4 Fantastic Day Trips in Durham Region full of Hidden Gems
If you’re looking for unique day trips in Durham Region than I’ve got a few ideas that you’re going to love! Whether you are looking for exciting places to visit with the kids, a romantic date idea, or fun outing with your friends, one of these day trip ideas will suit you. These day trips offer a chance to uncover hidden gems in Durham Region that include everything from fun farm experiences to fabulous flower fields.
The best part is that each of these day trip ideas in Durham Region are like pre-packaged itineraries. Known as Rural Routes, groups of local businesses in the northern area of Durham Region have come together to form a number of different routes. Each route offers an ideal itinerary to help visitors plan the perfect day trip to the region with different stops in close proximity.
After doing a number of these Rural Routes, I love how they allow people to meet the farmers behind our food, the makers who create our gifts, and so much more. I’ve discovered so many great small local businesses that I return to again and again. Like Concession 6 Studio for unique gifts and Tyrone Mill’s for the best donuts. Plus, I love the diversity that each of the routes. There’s everything from farms to historic sites and cideries to artisan shops.
So, if you’re looking for off the beaten path day trips from Toronto, pick one of these Rural Routes for a fun weekend adventure.
The Best Day Trips in Durham Region
Backroads of Brock
One of the best days trips in Durham Region whether you’re coming from Toronto or elsewhere is the Backroads of Brock rural route. The route takes you to a number of places between Sunderland and Beaverton.
Backroads of Brock stops showcase agritourism at its finest with destinations that include everything from sunflower fields to fun farm experiences. This route makes for a fun summer day, especially for families.
My favourite stop on Backroads of Brock is The Sunflower Farm! This multi-generation farm has 20 acres of sunflowers. There’s no surprise it’s one of the best sunflower fields in Ontario. It features Canada’s only sunflower shape trail as well as a variety of cute photo-ops, a viewing platform, adorable goats and more! Plus, the fab female farmer behind the sunflower fields, Ursula, runs a number of fun flower workshops and events throughout the season.
Insider tip: Tickets are half off on Monday & Tuesday!
Another fun place to visit is Forget-Me-Not Alpacas. This sustainable farm offers guided tours where you get to meet their adorable alpacas. Plus, don’t forget to visit their shop to buy some alpaca mitts or a toque.
Foodies will love a visit to Villa Vida Loca. This market sells local produce, their very own honey, baked goods and more. You can wander the farm to see the pollinator garden or visit with the hens. They also have a variety of dining options, including an incredible farm to table dinner and a sweet smoke shack. Plus, if you’re looking to make it a weekend getaway, they have unique cabins!
Other stops: Buzzing Bees Adventure Farm and Pinedale Patch.
Sideroads of Scugog
When it comes to hidden gems in Durham Region you’ll find lots on the Sideroads of Scugog rural route. This fun road trip includes destinations in and around Port Perry. Sideroads of Scugog stops include everything from agritourism to the arts.
One stop that I think is a must during the summer is Lavender Blu. For over 15 years this family farm has been growing lavender and sharing all of its benefits with visitors. Along with being one of the best lavender farms, they offer unique experiences to those visiting. You can take a self-guided tranquil tour around their eco-garden, enjoy a workshop or outdoor yoga, and more. Plus, be sure to browse their adorable little boutique for fresh lavender and lavender products as well as other artisan items.
In addition to being one of the best places to visit in Port Perry, Willowtree Farm is a must-stop on the Sideroads of Scugog. This multi-generational family farm is passionate about sustainable farming and producing the best fresh food.
Families will love the huge free playground and the friendly goats next door to it. And if you’re looking for a place to pick your own strawberries, Willowtree Farm is the place. Plus, inside their massive marketplace you’ll find all sorts of goodies. The shelves are lined with fresh produce, preserves, local coffee, and baked goods. The kids (and kids at heart, like me!) will love their Unicorn cookies!
I highly recommend bringing along a cooler when you visit Willowtree Farm! In addition to all the fruits and vegetables, there’s a butcher shop inside with the most delicious looking hamburgers and steaks. Plus, if you’re looking for a great lunch stop on your Sideroads of Scugog day trip, Willowtree Farm makes the best sandwiches. You can dine in or enjoy it on their lovely patio.
Other stops: Scugog Shores Museum Village & Archives, Jesters Court Pub & Eatery, Bonnie Thomson Glass, Applewood Farm & Winery, Forsythe Family Farms, META4 Contemporary Craft Gallery, Scugog Arts, Theatre On The Ridge and more.
A Country Path
I had the opportunity to visit all of the stops on A Country Path last fall and loved every one! I’ve since visited a couple again because they are also great places to visit in the summer.
A Country Path is a rural route through the Clarington area. It’s an ideal day trip for foodies because of the many farm stops as well as cidery and winery. However, it’s also a great one for families with kids too to learn about where food comes from, Plus, there’s a fun pumpkin farm that kids and adults will love to visit in the fall.
Almost all of the stops on A Country Path involve food and drink. One of the most popular foodie stops is Tyrone Mills. This 1846 mill is so much more than a historic site. A visit to the mill offers a chance to step back in time. Upstairs you can learn about and witness the magic of how the mill works with its range of pulleys. In the shop I highly recommend grabbing a few of their apple cider doughnuts, which are some of the best donuts in Ontario! They also sell amazing pancake mixes and made to order pizzas on the weekend.
My favourite farm stop on this route is Open Skies Farm. This farm stand is one of the many hidden gems in Durham Region. Along with a variety of fresh produce, Heather makes tasty preserves.
Adults looking to wet their whistle will love stopping at Archibald’s Orchard & Estate Winery and Geissberger Farmhouse Cider. Both offer fantastic spots to enjoy a tasting. Not a drinker? No worries, both offer a selection of non-alcoholic beverages. My favourite at Archibald’s is the Mojito Mocktail.
Another great stop is Knox Pumpkin Farm! Visiting a pumpkin farm is one of the top things to do in the fall and this one has plenty to offer.
While some places on A Country Path are open throughout the year, most are seasonal. So, the best time to do A Country Path is just the summer and fall.
Other stops: Makers of Enfield, Sargent Family Dairy, Buy a Birdhouse, Timeless Essentials, Almet Farms, Gallery on the Farm and 3Beez.Buzz.
Leaskdale Loop
One of my favourite day trips in Durham Region is the Leaskdale Loop. This loop showcases a collection of businesses located just north of Uxbridge. The Leaskdale Loop features a wide assortment of stops that range from historic sites to farms and artisan shops.
You can visit the stops on the Leaskdale Loop during the second Saturday of the month, from May through October. Plus, they also run an Artisan Christmas Crawl on select weekends in November and December. While many of the small artisan shops and businesses are best visited on Loop Days, as they call them, you can also call to arrange a visit during a different time. And some stops are open more than just Loop Days.
One of the many hidden gems in Ontario is a stop on this loop, the Thomas Foster Memorial. Inspired by the Taj Mahal, this stunning building from 1936 has a summer concert series that should not be missed.
Another historic site is the Leaskdale Manse, which was the home of Lucy Maud Montgomery. When it comes to hidden gems in Durham Region, this is one of them. The Leaskdale Manse National Historic Site is now a museum where you can learn about the author and where she wrote many of her books. It’s one of the best places to visit in Uxbridge!
When it comes to unique home décor or gift ideas, a must visit stop is Concession 6 Studio. In addition to fun vintage finds, this creative couple crafts a wide array of items. Inside you’ll find everything from paintings to fun wood décor (of which I have a few!)
A must foodie stop is Tindall Farm & Market. You’ll likely be greeted by the resident chickens and geese before you walk it. Inside you’ll find a wide array of farm fresh produce like cauliflower, broccoli and the biggest zucchini I’ve ever seen. Plus, Karyn makes some tasty preserves and baked goods.
Other stops: Greenmantle Pottery, Banjo Cider, Pefferlaw Creek Farm, Leaskdale Country Store, Leaskdale Live Edge, Hosta Hideaway & Out of The Barn as well as Montgomeryshire Orchard and Nursury.
Tips for Planning Your Durham Region Day Trip
There are a few things to keep in mind when planning one of these Rural Routes day trips to ensure you have a fun and successful outing.
1. Check Hours of Operation
Most of these day trips are ideal on weekends as many stops are not open during the week. In addition, some businesses are not open every weekend or are by appointment only. So, be sure to check the hours of operation of the places you want to visit before you go or call ahead.
2. Pack a Cooler
All of these day trip ideas include a number of stops where you can purchase farm fresh produce, meats, cheeses and more. So, I highly recommend bringing along a cooler so you can buy all the great food and get it home safely, especially in the summer.
3. Leave Time for Finding Gems
All of these Rural Routes take you along the backroads of Durham Region. The more I travel this area, the more I realize how many hidden gems there are. So, in addition to the stops you want to make, make sure to leave time for finding more places to visit.
****
Get out of the city and hit the backroads this weekend on one of these amazing rural day trips in Durham Region. Enjoy shopping for farm fresh produce, unique gifts, and creating memories with loved ones, all while supporting local businesses.
Disclaimer: I was hosted Durham Tourism but as always, all opinions expressed are my own.
PIN IMAGE FOR LATER REFERENCE!
