Best Things To Do In Collingwood: Explore Like A Local
Is this your first time visiting Ontario? If so, then I highly recommend carving out a time on your itinerary to visit the small town of Collingwood. Collingwood is one of the stops on the Georgian Bay road trip, which I consider to be one of Ontario’s best road trips. Collingwood is a year-round playground which offers many things to do for the entire family. You won’t be disappointed when visiting this small Ontario town.
As someone who visits Collingwood frequently throughout the year, I have rounded up my favourite things to do which cover all interests. In this post, you’ll find the best things to do in Collingwood for foodies, shopoholics, nature lover’s, and outdoor enthusiasts. Let’s take a look!
Things To Do When Visiting Collingwood, Ontario
- Explore Downtown Collingwood
- Browse The Shops At Blue Mountain
- Hit The Slopes Or Hike At Blue Mountain
- Explore The Caves At Scenic Caves Nature Adventures
- Dine At Collingwood’s Best Restaurants
- Paddle Or Kayak On Georgian Bay
- Relax At The Scandinave Spa
- Take In The Views At Sunset Point Park
- Play A Round Of Golf
- Enjoy A Cold One (Or Spicey One)
- Best Adventures In Collingwood: In Conclusion
Collingwood is located along the shores of Georgian Bay, approximately 165 km from Toronto. It’s a popular year-round destination, just a short drive from Blue Mountain, Ontario’s largest ski resort. When visiting Collingwood, you’ll get the best of both worlds – 2 towns in one!
If you’re visiting Ontario and don’t want to rent a car, not to worry, you can still experience the best that Collingwood has to offer by booking a tour from Toronto. If you prefer to get an indepth look, you can also book a local tour in Collingwood. Or you can follow this guide and explore on your own.
I love writing content for my fellow Ontario road trippers. However, there is a cost to run a website. There may be affiliate links scattered throughout the website. If you click on a link, don’t worry, there is no cost to you.
Explore Downtown Collingwood
Downtown Collingwood is where you’ll find locally owned, boutique shops, quaint cafes, and beer-tasting. The beautifully restored 19th-century architecture gives this historic downtown a welcoming vibe. Don’t miss Duncans Cafe for breakfast, or Dags & Willow for gourmet treats to go, and caesars galore at 1858 Caesar Bar.
Browse The Shops At Blue Mountain
If you haven’t had enough retail therapy after browsing the shops of downtown Collingwood, Blue Mountain offers a European-style village which is full of boutique shops, restaurants, cafes, and brewpubs.
Blue Mountain is an easy 18 km drive from Collingwood. From Collingwood, take highway 26 west. Turn left onto Grey Road 21. Turn right on Monterra Road. Turn right onto Grey Road 19. Turn left onto Jozo Weider Boulevard into the village.
It sounds more difficult than it actually is, and will take approximately 10 minutes from Collingwood.
Hit the Slopes at Blue Mountain: A Popular Collingwood Thing To Do
In addition to retail therapy, Blue Mountain offers endless fun in every season, which makes it a top destination for a winter getaway in Ontario. In winter, it’s all about skiing and snowboarding, but come summer, the slopes turn into hiking and mountain biking trails.
The village itself is worth a visit too. It’s filled with restaurants, patios, and shops perfect for a bit of downtime.
Although Blue Mountain is best known for its ski adventures, there is so much more to keep the entire family busy than just skiing. A quick trip to Blue Mountain is a must-do when visiting Collingwood.
Hike And Explore the Scenic Caves Nature Adventures
If you love the outdoors, Scenic Caves should be at the top of your list of best things to do in Collingwood. This natural wonder offers caves, suspension bridges, and hiking trails with jaw-dropping views of Georgian Bay.
It’s especially stunning in the fall when the leaves put on their famous colour show. Hiking and exploring the Scenic Caves is my favourite thing to do when I’m visiting Collingwood and I highly recommend you add it to your list of adventures.
Dine at Collingwood’s Best Restaurants
If you’re a foodie, you’ll love Collingwood’s growing restaurant scene. The Tremont Café serves refined dishes in a beautifully restored historic building in downtown Collingwood, or you might prefer to dine waterfront at the Lakeside Seafood & Grill, located inside of the Living Water Resort. If you prefer more casual, laid-back, comfort, I recommend The Smoke, which is famous for its BBQ.
Paddle or Kayak on Georgian Bay
If you love being on the water, renting a kayak or paddleboard from Southwinds Marine is one of the best things to do in Collingwood during the warmer months. You can paddle along the shoreline for unbeatable views of Blue Mountain in the distance and the crystal-clear waters of Georgian Bay and its shoreline.
Relax at the Scandinave Spa
After all that exploring, treat yourself to some serious relaxation at the Scandinave Spa, Ontario’s first and largest Nordic Spa. Surrounded by forest, this Nordic-style spa features hot baths, cold plunges, saunas, and peaceful relaxation areas.
Scandinave Spa is open year-round. My favourite time to visit is during the winter when you can see the ski hills in the distance. What better way to relax and unwind after a day outdoors?
Driver’s Tip: For a quieter, more intimate experience, relax with some hydrotherapy which you can find inside the Living Water Resort.
Take in the Views at Sunset Point Park
No trip to Collingwood is complete without a visit to Sunset Point Park. Pack a picnic, bring your camera, and watch the sky turn golden over Georgian Bay. It’s one of the most photographed spots in town, and for good reason.
If you’re travelling with children, there is an amazing playground directly across the street, which also has a picnic area and a phone charging station of all things 🙂 .
Play A Round Of Golf
Golfing in Collingwood is a must if you’re looking to soak in the natural beauty of Georgian Bay, while enjoying a relaxing yet challenging outdoor activity.
Cranberry Golf Resort and Blue Mountain Golf and Country Club offer rolling fairways, panoramic views and well-maintained greens. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced golfer or just out for a casual round, the scenic landscapes and the fresh Georgian Bay air make every game enjoyable and unforgettable.
Driver’s Tip: If you plan to do a lot of golfing during your visit to Collingwood, I recommend booking a stay at Living Stone Golf Resort, as they offer golf packages throughout the golf season
Enjoy A Cold one (Or A Spicey One)
No trip to Collingwood is complete without hanging out with the locals at Black Bellows Brewing Company. It’s a long-time local favourite and offers creative craft beers, unique art-filled decor, and a fun community vibe. Not to mention they have some great put fare as well.
If you want to explore your creative side, I highly recommend stopping in at 1858 Caesar Bar where you can create your very own caesar. From pretzels to lobster tails, this bar has it all.
Best Adventures In Collingwood: In Conclusion
Whether you’re craving outdoor adventure, good food, or just a relaxing escape, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Collingwood that fit your travel style.
This year-round playground has it all, and you will soon realize that you don’t have to go far for an unforgettable Ontario adventure. You’ll have to see for yourself why Collingwood is one of my favourite Ontario escapes.
Are you in the midst of planning a vacation in Ontario, Canada? Let me help you out. As a life-long resident, the following are the platforms that I generally use when I’m road tripping around my beautiful Province:
🏡 Rentals: Ontario has every style of accommodation rental imaginable, to suit every budget and travel style. For my vacation rentals, I use VRBO. This platform provides a wide variety of accommodations for every budget.
🏢 Hotels: Sometimes, I prefer to stay at a hotel, especially if I’m just staying in the area for a night or two. My go-to platform for booking hotels in Ontario is always Booking.com
🚴♀️ Activities: Ontario has so many activities to offer that it’s often difficult to choose. My favourite platform to find activities in each area of Ontario is Get Your Guide
🚗 Car Rentals: Ontario is so massive that’s it’s literally impossible to explore everything without a vehicle. Although I do have my own car, there have been times that I’ve rented a vehicle – especially for longer road trips. When in doubt, I’ve used Booking.com to find the best deal on rentals.
💰 Insurance: When travelling abroad, I purchase my medical insurance through Advisor Max, as well as my cancellation and trip-interruption insurance. Advisor Max is also the ideal company for visitors to Ontario, or any part of Canada, to purchase their travel insurance.
SAVE FOR YOUR VISIT TO COLLINGWOOD
