News – Page 8 – Dive To Escape

If you're planning on visiting Owen Sound, Ontario, here is a list of 10 things I think anyone who visits should experience. It may even make you fall in love with this picturesque town on the water. Owen Sound is rich in history and culture, from its historical roots as a port town to being the final stop on the underground railroad. Owen Sound also has some real gems to explore outdoors; here is my list of places to visit. Although some of the suggestions are seasonal, because of the outdoor beauty offered by Owen Sound, I am sure it will be worth visiting all year round. 1. Harrison Park picture of Weever Creek falls, Center is a Memorial to Underground Rail Road in Harrison Park and on the right is an Image of Inglis Falls This place alone is an excellent place to visit to spend most of your day or at least the better part of the afternoons. Harrison Park has plenty of parking, a full-service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and there is also a snack bar offering ice cream and slushies, a great option at the end of a hike or if you are going to sit by the water. Harrison Park is found in the heart of Owen sound, with the Sydenham river running through it, providing a very picturesque setting for the park. It has basketball courts and paddleboat rental for paddling the river. There is a small zoo on the park ground featuring a variety of native and exotic birds and waterfowl. The park has a large playground with a variety of different swings. I am sure the adults will like to get on one of the giant swings and relive some of their youthful days. There is also a splash pad for the kids. Harrison Park is also a great place to host a birthday party or an anniversary. The pretty setting and the excellent amenities could make it an affordable option that will have memories to last. 2 Harrison park also has some great trails that aren't very difficult, and I would highly recommend the 5km loop to Inglise falls. The path is well marked, and the terrain is relatively level with only 2-3 small hill climbs; otherwise, with primarily level footing. I would recommend this for anyone looking to go for a peaceful walk as there are many lookouts and spots to stop and take pictures and rest if you feel so inclined. 3 There is also a smaller waterfall just a short walk within Harrison park behind the pool areas, leading to Weaver Creek Falls. These falls are a must-see if you visit Harrison parks as they are very picturesque with easy access. Finally, my favourite thing to do at Harrison park is a seasonal option: the annual salmon run from October to the end of November. The Sydenham river comes alive with the salmon. Harrison Park has several walking bridges going over their river along with clear waters and easy access to the water’s edge; it’s easy to get a great view of all the action of the fish fighting the current making their way up the river. Click here to Get more info on Harrison Park 4. Jones Falls and Potawatomi River Visitor center Image of Jones Falls from above and the Pottawatomi River Located just a short drive outside of Owen sound, personally well worth the drive to visit Jones falls. There is plenty of parking and washrooms available in the visitor center. The visitor center is also a great stop to pick up maps of other trails in the area and flyers to any events. When you're at the trailhead for Jones falls, there is a well-marked map displaying a short walk along the Potawatomi river to the falls, or you can hike a trail that you can choose a 3km or 5km path, both ending at jones falls. A bridge goes over the river so that you can see it from several vantage points. You can take this opportunity to wade in the Potawatomi river as you will find many visitors sitting in their inner tube lazing along the river. If you are an avid hiker like me, you won’t want to miss out on this hike. It takes you through some dense forest that opens up into peaceful meadows with beautiful wildflowers; there are also large crevasses that you will step over on the hike displaying how dynamic the escarpments' geology is. Information Board and the trailhead of Pottawatomi and Jones Falls Conservation area Click here for more info on Jones Falls area 5. Indian Falls Picture of Indian Falls from the bottom of the falls Just a short drive from Kelso beach or a 10 min drive from downtown Owen Sound is Indian falls. Indian fall is a picturesque place to visit. The falls have plenty of parking and access to public bathrooms. Walk past the bathrooms to get to the trail; you will find the trailhead that will lead you to Indian falls; the trail is well marked. I would consider it a beginner to intermediate level trail only because there are a few steep hills to climb; some have stairs with railings. If you don’t consider yourself an avid hiker, I think you can still visit these falls easily. If you don’t want to follow the trail you can also see the falls, my favourite way, by following the river. Images of some of the animals I have seen walking up the river at Indian falls Bring some water shoes or running shoes. You don’t mind getting wet. You could do it barefoot, be careful as it is a rocky bottom. Their river is rarely more than a foot deep; there are some areas along the river where you get a great view of all the sediment layers the river has cut through. There are also some areas of the river that go just a few inches deep but rush over the rocks so fast that it makes them very smooth and fun to slide on. Every time I have visited these falls and walked up the river, it never fails to present unique wildlife finds. Some common finds are slider turtles, snapping turtles, frogs and the occasional snake. There will be lots of signs of deer in the area. One summer, there was a complete skeleton of a deer at the fall’s base. If you have little kids that you want to expose to the natural environments or looking for a stroll through nature, walking up Indian Falls is one of my favourite pastimes that I do several times a year. Don’t forget if you have a craving for Ice Cream; there is a shop across the street from the parking area. Click here for more info on Indian Falls 6. Kelso Beach Kelso Beach is an excellent place to spend the day, with lots of parking, a playground, washrooms and plenty of space to put down a towel and catch some sun. Located on the western shore of the Sydenham River, this is an excellent stop when visiting Own Sound. Suppose you can time your visit mid to late August. Kelso Beach hosts the Summerfolk Music and Craft Festival. This event attracts typically large crowds, so plan ahead, but it is sure to be a great time. Click here for more info on Kelso Beach 7. Grey Roots Museum The Grey Roots Museum is just outside Owen Sound, and a 5 min car drive to Inglis falls. Here you can dive into Grey Bruce Peninsula’s history. The ship-building years in Owen sound will show how much the waterfront has changed and how in another time, Owen sound was a busy business hub. There is a lot of history to be found about the Underground Railroad and how Owen Sound and its community were a part of curbing anti-black racism. There is also very informative information about the native community that inhabited the areas when settlers arrived. The Gray Roots Museum would be an excellent first step to visiting Owen sound or the Bruce peninsula. It might help put a lot of the building and ports and geology into context, maybe allowing you to have a richer experience on your visit. Click here for more info on the Grey Roots Museum 8. Visit the Farmers Market and have lunch by the river. Another favourite of my wife and I is to visit the Own sound farmers market right downtown. Every Saturday, they host some of the best local fruits and vegetables along with honey and arts and crafts from the Bruce regions that I am sure you won’t be disappointed with. Owen Sound has gone through great effort redeveloping the farmers market and surrounding areas, so plan on grabbing some delicious snacks or lunch at the market and enjoying the beautiful scenery and peaceful environment on the riverside next to the farmers market. Click here for more Info on the Farmers Market 9. Cobble Beach Concours D’elagance Click here for more info on the Cobble Beach Concours D'elagance If you're a car guy or just someone who appreciates the finer things in life, well, then the Cobble Beach Concour d’ Elegance is the car show for you. Cobble Beach is 10 minutes north of Owen Sound, and it hosts the fine car show every year from September 18-19. The event coordinators put it like this; “ Beautiful and rarely seen automobiles will herald in a new tradition of distinction and elegance on the shore of Georgian Bay.” The Cobble Beach resort community hosts the event, which attracts many people from North America because of the rarity of some of the automobiles on display. Maybe you will choose to visit Own Sound for the car show and take in some of nature while you're there. 10. Owen sound visitor center and museum Click here for more info on the Owen Sound Visitor Center The Owen Sound visitor center on the Harbour is a great place to visit for some more history on the area, along with any Owen Sound swag you want to pick up. Owen sound Restored is a historic railways station to house the visitor center and the community Waterfront Heritage Center boasting Own Sound’s maritime history; they have a tug boat and train car on display. The visitor center is open seven days a week, and along with this article, there are there to help you plan your visit to Own Sound. This visitor center is about a 10 min walk to Kelso Beach Park. Notable mentions Salmon spectacular fishing Derby Salmon Spectacular info. The Salmon Spectacular is a massive event in Own Sound, typically attracting anglers from all over the province. It is held mid to late August, and it is organized by the Sydenham Sportsmen club of Owen sound. The Salmon Spectacular fishing derby is used as a fundraiser to help support the local fisheries. All money from the fishing derby goes back into restocking the fishing and conservation effort organized by the Sydenham Sportsmen club. So if you are an angler, make your way up for the Salmon Spectacular and while you’re here, visit some of the other beautiful spots to visit. Lookout Tower Own sound lookout town is always fun to visit and is conveniently located on the highway that enters Owen sound. Because it's a pretty easy stop, I think it is worth checking out. The downside is that it is sometimes locked to the public when it's not. Nevertheless, you can get a great view of Owen Sound and that harbour. Own Sound is the doorway to northern Ontario and is full of gems to visit, be it an outdoor adventure at Harrison Park or a refined visit to Concours D'Elegance i hope this article helped you plan your visit to Owen Sound.