2024 Greenbelt Summer Towns Tour
Written by Mickaela Sampson, Advisor Social and Digital Media at The Greenbelt Foundation
September 27, 2024
At the beginning of the summer, the Greenbelt Foundation’s Comms Team embarked on a brand new social campaign highlighting local tourism within the Greenbelt. When presented with the opportunity to go, I jumped at the chance!
What started out as a solo project, quickly became a family affair, with one or both of parents accompanying me along the way. The “Three-Musketeers” I like to call us, visited various towns along the Greenbelt Explore Route, beginning in Queenston, Niagara and ending East in Cobourg, in Northumberland County. We spent the last 4 months visiting farmers markets, hiking trails, bakeries and beaches. Here’s a recap of some of my (well our) adventures!
At the beginning of the summer, the Greenbelt Foundation’s Comms Team embarked on a brand new social campaign highlighting local tourism within the Greenbelt. When presented with the opportunity to go, I jumped at the chance!
Queenston, Niagara
My first stop was Queenston, Niagara, a quaint 19th Century village at the foot of the Niagara Escarpment. Well known for its historical buildings, parks and lush open spaces, we made it a point to visit the Mackenzie Printery and Laura Secord’s Homestead. We even had a picnic in Queenston Heights Park!
About 20 minutes away, we drove to Niagara-on-the-Lake, famously referred to as NOTL by its locals. There we visited the bakeries, ice cream shops and restaurants that lined the streets.
Campbellville, Milton
Our next stop was Campbellville in Milton. While I was there I learned that Campbleville is considered a smaller hamlet, meaning it’s actually smaller than a village or a town!
We spent most of our time at Crawford Lake Conservation Area which is best known for its beautiful lake and hiking trails. There, we also got to learn a bit about some of the Indigenous history in the area. In fact, Crawford Lake is also home to three longhouses from a Wendat or Attawandaron village that have been reconstructed on their original footprint!
In town we visited a local shop called Grumbin’s Granny, which sold all sorts of things, from jewelry to candles to mugs, even various crystals! The owner recommended a restaurant that many locals tend to frequent, which ended up being incredible!
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Georgetown, Halton Hills
Georgetown was a stop I was very much looking forward to! I was told the Georgetown Farmers Market was a major hit in the summer and fall months, so my parents and I left earlier on a Saturday morning to check it out!
The market had vendors selling all sorts of produce and snacks! Vegetables, fruits, meats, baked goods and even popcorn were just a few of the things you could find there.
While in Halton Hills, we also decided to check out Glen Williams where we were able to visit the Feather’s Nest, a popular antique shop that sells a treasure trove of trinkets and vintage items.
Schomberg, King
Schomberg was our fourth stop. A village in northwestern King, Ontario, Schomberg is located north of the Oak Ridges Moraine and south of the Holland River. The small but charming village is best known for its annual Agriculture Fair, beginning in 1872, the fair is now one of the most popular spring fairs in the area!
My mom and I explored Schomberg’s main street. It’s quiet but has lots to offer with parks, coffee shops, second-hand clothing stores and places to eat! We even stopped by a homemade lemonade stand!
Along Main Street you can find a number of historic buildings too from the Old Schomberg Feed Mill to the Schomberg Community Hall!
Cobourg, Northumberland County
With summer quickly drawing to a close, I thought it was only right to end the Towns Tour at the beach!
Over Labour Day weekend we headed into Cobourg and spent the day exploring its quaint downtown and enjoying the beach. There are plenty of spots to lay out and enjoy the sun, swim or even have a picnic with family and friends. We even spotted a trailer park close by if you wanted to extend your stay at the beach.
Just a few steps away from the beach though, you’ll find the Cobourg Marina! There you can boat, swim, yacht, you name it! And if you prefer hiking or biking, be sure to check out the Cobourg Marina Trail too!
The summer Towns Tour was such an exciting experience! Getting out and exploring the Greenbelt, visiting local communities and businesses and of course, spending time with my family, was a great way to spend my summer!
Here at the Greenbelt Foundation we understand the importance of protecting and maintaining Greenbelt land, however, for you, our audience, I’m sure it is often hard to understand this message without providing visual stories of what protecting this land creates and supports. I really hope I was able to do that for you this summer.
I urge you to go out and explore your local Greenbelt communities. While doing so, be sure to always remain respectful and courteous of the individuals who live there. And of course, always pick up your litter! They love their towns so much, let's work with them to keep them clean and safe.
On the drive home from Cobourg my mother turned to me in the backseat and asked, “Where to next?”
I looked up at her from my digital camera, “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see!”
Keep up with our Greenbelt Town Tour this fall on our social media!