Vacation rentals in Parry Sound

Around 140 miles north of Toronto, the picturesque town of Parry Sound, situated in a cove of the same name, is an ideal centerpoint for exploring Georgian Bay and the 30,000 Islands, the world's largest freshwater archipelago. Canada doesn’t just find the area astounding — the whole world does: In 2004, UNESCO designated the Georgian Bay Litoral a World Biosphere Reserve because it houses an astounding diversity of rare plants, birds, and animals.

Visitors will find Parry Sound blessed with clear blue waters and sandy beaches, including the popular Waubuno Beach, a blue-flag-certified beach patrolled in summer to ensure safety for swimmers, and the smaller, more secluded Centennial Beach, where you can loll contemplatively on the water’s edge. It’s no surprise that the Parry Sound region thrums with water sports lovers who have come there to swim, sail, kayak, and paddleboard. If you’re interested in island-hopping (or merely counting them to see how many you pass), take a guided or self-guided boat tour along the coast of Georgian Bay.

Given Northern Ontario’s four distinct, sometimes dramatic seasons, you’ll want to pack accordingly. An eye for multi-weather layering is especially necessary during the transitional seasons of spring (sunny with scattered rains) and fall (crisp but variable). Summer’s warm days make this season an ideal time to enjoy Georgian Bay’s many outdoor activities. While it can get hot, the nights by the water will provide a cool breeze, not to mention mosquitos. If you’re a traveler who finds equal bliss in natural and cultural activities, the Festival of the Sound brings musicians and classical-music lovers to Georgian Bay from July to August for waterside concerns. Northern Ontario is known for its glorious snowy winters, and Parry Sound is no exception, so well-insulated, waterproof outerwear and even thermals will be a must.

Huckleberry Island

Take a 45-minute boat ride from Parry Sound to Huckleberry Island, one of the most beautiful islands in the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve. The trip is almost as scenic as the destination. Once you arrive you can explore the expansive shoreline and clamber over the rocks, or enjoy a quick dip from a shallow beach before heading back on the boat. The return trip brings you through the Hole in the Wall, a narrow 34-meter-wide passage between the islands of Huckleberry and Wall, with cliffs that reach 24 meters high.

Tower Hill Lookout

On the days you’re staying in town, make a 30-meter climb up a historic fire observation tower to enjoy a spectacular 360-degree view of the bay and the harbor. (There is a bench halfway up the steps where you can take a break and enjoy the sights.) From the top, you’ll gaze down on boats, float planes, barges, and the famous Canadian Pacific Railway trestle bridge below. After you head back down, wander through the adjacent Tower Hill Heritage Garden, perhaps stopping in at the Museum on Tower Hill to learn about the region’s history.

Killbear Provincial Park

A 30-minute drive northeast around the sound will bring you to the rocky shorelines, and island-studded waters of Killbear Provincial Park. If you meander along the six-kilometer recreational trail running through the park, you’ll take in hemlock groves, deciduous forests, and jagged rock outcrops. Be sure to keep an eye for the woodpeckers, herons, hawks, and hummingbirds that call the park home.