Lakeland Boating — July 2017

WAYPOINT

entertainment. This year marks Canada’s 150th anniversary.

The Urban Slide is a highlight of this festival, as the main

street of town is transformed into a giant water slide.

Penetanguishene comes from the Ojibwa language and

means place of white rolling sands, so it’s no surprise that

Parc Rotary Camplain Wendat Park and Huronia Park

feature great swimming beaches. Penetang is also the port

of departure for the Georgian Queen boat tour to nearby

Georgian Bay Islands National Park.

The Canadian Shield’s spectacular landscapes, time-worn

rock faces and windswept pines have inspired artists for

centuries. You can see paintings, photography and jewelry

at Quest Gallery in Penetang’s Village Square Mall. Then,

grab a bite to eat at Blue Sky Family Restaurant and Tavern,

known for its great breakfasts, or the Inn at Bay Moorings;

Fridays feature the all-you-can-eat prime rib buffet.

Midland

Just east around Sucker Creek Point is Midland, another

community steeped in history, founded in 1871 at the railway’s

dead-end. Seventeenth century Saint-Marie among the Hurons

was Ontario’s first European community and headquarters

for the Jesuit mission to the Hurons. Now reconstructed, you

can visit the Quendat Village and Huronia Museum to view a

full-size longhouse and wigwam, learn about local Aboriginal

history, and study the roles of the railway and lumber industries.

Don’t miss the Martyrs Shrine, a spectacular Catholic church.

History is also on display throughout town in more than

30 murals, which serve as one of Ontario’s largest outdoor

galleries. The highlight of the collection, right across from

Harbourfront Park, is the largest historic outdoor mural

in North America; its canvas is a bank of grain elevators.

Boaters will appreciate the marinas in Midland Bay and

Tiffin Basin. Together they offer nearly 2,000 slips and can

accommodate boats up to 500 feet with 25 feet of draft;

even cruise ships make this a port of call. Billed as Canada’s

largest freshwater marina, Wye Heritage Marina and Resort

in Tiffin basin features 1,000 slips, a 50-ton travel lift and

the famous restaurant, Henry’s South, known for fresh

pickerel. The dish’s flaky texture has drawn kudos from food

critics writing for Saveur Magazine and the New York Times.

Rounding out the docking options in Midland Bay

are Bay Port Yachting Center, with 650 floating berths;

Midland Harbour Town Docks, with 55 transient slips

accommodating up to 350-footers; and Midland Bay Sailing

Club. Tie up and then wander into the Boathouse Eatery

for “Wing-ed Wednesdays” or Scully’s Waterfront Grill

for fresh seafood on the patio.

There are dozens of other dining spots, including Arch

Steak House for steak or pickerel; Explorers Café with

Asian, Middle Eastern and Canadian cuisine; and the

Library Restaurant & Study Lounge with Guinness-braised

lamb shank or baby back ribs. Once fortified, you can take

a tour of the 30,000 Islands aboard the Miss Midland.

The old downtown section is historic and offers many

quaint shops and restaurants. Pop into the Lighthouse

Store on King Street for gifts, books, artwork and apparel,

all with a nautical theme. Grab a cab to the main highway

for Walmart, Canadian Tire and other big box stores.

Port Severn

Cruise on to Port Severn, the western gateway to the Trent-

Severn Waterway at Lock 45. Here in the heart of cottage

country, many marinas cater to small boats. Transients are

welcomed at Severn Marina’s 60 slips for boats up to 37 feet;

Rawley Resort’s 16-slip Marina; Starport Severn, which

accommodates boats up to 55 feet; and Bush’s Marina, taking

transients up to 45 feet. Bush’s also features The Grill, offering

pub food, lake perch and the ubiquitous pickerel. For a change of

pace, try Schoolhouse Fish and Chips in the basement of an old

schoolhouse. Right next to Lock 45 is — you guessed it — Lock

45 Restaurant, with its adjacent supermarket for provisioning.

For upscale dining, try the Lakefront Inn at Christie’s

Mill, based on the fine cuisine of Paris and the Loire Valley.

Georgian Bay

Islands

National Park

Georgian Bay Islands

National Park, accessible

only by boat, showcases

the rugged beauty of

the Canadian Shield’s

breathtaking rock

landscapes. Day trip

tour boats depart from

nearby towns, including

Penetanguishene, Midland

and Parry Sound, to

Beausoleil, the largest of

the islands, where you

can camp, hike, bike and

enjoy the park’s interpretive

programs. Or take your own

boat (use great care, as the

Georgian Bay bottom is

solid rock) for exploration

and overnight docking

for just 90 cents per foot

(Canadian dollars). In honor

of Canada’s 150th birthday,

you’ll get free admission in

2017, though docking and

other fees still apply.

26 JULY 2017 | LAKELANDBOATING.COM

Huronia Museum Port Severn Lock

HURONIA PHOTO COURTESY OF ONTARIO TOURISM; LOCK PHOTO BY MARTY RICHARDSON; PARK PHOTO COURTESY OF

PARKS CANADA/ETHAN MELEG;

Waypoint_WaypointPt2_JUL17.indd 26 5/25/17 9:30 AM