Grey County: Nature, Culture and Regional Discoveries

Grey County offers a variety of reasons to visit: trails through natural areas, places steeped in local history, art and markets featuring products from the surrounding area. When choosing your vacation rental, it can help to first consider which experiences you want to shape your stay. Would you like to hike, visit cultural sites, or make time for markets and local discoveries?

History and Culture in a Variety of Places

The Grey Roots Museum & Archives explores the human and natural history of Grey County. It preserves and shares collections, stories and memories. At Moreston Heritage Village, costumed interpreters bring the village to life in July and August, as well as during special events and programs. History enthusiasts can thus include different forms of cultural experience in their trip.

Historic sites include Tom Thomson’s gravesite in Annan-Leith. In Owen Sound, you can also visit the Tom Thomson Art Gallery. The Williamsford Mill in Williamsford is another place to visit. These destinations offer different cultural points of interest; choose the places that interest you most for your stay.

The Neustadt Springs Brewery offers a special connection between local history and brewing culture. Beer has been brewed there since 1859. The building is believed to be Ontario’s oldest original brewery building. Weekend tours of the brewery, caves and original crystal springs are available by advance booking. If you plan to visit, factor the booking requirement into your travel plans.

Hiking Trails and Nature Experiences

The CP Rail Trail runs for 77 km from Owen Sound to Dundalk. Its total length is an important difference compared with the shorter trail options in Grey County. For the section between Rockford and Dundalk, Grey County has an agreement with the Ontario Federation of Trail Riders that allows some off-road motorcycles on the trail.

In Grey County, the Bruce Trail is open exclusively to hikers and snowshoers. A short section leads to Hogg’s Falls. If you want to visit these waterfalls, you can make the trail a specific reason to include a hike in your trip. The trail’s use restrictions also help distinguish it from routes intended for other activities as well.

The Kolapore Uplands Wilderness Trails cover 60 km. They are used for cross-country skiing in winter and hiking and mountain biking during the other seasons; they are not suitable for snowshoeing. The southern section runs through a forest in Grey County. When planning, it is worth considering the season and the activities listed for each trail, rather than treating all trails as the same kind of destination.

The Eugenia Falls Conservation Area covers 23 hectares of the Niagara Escarpment, a river valley and upland forests. This gives you another option for your trip: a natural area with several different landscape features, alongside the longer trail options.

Markets, Events and Local Specialties

At the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market, producers, bakers, artisans and artists offer fresh flowers, seasonal fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, baked goods and crafts. The market is open Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Keady Market is open on Tuesdays, offering fruit and vegetables, deli meats, homemade baked goods, antiques and gifts. Livestock auctions begin at 9:00 a.m.

Events offer a variety of experiences, too: Ayton hosts Starfest, an event for observing the night sky. Holstein is home to Holstein Maplefest. The Owen Sound Fall Fair features educational exhibits, livestock competitions, hands-on activities and family-friendly entertainment. If a market or event fits your travel plans, its location and dates can help guide your choice of vacation rental.

Whether you want to focus on trails, culture or local markets, choose your accommodation based on which of the experiences mentioned you plan to visit. To explore other places in Grey County, find Flesherton, Owen Sound, Blue Mountains, Meaford, Chatsworth, Kemble, Hanover, Markdale and Durham here.

For the broader travel overview: Ontario.