Explore Paisley

Grey-Bruce Adventours Paisley Day Trips

By Sandra J. Howe for Mar/12 MOSAIC

Welcome to 2013 and a new year of Mosaic!  Spring is coming, and bringing with it abundant opportunities to explore our wealth of cultural, and natural heritage.  Grey-Bruce Adventours seeks to be your guide, in print, on-line, and in-person, to great home-grown adventures.  Since childhood, I have loved learning about new people, places, flora, and fauna, and about their history.  Now I want to share that spirit of adventure with you, your families, and your visitors.  Monthly day trip itineraries will introduce you to local sights, tastes, sounds, history, and events up-coming in Grey-Bruce.  Refer to my blog for more details and photos, or to contact me for customized tourguiding services.  Let’s hit the road for a fun day-away!

Paisley is a beautiful, historic village at the confluence of the Teeswater, and Saugeen Rivers (www.paisleyvillage.ca, www.explorethebruce.com/paisley.php ).  It was home to some famous artists from the past, including David Milne (1882-1953), “regarded as one of Canada’s foremost artists”(Wikipedia), and Isabella Valancy Crawford (1850-1887), known as “the most gifted poetess of the nineteenth century”(historic plaque).  Today it is still home to many talented artists in various media; check out “Sticks and Stones”, the MacNamara Gallery, and The Elora Soap Company (www.elorasoap.com) on Main Street.  Nature’s Millworks (www.naturesmillworks.com), on Bruce Road #1, also features local books, arts, crafts, and rotating shows.  After some shopping, grab a great cup, or package of fresh-roasted, fair-trade, organic coffee at Back Eddies (www.backeddies.com), and watch the rivers flow. 

There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy in Paisley.  Take a leisurely stroll around town with the downloadable “Heritage Walk” brochure, highlighting fine architecture, former industries, and famous people.  Walking trails run along the river dykes, and flood plains.  Also, the rail trail, accessible off Bruce Road #1, has two spectacular trestle bridges for great views.  Paisley is, of course, best known for canoeing and kayaking on the Saugeen River, a major historic, and modern paddle route in southwestern Ontario.  Stop in at Cowan’s Canoe and Kayak Livery for information, rentals, and shuttle service to explore the Saugeen.

Paisley offers a full year worth of fun events for the whole family.  The Old-Tyme Maple Syrup Festival ( www.saugeenconservation.com/maplesyrup.php ), hosted by the Saugeen Valley Conservation Foundation, is March 23 and 24, 10am to 4pm daily at Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area.  Shuttles run from downtown Paisley, transporting 7000 visitors annually to this sweet venue.  Now in its 41^st season, this first tastes of spring event provides outdoor fun, historic re-enactments, entertainment, and naturally, local maple syrup over Paisley Kinsmen pancakes, and sausage.  Yum!

The 20^th Annual North Canoe Race, June 7 to 9, with overnight, old-style camping, invites everyone to participate.  The massive north canoes are replicas of those used in Canada’s historic voyageur days.  Bring a team, or join one on-site, to experience races, and games at the Saugeen River Paddlers Park.  Canoes, and kayaks belonging to the Saugeen Paddlers (see Facebook: Saugeen Paddlers-group) will be available to practice paddle skills with guidance.  Pioneer games involve young, and old in fun activities, both dry, and wet.  This is a wonderful opportunity to share food, and stories around the campfire, and unplug for a weekend! 

Nature's Millworks, formerly Stark's Mill

Rail Trail Trestle over Teeswater River

View down Teeswater River toward Paisley from Trestle

Rail Trail Trestle and lovely sky!

Many other Paisley events are highlighted on www.paisleyvillage.ca, and all are welcome to volunteer, or participate.  Grey-Bruce Adventours hopes you’ve enjoyed your print tour, and come out in-person to explore all that Paisley has to offer.  I look forward to hearing from you at www.howesandraj.blogspot.com.  Wishing you, and yours, many happy adventures!