Centurion Blue Mountain is not only a race with diverse events for any cyclist, but it takes place in one of Ontario’s top tourism destinations. The Collingwood area boasts an excellent selection of restaurants and outdoor attractions, making it the perfect location for a late summer vacation with the family or some friends. We’ve rounded up five must-see locations to check out while you’re in the area — we know you’ll find plenty of diverse activities to do while you’re up in the area for the race.
Scenic Caves
Enjoy the beautiful Collingwood area landscape with a nature adventure through Scenic Caves. All ages will enjoy walking through this stunning park and exploring the caves and crevices along the trails and a panoramic view overlooking the water and surrounding region, from the top of the hill. With a Zipline (the longest in Ontario!) and suspension bridge there is plenty to do on your own, but there are also packages that include a range of the park’s most fun activities to make a great day field trip out of your visit. In the summer, Scenic Caves is open at 9 AM all days of the week, and closing at 5 or 6 PM depending on the day.
Scandinave Spa
The perfect place to unwind after your big race! The Scandinave Spa is renowned for its beautiful facilities in the heart of Blue Mountain and it’s top-rate services. The water therapies are a one of the major draws of the spa and can be enjoyed by small groups at once. If you want to book in here for a massage or service after your race, we recommend booking plenty in advance.
Blue Mountain Beach
One of the major tourism draws of the region are the beaches. There are many options within drivable distance of the Blue Mountain resort, but the Blue Mountain beach is a great option for riders and their family looking for a fun activity close to the event site. It’s private beach on the shores of Georgian Bay, with a Beach Hut with a selection of food and drinks throughout the day and towel service.
The Apple Pie Trail is an award-winning trail tour through the South Georgian Bay region that promotes the area’s apple-growing history and provides ‘culinary, shopping, adventure, farms and other local experience’. With a handy map provided on the website, the Apple Pie Trail can be a self-guided adventure bu they also offer a range of tours to choose from including some wine-tasting options.
One of Ontario’s best parks, you can spend time camping, hiking the Bruce Trail and enjoying the outdoors here. There are lots of park roads for riding (as well as the Georgian Trail located just outside of the park), canoeing, bird watching, fishing and more. The park is situated on the beautiful Georgian Bay shoreline with stunning beaches that are home to 450 million year old fossils.