OT - Vacation Next Year...

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 12:23 pm

The wife, myself and another couple are coming North to Ontario next September for vacation.

We will be crossing over into Canada at Port Huron

Head North on Highway 21

Connect to Highway 26

We will spend a few days in Barrie, ON at..

http://www.horseshoeresort.com/home.asp

Then we will follow the coast of Georgian Bay to Sudbury. Not sure what highway as my Atlas only shows a maple leaf on it??

OR

Backtrack and take the ferry over to Manitoulin Island.

From Manitoulin Island we will go North to Espanola and then go west on - Not sure what highway as my Atlas only shows a maple leaf on it to Sault St. Marie.??

Then we will drop back down into the states in Upper Michigan.

Will spend a few days at Mackinaw City area.

I would appreciate any feedback you all can give me on things to see and do along this route. Since we are retired and in no hurry we would even take a side detour to see and do something special.

Also any feedback on the type of facility that Horse Shoe resort is.

ecoaster · Post by **ecoaster** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 12:48 pm

As far as touristy things to do, I'm not sure. However I have made the run to Sudbury, Sault Saint Marie, and on to Thunder Bay, many times. I can guarantee you, you'll love the drive. It is a rugged, beautiful landscape up that way.

R.J. · Post by **R.J.** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:01 pm

You will love the Northern Ontario sights ! .... too many beautiful Lakes etc. to mention ... Sounds like you have all the bases covered ...

Get a picture by " The Big Nickle "

If you are in the Barrie area .... you will be in bj and Buckshot's " neck of the woods " .... maybe they will tune in and give you some recommendations !

As for Horseshoe Resort .... never been , but have heard good things about it .... Sound like your travel path will take you thru some of the best ecotourism areas as well .

Have a good holiday .

bait pile willie · Post by **bait pile willie** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:34 pm

woody.the highway north to sudbury is 400 to 69.when you go by parrysound consider the the 30,000 island boat cruise and see the canadian sheild at its best and maybe in fall colours,you will be glad you did. it is also the home of bobby orr the best hockey player ever!if you happen by sault st marie there is the train ride in the algoma canyon very spectacular.

bait pile willie · Post by **bait pile willie** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:36 am

correction.the train is the algoma central running through the agawa canyon .a very beautiful ride.

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 11:43 am

bait pile willie wrote:correction.the train is the algoma central running through the agawa canyon .a very beautiful ride.

Looks like fun. The other guy is a train buff, so we will put this on our must do list.

http://www.algomacentralrailway.com/con ... index.html

http://www.algomacentralrailway.com/

THANKS..

pokynojoe · Post by **pokynojoe** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 12:00 pm

I second the Algoma Central. I rode it many years ago. Also, if your going through Mackinaw City, I would reccomend that you drive down the west coast of Lake Michigan about 12 miles to a place called Cross Village and dine at the famous Legs Inn, assuming it's still there, it's been 30 years, but I spent some months in Pelleston working and used to spend my Saturday nights there.

Regards
Joe

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 1:01 pm

Thanks guys... keep the suggestions coming.

BUCKSHOT · Post by **BUCKSHOT** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:38 am

I hope that some of this information will help you a bit Woody!

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/travel ... dexpdf.htm
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Resources-g1 ... tario.html
http://www.cybermoose.ca/Tourism/georgianbay.htm
http://globaltourism.com/brucepeninsula/default.htm
http://www.manitoulintourism.com/
http://www.ontarioguide.com/OntarioInfo ... Drive.html
http://www.saultstemarieontariocanada.com/

Ontario is a wonderfull place, enjoy!

ComfyBear · Post by **ComfyBear** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:55 am

Then we will follow the coast of Georgian Bay to Sudbury. Not sure what highway as my Atlas only shows a maple leaf on it??

OR

Backtrack and take the ferry over to Manitoulin Island.

From Manitoulin Island we will go North to Espanola and then go west on - Not sure what highway as my Atlas only shows a maple leaf on it to Sault St. Marie.??

The Highway from Ottawa to North Bay to Sudbury to Espanola is Highway 17, AKA as the Trans-Canada Highway. Actually, if you were to follow it all the way west, it would lead you to the west coast to province of British Columbia.

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:10 am

GREAT info guys..

Thanks...

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 12:43 pm

I've bookmarked all the urls that you guys listed.

If anyone can think of anything else please let me know.

TIA..

xboman · Post by **xboman** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:11 pm

Hello Woody,

Regarding your trip to Ontario, I have a recommendation.

If you choose to follow the Georgian Bay shore taking Highway 400 then Hwy 69 then you must go to Manitoulin Island through Espanola which is on Hwy 6.

This Hwy (going south) will take you to Manitoulin Island in about 30-40 minutes where you will cross over a one lane swing bridge and find yourself on the Island. During your ride to the Island from Espanola make sure you travel in the daytime as it offers quite a scenic view of beautiful water ways inter-twined with small rock mountains bleached white.

Once on the Island you will have immediately entered into the Town called Little Current & take some time to visit it. Afterwards I would recommend you follow Hwy 540 to the Town of Gore Bay roughly 1 hours drive away. Take in the panoramic scenes along that Hwy and be prepared to be amazed.

Also recommended is several little stops along the way to Gore Bay in the Towns of West Bay also known as (M Chigeeng) and then the Town of Kagawong where you can relax watching the water falls named Bridal Veils. Also visit the small marina in Kagawong.

Then push on to Gore Bay.

I hunt deer on the Island every year on my 200 acres property and I make it a point to travel in the light hours so I can take in it's beauty.

You can then decide to backtrack through secondary Hwys on the Island on returning to Espanola and explore some more. I leave that up to you.
If you do.... then see Lake Mindemoya....you won't believe it's color as it is Turquoise green.

One last thing, don't drive too fast as deer are numerous on Manitoulin Island and deer/vehicle collisions are frequent.... calculated estimates put the deer population this year at around 25,000 whitetails. Every 2 days someone hits a deer with their vehicle causing a minimum of $1000 damage.

Enjoy Ontario
Yours to discover

xboman

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:37 pm

THANKS..

This is REALLY helpful.

We like to lay out plans like this and take in as much as we can.

We took a 16 day western USA trip (Northern route) last year and had a blast.

Looks like a lot of highways on the Ontario trip are two lanes and that is OK. We are in no hurry. Retired folks are like that..

Excalibur Crossbow Forum

OT - Vacation Next Year...

OT - Vacation Next Year...

Hey Woody

Traveling Ontario Recommendations.