Regional Municipality Of York: Trails, Nature and Culture
Accommodation in Regional Municipality Of York
In the Regional Municipality of York, travel interests range from trails and river landscapes to art, local history and major recreational attractions. The region’s trail network extends through all nine cities and towns. For your planning, you can first decide whether you would like to spend most of your time outdoors, explore historic sites, or include cultural and family-oriented activities. The pages for Richmond Hill, Markham and Vaughan also provide information about individual places within the region.
Trails and river landscapes
The Nokiidaa Trail system extends through Aurora, Newmarket and East Gwillimbury. One section of the Nokiidaa Trail runs along the Holland River through the 84-hectare Rogers Reservoir Conservation Area. If you would like to plan your trip around trails and waterside scenery, these names provide specific starting points for your planning. The regional trail network also extends through all nine cities and towns, so it is not limited to the three places in the Nokiidaa Trail system.
Another trail is relevant for longer-term planning: the Lake to Lake Cycling Route and Walking Trail is 121 kilometres long and will connect Lake Simcoe with Lake Ontario. It is described as a recreational and commuter route. Since the connection is described in the future tense, you should not treat it as an already completed, continuous route.
Forest areas and natural attractions
York Regional Forest covers more than 2,600 hectares and comprises 22 public tracts. This describes a regional forest network made up of several tracts, not a single park. Nashville Conservation Reserve is another large natural area in York Region: the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority property covers more than 900 hectares. It provides habitat for various wildlife, important deer wintering areas and a key migration corridor.
The Aurora Community Arboretum lies in the East Holland River valley and encompasses more than 100 acres of parkland owned by the Town of Aurora. On Lake Simcoe, Sibbald Point Provincial Park has a large sandy beach. This gives you a range of landscape types to consider when planning your trip: forest areas, a river valley and a lakeside beach. Depending on your interests, you can focus on one natural setting without combining these places into a single route.
Art, architecture and history
On the grounds of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, paths and hiking trails lead to the Minokamik Garden. The garden is located on the traditional Carrying Place Trail beside the Humber River and provides a setting for environmental education. The grounds also include a cemetery: six members of the Group of Seven, their spouses, and founders Robert and Signe McMichael are buried there. Art, the garden and the cemetery appeal to different interests; you can take their distinct themes into account when planning your trip.
The history of the region’s buildings also offers specific points of interest. Sharon Temple was built by the Children of Peace, a Quaker sect in Upper Canada, between 1825 and 1831. Hillary House is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Canada and houses the Koffler Museum of Medicine. In Unionville, Main Street has a history spanning more than 200 years; historic homes, churches and shops line the street. Those interested in architecture will find a range of historical references, rather than just one architectural style.
Latcham Art Centre features traditional and contemporary works by local and provincial artists in its exhibitions. Educational offerings include classes, workshops, artist talks and tours. If you would like to include art in your trip not only through exhibitions but also through educational programs, this selection offers several formats. Riverwalk Commons hosts a farmers’ market, concerts and events. No specific schedule can be inferred from this general description of what is offered.
Recreational attractions and regional products
Canada’s Wonderland offers more than 200 attractions, including 18 roller coasters, two children’s areas and the 20-hectare Splash Works water park. These figures convey the scale and range of the attractions. For a trip with children, the two children’s areas are a specific point of reference; the roller coasters and water park add further types of attractions.
Farmers’ markets in York Region typically offer farm produce, baked goods and preserved foods. This may be of interest to visitors who would like to include regional products in their trip.
For a broader travel overview: Ontario.
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