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February 17, 2023
Exploring MANITOULIN Island
Covid-19 came and shook up the world. Literally! So many changes happened, so many sad losses and so much anxiety. Not only did we have to stop ALL of our normal activities and self-isolate, we also had to stop our hobbies, which for us included travel. We had many plans, hopes and dreams for 2020 but had to put many of them on hold. Luckily we hadn’t booked anything so we didn’t have to experience the hassle of trying to get our money back! For those of you out there who had to go through this, I hope it all worked out for you!
If someone told me at the beginning of the year that we’d be STUCK in Ontario and unable to leave, I probably would have hyperventilated. Immediate reaction would be sadness because really, Ontario? There’s so much out there to see in the world. Fast forward to months later where we were happy to just go ANYWHERE and do SOMETHING that wasn’t sitting in our condo or working at the hospital.
A friend of mine raved about Manitoulin Island and how she grew up going there every summer. She mentioned her family had property up there that they’d be willing to rent and so eventually when we’d had enough of the city we said OK, let’s do this. Looking back, this trip was the absolute highlight of 2020 and we are SO thankful Covid-19 pushed us to stay local and explore our BEAUTIFUL province. Excited to share a few highlights of this incredible trip, focusing on the MUST dos if you make it out there one day, which you ABSOLUTELY should! It is sooo magical.
Travel:
You can either drive to the Island (it’s about 6-hours from downtown Toronto) or drive to Tobermory (4-hours) and take the Chi Cheemaun Ferry to Southbay, Manitoulin (2-hours). We hoped to drive one way and take the ferry home but we waited too long to reserve it and it was fully booked up. We decided on making a few stops both ways and fit in a few beautiful hikes making the drive much easier! We also decided to go for 10 days and left on a Wednesday morning, returning Saturday evening. Highly recommend doing the same!
Stay:
Luckily we had a connection and were able to rent out a friend’s beach house in Providence Bay. If you LOVE a good beach and SUNSET then I recommend staying here. A friend of mine recommended the Mutchmor Lofts (above the cafe in town – 2 min walk to the beach). Other towns I’d consider for accommodations on the island would be Mindemoya or Gore Bay.
Stay:
Luckily we had a connection and were able to rent out a friend’s beach house in Providence Bay. If you LOVE a good beach and SUNSET then I recommend staying here. A friend of mine recommended the Mutchmor Lofts (above the cafe in town – 2 min walk to the beach). Other towns I’d consider for accommodations on the island would be Mindemoya or Gore Bay.
Food
We ended up cooking 95% of our meals (which I also suggest and will be sharing a separate blog post about cottage MEAL ideas). Including a few helpful suggestions below:
In Providence Bay:
- Meat Boss – great butcher for delicious beef, sausages, a few cheeses and maple syrup
- Huron Island Time – ice cream, candy, hot dogs/burgers/fries AND a few Indian food options (right at the end of the boardwalk)
- Lake Huron Fish & Chips – probably one of the better fish and chips I’ve ever had. Prepare to wait though because they are BUSY. Currently only doing take out but perfect meal to grab and go eat on the beach
- Mutchmor & Providence Peace Cafe – coffee, art, a gift shop and more!
Mindemoya (about 15 min drive from Providence Bay):
- Foodland & LCBO – groceries and alcohol
- Mums Bakery – fresh bread, pastries & homemade sandwiches
Gore Bay (30 min drive from Providence Bay):
- Split Rail Brewing: very cute brewery near the water
- Buoys Eatery – tasty pizza and more! We got take out and ate it on the little pier at Gore Bay. They have a few picnic tables around or you can try and get a seat on the patio but you might need a reservation.
Little Current (45 mins from Providence Bay):
- Manitoulin Brewing Company – super cute brewery with a big patio and outdoors bar
- Anchor Inn Hotel – nice bar/restaurant with lots on the menu
Food
We ended up cooking 95% of our meals (which I also suggest and will be sharing a separate blog post about cottage MEAL ideas). Including a few helpful suggestions below:
In Providence Bay:
- Meat Boss – great butcher for delicious beef, sausages, a few cheeses and maple syrup
- Huron Island Time – ice cream, candy, hot dogs/burgers/fries AND a few Indian food options (right at the end of the boardwalk)
- Lake Huron Fish & Chips – probably one of the better fish and chips I’ve ever had. Prepare to wait though because they are BUSY. Currently only doing take out but perfect meal to grab and go eat on the beach
- Mutchmor & Providence Peace Cafe – coffee, art, a gift shop and more!
Mindemoya (about 15 min drive from Providence Bay):
- Foodland & LCBO – groceries and alcohol
- Mums Bakery – fresh bread, pastries & homemade sandwiches
Gore Bay (30 min drive from Providence Bay):
- Split Rail Brewing: very cute brewery near the water
- Buoys Eatery – tasty pizza and more! We got take out and ate it on the little pier at Gore Bay. They have a few picnic tables around or you can try and get a seat on the patio but you might need a reservation.
Little Current (45 mins from Providence Bay):
- Manitoulin Brewing Company – super cute brewery with a big patio and outdoors bar
- Anchor Inn Hotel – nice bar/restaurant with lots on the menu
To Do:
The BEACH:
Providence Bay has one of the nicest, sandy beaches. Enjoy a long walk on the boardwalk and then sit out in the sun. It also has some of the most beautiful sunsets so make sure to come back in the evening. If you’re looking for slightly warmer water, check out Mindemoya Beach (much smaller but still great!)
HIKING:
Here were some of the trails we fell in LOVE with:
- Bridal Veil Falls: a small 1ish KM hike with a beautiful set of waterfalls in the end where you can take a dip!
- Cup and Saucer: very famous hike with beautiful look out points. It get’s quite busy so make sure to go early
- Providence Bay coastal trail: not sure this is a REAL trail on any map but it’s a beautiful walk. Starts on the west side of the Marina and goes for around 2-3 KMs. Highly suggest it to see the water in the most beautiful Caribbean colours.
- Misery Bay: by far our favourite. A bit of a drive from Providence Bay but so worth it. Lots of different trails (some might be closed due to water levels).
- Bitmeep: off the beaten path and on the most East end of the island.
The island air is so fresh and calming. Highly suggest going for at least a week to really take the time to explore AND relax. We came back so happy, tanned and reinvigorated. We have fallen in love with the island and can’t wait to go back!
To Do:
The BEACH:
Providence Bay has one of the nicest, sandy beaches. Enjoy a long walk on the boardwalk and then sit out in the sun. It also has some of the most beautiful sunsets so make sure to come back in the evening. If you’re looking for slightly warmer water, check out Mindemoya Beach (much smaller but still great!)
HIKING:
Here were some of the trails we fell in LOVE with:
- Bridal Veil Falls: a small 1ish KM hike with a beautiful set of waterfalls in the end where you can take a dip!
- Cup and Saucer: very famous hike with beautiful look out points. It get’s quite busy so make sure to go early
- Providence Bay coastal trail: not sure this is a REAL trail on any map but it’s a beautiful walk. Starts on the west side of the Marina and goes for around 2-3 KMs. Highly suggest it to see the water in the most beautiful Caribbean colours.
- Misery Bay: by far our favourite. A bit of a drive from Providence Bay but so worth it. Lots of different trails (some might be closed due to water levels).
- Bitmeep: off the beaten path and on the most East end of the island.
The island air is so fresh and calming. Highly suggest going for at least a week to really take the time to explore AND relax. We came back so happy, tanned and reinvigorated. We have fallen in love with the island and can’t wait to go back!
3 Comments
WOW this looks like such a great trip!
Adding to my list of places to go this summer
This sounds like an amazing trip! Love all the recommendations. Will add this to our travel list for sure.