale Nurseries 269 Sunset Dr, St. Thomas 519-631-7264, www.canadale.com

Moore Water Gardens SPECIALTY SUPPLIERS

Heritage Line Herbs 53443 Heritage Ln, RR #1 Aylmer 519-866-5577, www.heritagelineherbs.com Moore Water Gardens 4683 Sunset Rd, Port Stanley 519-782-4052, www.moorewatergardens.com Shades of Green 48855 John Wise Ln, Aylmer 519-773-7279, www.shadesofgreenhostas.ca Silverthorn Landscape Supplies 46400 Talbot Ln, RR #3 St. Thomas 519-765-2379, www.silverthornlandscape.com OTHER LOCAL GROWERS

Family Flowers 44329 Talbot Ln, RR #3 St. Thomas 519-631-6004, www.familyflowers.ca Empire Valley FARM MARKET 27983 Talbot Ln, Wallacetown 519-762-3504, www.empirevalleyfarms.com

Family Flowers

4

ELGIN EXPERIENCES

EXPERIENCE #3:

ROMANTIC GETAWAY Savour a special meal, laugh, breathe… set the stage for a perfect little romantic getaway. Settle back on the porch or in the dining room of the award-winning Windjammer Inn, featuring truly inspired local cuisine. After dinner, experience drama up close and personal in the intimate 150-seat Port Stanley Festival Theatre, where the emphasis is on comedic Canadian plays—shared laughter may be the very best way to “get away”.

Continue your romantic story at one of Port Stanley’s fine accommodations where you will find a welcoming atmosphere and just the right combination of casual, laid back and luxurious.

Your evening could be the ultimate weekend getaway or just the beginning of a longer stay.

Port Stanley Festival Theatre 6-302 Bridge St, Port Stanley 519-782-4353, www.portstanleytheatre.ca

PLACES TO STAY

Telegraph House B&B 205 Main St, Port Stanley 519-782-3006, www.telegraphhouse.com Kettle Creek Inn 216 Joseph St, Port Stanley 519-782-3388, www.kettlecreekinn.com Eagles Rest B&B 140 Brayside St, Port Stanley 519-670-2894, www.bbcanada.com/eaglesrest Inn On The Harbour 202 Main St, Port Stanley 519-782-7623, www.innontheharbour.ca

THE Windjammer Inn 324 Smith St, Port Stanley 519-782-4173, www.thewindjammerinn.com

ELGIN EXPERIENCES

Kettle Creek Inn

5

EXPERIENCE #4: FAMILY BEACH DAY Spread out the beach blankets, cold drinks, and sand toys for a couple hours of sun, sand and waves at Port Stanley’s Blue Flag certified Main Beach. Then enjoy a stop at long-time favourite Mackies, famous for their special fry sauce and Orangeade. Next, it’s all aboard for a scenic train ride over the tracks of one of Ontario’s oldest railways on the Port Stanley Terminal Rail (Elgin’s longest running tourist attraction).

On the way home, an ice-cream treat may be in order—Broderick’s is celebrating their 30th year and 66-year-old Shaw’s has 41 flavours made on-site.

PORT STANLEY Main Beach South end of William St, Port Stanley, www.centralelgin.org

Broderick’s Ice Cream

Port Stanley Terminal Rail 309 Bridge St, Port Stanley 519-782-3730, www.pstr.on.ca

DELICIOUS LOCAL TREATS

Mackies 124 William St, Port Stanley, 519-782-4390 Shaw’s Ice Cream 6598 Sunset Rd, RR #4, St. Thomas 519-631-2510, www.shawsicecream.com Broderick’s Ice Cream 290 Bridge St, Port Stanley 519-782-4492, www.brodericksicecreamparlour.com

6

ELGIN EXPERIENCES

EXPERIENCE #5:

VILLAGE SHOPPING Tour, shop and learn a little more about winemaking at Quai du Vin Estate Winery, perched on the rolling hills of Fruit Ridge Line.

It’s a good way to start (or end) an excursion of eclectic shopping and back road sightseeing in and around the historic Quaker village of Sparta.

Enjoy lunch or afternoon tea in the Sparta House Tearoom, which serves homemade traditional British fare and has an extensive teapot collection on display. Be sure to check the websites listed for information on events at these businesses.

SHOPPING GEMS

Quai du Vin Estate Winery 45811 Fruit Ridge Ln, St. Thomas 519-775-2216, www.quaiduvin.com Sparta House Tearoom 46342 Sparta Ln, Sparta 519-775-2313, www.spartahouse.com

Anything Used & Sparta Country Candles 46361 Sparta Ln, Sparta 519-775-0054, www.spartacandles.com HOLISTIC AWAKENINGS DAY SPA 46349 Sparta Ln, Sparta 519-775-2606, www.holisticawakeningsdayspa.com Peter Robson Studios & Gallery 46340 Sparta Ln, Sparta 519-775-2522, www.peterrobsonstudios.com Steed & Company Lavender 47589 Sparta Ln, Sparta 519-494-5525, www.steedandcompany.com Wildflowers Farm 42338 Fruit Ridge Ln, Central Elgin 226-926-6432, www.wildflowerstea.com

Anything Used & Sparta Country Candles

ELGIN EXPERIENCES

7

EXPERIENCE #6:

FAMILY WEEKEND A shared outdoor adventure is one of the very best ways to nurture family bonds and memories. Make your campsite at Springwater Conservation Area your outdoor home and base for hiking, canoeing, pedal boating, fishing, exploring… and a trip to nearby Clovermead Bees & Honey. The Hiemstra family at Clovermead is dedicated to giving your family bushels of fun at their Adventure Farm. After tackling the zip line, giant jumping pillow, farm animals, zipster pedal carts, play structure, wild bee ride and more, everyone will be hungry for food and a chance to catch their breath. The Family Central Restaurant is just the place for that. They dish up down to earth, delicious food and their philosophy is family first—there’s even a 10% discount if you make meal-time family time by putting away the cell phones.

Clovermead Bees & Honey 11302 Imperial Rd (Hwy 73), Aylmer 519-773-5503, www.clovermead.com

8

Springwater Conservation Area 8079 Springwater Rd, RR #5, Aylmer 519-773-9037, www.catfishcreek.ca Family Central Restaurant 62 Talbot St East, Aylmer 519-765-2444, www.familycentral.ca

ELGIN EXPERIENCES

EXPERIENCE #7: LADIES’ EXCURSION Enjoy a day touring eastern Elgin with your girlfriends! At Pinecroft, you can dine in the tearoom amongst towering pines; shop for pottery which has been an Elgin County tradition for over 60 years; enjoy live music outdoors Sunday afternoons or sign up for a pottery class.

Heritage Line Herbs grows over 180 varieties of potted herbs, and uses them in herb-infused products, available alongside their dried herbs, herb blends, and other Ontario-produced gourmet food brands. Their Silver Birch Tearoom is set amongst a beautifully landscaped garden with waterfall (Tues-Sat, Jun-Sept). At day’s end, check into the luxurious and welcoming Sweet Magnolia House B&B, then settle in to rehash your beautiful day together (and set a date for the next one).

Pinecroft Pottery & The Green Frog Tearoom 8122 Rogers Rd S, Aylmer, 519-773-3435, www.pinecroft.ca

Sweet Magnolia House B&B 236 Talbot St E, Aylmer 519-765-3038, www.sweetmagnoliahouse.com

Heritage Line Herbs & The Silver Birch Tearoom 53443 Heritage Ln, RR #1, Aylmer 519-866-5577, www.heritagelineherbs.com

ELGIN EXPERIENCES

9

EXPERIENCE #8:

NAUTICAL ADVENTURE The HMCS Ojibwa is a BIG attraction! A tour of the 300foot Cold War era submarine will give you a feel for the life of a submariner on the high seas and a chance to learn about Ojibwa’s astonishing capacity for stealth.

Soak in some more nautical ambience with a climb to the top of the wooden 1840 Historic Lighthouse and a visit to the Marine Museum where you can learn about the village’s heritage, which included a booming 19th century ship-building industry. Stop in at Simply Scoops, known for its locally sourced burgers and freshcut fries, and vast array of ice cream flavours, then stroll down to the beach to catch a lake breeze. All that fresh air will leave you ready for a good night’s rest at Grey Gables B&B, a meticulously restored heritage home which gets rave reviews and repeat customers.

HISTORICAL EXPERIENCES

HMCS Ojibwa 3 Pitt St, Port Burwell, 519-633-7641 www.projectojibwa.ca PORT BURWELL MARINE Museum & Historic Lighthouse 20 Pitt St and 17 Robinson St, Port Burwell 519-874-4807 (May – Labour Day), www.bayham.on.ca

HMCS Ojibwa

GrEy Gables B&B 22 Erieus St, Port Burwell 519-874-4644, www.bbcanada.com/3912.html

Simply Scoops 38 Robinson St, Port Burwell 519-874-1390, simplyscoopspb.weebly.com

10

ELGIN EXPERIENCES

MON

LINE

43

D RO AD

IA LINE

CALTON 45

NOVA SC OT

40

LINE

32

48

73

42

L ROAD

19 31 33 36 13 1 27

DEXTER LINE

24

SPARTA LINE

56

3

45

16

4 38 20 UNIO N RO 28 AD 27 4 18 25 22 6 35 23 37 16 17 24 3 15

FAIRVIEW ROAD

ROAD

14

OAD

16

14

THIR

D LIN

E

TAL

T BO

E LIN

FIN

GA

LL

INE

N UNIO D ROA

LAKE ERIE

9

SUNSET

36 20

IMPERIA

26

52

WELLINGT ON ROAD

119

IELD RO AD

JOHN W ISE

32 21 27 45

29 3

FERGUS

QUAKER ROAD

48

HIGHBU RY AVENUE

SPRINGF

SPRINGW ATER RO AD

74

ON LINE

8 34

35

LYONS LINE

RON MCNEIL LINE

5

IMPERIAL ROAD

4

10 30 12 22

RICH

3

PUTNAM ROAD 49

47

11

46

EN ROAD

BELMONT ROAD

42

CULLOD

73

ROAD

38

PLANK

GLE NE RIE LIN E

C AL TON

LIN E

HERITAGE LINE

19

44

EDEN LINE

3

MAP OF ELGIN COUNTY

AR

RIE

D ROA

DU

IN FF L

E

8

CUR

3

9

7

401

2

13

18

ION

OAD

OAD

R HAM

2

HR

OUG

BOR

GRA

R LIN

D

ROA

ELGIN EXPERIENCES

E LIN QUE

ENS 6

JO

TO HNS

N

401

LINE

ON RRIS MO OAD R

103

3

9

BOT TAL

LIN

E

AL NIV

FUR

PIO

76

R NEE

LINE

LKE STA

5

E

DUN

1 Anything Used & Sparta Country Candles 2 Backus-Page House Museum & Pearce Park 3 Broderick’s Ice Cream 4 Canadale Nurseries 5 Clovermead Bees & Honey 6 Eagles Rest B&B 7 Empire Valley Farm Market 8 Family Central Restaurant 9 Family Flowers 10 Grey Gables B&B 11 Heritage Line Herbs / Silver Birch Tearoom 12 HMCS Ojibwa 13 Holistic Awakenings Day Spa 14 Horseshoe J Dude Ranch 15 Inn On the Harbour 16 Kettle Creek Inn 17 Mackies 18 Moore Water Gardens 19 Peter Robson Studios & Gallery 20 Picard’s Peanuts Original Country Store 21 Pinecroft Pottery / Green Frog Tearoom 22 Pt Burwell Marine Museum & Lighthouse 23 Port Stanley Festival Theatre 24 Port Stanley Main Beach 25 Port Stanley Terminal Rail 26 Quai du Vin Estate Winery 27 Shades of Green 28 Shaw’s Ice Cream 29 Silverthorn Landscape Supplies 30 Simply Scoops 31 Sparta House Tearoom 32 Springwater Conservation Area 33 Steed & Company Lavender 34 Sweet Magnolia House B&B 35 Telegraph House B&B 36 The Wayside Dining Lounge 37 The Windjammer Inn 38 Wildflowers Farm Please note that this map is for general information only. For a more detailed map of Elgin County, please visit one of the Elgin County Tourism kiosks (listed on page 2) or go to www.elgintourist.com.

11

From intimate live theatre, engaging museums and inspiring art galleries to warm sandy beaches, tantalizing food, family adventures and unique boutique shopping, you’ll have a summer experience to remember in Elgin County.

ENTER TO WIN You could win one of three Experience Elgin This Summer prize packages. Enter today at

www.experienceelgin.ca