Paddle the Historic Mattawa River

The Mattawa River isn’t just any waterway—it’s a designated Canadian Heritage River where Indigenous peoples and fur trade voyageurs once traveled the same routes you’ll paddle today.

Best for: Intermediate paddlers and history enthusiasts

Perfect Paddling Day Trips:

• Beginner route: Pimisi Bay to Talon Chutes (2-3 hours)
• Must-see highlight: Paresseux Falls cascading through ancient rock formations
• Full-day adventure: Pimisi Bay to Samuel de Champlain Park (6-8 hours with easy portages)

Pro tip: Book guided tours through local outfitters for historical insights and equipment rental.

Paddle the Mattawa River – credit: Ed Regan

Chase Waterfalls at Duchesnay Falls

No summer trip to North Bay is complete without visiting Duchesnay Falls. This series of multiple cascading waterfalls carved into the Laurentian Escarpment is easily accessible via a short hike from Highway 17 and offers beautiful forest hiking trails that are perfect for nature lovers and amateur photographers alike.

Photography tip: Visit early morning for the best lighting and fewer crowds.

Discover Local Flavours at the North Bay Farmers’ Market

Get a taste of local life at the North Bay Farmers’ Market, where you’ll find fresh produce, artisan goods, baked treats, and handcrafted gifts. Held weekly in the downtown core, it’s the perfect way to support local and enjoy a community vibe.

When: Every Wednesday from 9:30am to 1:30pm and every Saturday from 9:00am to 1:30pm during the months of May to October

Where: In front of the North Bay Museum, 100 Ferguson St.

Insider tip: Arrive early for the best selection and bring reusable bags to support local sustainability efforts.

Catch Live Music Under the Stars

North Bay’s summer music comes alive with weekly free outdoor concerts at the Kiwanis Bandshell as part of the Summer Concert Series on Wednesday evenings or the Arts and Culture nights on Tuesdays. Check out our events calendar for full details.

What to bring: Picnic blanket, snacks, and your camera for stunning sunset photos over Lake Nipissing.

Venue spotlight: Check local pubs and eateries that offer weekly live performances and emerging Canadian talent, like Cecil’s Brewhouse & Kitchen, The Fraser Tavern, Lou Dawgs, Match Eatery & Public House, The Block Public House and Gateway City Brewery.

Soak Up the Sun on North Bay’s Beaches

North Bay is home to some of Northern Ontario’s most beautiful freshwater beaches on the sandy shores and clear waters of Lake Nipissing and Trout Lake.

Highlights:

• Perfect for freshwater swimming
• Sandy shorelines perfect for beach volleyball and sandcastle building
• Water sport rentals (kayaks, paddleboards and sailboats)
• Beachside amenities
• Quieter and more secluded beach experiences
• Excellent for fishing

Explore the Kate Pace Way by Trike or Bike

Explore the scenic Kate Pace Way, a paved multi-use trail that stretches from North Bay’s waterfront all the way to Callander. The popular trails celebrates Olympic skier Kate Pace and is also designated as part of the Trans Canada Trail.

Unique experience: Rent fun trike bikes for a memorable family adventure

Alternative activities: Cycling, rollerblading, walking, or jogging

Scenic highlights: Waterfront views, forest sections, and small-town charm in Callander.

Cruise Lake Nipissing Aboard the Chief Commanda II

Experience North Bay from the water aboard the Chief Commanda II, a local favourite activity aboard a 320-passenger, all-aluminum twin-hull vessel.  The ship is equipped with two bars, accessible washrooms, snack bar, and open-air BBQ.

Popular cruise options:

• Manitou Island exploration: Learn about Indigenous history and local ecology
• French River sightseeing: Discover pristine wilderness and historic fur trade routes
• Callander Bay sunset cruises: Romantic evening excursions with dinner options

Booking tip: Reserve sunset cruises early—they’re North Bay’s most popular summer activity!

Chief Commanda II – credit: withlove_duquettes

Enjoy Family Fun at North Bay’s Waterfront District

North Bay’s waterfront is a summer highlight for all ages. Stroll through lush flower gardens perfect for photos and peaceful strolls, let the kids loose at the beachfront playground at Shabogesic Beach, and don’t miss a ride on the nostalgic Heritage Carousel and Mini Train, operated by volunteers with love.

Accessibility: All attractions are wheelchair accessible and family-friendly.

Explore North Bay’s Rich Military and Cultural History

A variety of museums can be found in North Bay providing a glimpse into the region’s rich history, cultural and heritage.

Must-visit are:

• North Bay Museum: Local history from Indigenous peoples to modern times
• Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defence: Interactive exhibits showcasing Canada’s military aviation history and NORAD operations
• Dionne Quints Museum: Step inside the original 1930s home of the famous quintuplets and learn their remarkable story

Take Free Self-Guided Tours with Driftscape

Download the Driftscape app and discover North Bay with free self guided tours at your own pace, with GPS navigation and audio commentary included in both French and English.

Two of the most popular tours are:

• Holiday Film Tour: Visit locations where popular Christmas movies were filmed
• North Bay Public Art Tour: Discover murals, sculptures, and installations throughout the city

Shop Local & Support North Bay Artisans

North Bay is filled with boutiques, vintage shops for your one-of-a-kind treasures and antiques, art galleries, and great eateries including farm to table and craft breweries.

Best shopping district: Downtown core offers walkable access to multiple shops, restaurants and the waterfront.

Join North Bay’s Vibrant Summer Festival Scene

North Bay’s summer festival calendar is packed! Don’t miss these favourites:

Maamwi Kindaaswin Pow Wow: Indigenous culture celebration with traditional dancing, music, food and vendors

Boatapalooza: Waterfront festival featuring boat displays, live music, and family activities

Bay Block Party: High-energy street festival with live bands, food trucks, and local vendors

Planning tip: Check the complete summer events calendar when booking your visit

Ready to explore

North Bay perfectly combines outdoor adventure, cultural experiences, and small-town hospitality. Whether you’re seeking adrenaline-pumping water sports, peaceful nature escapes, or vibrant community festivals, this Northern Ontario gem delivers unforgettable summer memories for everyone.

Start planning your North Bay adventure today and discover why this hidden gem is becoming Ontario’s must-visit summer destination.

Sunsets over Lake Nipissing – credit: Scott Edworthy

The post 12 Fun Ways to Explore North Bay In Summer appeared first on Tourism North Bay.

“The Science of Guinness World Records” is on at the North Bay Museum, now until January 27th, 2022. All around the world, people are pushing themselves to achieve new and incredible things. We’re looking into the science behind these mesmerizing accomplishments with the new Science of Guinness World Records Northern Tour exhibit from Science North. Admission to this fun exhibit of interactive challenges is included with regular museum admission ($4 for adults, $3 for students, & free for ages 5 and under).

Visit the museum from December 22 and 23 from 1-5 pm for your chance to make crafts this holiday season! Crafts include snowman puppets, popsicle stick snowflakes, and holiday cards with fingerprint lights. This activity is included with regular admission. Visitors are asked to sign up in advance to secure their spot by emailing education@northbaymuseum.com with group size and preferred time slot.

The museum will be offering the chance to win a family membership while completing a fun family scavenger hunt beginning December 22nd. While completing the hunt, visitors can learn about the history of North Bay with interactive displays.

The museum will be open over the holidays to provide the chance to visit on December 22, 23rd, and from December 28-30. Visit northbaymuseum.com for full details.

The museum gift shop is offering a “save the tax sale” on December 22nd and 23rd, offering a great chance to complete last-minute Christmas shopping.

With so many exciting things happening over the holiday’s The North Bay museum is the perfect place to stop in with your loved ones.

The post 5 Reasons to Visit the North Bay Museum this Holiday Season appeared first on Tourism North Bay.

North Bay’s Annual Traditions

[PHOTO: Downtown Christmas Walk, provided by Vanessa Tignanelli]

Downtown North Bay kicks off Merry & Bright Thursday Nights every Thursday through until December 16th. From 5pm-8pm, come down for a bite to eat, and visit your favourite businesses to knock out your holiday shopping, or find something special for yourself.  Downtown North Bay is also doing a special holiday passport promotion and you can get double stamps on Thursday nights. Fill your passports quickly to be entered in the weekly, monthly and grand prize draws!

Another Christmas tradition in North Bay is the City Streets Christmas Artisan House Tour presented by the Creative Co-operative. 2021 will mark it’s 23rd year. Generally taking place in late November,  various local artisans work through the year to create quality gifts to sell during the tour. 2020 had the tour operating virtually, but it has now returned to an in-person format for the 2021 season.

The Lights and Sparkle of the Gateway to the North

Every year, families make it a priority to take a drive through the city to look at the Christmas lights. Once the snow flies, head to Twiggs Coffee Roasters, grab a warm beverage and spend time taking in the lights of the city. Some notable neighbourhoods include Birchaven, Graniteville, Airport/Wallace Heights, Gateway and Pinewood. If you’ve got time for a bit of a longer ride, head out to Powassan. The residents of this small town have been enhancing their light show year after year, and it is well worth the fifteen minute drive. There’s something magical about the first few snowfalls of December, so if you’re driving around during the day after a fresh snowfall, take some time and head up Highway 11 towards Temagami or down Highway 17 towards Mattawa to view the truly gorgeous landscape of the fresh sparkling snow clinging to the trees.

Art and Music to Get into the Spirit

[PHOTO: North Bay Symphony, provided by North Bay Symphony]

If you love live music, join the North Bay Symphony Orchestra for their Christmas Concert. The Capitol Centre built in 1929 is the venue for this wonderful winter concert and is the perfect setting for the magical melodies that the symphony members work so hard to perfect. This concert is a mesmerizing experience, excellent for a holiday date night with your partner or a couple of friends. Pair the concert with a great dinner at one of the downtown restaurants to make the most of the evening. Recommendations include The Moose Cookhouse for something a bit more casual (and the best chicken wings in town) or The Raven and Republic for casual fine dining (and also great for a post-concert cocktail).

If you’re crafty, head to Jane’s Pottery and pick up some unglazed ceramic ornaments, take them home and have a paint night to personalize your treasures. Try pairing with a charcuterie box from Bay Boards Charcuterie and a couple of beers from Gateway City Brewery or New Ontario Brewing Co. If you’d like to get some friends or coworkers together for a night of artsy fun, head to Incandescence Glass Studio and join Angela Legere for one of her glass Christmas ornament workshops. Make a set of fused glass ornaments or try your hand at glass etching (on ornament bulbs, wine glasses or beer mugs).*1

Another local must-do is visiting The Green Store and indulging in a bit of the culinary arts. The Green Store is a magical shop with gorgeous views of Trout Lake. While this shop is always a great stop for locals and tourists alike during the summer, Christmas-time lights up this locally-owned shop even more. Inside, you will find the best selection of homemade fudge. Grab some for Christmas presents and parties (and a little for yourself) and then wander through the gorgeously decorated shop to do a little Christmas shopping. Whether you’re looking for some new Christmas decorations or looking for the perfect Christmas gift, The Green Store has it all.

Spending Time in a Winter Wonderland with the Family

If you ask the children of North Bay how they like to get into the spirit, you’ll likely hear sledding and skating at Lee Park. These activities aren’t just for the little ones though; you’ll find adults enjoying themselves here as well, especially for an outdoor date night. Occasionally, you can find the Beavertails Food Truck parked here on weekends so you can enjoy a warm piece of Canadiana cuisine to warm the body after a few hours of chilly fun!

What do the carols Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer and Walking In A Winter Wonderland all have in common? The mention of the festive sleigh ride, of course! What could get you more into the Christmas spirit than a horse-drawn sleigh ride through a winter wonderland? Village Clydesdales is the perfect place to do this! Located in Astorville, sleigh and wagon rides pulled by their gorgeous Clydesdale horses take you through their scenic property. After your ride, you can cozy up to their outdoor bonfire where you can roast marshmallows, hotdogs or any other fireside treat you wish to bring!

[PHOTO: Walkers Tree Farm, https://www.instagram.com/p/BrLAHtgH78u/?utm_medium=copy_link ]

Finally, there is no better way to round out your Christmas adventures than by heading to Walker’s Tree Farm and Horse Sanctuary to choose the perfect Christmas tree. Located in Bonfield, this gorgeous eco-friendly, 40-acre farm boasts a selection of gorgeous Christmas trees, including Fraser and Balsam Firs, Blue Spruce and White Pine. Guests get to choose just how close or far they wish to adventure in order to find that perfect tree. The farm has sleighs to transport your timber treasure back for you so you can leisurely walk the property. Take some time to also visit with the rescue horses, spoiling them a little bit before heading out. Walker’s is open 10-4 pm during the weekends or during the week by appointment.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

*1. Legere markets her classes with sets of four ornaments, however she will do as little as one with someone, to work with any budget.

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Rebuilding a connection to how our food is produced, and teaching children valuable skills, are strong driving factors for many families entering agriculture as first generation farmers.

Throughout the challenges of the pandemic, many local farmers began to think outside of the box to create safe opportunities for the public to access their goods. With farmer’s markets making changes due to COVID-19 restrictions and at times, closing or reducing capacity, good old-fashioned farm gate sales began to be a viable option. What began as a casual conversation between farming friends soon grew into a full-fledged tourism initiative for Powassan and area, drawing those from North Bay and beyond, for a fun touring experience. A Facebook page was set up, a map created showing the public producer locations and their offerings, and the Great Powassan and Area Farmstand Tour was born.

The self-guided, self-serve platform allowed people the convenience of picking up local food, while abiding by the current public health regulations during the pandemic.

The Great Powassan and Area Farmstand Tour is a self-guided driving and cycling tour winding through Nipissing, Powassan and Chisholm townships, along roads dotted with small roadside farmstands offering goods for sale. There are just under 30 stops on this year’s tour, which now include local food and gift shops, where you’ll find locally-raised meat, vegetables, dairy products, honey, maple syrup, preserves, baked goods, eggs and much more, throughout the season. Several events involving the tour are organized and hosted in conjunction with 250 Clark in Powassan, including cycling events, a poker run and a maple pumpkin themed day, being held in October. You’ll definitely want to mark down October 2, 2021 in your calendar – the Maple Pumpkin Tour features on-farm activities and a wide variety of maple and pumpkin-themed local food!

Great times on two wheels! Creating a dedicating route connecting cyclists with the farmstands and local food stops has fostered a cycle-friendly experience enjoyed by locals and out-of-towners alike.

If you think driving around the beautiful countryside is a wonderful time, try taking it all in on two wheels! Discovery Routes Trails Organization recently released the Farmstand 40 cycling experience, which outlines route details, mapping and amenities which are important to cyclists. If you are seeking equipment or advice, bike shops like Wheelhouse, Cheapskates and North Bay CycleWorks are great places to begin your cycling journey. The farmstand route is mainly a gravel ride, but sections of it are paved and suitable for beginners. 

Powassan offers great amenities in a quaint small-town setting, and at a short 20 minute drive from North Bay, you can easily spend a day exploring. The Powassan Farmer’s Market runs from Victoria Day weekend until Thanksgiving weekend each Saturday morning from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm on Main Street beside the Beer Store. Many of the farmers and producers you’ll meet on the farmstand tour attend the Powassan Farmer’s Market, as well as the North Bay Farmer’s Market, (in North Bay, beside the North Bay Museum). 

The North Bay Farmer’s Market offers a wide variety of vendors providing local food, handmade crafts, giftware, clothing and much more.

If you’re looking to browse for gifts and other goods, wander through Powassan Flowers & Country Favourites, stop in at Krause Farms Food & Feed for local food and outdoor goods like birdfeeders and décor, or take the 10 minute drive down Memorial Drive and Alderdale Road to the Alderdale General Store for an amazing selection of locally made handcrafted pottery, yarn crafts, soap, baked goods, jewellery and preserves. You can also grab a bite to eat at the Red Roo which is parked at the store for the season, and finish up with delightful Kawartha Dairy ice cream! If you’re hunting for a quiet spot at the beach, the Hydro Pond on the west side of the highway just off of Maple Hill Road South will serve you well – good swimming, fishing and sunbathing opportunities are plentiful, with washroom facilities close by. Kids can play at the Powassan Lions Park behind the SportsPlex on Main Street in Powassan, or take them hiking up The Pines for a spectacular view from the top of the mountain.

A view that does not disappoint – hike to the top of Powassan Mountain via the Pines trail system. It’s a beautiful spot to take in the fall colours, or even enjoy a picnic!

If you’re keen on discovering otherworldly treasures, then your travels should take you into South River and to the Crystal Cave – an astonishing collection of precious gems, crystals, fossils and more awaits you. You can further refresh your senses at the Crystal Moon Café during your visit.

The Crystal Cave offers an amazing opportunity to see a wide variety of crystals, gems, minerals and precious metals up close and personal!

With a wealth of culinary delights and truly northern experiences just minutes outside the city’s borders, you’ll discover welcoming communities with much to offer. From farmers and shop owners, beautiful scenery, family-friendly amenities and an entertaining farmstand tour, there is a lot to see and do, within half an hour of North Bay! 

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While I love a good Top 10 list, gathering a definitive list of must-dos for the city of North Bay was definitely a challenge. For the best, most top, funnest things to do, I did what any smart traveller does: I asked the locals. 

So here is a compilation of the best 10 fun things to do in North Bay this summer, vetted by the ones who know. How many can you check off your list? 

1. Hike Duchesnay Falls

Duchesnay Falls tops the list, period. This hike around the city’s famous waterfall is accessible, easy, and low-key beautiful. There’s parking right off Hwy 17 or for a “Locals” access point, try the Education Centre Trails. This is my go-to for when I want a quiet hike through the forest. The North Duchesnay Summit hike is pristine and takes you to the 70m-high falls in a meandering, backwoods kind of way. 

2. Explore the waterfront and Farmer’s Market

For a chill stroll, you can entertain yourself along the North Bay Waterfront where you’ll enjoy beautiful sunsets, native perennial gardens, and the best views of Lake Nipissing. Basically everyone is smiling because it’s so beautiful. 

The North Bay Farmer’s Market is open Wednesdays and Saturdays and offers a renowned and vibrant culture of local food producers, artists, and musicians. 

If you’re here on the weekends, the Heritage Railway & Carousel Company is tucked along the waterfront for an impromptu ride on an artist-carved replica of an antique carousel. It’s a magical experience, with or without kiddos. 

3. Cycle Kate Pace Way

The cycling in North Bay is next level, whether you’re commuting, casually riding, or bombing down the single tracks. Probably the most well-known is Kate Pace Way, a 12 km multi-use trail that starts at the waterfront and winds its way to the historic town of Callandar. Didn’t bring a bike? No problem: Rent one at Boathouse Rentals conveniently located on the waterfront. 

4. Swim at The Cove

Swimming at The Cove on Trout Lake makes you officially a local, since this out of the way spot feels almost an afterthought to vast Lake Nipissing—which is bonkers because who doesn’t love a quieter beach? Having said that, Kinsmen Beach on Lake Nipissing boasts opportunities for solitary morning swims and ample room to spread out. 

5. Enjoy arts & culture downtown 

Photo credit WKP Kennedy Gallery Facebook

While North Bay is known for its natural beauty, it’s also full of museums, galleries, and street art to discover. The North Bay Museum is a solid first stop before exploring the culture-packed downtown. Of course, adjacent to the North Bay museum is the iconic Dionne Quintuplets Museum, a must-do for first time visitors.  The WKP Kennedy Gallery showcases exciting and bold works from exhibitors both local and national. 

6. Shop local boutiques 

Update your look? You’ve got a tattoo now, so if you’re downtown, Main Street is where it’s at. The highlights for shopping are The Farm, a well-curated fashion, art, and retail market with designers like Eve Gravel and Beach, Please. The Annex and its brother-company Cheapskates offer on-trend fashion like Levis and Obey. 

7. Enjoy cocktails and local craft brews

All this running around. Did you know North Bay has two local, independent brewers Gateway City Brewery offers a versatile menu of beer and their labels are super rad. Parked outside is the unbelievable Miso and Shiso Plant Based Fusion Food Truck. What pairs better than an Over the Falls New Zealand Pilsner and their Nobe Burger on the patio? 

Not to be outdone, New Ontario Brewing offers taster packs and fun, seasonal brews like their “Life is Purple” Plum Sour. Get a bunch from both and host your own tasting party or visit the Taphouse and newly renovated patio to enjoy some sun and suds—open 7 days a week.  

Photo credit New Ontario Brewing Company Facebook

8. Check out the live music scene

Raven & Republic, “the People’s Bar” is the venue for exciting music, an adventurous menu, and absolutely bomb cocktails. The century home/restobar is smack in the middle of a downtown neighbourhood, making it a no-brainer for locals and visitors alike. Great patio, nice twinkle lights, good people. A solid choice. 

9. Eat at a historic diner and do some patio hopping

If you’re a true foodie, check out a few local hot spots including the Opera Bakery for their delicious soups, wraps and deserts, the amazing micro baker The Culture Club offering fresh bread, cookies and there small selection of mini local groceries and our latest addition is The Block Public House serving you up excellent hand-crafted cocktails and delicious farm-to-table entrees.

Photo credit The Culture Club Instagram

North Bay has loads more amazing diners to check out. And if you’re looking to do some patio hopping this summer, here are all the great places to dine outdoors in North Bay.

10. SWIM…with the shadflies

That’s what I said. Swimming with the shadflies is basically a rite of passage for newcomers. Have you ever been “Screeched In” in Newfoundland? This is basically the same, except you’re wading bravely through the corpses of the most important insect to the health of our lake’s ecosystem. They’re everywhere in June. Unavoidable. So if we can’t boldly embrace them as a way of life up here then what are we even doing? So go ahead and jump in: then afterwards, head back to The Farm to buy your very own enamel Shad Fly pin. It’s like the ol’ wink and gun, the secret handshake, the two finger wave on a dirt road. You’re basically one of us now.  

Photo credit The Farm Facebook

See you in North Bay this summer!

The post 10 Fun Things to do in North Bay appeared first on Tourism North Bay.

The pastry powerhouse is run by Jessica Sanabria and Kyle Laplante. Both are graduates from the Culinary Program at Canadore College and have travelled Canada together working in fine restaurants, catering and wedding planning. When they moved back home, they were inspired to contribute to a more dynamic food scene in North Bay.

“We believe that just because we’re a small town, we don’t have to miss out on the quality and cool factor from business in bigger cities. There are some really cool businesses in town that have been adding some of the fun factor to the city before we got here, and we thought that it was a great opportunity to become part of the change,” says Sanabria.

At the shop, you’ll find a rotating seasonal menu of gourmet handmade doughnuts, GOOD coffee, cakes and a smattering of pastries. Their offerings always include vegan options that are so rich, even the dedicated dairy consumer will be impressed. How they make a vegan Crème Brulée doughnut taste like the real thing can only be attributed to sorcery. Their doughnuts are a work of art, but their beauty isn’t superficial. Biting into one is learning what perfectly chewy, yet airy deep-fried heaven is, and the flavour combinations are unreal. Keep it simple with a crowd-pleaser like their Salted Caramel Cruel, get fancy with a Passionfruit and Coconut, or satisfy your inner Simpson’s fan with a colourful strawberry glazed D’oh-Nut.

Good Glaze’s desserts don’t stop at doughnuts. Their Instagram feed is full of incredible custom cakes, smothered in vibrant buttercream and painstakingly handmade toppers. These aren’t your inedible looking fondant encased wedding cakes… they’re meant to be enjoyed. As with everything Good Glaze produces, the focus is always placed on using the most local (like Leisure Farm’s Berries) and highest quality ingredients to create the best product.

“We try our best to provide the best product with the best ingredients that we can. We put a lot of effort and hours into what we make and how we interact with our customers because we want to offer the best experience. We believe we give our love and care through what we do. If we can change someone’s day for the better, with any of our products, then for us it is a mission accomplished,” explains Sanabria.

Each custom cake is designed one on one with the client. This process takes a little extra time, but they love connecting with the community and the fulfillment of seeing the happiest customer. Since adding cakes to their menu last April, the service has blown up and cakes need to be ordered six weeks in advance. If you need a quick fix there is always limited availability of slices at the shop and full chocolate and vanilla cakes that you can pre-order online.

The most thrilling news is that with their new location, they are expanding their capacity and offerings. They’ll have over the top “Monster Milkshakes”, Belly ice cream from Muskoka, more pastry, more doughnuts and cakes and indoor seating. “It will be very trendy but welcoming, a fun space for families or groups of friends to get together and have a good time. We want to bring a vibrant space to downtown where people can access the other amazing businesses we have and make a day out of it. We wanted to stay downtown to be part of the change. You can’t wait until everyone else does what you would like to see being done. We think downtown has a great potential to be a destination for surrounding communities and hopefully we can make everyone prosper in that area.”

To keep updated on Good Glaze’s daily menu, follow their Instagram and check out their website for pre-ordering holiday treats! Their shop at 370 McIntyre Street W is open Wed-Fri 11-5 and Saturday 11-3. But be warned these doughnuts sell out quickly, so you should definitely ditch work early to secure a six-pack of your favourite flavours and recruit a friend to join you in doughy debauchery.

The post You Should Be Eating Doughnuts appeared first on Tourism North Bay.

1. THE BASE LAYER

It’s easier to take off a layer when you get hot and put it back on when you get cold than coming unprepared and just being cold. It’s hard to imagine getting ‘hot’ in sub-zero temperatures, but the energy you burn trekking through the snow raises your core body temperature causing you to sweat. The key to making sure that sweat doesn’t sit on your skin and cools you down is to start with the proper base layer.

Rae Brenne, fibre expert and owner of Stix and Stones Yarn Boutique in North Bay’s downtown describes different fibres and their natural moisture-wicking properties.

Wool is a wonder fibre – it is naturally breathable, durable and odour resistant.

While traditional wool tends to be itchy and bulky, there are a variety of other wools such as merino or alpaca for example that have smaller fibres making them a super soft, natural fibre with all the qualities of sheep’s wool except the itch! Polyester fleece is a synthetic fibre designed to act much in the way that wool does. Cotton is moisture absorbent so once you sweat – you stay wet!

2. THE INSULATING LAYER

Next is the insulating mid-layer to keep you warm. Think down jacket, lightweight and compressible if you need to take it off and carry it for a while. A puffy or high-loft fleece jacket also works well to keep you warm and dry. If you’ve chosen the right base-layer a synthetic jacket will keep you warm. The downside to synthetics is that they can be quite bulky if your activity requires dexterity.

3. THE TOP LAYER

Ideally, the top layer should be wind-proof and waterproof but also breathable, so you don’t trap the sweat inside. Talk to any outdoor enthusiast and they can go on about the astounding qualities of Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex was discovered by accident in a lab and can repel water while still allowing water vapour to pass through making it waterproof AND breathable. While Gore-Tex was once the only choice for waterproof, breathable apparel, innovators in the outdoor field have developed alternatives that function in much the same way and don’t come with the same price-tag. While not as desirable as a fully breathable top layer, many shells will have venting that will help release some of the moisture when you start to heat up.

4. THE ACCESSORIES

Mitts, gloves, toque, socks, scarf – follow the same theory for fibre choices. This is where you can get a little personality into your winter wardrobe. Bernie certainly knows this with his woolly mittens choice going viral. If you would like to make-your-own Northern certified winter accessories, visit Stix and Stones for a DIY knit-kit. Lonely Oak Alpacas sells beautifully hand-crafted winter accessories spun, dyed and woven from the wool of the alpacas that roam their small farm on the outskirts of North Bay.

If you need a little advice on how to choose activity-specific gear Lefebvres Source for Adventure is a local outfitter that has served the community for over 100 years. That’s a whole lot of knowledge and experience outfitting the demands of Northern Ontario’s great outdoors!! The owners and brothers, Aaron and Andrew Busch are avid outdoor enthusiasts themselves and can point you to some of North Bay’s best outdoor adventures.

Now that you are properly outfitted, hit the trails! Discovery Routes Trails Organization has a complete listing of trails in the North Bay area. North Bay’s Pocket Trail Guide is a great resource that details a handful of local trails accessible in the winter months for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and winter biking.

The post How to Wear Winter Layers: A Guide to Staying Warm in the North appeared first on Tourism North Bay.