Ontario: Tobermory

Posted on by Bonnie MacKie Gundert

Week 6: Canadian Summer Staycation Series!

This is the sixth in a series of 13 weekly blog posts highlighting one iconic Canadian experience in each Province and Territory.

In this weeks’ blog post we’re in my hometown Province of Ontario!

This week’s post was difficult to write. I was born and raised in Ontario and I still live here so having to choose just one experience was not an easy task.

Ontario is the second largest province in total area and it’s home to Canada’s capital city of Ottawa so there are lots of amazing things to see and do here.

Tobermory, located at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, is one of the most beautiful and diverse places that I’ve visited in Ontario.

It is approximately 296 kms northwest of Toronto surrounded by Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.

With so many things to do in Tobermory we picked a few highlights to share in this post.

Fathom Five National Marine Park

Fathom Five, Canada’s first National Marine Park, is a freshwater ecosystem containing 19 islands within it’s boundaries. It has deep, clear water that attracts scuba divers from all over the world.

There are 22 historic shipwrecks located in the park with some of them easily seen just below the waters surface.

Just one of the shipwrecks seen from our glass bottom boat on the way to Flowerpot Island.
Another view of the shipwreck from our boat.

Flowerpot Island

Flowerpot Island is one of the 19 located within the Fathom Five Marine Park.

The island is famous for its caves, historic light station, rare plants and natural “flowerpot” rock pillars.

There are two rock pillars or sea stacks called the “Flowerpots” on its eastern shoreline. The Flowerpots are a type of sea stack, formed over many years as wind, rain, waves, and ice hammered away at the cliff that once stood alongside the water’s edge. The softer rock eroded more quickly, leaving the harder rock remaining in the shape of flowerpots with trees growing on top.

One of the two flowerpots on the island.

The Grotto

Hiking to and swimming at the Grotto is one of the most popular activities to do in the area. It’s so popular that visitors are now required to purchase a 4-hour timed parking pass to help minimize overcrowding.

The Grotto is a large sea cave containing a pool of water. An underwater tunnel extends from the pool inside the cave through the cliff to Georgian Bay. This often makes it appear as though the pool is glowing on sunny days. 

The Grotto is accessed by climbing down a 40 foot rock cliff or squeezing through a hole in the ground known as “the Chimney”.

Inside the Grotto where you can see the tunnel (light blue water) leading from inside the cave to Georgian Bay.
Despite being there in August, the water is cold year round but there were people swimming while we were there.

The Bruce Trail

The main trail goes from the Niagara River all the way to Tobermory. That’s more than 890kms…and that’s not including the 400kms of side trails!

There are people who have walked the entire trail but if you are short on time you can also choose different sections of the trail that are only an hour or two, a half a day or full day.

Because of the length of the trail, it passes through several different landscapes and changing ecosystems such as waterfalls, rivers, farms, forests and gorges.

At the start of our trek on the Bruce Trail through a beautiful forested trail.
And the incredible views near the top from one of the overlooks was worth the rocky and hilly climb.

The MS Chi-Cheemaun Ferry

The Chi-Cheemaun ferry has been a staple of Georgian Bay for over forty years taking passengers between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island. It takes just under 2 hours one way to cross.

The name comes from the Ojibwe word for “big canoe” and with a capacity of 143 vehicles it certainly lives up to it’s name.

Although these programs are cancelled in 2020 because of Covid-19, the ferry offers live music, Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Cruises. The Stargazing Cruise is on the list for our next visit.

Getting ready to load vehicles for a crossing.

We recommend planning your trip to Tobermory in advance to get the most out of your stay since there are limited accommodations and advance ticket purchase requirements for the Grotto.

If you could chose one iconic experience in your own Province or State, what would it be? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section below!

Stay tuned next week for part 7 of our 13 part Canadian Summer Staycation Series!

Here are the links to our other blog posts in this series…

Newfound and Labrador: Iceberg Alley

Nova Scotia: Tidal Bore Rafting

Prince Edward Island: All Things Anne

New Brunswick: Hopewell Rocks

Quebec: Old Quebec

Going on Safari in Manitoba

Saskatchewan: Notoriously Moose Jaw

Alberta: The Drumheller Dinosaurs

British Columbia: Rainforest and Beaches

Yukon: The Klondike Gold Rush

North West Territories: The Northern Lights

Nunavut: Inuit Culture in Iqaluit

If you haven’t had the pleasure of traveling for a vacation within Canada before, now is the ideal time to do so.

With a decrease in the number of international tourists expected to visit because of the Covid-19 travel restrictions in place, popular tourist destinations within Canada will be less crowded this summer. Hotels and resorts have been offering discounted room prices and free room upgrades to entice travelers to book accommodations.

In addition to a less expensive and more enjoyable travel experience, the tourism industry in Canada has been hit hard by Covid-19 and they are going to need our help to recover as quickly as possible with our tourism dollars.

Let’s all do our part and help support our own economy and tourism industry to recover by choosing to spend money on Canadian travel experiences this summer.

64 thoughts on “Ontario: Tobermory”

  1. I haven’t seen much of Ontario beyond Toronto, and I’m not much for cities overall. These pictures are beautiful. Thank you for introducing me to a side of Ontario I had not previously known.

  2. That water is so beautiful and clear! I would love to see this. I am a big water junky when I travel.

    1. Hopefully you can make it to Canada some day Leeandra – it’s worth the trip.

  4. Perfect time for staycations! We sometimes forget the beauty in our own backyards.. amazing pictures!

      1. Pictures are great and looks like you had an amazing time. Sometimes you find the best adventures right where you live. Living in Florida I often take it for granted and forget the beauty of my home state.

    1. Yes…you should get our passport Maggie. There are so many amazing places to go.

  6. I want to get back to Canada soon, and I think I’ll be there next summer! I haven’t been there since I was a little girl – we went to Niagra Falls.

  9. Wow that looks gorgeous. The Grotto is so inviting, I can see why they would have to limit the parking time.

  10. Looks awesome! Can’t wait until the border opens back up, I have so much exploring to do

  11. I love learning about Canada and all the fun things there are to do! I love this series!

  12. I enjoyed your pictures and information about a place I am not familiar with. Beautiful!

    1. It was Santana…the water is crystal clear so you could see everything pretty good.

  14. I love Canada and can’t wait to get back there. I’ve never been to Ontario before, but I love your pictures. The grotto is so mysterious! And the flowerpots remind me of something I saw in Thailand. I’d love to see the shipwrecks too!

  17. I’d love to take a ride on a glass bottom boat. How cool to get to see shipwrecked items underneath.

    1. It was our first time on a glass bottom boat so a very cool experience Sara

  20. This makes me sad that I didn’t do more exploring like this while I lived there! I spent one year of high school in Barrie and visited Owen Sound and Port Elgin but that is about as far as I explored in that area. Will have to try and do this trip next time I visit family.

    1. I went to high school in Barrie as well 🙂 I’ve visited a lot of places in Ontario and still have so many more that I want to get to!

  21. Looks like an amazing place to visit! Everything about this place is interesting and beautiful. And getting to ride in a glass-bottomed boat?!? I just loved imagining I was there through your photos. If I were to go to Ontario, I’d much rather visit Tobermory than a large city any day! I live in northern Minnesota. If I had to pick one place in Minnesota, it would be the north shore (near Duluth). So pretty, especially in the fall!

    1. Thanks for reading Ramae! I’m more of a countryside vs. city traveler as well.

  22. This article comes at the perfect time!! We are hoping to head up to Tobermory and Manitoulin Island in a couple weeks! Thanks for a great read!

    1. Glad to hear Marianne! Have a fantastic trip – haven’t been to Manitoulin yet but it’s on my list.

  24. Looks like a beautiful trip! I’d love to do a glass bottom boat tour some time.

    1. It was our first time on a glass bottom boat and was a great experience Adrienne

  25. My aunt & uncle had a cottage in Tobermory. ‘The Tub’ as the residents call the main area is so cute, filled with small local artisan shops. I’ve done everything you mentioned, except going into the grotto! Such fond memories!

  26. Beautiful destination! I can see why the Grotto is so popular! I’d love to hike the Bruce Trail! So serene!

    1. Hiking the Bruce Trail was a highlight for us – and we only hiked a small portion of it Kendra

  27. It seems we are all staycationing this year. I loved learning about your neck of the woods.

    1. I’m always surprised by the people I meet who have traveled all over the world but not in their own country.

  30. I love reading about your neck of the woods!!! I know this is chapter 6 – you’ll need to make a book!! It’s great to see and hear the fun!!

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