2010 Adventures – Manitoulin Island

2010 Adventure Highlights – Manitoulin Island
A look back at some of the best adventures of 2010.

Wolf Den Trail on Lake Heron

When I look back at the summer of 2010 traveling and researching in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick for our CanadaEH.net Travel Network I can sit back and smile and be thankful. I am thankful for the life we lead, the people in our lives and the country we live in.

There were many communities that were predictable during the year and there were communities that caught us by surprise. The surprise was that some of the communities and regions exceeded our expectations, opened up our eyes to the region and, in our opinion, are very under rated travel destinations. Some of the biggest travel destination over achievers include Manitoulin Island and the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario; Quebec City and the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec and Fredericton and Bathurst in the province of New Brunswick.

We have all heard of Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton. And we were so familiar with these communities we knew what to expect. But it was the hidden gems in our country which often get lost in the shadow of the big urban centres. Those are the areas which tend to get our attention. During the winter months we will be spot lighting the hidden gems, urban centres and special adventures of 2010 starting with Manitoulin Island.

Prior to our stay in Ontario I had never heard of Manitoulin Island. Have you? It is a small island about 200 kilometres long located southwest of Sudbury on Georgian Bay just north of  Bruce Peninsula. To access the island from the north end there is a swing bridge and from the south end one must board a ferry from Bruce Peninsula.

Sunset on Lake Kagawong

Manitoulin Island is a collection of bays, coves and ocean inlets surrounded by of small communities and First Nation villages. Little Current is the main village on the island with the most services. Throughout the island are smaller villages with cool, crazy names like Aundeck Omni, Kagawong, Manitowaning, Mchigeeng, Mindemoya, Shequiandah, Sheshegwaning and Zhiibaasing.

Being separated from the rest of Ontario on an island has its perks in many ways. Perks which I can appreciate as I grew up on an island with the only connection to the mainland being a ferry and an airport. For one…  the Manitoulin Island was very laid back. No big city attitude here. Something I like to see in a community being a small town guy.

The roads were narrow and, on my visit, were vacant with very little traffic. The vehicles I did come across during my travels on the island I found my self returning hand waves as I drove by. I found out very quickly that everyone waves to each other on the island as they drive pass. I liked that. I even felt guilty when I was preoccupied and missed a wave.

On Manitoulin you can travel from one end of the island to the other in 3 hours. From village to village, the story was similar with each village consisting of a main street, a marina, art studios, coffee shop, post office and a general store. Some smaller villages, especially on the east end like Evansville, had a marina and that was it. Villages were small in general, people were friendly all over and as a tourist I stuck out like a sore thumb.

For people who enjoy private natural surroundings and adventure Manitoulin Island is an ideal get away. Some of the activities enjoyed on the island include boating, hiking, kayaking, cycling and birdwatching. If culture and art are your thing there are many artists studios and museums to experience. I cannot say enough of how much I enjoyed the island and to all of you out there – when in Ontario make a note to visit Manitoulin Island.