Spring is Here

You know one of the first signs of spring is to see groundhogs, well Wiarton Willie is out and about, awakened from his long winter slumber, he is out and about diggin in the dirt and showing off for all his adoring fans!

When you are out and about exploring the Bruce, why not drop by and say "HI" to Willie he may be inside his house or outside his house depending on the weather... You know he loves to hang out in his outside pen and bake in the sun!

For those of you who have not been to Willie's house before, it is located on Brown St in Wiarton across from Bluewater Park, on the front lawn of the Bruce County Library, you can't miss it!

Check out the Willie Cam to see what he is up to while he hangs out inside his house.

5th Annual Explore the Bruce Adventure Passport Contest

WOW not sure where the first quarter of the year went, can you believe it is May 1st already. If you are a fan of our annual contest you know by now that today is the day you have been waiting for all year...The Explore the Bruce Adventure Passport Contest starts today and runs till December 5th, 2009... 

Check out our NEW Adventure Passport website for all kinds of clues, tips, tour ideas, and to order a copy of your adventure passport so you can get out there and experience what over 28,000 people have done over the past 4 years.  

If this is your first time doing the contest you are in for a great adventure, if you have done it before or maybe are a seasoned vetran, then you know what kind of fun you are about to take part in.

If you are a facebook user, we are looking for you!  Join our group and share your journey with other fellow adventurers, but remember don't give away all the secrets... Share your photos, videos, stories and more.

This year the first 1,000 entries will receive a FREE Explore the Bruce T-Shirt...wear it proud!

Your Adventure Starts Now...Good Luck!

Maple Syrup Festivals

Well isn't it nice to see the sunshine and watch the snow melt away! The crocus's are blooming in my garden and the tulips, daffodils, and hyacinth are about 6 inches high! I hope by the time Easter arrives my garden will be full of colour and giving off a wonderful fragrance! I am sitting at a friend’s house, watching the Sydenham River flow by, the swans, assorted ducks and Canadian geese are all a flurry, and there are so many types of birds at the feeders I am having to look them up in the bird book!! The land critters are a happy to be digging and munching away..

Spring is defiantly in the air and that means warm sunny days and cool night, which you know makes the sap run!! That’s right it is Maple Syrup time and all that that in tales...
So over the next few weekends if you are looking for something to do outdoors in our region, you won’t be disappointed! By mid April if you have not had your fill of pancakes, maple syrup and spending time with family and friends in the country, you'll be sorry you missed out.

Here is a list of some Maple Syrup Festivals happening in the Bruce and beyond:
March 28-29th
Old Tyme Maple Syrup Festival at Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area
8 km North of Paisley off Bruce Rd 3)
April 4th
Grey Roots Museum & Archives annual Maple Syrup Festival
(Grey Rd 18, S of Owen Sound)
April 9th and 11th
42nd Annual Belmore Maple Syrup Festival at the Community Centre
April 11th
Purple Valley Maple Syrup Festival – Community Centre



Hope to see you at one of them!

The undiscovered Lighthouse of the Bruce Peninsula

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a great love of lighthouses. This love developed at a very, very young age. Our family would spend each summer at our cottage on the shores of Lake Huron on the Bruce Peninsula. Every summer our neighbour - "Uncle Art" would take my sister and I for a hike to the "lighthouse". This was quite a hike for a pre-schooler, but we would pack a picnic, and off we would go. Uncle Art is long gone, and those treks to the lighthouse stopped with his passing, but it has always remained as a special place in my heart.

My own father passed away this winter, and somethings can never be recaptured. But it has made me realize that some things will remain just memories, and some memories can be relived, or re-visited.

As many people groan and complain about a long winter, my friends and I were thrilled that we could get another Sunday afternoon snowshoe adventure in. Chris and Beth had only heard about this lighthouse from stories that I have told them over the years, but as it is only accessable by boat, or a hike through the bush, it was a great opportunity to introduce them to this special place.

It was a walk through time as I retraced those same steps taken decades ago. I was amazed to find the same trails as I forged ahead leading the group. Small things along the way would spark a memory as I reminisced in my own thoughts amongst the solitude of the woods.

As we rounded the point and I got my first glimpse at this icon in my life, I stopped and took it all in as I waited for my friends to catch up. I was finally back at this familiar place, a place that holds a special part of my history.

The lighthouse looks exactly as I remembered it, except now is operated by solar panels. I could not resist climbing the tower as if I were five years old again.

I can't tell you how many times people have called our office at Bruce County Tourism and tell me that they vacationed in our area with their families growing up years ago and want to return to rekindle those memories, or visit those special places that held such fond memories for them.

It was great to be able to share this special place with my friends, and as we sat on the deck at my cottage afterwards soaking up the sunshine, we starting planning our next adventure. Stay tuned....

P.S. For anyone who would like to know where this "secret" lighthouse is, call Adventure Bruce at 1-800-268-3838.

Snowshoeing on the Bruce Peninsula

It was another absolutely beautiful day on the Bruce Peninsula. Each Sunday afternoon I get together with a couple of good friends to go snowshoeing. Each week we discover different places. Places that have a totally different look and feel then in the warmer temperatures, and the wildlife awakes, or life gets so busy trying to fit everything in that you don't get to stop and smell the roses. We here in Bruce County embrace winter.

Since I have moved here 15 years ago from the big city, I have come to make the most of each season, and jump in with both feet. Today I hosted my friends on my 200 acres on the Bruce Peninsula. It is fun identifying the different trees and animal tracks that we see throughout the bush. Last Sunday we snow shoed the Bruce Trail at Lion's Head where we discovered the 10,000 year old potholes carved in the limestone. We stood on the cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment overlooking Isthmus Bay located along the shores of Georgian Bay, and all of it's glory in a snow squall. Next week we hope to trek the shores of Lake Huron while it is still frozen to a place.......well you will just have to wait and see. Stay tuned.

Check out some of the great places to go Snowshoeing or Cross Country Skiing across the Bruce!

SnowTrax Television Episode Filmed in Grey Bruce

SnowTrax TV Was Here

The SnowTrax Television crew was here carving the trails around Owen Sound and Wiarton (Jan 27th – 29th) in efforts to showcase this region as the heart and sole of Ontario Snowmobiling. The Best Western Inn on The Bay was a gracious host for the shoot and pampered the crew each night. Co-host Luke Lester is now known as 'Bubbles'.

Show Co-host Taera McLean has been to Grey Bruce before and was so impressed at how the local communities embrace its favourite winter pastime. “Every time I ride here I am blown away at the hospitality, friendliness and dedication by volunteers to perfecting this massive trail system. Combine it with the unique clubhouses and the social aspects, and you’ve got a totally unique riding experience.” View Taera's Blog.....for more details on the trip.

The itinerary for the shoot focused on digging into what makes this snowmobile community tick and illustrating what makes people so passionate about the sport. One of the features will be on the VanDolder family, who have deep connections to snowmobile racing and this community.

Mchael, Jeremy VanDolder and Taera Maclean

Videographer Doug capturing Jeremy on the practice track

The entire VanDolder family

The crew also interviewed Paul MacDermid an owner of the Owen Sound Attack Junior A Hockey Club. Paul is a former NHL'r and is an avid Snowmobiler in Grey Bruce. Paul says it's the diversity of riding terrain here that makes it so appealling. Plus, the Attack hockey club is the only OHL Franchise that you can ride your sled right to the rink to take in a game. The crew spent a little time on the ice as well talking to some players who also love to ride.

Taera and Paul at the Attack Rink

Marcus Carroll, Michael McGurk, Tyler Beskorowany

A unique twist to the show was to include a winter camping feature that saw the crew ride to the Lennox Clubhouse (near Owen Sound) to learn wilderness survival skills with Dr. Gino Ferri and crew from Survival in the Bush Inc.

Videographer Doug and Survival in the Bush Expert igniting a tinder bundle

Following winter camping, the crew will head to the Wiarton Airport to shoot a riding sequence utilizing a Helicopter. Riders were filmed cruising atop the Niagara Escarpment to the scenic Skinners Bluff lookout right on the trail. The aerial footage will be used in the show to capture the scenic beauty of the area overlooking Georgian Bay.

Tarea and Chris infront of the Bruce Peninsula Helicopter Tours Chopper

The Grey Bruce Episode will air later in February. Check SnowTrax Television for times and tons of cool sled stuff.

Check out local riding information at Ride Grey Bruce. For the fantastic Yamaha Sleds used in the show see Bill at Tennysons Yamaha .

Next week we are hitting the trails with Ontario Snowmobile Magazine (OSM) for a Shore to Shore ride. Stay tuned!

As always...Grey Bruce is a proud part of GoRideOntario

Wiarton Willie Prediction Morning

Well the sun gods were shinning on us this morning! It was a great day to be in Wiarton at the Meeting Place for the 53rd Annual Wiarton Willie Prognostication, he did not disappoint if you are into snow, then congratulations we are in for 6 more weeks of it!!

Our tourism team was at the event this morning and Jamie from our office was in full Willie gear!!

Show Shoeing on the Bruce Peninsula

This weekend on the Bruce the weather could not have been more perfect! It was a day full of sunshine, and after all the snow we have been receiving it was well needed. We can all handle winter, we live in a 4-season destination, but you got t0 have some days like yesterday, -2 and sunny. Makes you want to get outdoors and take it all in and what better way them to either head out on one of our groomed cross country trails or break in one of your own!

Even though we are in for 6 more weeks of winter, this week is looking pretty good for sunny days an milder temps, so get out there and take it all in!!

If you find yourself in Wiarton this week, drop on by our office, we will be on the front lawn from 12:00 - 2:00 pm building a cool snow sculpture, at 578 Brown St, we are right next door the LCBO and across the street from Georgian Bay!

Ice Fishing on the Beautiful Bruce Peninsula

There are so many things to do in the winter on the Bruce and after this morning prognostication from that famous groundhog Wiarton Willie we are in for 6 more weeks of winter!!

So bundle up, throw on a pair of snow shoes and head out on one of our many inland lakes to take in a great winter sport Ice Fishing!

Like these two sisters, what a great way to spend time with friends and family... Jamie from our office loves to share the outdoors with her sister from the city... They caught these two Rainbow Fish this past weekend.